Centenary Stage Company's annual Summer Jamfest runs July 14 – August 11. Four shows are on offer: single evening musical performances by Lee Rocker, the George Gee Swing Orchestra and YESSONGS: THE CONCERT and eight performances of the musical "Hair."
Centenary Stage Company’s annual Summer Jamfest will for the first time include a fully-staged musical as the company begins moving in a new direction.
“Hair” will run July 27 – Aug. 5. Artistic Director Carl Wallnau said he sees a future where Jamfest will feature three or four fully-staged musical productions instead of stand-alone concerts. The change will be gradual, he said, with some musical acts already on board for 2019.
“Theater is really what we’re all about,” Wallnau said. “It will also give our theater students the opportunity to stay and work in a professional setting during the summer, extending their performance opportunities and giving them a chance to concentrate on the performance and production aspect of musical theatre.
“As we expand the program in coming years, we may also be in the position to add academic and technique classes as well for those participating in the summer season,” he said.
Jamfest begins July 14 with a performance by bassist Lee Rocker of rockabilly favorites The Stray Cats. The George Gee Swing Orchestra follows on July 21. The summer performances end Aug. 11 with YESSONGS: THE CONCERT, a show that aims to recreate the band’s legendary 1972 concert visually and musically.
Wallnau said choosing “Hair” as the company’s first full summer production was easy: The iconic musical opened on Broadway 50 years ago, in 1968, giving the world now-familiar songs including “Aquarius,” “Good Morning, Starshine” and “Hair.”
The show was historic not only because of its counter-culture message but also it’s impact: Performances were initially banned in England by order of the Lord Chamberlain’s office, which granted performances licenses. An act of Parliament did away with that requirement and “Hair” was the first show once marked “unacceptable” to be performed in London.
“It no longer has the same kind of power but it’s still relevant in what it says about the environment, activism and being yourself,” Wallnau said. “Of course, some people will come see it simply because they’re nostalgic for the music.”
Centenary Stage Company’s 2018 Summer Jamfest
Lackland Performing Arts Center
715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown
Tickets: $ 25-30, available online at http://www.centenarystageco.org/. Concerts begin July 14. For a full schedule, visit http://www.centenarystageco.org.
Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.