Fringe Festival returns to Centenary Stage

HACKETTSTOWN — Centenary Stage Company wraps up its first ever Fringe Festival with Southeast Ohio–based Brick Monkey Theater Ensemble’s production of Tammy Faye’s Final Audition running Nov. 19-22 in the Lackland Center in Hackettstown.

Written by Merri Biechler, directed by Dennis Delaney and performed by Shelley Delaney and David Haugen, Tammy Faye’s Final Audition has become a festival favorite having had critically acclaimed runs at several premiere Fringe Festivals throughout the country.

Tammy Faye Bakker was the sweetheart of Christian TV in the 70’s and 80’s, until it all came crashing down. As she nears the end of her life, she attempts a comeback. Tammy Faye’s Final Audition is a dreamy exercise wherein she auditions to create one final TV talk show called “Tammy Faye Wins at Life.” Throughout, she interacts with all of the important men in her life, including her ex-husband, Jim, her son, Jay, her current husband, Roe Messner, and her one-time co-host, J.J. Bullock. Whether the audition exists as a figment of her imagination or as reality is a determination left to the audience. The piece was inspired by her final interview with CNN’s Larry King seven hours prior to her passing.

Tammy Faye’s Final Audition is a production from The Brick Monkey Theater Ensemble, Southeast Ohio's professional theater company. Members of the Brick Monkey Theater Ensemble have written plays for, performed on, and designed productions at Tony Award winning stages, Broadway, Off-Broadway and major regional theaters, as well as, Emmy-Award winning television networks/series and major feature films.

Tickets for Tammy Faye’s Final Audition are $22.50 for adults on Sunday’s matinee and Friday's evening performance. Tickets for Saturday evening’s performance are $25 for adults. Thursday evening tickets will cost $22.50 for all seats with a buy-one, get-one free rush ticket special when purchased in person at the door prior to performance time. Performances are Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 20 and Saturday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit centenarystageco.org or call the box office at (908) 979–0900. Tickets also may be purchased in person at the box office located in the Lackland Center; 715 Grand Ave. Hacketttstown, NJ. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 1–5 p.m. and two hours prior to every performance.