Cheerful and efficient receptionist Beverly, keeps things running smoothly, answering phones, gossiping, and managing daily tasks. Subtle cracks start to appear in the routine as the day unfolds, hinting at something far more sinister lurking beneath the surface. A dark, comedic thriller, The Receptionist shifts from lighthearted office banter to unsettling suspense, exploring themes of power, complicity, and the unseen forces that shape our lives.
The New York Times called it, “Mr. Bock's poisoned Post-it note of a play."
The cast features CSC veterans and new talent alike. Mary McLain, who plays Beverly Wilkins, was last seen on the CSC stage in Killing Sister George, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, and House of Blue Leaves. She also served as the Artistic Director for the New Rude Mechanicals in Highland Park, NJ.
Newcomer to the stage, Gemma Berg as Lorraine Taylor, has recently been seen on stage in Urinetown (The Secret Theatre), The Last Yiddish Speaker (Theatre Lab FAU). She’s been in film and tv including Boardwalk Empire, The whole World at My Feet, A Home for Christmas, and Women Under the Influence.
The character of Edward Raymond portrayed by Eli Ganias, who has appeared in CSC’s productions of Light Up The Sky by Moss Hart and The Poetry Of Pizza by Deborah Brevoort. His most recent appearance was in the NJ Rep premier production of The Other American by DW Gregory. He has also been seen on stage at other NJ theaters including Vivid Stage, Playwrights Theater of NJ, and the Bickford.
Christopher J. Young, CSC’s General Manager, plays Martin Dart in The Receptionist. He serves as a director of many CSC productions as well as acting. Most recently, he performed in Meteor Shower (Spring 2022) and Dracula (Fall 2018). Young has directed several NEXTstage Repertory productions including The Lightning Thief, Six Rounds of Vengeance, Soul Samurai, and Alice in Slasherland.
Directing the production is CSC’s own Artistic Director, Carl Wallnau. Wallnau has directed and starred in countless productions regionally and at Centenary Stage, most recently seen on stage as the titular character in Tartuffe, as well as directing and appearing in The Ladykillers.
He has worked at numerous regional theatres including Paper Mill Playhouse, Second Stage in NYC, York Theatre in NYC, People’s Light, The Lark Theatre, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Hartford Stage, Forum Theatre, Bristol Riverside Premiere Stages, Orlando Shakespeare Company, Theatre 1812, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Foothills Playhouse and 14 months on the road with the First National Tour of TITANIC.
Wallnau has directed over 60 productions including The English Bride, which had its New York premiere at 59e59 and the world premieres of Poetry of Pizza, Inventing Montana and The Tillie Project and New Jersey premieres of Below the Belt, Square One and Marvin's Room. He’s also been cited for outstanding direction in productions of Springtime for Henry, Engaged, The Ladies Man, Deathtrap and Pygmalion and has directed in numerous regional theatres including Hartford Theatre Works and Musical Theatre Works.
He received his Masters of Fine Arts from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts and is married to his favorite actress Colleen Smith Wallnau. Mary Todd: A Woman Apart, written for Colleen, had a successful off Broadway run in 2004.
Tickets range from $25 - $30 for adults with discounts available for seniors, students, and children under 12 for select performances with special Buy One Get One tickets available for Thursday evening performances. BOGO tickets can be purchased on the day of the performance at the box office in person beginning at 5pm. The special preview performance at 2pm on Friday, February 21, will also feature special tickets for Hackettstown Residents available for $10 at the door. The Receptionist is presented with special agreement with Concord Theatrical / Samuel French Inc.
For more information, 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 1-5 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.
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The 2024-25 Season of Performing Arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors 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 Explore Warren, 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.