New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Centenary Stage Company's Summer Musical Series Includes 'Grease' and 'I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change'

originally published: 06/10/2024

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- This summer, Centenary Stage Company presents the 2024 summer musical series featuring Grease and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Performances for Grease will run July 11–21 and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change will run August 1-11 in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center of the Centenary University campus in Hackettstown.

The cast of Grease will include Centenary University students, alumni, CSC veterans, and a few brand-new faces! The cast includes: Raymond Ocasio IV, Mackenzey Reilly, Nicole Boscarino, Megan Schmiedhauser, Stacie Michelle, Lauren Noack, Dan F. Sims, Ryan Griffin, Josh Crowley, Billy Mills, Cody Jackson, Griffin Gartlgruber, Deirdre Bryant, Erin Clark, Arianna Cacioppo, Najee Tariq, Jeremy Ashton, Maximus Klevence, Kyle Hendricks, Saquan Williams, Sophie Belkin, Cherise Graham, Sam Lewis, Hope Keil, and Pamela Welsch.

Directing this production of Grease is Michael Restaino. Michael is a multi-hyphenated creative with a diverse background in working on theatrical experiences world-wide. Currently serving as the Manager of Creative Production Integrity at RWS Global, Michael oversees all productions at sea, internationally. In addition to his role at RWS, Michael is the esteemed founder of Michael Anthony Theatrical, one of the leading cabaret companies in New York City. Michael’s leadership extends to The Actors Studio of New Jersey, an emerging professional theater company focused on becoming a hub for artistic expression and innovation. As an advocate for the arts, Michael actively works to mentor emerging talent by being dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming theatrical environment, prioritizing inclusivity, diversity and respect within the industry. After spending nine months performing in Rock of Ages at the Eldorado Resort, Michael is honored to be telling this story from the opposite side of the bar at the Bourbon Room.

The cast of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change include Centenary University alumni, and CSC veterans! The cast includes: George Xavier, Aycka Lima, Cassandra Lindeblad, Kevin Whernahan, James Gerard Russo, Kayla Chirip, and Cody Jackson.

Co-directing and choreographing, this production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is Lea Antolini-Lid. Antolini Lid is the Assistant Professor of Theater & Dance as well as the director of CSC’s Young Audience Series Tour, and the producer/director of the NEXTstage Rep. Summer Stock Musical Series. Most recently, Lea co-directed The Lightning Thief this April, The Little Mermaid in the winter of 2023, Seussical the Musical in the summer of 2023, and Addams Family in April 2023, directed RENT in the summer of 2022, as well as the YAS productions of Frog & Toad and Grace for President at CSC this past season and was seen onstage as the Stepmother in Cinderella. Lea has directed the CSC Summer Stock Musical series for several years and you have also seen her directorial work on Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Always…Patsy Cline, and more.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



Jillian Petrie will also serve as co-director and choreographer for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Jillian Petrie is an award-winning choreographer/director. With over 100 productions under her belt, and she is just getting started. She is currently company choreographer for The Growing Stage, a professional regional theatre company located in New Jersey. Here she also served as director on the company's first film production and has previously served as director of multiple main-stage productions. As of June 2018, she has been Director of TGS's new Theatre Dance program. Productions are full-length plays that aim to challenge existing boundaries by incorporating movement-based storytelling and exploring audience engagement. In addition, Jillian is a professor of dance and theatre at Centenary University and founder of the media company, Athletes & Artists. Jillian was recently a member of the 2018-2019 Stage Directors Choreographers Foundation's Broadway Observership Class, Directors Lab Class of 2019, Broadway Dance Center's Choreography Program of 2021, and SDCF's Broadway Observership 2013-2014 Class. Her most recent CSC credit, Jillian co directed Seussical the Musical in the summer of 2023 and The Marvelous Wonderettes in the summer of 2022.

Performance dates and times for Grease are Thursdays, July 11 and 18 at 7:30pm; Fridays, July 12 and 19 at 8:00pm; Saturdays, July 13 and 20 at 8:00pm; and Sundays, July 14 and 21 at 2:00pm. Performance dates and times for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change are Thursdays, August 1 and 8 at 7:30pm; Fridays, August 2 and 9 at 8:00pm; Saturdays, August 3 and 10 at 8:00pm; and Sundays, August 4 and 11 at 2:00pm.

Tickets for Grease range from $29.50 - $35.00 and tickets for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change range from $27.50 – $29.50 for adults with discounts available for seniors, students, and children under 12 for select performances. The Summerfest musicals will also feature family night on Thursday evening performances, with a Buy One, Get One ticket special beginning at 5:30pm in person at the box office. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979-0900.

The Centenary Stage Company box office is open Monday through Friday from 1:00-5:00 pm and two hours prior to performances. The box office is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ. Centenary Stage Company can also be found across social media platforms; Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter. Like and follow to receive the latest in CSC news and special offers.

The 2023-24 Season of Performing Arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, the John and Margaret Post Foundation, the CSC corporate sponsors, including Platinum Season Sponsor the House of the Good Shepherd, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Medical Center Atlantic Health System, Heath Village, Summer Sponsor Explore Warren, Visions Federal Credit Union, and Fulton Bank, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Purlie

Purlie

Friday, March 14, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
360 Hamilton Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: theatre


 

Amadeus

Amadeus

Friday, March 14, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


 

Beautiful,

Beautiful, The Carole King Musical

Friday, March 14, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Axelrod Performing Arts Center
100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723
category: theatre


 

Purlie

Purlie

Saturday, March 15, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
360 Hamilton Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: theatre


 

Amadeus

Amadeus

Saturday, March 15, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Grunin Center - Black Box Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: theatre


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

SoHo

SoHo Playhouse presents the World Premiere of "Gloaming, Nowhere"

(NEW YORK, NY) -- SoHo Playhouse presents the world premiere of Gloaming, Nowhere, created and performed by J.S. Streible, with original songs by Streible, running March 12 – April 5, 2025 in a limited engagement for 23 performances in the theater's intimate Huron Room. Gloaming, Nowhere is the world's first Neo-Appalachian, Afrolachian, Southern Pop Revusical.



The

The Barn Theatre presents "Of Mice and Men"

(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- The Barn Theatre presents Of Mice and Men from weekends from March 14-30, 2025. This is a stage adaptation of the 1937 novel by American author John Steinbeck. The production is directed by Mark Phelan.



Thank

Thank You 5 Productions presents "Kinky Boots" at Kelsey Theatre

(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- A struggling maker of men's shoes reverses his fortunes when he transforms his footwear from functional to fabulous with the help of an entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos in the hilarious musical Kinky Boots for four evening and two afternoon performances at the Kelsey Theatre, March 21-30, 2025 on Mercer County Community College's West Windsor Campus.



Lewis

Lewis Center for the Arts presents events highlighting legendary theater-maker María Irene Fornés

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- The Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater and Music Theater at Princeton University presents events highlighting legendary theater-maker María Irene Fornés including a reconstruction of Fornés' last play, a live podcast recording about the playwright, and a major symposium co-produced by Latinx Theatre Commons and the Lewis Center. The events preview publication of María Irene Fornés in Context, slated for July.



Centenary

Centenary Stage Company presents the World Premiere of "Wasabia" by Wendy Herlich

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company presents the World Premiere of Wasabia by Wendy Herlich from April 3-13, 2025. It details the story of Vivian and Carla. When fiercely independent Vivian gets a knock on her door from Carla, a young hospice volunteer desperate to shine, the two strike up an unlikely and unforgettable friendship.