CenterStage Theatre

Subscribe to our 2025–26 Season!

The Secret Garden

July 12–20

Music and Lyrics by Marsha Norman, Music by Lucy Simon
Adapted from the classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Based on the classic novel, this enchanting Tony Award-Winning musical  is a timeless masterpiece for all. A tale of resilience, healing, and hope. The Secret Garden follows the story of young Mary Lennox, sent to live with her reclusive uncle after the death of her parents. With the help of a gardener, some departed spirits and a little magic, Mary uncovers the mystery of the manor’s magical garden. Mary’s own personality blossoms alongside the flowers as she transforms the neglected estate and brings peace to the departed and hope to the living. Filled with amazing music, elegant choreography, and a heartwarming story, The Secret Garden is a musical for the young and the young at heart.

Recommended for adults and children 7 years+

Run Time: 2 hours, plus a 15-minute intermission.

Directed by Sara Bickweat Penner
Musical Direction by Dane Noble-Rosema

JCC SummerStage is made possible in part by the Frumel Ureles Fund for Theater Arts.

Autumn in NYC

November 4–6, 2025

Deluxe Motor Coach travel to and from NYC

• 2 nights accommodation at the Ameritania at Times Square Hotel at 54th and Broadway

• Best available seats for 2 Broadway shows:
Ragtime, the Musical and The Queen of Versailles
(shows subject to change)

  Breakfast each morning

  Plenty of free time to explore the city and/or add a Wednesday matinee performance.

Early bird pricing (through August 1):
$995/person (Double Occupancy)
$1,325/person (Single Occupancy)

Regular Price:
$1,075/person (Double Occupancy)
$1,395/person (Single Occupancy)

Don't Miss This Special Pre-Season Event!

The First Jew in Canada

Written and performed by S. Bear Bergman

The First Jew in Canada: A Trans Tale is a wild journey in story, crossing oceans, religions, genders, and centuries, mapping the life of Jacques LaFargue – the trans Jewish 18th century historical figure whose very existence challenges current perceptions of transgender history and identity. Through the lens of nine verifiable facts, this show begins with the historical records of Jacques LaFargue and overlays the personal narrative of narrator S. Bear Bergman, a Jewish transgender man whose modern life mirrors Jacques’s in startling, hilarious, exhausting and illuminating ways. From daring adventure to startling truth, each fact becomes a gateway to exploring broader themes of identity, history, and the desire to be seen. 

Saturday, October 11 at 7:30pm
Sunday, October 12 at 2pm

Reserved Seats: 
Adults: $28
Students: $20

JCC CenterStage 2025–26 Season

Still

A Romantic Dramedy by Lia Romeo

November 1–16, 2025

Lost love is revisited when Helen and Mark reunite to catch up on old times. Is there still a spark? Have their separate paths finally aligned? Are the things that drove them apart still an obstacle? A charming, thoughtful, and outright funny new play that just may help us find common ground in a divided world.

Directed by Alexa Scott Flaherty

Saturday, November 1, 7:30pm
Sunday, November 2, 2pm
Thursday, November 6, 7pm
Saturday, November 8, 7:30pm
Sunday, November 9, 2pm (Open Captioned)
Thursday, November 13, 7pm
Saturday, November 15, 7:30pm
Sunday, November 16, 2pm

End of the Rainbow

A Play with Music by Peter Quiller

December 6–21, 2025

It’s December 1968 and Judy Garland embarks on what turns out to be her final concert tour. Addictions are taking control, creditors are knocking at her door, her fiancé and musical director do not see eye to eye…but the incomparable Judy Garland is still a force to be reckoned with!  A look at the price of fame that Broadway and West End critics labeled “a masterpiece.” Featuring a dozen classic tunes.

Directed by Kerry Young
Music Direction by Andy Pratt

Saturday, December 6, 7:30pm
Sunday, December 7, 2pm
Thursday, December 11, 7pm
Saturday, December 13, 7:30pm
Sunday, December 14, 2pm (Open Captioned)
Thursday, December 18, 7pm
Saturday, December 20, 7:30pm
Sunday, December 21, 2pm

Hitmakers Rewind

Favorites from 10 Years of Hitmakers

February 7–22, 2026

Rochester’s beloved popular music series has spanned 10 incarnations and featured over 300 songs from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Join us for a joyous evening of favorites, voted on by you, the audience.  

Written by Danny Kincaid-Kunz
Musical Direction & Arrangements by Casey Filiaci
Directed by Ralph Meranto

Saturday, February 7, 7:30pm
Sunday, February 8, 2pm
Wednesday, February 11, 7pm
Thursday, February 12, 7pm
Saturday, February 14, 2pm
Saturday, February 14, 7:30pm
Sunday, February 15, 2pm (Open Captioned)
Wednesday, February 18, 7pm
Thursday, February 19, 7pm
Saturday, February 21, 2pm
Saturday, February 21, 7:30pm
Sunday, February 22, 2pm

Sponsored by
Debby Goldman
Duda Family Foundation

Sweat

A Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play by Lynn Nottage

March 7–22, 2026

Based on interviews with working-class residents of Reading, PA, a group of factory workers share laughs, drinks, and dreams of a better life until layoffs and picket lines threaten their ability to stay afloat. Originally scheduled for 2020 and cancelled due to pandemic shutdowns, this insightful, powerful, and humorous play, at last, comes to the JCC stage.

