Pictured from left to right: Kai Vialva, Maximus Klevence, Nastaja Roman, Danny Paternina, Evan Flick, Viviana Mendez, Jacoby Stewart, Taylor Albrecht. Photo by Trevor Callahan

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's NEXTStage Repertory production of Soul Samurai by Qui Nguyen enters its second and final weekend of performances. The production continues its run through November 3rd in the Kutz Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center of the Centenary University campus.

After avenging the death of her lover, a young samurai girl named Dewdrop, along with her faithful sidekick Cert, must now battle through vampire-infested Brooklyn to make it back home. A classic Qui Nguyen play, Soul Samurai blends a spaghetti western with vampire-infested Brooklyn, adding in martial arts, puppetry, and comic book camp.

The cast of Soul Samurai includes: Viviana Mendez, Danny Paternina, Erin Clark, Jacoby Stewart, Kai Vialva, Maximus Klevence, Evan Flick, Taylor Albrecht, and Nastasja Roman. All, of whom, are Centenary University students. Students also make up a large portion of the creative/stage management team of the NEXTstage Repertory, CSC’s all student performance division. In addition to being a part of the NEXTstage Repertory, these students become a part of CSC’s Professional Theatre Company. Unlike many professional theatres located on college and university campuses, Centenary students play an active and vital role in all professional productions from cast to crew and participate in all facets of production. Students are, thereby, provided with networking opportunities with artists who come to work with CSC throughout the year. These opportunities allow them to make important personal connections with working professionals.

Directing the students in their production is Christopher Young with assistant Director Emaline Williams. Chris also serves as the General Manager for Centenary Stage Company and as an adjunct faculty member for the theatre department teaching Stage Combat and Acting for the Camera. Emily also adjuncts at Centenary teaching Acting II, both are actors and directors in their own right outside of CSC with many credits regionally and professionally.

All tickets are $17.50. A Halloween special will also take place for the Halloween performance on October 31: Patrons who attend in costume get a special $10 ticket at the door. Final performances are Friday, November 1 at 8:00pm; Saturday, November 2 at 8:00pm, and Sunday, November 3 at 2:00pm. Performances will take place in the Kutz Theatre located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center of the Centenary University campus at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ. For more information or to purchase tickets, 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 1:00-5:00 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. Like and follow to receive the latest in CSC news and special offers.

The 2024-25 Season of Performing Arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of 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 New Jersey Theatre Alliance, the CSC corporate sponsors, including Platinum Season Sponsor -  The House of the Good Shepherd, Silver Sponsors - Heath Village, Visions Federal Credit Union, Explore Warren, Fulton Bank, and additionally, Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.