A host of holiday performances slated at Centenary College

Hackettstown — Hackettstown will be the destination of choice this holiday season, with a cornucopia of holiday-themed performances and activities, highlighted by the Centenary Stage Company’s rousing production of “A Christmas Carol - The Musical” and the NJ Civic Youth Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker.” Also featured in December will be the acclaimed CSC’s Young Performers Workshop Winter Festival of Shows, a musical theatre extravaganza which this season includes “Narnia - The Musical,” “Meet Me in St. Louis” and “Count to Ten.” Performances will occur in the Sitnik Theatre and Little Theatre on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown throughout the month of December. Directed by Broadway and Film veteran Michael Blevins, the CSC production of “A Christmas Carol” celebrates everything theatrical in the Centenary community, including professional Equity actors, Centenary College Theatre Department students, members of the CSC Young Performers and local performers. Centenary College will invite the public to join them for the “Tis the Season” celebration, on Sunday, Dec 4, with the arrival of St. Nicholas in a horse-drawn wagon (3 p.m.), photos and refreshments with St. Nicholas in the Seay Administrative building on Jefferson Street, caroling, and Grand Illumination at 6 p.m. The Young Performer’s Workshop Winter Festival of Shows returns with 94 local young thespians, ages 8 to 18. “Meet Me in St. Louis,” made famous by Judy Garland, features the beloved classic, “The Trolley Song.” “Count to Ten” is an original musical by YPW Director, Michael Blevins, and it was an official selection of the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival with its show-stopping tap numbers. “Narnia - the Musical” is a musical adaptation of the beloved children’s book, “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis. The Winter Festival of Shows is in the Centenary Little Theatre on Jefferson Street. The NJ Civic Youth Ballet returns to the Lackland Center to present its seasonal classic, “The Nutcracker.” This Christmas classic is told from the perspective of 12 year-old Clara Stahlbaum, who narrates the magical tale. The NJ Civic Youth Ballet has delighted audiences for over 10 years, and features guest artists from the Suzanne Farrell Ballet of Washington, D.C. “The Nutcracker” features a cast of 60 talented dancers from Morris, Sussex and Warren Counties, and will run Dec. 16 through the 18 in the Sitnik Theatre in the David and Carol Lackland Center. Tickets for any Centenary Stage Company performance may be purchased online at www.centenarystageco.org or by calling the Box Office at 908-979-0900. Show times Friday Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Christmas Carol Saturday Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. Christmas Carol Sunday Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. Christmas Carol Wednesday Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. Christmas Carol Thursday Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Christmas Carol Friday Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. Christmas Carol Saturday Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. Christmas Carol Sunday Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. Christmas Carol *Wednesday Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. Christmas Carol (school series performance) Thursday Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Christmas Carol Friday Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. Christmas Carol Saturday Dec. 10 1 p.m. Narnia (YPW) 4 p.m. Meet Me In St. Louis (YPW) 8 p.m. Christmas Carol (CSC) Sunday Dec. 11 2 p.m. A Christmas Carol ( final performance-CSC) 5 p.m. Count To Ten (YPW) 7:30 p.m. Narnia (YPW) Friday Dec. 16 8 p.m. Meet Me In St. Louis (YPW) Saturday Dec. 17 1 p.m. Meet Me In St. Louis (YPW) 4 p.m. Narnia (YPW) 8 p.m. Count To Ten (YPW) Sunday Dec. 18 1 p.m. Narnia (YPW) 4 p.m. Meet Me in St. Louis (YPW) 7 p.m. Count To Ten (YPW)