Directed by Ralph Meranto

Saturday, March 7, 7:30pm
Sunday, March 8, 2pm
Thursday, March 12, 7pm
Saturday, March 14, 7:30pm
Sunday, March 15, 2pm (Open Captioned)
Thursday, March 19, 7pm
Saturday, March 21, 7:30pm
Sunday, March 22, 2pm

The Sound

A New Musical, Inspired by True Events
Conceived by Charlotte Cohn
Music & Lyrics by Christian Douglas

Book by Charlotte Cohn & Jason Odell Williams

May 2–17, 2026

In 1943, deportation orders of over 7,000 Danish Jews inspired their friends and neighbors to help them escape to Sweden across The Sound, sending ripples far beyond the waters that transported them to safety. Set in both past and present, this magical and heroic story of one family’s race against the clock to elude capture may restore your faith in humanity.

Directed by Esther Winter 
Musical Direction by Julie Covach

Saturday, May 2, 7:30pm
Sunday, May 3, 2pm
Thursday, May 7, 7pm
Saturday, May 9, 2pm
Saturday, May 9, 7:30pm
Sunday, May 10, 2pm (Open Captioned)
Wednesday, May 13, 7pm
Thursday, May 14, 7pm
Saturday, May 16, 2pm
Saturday, May 16, 7:30pm
Sunday, May 17, 2pm

Sponsored by
Dawn Lipson
Nelson B. Delavan Foundation

[OC] denotes live open captioned performances.
Ideal seating on right side of the audience.
Click here to learn more.

Give the Gift of Theatre
with a CenterStage Gift Card!

Choose your own amount, send via e-mail or print yourself,
or contact us for a personalized gift certificate.

Support the Arts

It’s no secret that the arts were severely impacted by the pandemic. Even in normal years, ticket sales only cover around half of our total expenses. It’s our subscribers, sponsors, and donors that make it possible for us to present the high quality programming you have come to expect from CenterStage.
 
Gifts of $1,000 or more receive two subscription packages for all five season shows. Please contact us about show sponsorships and other underwriting opportunities. All donors over $100 receive listings in all season playbills and access to the Lipson Lounge for season performances. 
 

Donor: $100
Friend: $250
Patron: $500
Supporter: $1,000
Supporting Show Sponsors: $2,500
Lead Show Sponsor: $5,000
Supporting Season Sponsor: $10,000
Lead Season Sponsor $25,000

E-mail centerstage@jccrochester.org with any questions, or click below to give today!

Click for a list of our supporters.

New Seating, LED Stage Lighting, Sound Equipment, Expanded and Updated Restrooms, and more.

Click for more information.

(Select Designation: “Hart Theater Renovation Campaign”)

NEW for 2025–26 Season:

Lower Prices on Weeknights! Save when you select Wednesday and Thursday night performances.

Prices include $3 processing fee.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I still exchange my ticket for a different performance?

YES! Exchanges for Season Subscribers are complimentary. For individual ticket holders, exchanges are free when exchanging from one performance to another of the same price. When exchanging to a performance of a higher value, the balance of that performance will be due at the time of exchange. There are no refunds for exchanging tickets to a less expensive show date. All exchanges must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Please contact the box office at (585) 461-2000 ext 235 or email centerstage@jccrochester.org.

All sales are final and refunds will only be offered in the case of a canceled show on the part of JCC CenterStage. Credits can be issued if a ticket holder contacts the box office at least 24 hours in advance of the performance they are canceling. The value of your tickets will be placed on your account to be used at a future event within that season, or following season if applied to a May/June/July event*. Credits can be issued due to illness or personal reasons and must be communicated at least 24 hours prior to the show. Credits will not be issued due to poor weather.

*Credits issued from events August 2025 – April 2026 must be used prior to July 2026. May 2026-July 2026 event credits must be used prior to end of Dec 2026.

Do you offer group pricing?

Yes! Groups of 10+ can contact the box office at (585) 461-2000 ext 235 or centerstage@jccrochester.org to arrange a block of seats at $5 off the non-member price of whichever performance they plan to attend.

Crafted from the actual testimonies of Rochester-based Holocaust Survivors, CenterStage Theatre and the Louis S. Wolk Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester commissioned this new play to put a human face on this important time in history. A cautionary tale on the risks of normalized hate, this inspirational and uplifting play ensures that the voices of our Survivors will never be silenced.

Season Sponsors:

Anonymous
Ames Amzalak Memorial Trust
Brighton Securities
Cornell/Weinstein Family Foundation
Jacqueline Davis
Christine and Donald Dear
Deborah G. Goldman
Humanities NY
Elaine Jacobsen
Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester
Kim and Richard Gray
Dr. Elaine Greene
William and Sheila Konar Foundation

Dr. Dawn Lipson
Judge Karen Morris
NYS Council on the Arts
Panache Consignment by Natalie Rae
Progressive Implantology and Periodontics
RBC Wealth Management
Samloff Family Fund
Elaine and Leonard Simon
Frumel Ureles Fund for Theater Arts
St. John’s
Theatre Development Fund
Donna Weinstein 
in Loving Memory of Min and Maynard Weinstein
Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP

With support from

Media Partners:


CenterStage Theatre at the JCC
is a proud member of TheatreRocs

Photos by Steve Levinson, Lou Schneider

Form 990 for year-end 6/30/2023 can be obtained by emailing kzastrow@jccrochester.org

Copyright 2025
The JCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

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