Centenary Stage Co. plans 2018-19 concerts

HACKETTSTOWN — On Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center Centenary Stage Company presents the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble: Una Festa Musicale Italiana.
Audiences will take a musical tour through sunny Italy, brought to life by a string ensemble from the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra! Featuring everything from traditional tarantella dances to the legendary music by Puccini, Mascagni and Rossini, this program showcase the best and brightest of baroque, Classical, and Romantic Italian music.
Centenary Stage Company’s ever popular January Thaw Music Festival returns to the Lackland Performing Arts Center for the 2018 – 19 season with an exciting line-up of musical guests.
Launching the January Thaw Music Festival is Michael Davis and the New Wonders on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center. The Wall Street Journal has called a 26-year-old Mike Davis an “eloquent trumpet prodigy”. His playing is imbued with the sounds of prohibition-era speakeasies, Hoovervilles of the depression, and glittering jazz palaces of the swing era, creating a timeless cocktail of American music. This is classic jazz from the 1920s and 30s, authentically performed by a New York group inspired by Bix Beiderbecke, Red Nichols, and the California Ramblers.
The January Thaw Music Festival continues on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. in the Lackland Performing Arts Center with the Harry James Orchestra. Since 1983, The Harry James Orchestra has continued the tradition of mellow arrangements and trademark rhythmic playing that first made it famous, and is now under the direction of Harry James’ lead trumpet virtuoso, Fred Radke. The Harry James Orchestra plays major venues throughout the United States, including many re-engagements in Las Vegas and Disneyland and tours extensively throughout the world.
Finally, the January Thaw Music Festival closes with Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. in the Lackland Performing Arts Center. Considered one of the premier bluegrass fiddlers of his generation, Mike picked up a fiddle at age 4, and his talent was recognized early. In 1993 he was chosen to be part of the Bluegrass Youth All Stars at the IBMA’s award show. Later that year Mike made his Grand Ole Opry debut as a guest of Alison Krauss. His list of guest appearances over the years is a who’s who of bluegrass legends including Bill Monroe, Jim and Jesse, Ralph Stanley, Mac Wiseman, Doc Watson, Larry Sparks, Doyle Lawson, and J.D. Crowe. At the 2001 IBMA awards, Mike took his first Fiddle Player of the Year award, and shared the title of Entertainer of the Year with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. Together with his band Flamekeeper, Cleveland delivers some of the most powerful, exciting and authentic bluegrass you can find.
Music events continue at Centenary Stage Company as the 2018 – 19 season continues in the Lackland Performing Arts Center with the unique sound of the Martha Redbone Roots Project on Saturday, February 9 at 8 p.m. Miss Redbone’s music flows equally from her own unique, award-winning blend of Native American elements with funk and her deep roots in Appalachian folk and Piedmont blues she gathered on her journey from Clinch Mountain, Virginia to Harlan County, Kentucky and beyond to Brooklyn’s Dodge City-esque mean streets.
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Reflections: Ireland in Song and Story, come to CSC on Sunday, March 10 at 3pm. Reflections is a tapestry of Irish song, story and cultural lore exploring the themes of religions, emigration, the Troubles and more. Irish tenor Tim Smith takes us on a journey, ranging from Moore to Yeats to modern musicians and storytellers with music, stories, and laughter.
On Saturday, March 16 at 3pm the US Army Field Band: The Jazz Ambassadors present a free concert in the Sitnik Theatre. The Jazz Ambassadors is the United States Army’s premier big band. This 19-member ensemble, formed in 1969, has received great acclaim both at home and abroad performing America’s original art form, jazz. As the premier touring musical representative for the United States Army, this internationally-acclaimed organization travels thousands of miles each year presenting a variety of music to enthusiastic audiences throughout the nation and abroad. Their diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, Dixieland, vocals, and patriotic selections.
Featuring one of Broadway’s biggest stars of stage and screen, Introducing: John Lloyd Young, closes out CSC concert line-up on Friday, April 6 at 8 p.m. Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young originated the role of Frankie Valli in Broadway's Tony Award winning Best Musical and international hit, Jersey Boys. As Valli, Young garnered unprecedented accolades from New York and national media, including one of the most the most exciting New York Times reviews ever written for an actor making a Broadway debut. Mr. Young went on to win the Lead Actor Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Awards, becoming the only American actor in history to win all four leading actor awards for a Broadway debut. Young re-created his award-winning Broadway turn onscreen for director Clint Eastwood in Warner Brothers' film adaptation of Jersey Boys, which premiered across the world in 2014.
Introducing: John Lloyd Young is a celebration of classic hits from the '50s and '60s presented in the authentic acoustic style of original rock 'n' roll, Doo-Wop and R&B standards. Along with tracks from Young's critically acclaimed debut album "My Turn" the show features; "Sherry", "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You", "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me", "In the Still of the Night" along with treasures by Roy Orbison, The Temptations, Carole King, Dusty Springfield, Al Green and Little Anthony.