Broadway veteran John Leone, an original cast member of Jersey Boys, will lead the cast of Centenary Stage Company’s production of Maltby & Shire’s Closer Than Ever, the finale of the theatre’s 2026 SUMMERFEST season.  Directed by award-winning director Sara Louise Lazarus, whose acclaimed career spans Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theatre, the intimate musical revue runs July 30 through August 9 in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University.

Leone, whose Broadway credits also include Les Misérables, is joined by returning Centenary Stage Company favorites Julie Galorenzo and Cassie Krajcik, along with actor, singer, musician, and audiobook narrator Alex Perone, who makes his CSC debut. Together, the four-person ensemble brings David Shire and Richard Maltby, Jr.’s celebrated musical revue to life through a moving collection of songs exploring love, family, friendship, career, and the moments that shape our lives.

Featuring music by David Shire and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., Closer Than Ever is widely regarded as one of musical theatre’s finest contemporary revues. Rather than following a traditional narrative, the show unfolds through a series of humorous and heartfelt vignettes that capture the joys, challenges, and everyday moments that define the human experience.

“We’re excited to welcome John Leone to the CSC stage for what promises to be a truly special production,” said Christopher Young, General Manager of Centenary Stage Company. “John’s Broadway experience, combined with Sara Louise Lazarus’s outstanding direction and this exceptional cast, makes Closer Than Ever the perfect finale to another memorable SUMMERFEST season.”

Lazarus is a recipient of both MAC and Bistro Awards for Outstanding Direction and has directed productions featuring acclaimed performers including Kristin Chenoweth and Tovah Feldshuh. Her work has been seen throughout New York and across the country, and she has also taught and directed at Paper Mill Playhouse while leading master classes and workshops for Yale, Harvard, Penn State, and other respected institutions.

Performances will be held July 30 through August 9 in the Kutz Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center, located at 715 Grand Avenue, Hackettstown, New Jersey.

Tickets range from $30 to $35 for adults, with discounts available for students, children, and groups. Thursday evening performances feature CSC’s popular Buy One, Get One Rush Ticket Special, available when purchased in person at the Box Office beginning at 5:00 PM on the day of each Thursday performance.

For tickets and additional information, visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company Box Office at (908) 979-0900. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and two hours prior to each performance.

SUMMERFEST 2026 is sponsored by Explore Warren, a project of the Warren County Tourism Partnership.

The 2025–26 Season of Performing Arts at Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the New Jersey 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, CSC corporate sponsors including Heath Village, Visions Federal Credit Union, Explore Warren, and the many members and supporters of Centenary Stage Company.