(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company brings its acclaimed Women Playwrights Series to a powerful close on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 7:00pm with a staged reading of Not It! by playwright Kathleen Coudle-King. The performance will take place in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University. Admission is free, with donations welcomed.
Set against the stark backdrop of rural North Dakota, Not It! explores the emotional terrain of family, responsibility, and identity. After the death of their last parent, three sisters reunite to sort through a lifetime of belongings during a garage sale – only to confront far more complex decisions. As tensions rise over inheritance and care, the two older siblings must grapple with a life-altering question: who will take responsibility for their developmentally disabled younger sister? What unfolds is a deeply human story about love, duty, and the choices that shape family bonds forever.
Coudle-King, originally from West New York, NJ, is a prolific and versatile voice in contemporary theatre. A graduate of New York University Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in Dramatic Writing, she also holds a master's degree in English from the University of North Dakota. Her career spans both education and theatre leadership, including roles as an indie producer, executive director of a community theatre, and her current position as Managing Artistic Director of Empire Theatre Company. She is also the founder of Theatre without Walls.
With more than 50 plays to her credit, Coudle-King's work has been produced nationwide, often focusing on social justice themes and women's stories throughout history. Her range extends from poignant drama to sharp comedy, drawing inspiration from icons like Mel Brooks and the legendary Monty Python. She has been commissioned to create original works addressing topics such as domestic violence, mental health in rural communities, and family dynamics involving disabilities. In addition to her writing, she serves as an Associate Teaching Professor at the University of North Dakota and is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.
The staged reading is free to attend, with donations accepted at the door. Advance reservations are encouraged and require a $5.00 donation to secure. Reservations can be made online at centenarystageco.org or by phone at (908) 979 – 0900.
A cornerstone of Centenary Stage Company's programming since 1992, the Women Playwrights Series continues to champion new voices and bold storytelling. The initiative has supported the development of more than 80 female playwrights nationwide and has helped bring 20 world premieres to the stage – solidifying its role as a vital incubator for the emerging theatrical work of women writing for the theatre today.
The box office is open Monday through Friday from 1:00pm – 5:00pm 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.
The 2025-26 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 Heath Village, Visions Federal Credit Union, Explore Warren, the Hackettstown Rotary Club, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.
