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Centenary Stage Company’s 2026 Fringe Festival continues in Hackettstown with two more intimate shows in November: a solo play about a celebrated American painter, followed by a backstage comedy about the Broadway crew members audiences never see. Both play the Kutz Theatre at the Lackland Performing Arts Center, with four performances each.
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Ghost Dance: Picture of a Madman
- Town: Hackettstown
- Where: Kutz Theatre, Lackland Performing Arts Center, 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown
- When: Thursday, November 12 through Sunday, November 15, 2026. Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.
- Cost: Tickets from $20 to $30, plus a $2 per ticket fee
In February of 1916, Ralph Albert Blakelock’s landscape “Brook by Moonlight” sold at auction for $20,000, a record at the time for a painting by a living American artist, and newspapers called him America’s greatest artist. This solo show, created and performed by Blakelock’s own great-great granddaughter, tells the story of his life and times, from his early work in the style of Thomas Cole and the Hudson River School to the brooding, dreamlike landscapes that anticipated Abstract Expressionism by more than half a century. It is a rare chance to hear an artist’s story from his own family.
Unseen
- Town: Hackettstown
- Where: Kutz Theatre, Lackland Performing Arts Center, 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown
- When: Thursday, November 19 through Sunday, November 22, 2026. Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.
- Cost: Tickets from $20 to $30, plus a $2 per ticket fee
Kimberly Prentice’s Unseen gives audiences an all access pass to Broadway’s backstage. You follow Pam, a veteran star dresser, as she pulls off complicated costume changes, handles quirky actor demands and stays hidden in the shadows with the rest of the crew. When the pressure of being invisible gets heavy, her allies rally around her so she can finally stand up and be seen. Theater lovers who have ever wondered what happens in the wings will love it. Note that the show includes some salty language.
Ticket Deals and Tips
Centenary Stage offers a few ways to save on Fringe shows. A Buy One, Get One rush ticket special is available for selected performances starting at 5:30 p.m., students from any school can get $10 rush tickets for Friday evening shows, and alumni get $10 off an adult ticket every Friday. Terms apply to each offer, and all ticket sales are final, so check the performance calendar on the show page before you go. The box office can be reached at 908-979-0900.
The Kutz Theatre is a small space, which is part of the charm of the Fringe series: you are close enough to the performers to catch every expression. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to park on campus and pick up tickets, and make a night of it with dinner on Main Street in downtown Hackettstown before the show.
What Comes Next at Centenary Stage
After the Fringe Festival wraps, Centenary Stage moves into its Family Holiday Spectacular, Disney’s Frozen: The Musical, which runs November 27 through December 13, 2026 in the larger Sitnik Theatre. If you enjoy the Fringe shows, it is worth booking holiday seats early.
Want more ideas for a night out? Browse the rest of our Shop Warren County guide for theater, live music, wineries and holiday events across the county.
Photo: Zeete, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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