(HILLSIDE, NJ) -- Kean University continues to offer exciting and eclectic performances to the public, adding four new shows to its lineup for spring 2020 in Wilkins Theatre and the intimate Enlow Recital Hall. Shows include performances by Taylor 2 Dance Company, Jimmy Webb, Black Violin, and Voctave.
Taylor 2 Dance Company will perform at Wilkins Theatre on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30pm. Renowned choreographer Paul Taylor has been hailed as one of the creators of American modern dance, winning both public and critical acclaim for the vibrancy, relevance and power of his dances.
In establishing Taylor 2, he looked back to the 1954 origins of his company. Several of the dances have been reworked from the original version to enable a smaller ensemble to perform them, still bringing forth the athleticism, humor and range of emotions found in his original work.
Singer, songwriter and composer Jimmy Webb, the only artist to receive Grammy Awards for music, lyrics and orchestration, will perform at Enlow Recital Hall on Saturday, April 4 at 7:30pm. If the name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, the timeless hits he wrote surely will. The Worst That Could Happen; By the Time I Get to Phoenix; Galveston; Wichita Lineman; Up, Up and Away and MacArthur Park, among many others. Maybe he’ll finally explain why “someone left the cake out in the rain.”
The members of Black Violin will bring their Impossible Tour, a performance like no other, to Wilkins Theatre on Saturday, April 18 at 7:30pm. These classically-trained musicians - Wil B. on viola and Kev Marcus on violin - play a genre-shattering mix of classical, hip hop, jazz, R&B and reggae that has often been described as “classical boom.”
For more than a dozen years, Black Violin has been all about taking things further, exceeding expectations and challenging conventions. The classical-meets-hip-hop duo has steadily built a devoted following and a diverse touring base while occupying a musical lane that’s entirely its own. Their new album, Take the Stairs, was released on November 1.
The final shows added takes place on Saturday, April 25 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm when Kean Stage welcomes Voctave to Enlow Recital Hall. The singers in this 11-member a cappella group have performed at Disney theme parks, on Broadway and in venues such as Carnegie Hall. They sing original arrangements of Disney and Broadway hits and have collaborated with the Boston Pops, London Symphony, Marvin Hamlisch and David Foster. With multiple #1 songs and albums on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify, Voctave has also ranked in the Top 25 on Billboard magazine’s charts. Their videos on Facebook and YouTube have received more than 100 million views.
Tickets can be purchased at the Kean Stage Box Office in Wilkins Theatre, by phone at 908-737-7469 or online at www.keanstage.com. Wilkins Theatre is located at 1000 Morris Ave., Union, N.J. on Kean University’s main campus. Enlow Recital Hall is located at 215 North Ave., Hillside, N.J. on Kean University’s east campus.
About Kean University
Founded in 1855, Kean University is one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving more than 16,000 students. The University’s six undergraduate colleges offer more than 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers six doctoral degree programs and more than 80 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union, Toms River, Jefferson and Manahawkin, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education.
ABOUT KEAN STAGE
Kean Stage at Kean University educates, entertains and challenges audiences by presenting high-quality programs that reflect the diversity of the region and of the arts. These cultural offerings compliment the intellectual life of the classroom for our students, increase opportunities for community engagement, and provide affordable access to the arts for New Jersey residents. Audiences of all ages are invited to enjoy a wide range of professional theatre, Broadway tours, dance performances, concerts, international films and family-friendly shows. In addition, Kean Stage encourages University students to attend events, and provides several opportunities to explore the performing arts through master classes, workshops, lectures, and employment opportunities as ushers, backstage technicians and box office staff.
