Centenary Stage presents Mary Poppins

HACKETTSTOWN — Everyone’s favorite practically perfect nanny takes flight this holiday season with Centenary Stage Company’s Family Holiday Musical Mary Poppins, Nov. 25 through Dec. 11 in the Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Center.
This “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” musical adventure is an enchanting mixture of irresistible story, unforgettable songs, breathtaking dance numbers, astonishing stagecraft and a live orchestra.
Centenary Stage Company’s Family Holiday Musical not only signifies the start of the holiday season for many but celebrates all of Centenary Stage Company’s programming by combining community members, CSC staff, Centenary University Theatre Department faculty and students, Young Performers Workshop students and professional guest artists.
Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins delighted Broadway audiences for over 2,500 performances and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."
Boasting a cast of over seventy performers Mary Poppins features several audience favorites returning to the Sitnik Stage. Leading the principle cast, in the title role of Mary Poppins, McKenzie Custin returns to CSC. Audiences will remember Custin from her portrayal of Dorothy from the 2012 CSC production of The Wizard of Oz. An alumni of CSC’s Young Performers Workshop, Custin received her BFA in Musical Theater from Montclair State University and has since worked at such theaters as Forestburgh Playhouse, Highlands Playhouse and NY Musical Theatre Festival. The charming Cockney-accented song-and-dance everyman, ‘Bert’ will be played by Hackettstown native and former YPW alumni, Justin Buccitto (New York, NY).
Residing in Manhattan, Buccitto an award – winning choreographer and international dance teacher, has a wide range of credits spanning from MTV’s MADE to The Metropolitan Opera and Papermill Playhouse. As a teacher, Buscitto is currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center, Cap 21 and Circle in the Square. Centenary Stage Company favorite Osborn Focht (Hoboken, NJ) returns after last seasons celebrated turn as Scrooge in a ‘Christmas Carol’. Audiences will also remember Focht for his acclaimed appearances in the CSC productions of Peter Pan (Capt. Hook), Christmas Carol (Scrooge), Oliver! (Bill Skyes), Rounding Third (Don), Tartuffe (Tartuffe) and The School for Wives (Chrysalde). Focht’s other credits range from Broadway to regional theater, as well as, television and film.
Rounding out the principle cast are several CSC veterans including CSC Artistic Director Carl Wallnau (Hoboken, NJ), Lea Antolini – Lid (Sparta, NJ), Jeremy Hilgert (Delaware Water Gap, PA), Maria Brodeur (Rockaway, NJ), Cara Kramer (Clinton, NJ) Jeff Foote (Denville, NJ) Megan McGill (Pompton Lakes, NJ), James Russo (Wayne, NJ), Donald Danford (Rockaway, NJ), Deirde Worth (Hackettstown, NJ), Cindy Livingstone (Cranberry Lake, Byram Township NJ) and Debbie Lockwood (Hackettstown, NJ).
Evening performances of Mary Poppins are Fridays, Nov. 25, Dec. 2, and Dec. 9 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Nov. 26, Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. and Thursdays, Dec. 1, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Matinee Performances are Friday, Nov. 25, Sundays, Nov. 27, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, Saturday, Dec. 10 and Wednesdays, Nov. 30, and Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices for Mary Poppins are $27.50 for adults and $22.50 for children under 12 on matinees and Friday evenings. Saturday evening ticket prices are $30 for adults and $25 for children under 12. Thursday evening ticket prices are $27.50 for all seats. Thursday evening is also our Family Night. Enjoy a two-for-one rush ticket special when tickets are purchased in person at the CSC box office as early as two hours prior to performance time. Rush ticket offer is not valid for advance ticket sales.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit centenarystageco.org or call the box office at (908) 979–0900. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the CSC box office located in the David and Carol Lackland Center on the campus of Centenary College; 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, N.J. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 1–5 p.m. and two hours prior to every performance. Centenary Stage Company tickets may also be purchased through the mobile app. Ticket Trove.