Centenary Stage Company concludes their SummerFest series with, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, a celebration of the mating game, taking on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as “the relationship.” With book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts, sketches and songs pay tribute to those who have loved and lost, fallen on their face at the portal of romance, and those who dared to ask, “Say, what are you doing Saturday night?”
Act I explores the journey from dating, waiting on love and marriage, while Act II reveals the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set. The cast includes Centenary University alumni, and CSC veterans Cody Jackson, Lenessa Age, Cassandra Krajcik, Kevin Wehrhahn, James Gerard Russo, and Kayla Chirip.
Co-directing and choreographing this production are Lea Antolini-Lid and Jillian Petrie. 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 who provided directorial work on Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and Always…Patsy Cline to name a few.
Antolini-Lid directed RENT in the summer of 2022, as well as the YAS productions of Frog & Toad and Grace for President, co-directed The Lightning Thief this past April, The Little Mermaid in the winter of 2023, Seussical the Musical in the summer of 2023, and Addams Family in April 2023 as well as being seen onstage as the stepmother in Cinderella.
As an adjunct professor at Centenary University and a highly acclaimed choreographer and director, Petrie’s most recent CSC credits include Director and Choreographer for The Marvelous Wonderettes and Co-Director and Choreographer for Seussical the Musical.
Petrie is renowned for her remarkable body of work comprising hundreds of productions and has garnered widespread praise with work featured in various theater, dance, festival, museum, and opera productions, including Off-Broadway and regional AEA world premieres.
The Star-Ledger has hailed her creations as "Better than Broadway!"
Jillian's artistic journey has been shaped by valuable training experiences, including the Broadway Observership and her time spent at respected institutions such as the Directors Lab, Broadway Dance Center's choreography program, and the Laban Conservatoire in London.
In addition to her contributions to the performing arts, Jillian is the founder of Athletes & Artists, a media company that explores the intersection of sports and the arts, @athletesartists.
Keep up with Jillian’s latest projects by following her on Instagram, @NYChoreographer and www.jillianpetrie.com
Performances run August 1-11 with ticket prices ranging from $27.50 -$29.50 for adults and discounts available for seniors, students, and children under 12 for select performances.
The Centenary Stage Company box office is open Monday through Friday from 1-5pm and two hours prior to performances and is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ.
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For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company box office at 908-979-0900.
The 2024-25 Summer Season of Performing Arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of our exclusive summer sponsor Explore Warren and grantors like 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, Hackettstown Medical Center Atlantic Health System, Heath Village, Visions Federal Credit Union, and Fulton Bank, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.
CSC Summerfest presents I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
To those who have dared to ask, “Say, what are you doing Saturday night?,” comes a hilarious revue which pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance. It's part of the CSC Summerfest series, proudly co-sponsored by Explore Warren!