(UNION, NJ) -- Kean Stage has announced a return to in-person, indoor performances this fall for its 12th season. The 2021-2022 season will open with Black Violin on Friday, September 24 at 7:30pm at Wilkins Theatre. Wil B. and Kev Marcus started out covering hip-hop songs on their violins and soon realized they had something that audiences had never heard before. Their unique blend of classical, hip hop, jazz, R&B and reggae is often described as "classical boom." Black Violin has collaborated with a diverse group of artists including Kanye West, Tom Petty, Alicia Keys, Aerosmith and Wu-Tang Clan.

“Welcome Back! We are so excited to open our doors and invite you into our theatres for our 2021-2022 season.” stated Steve Cochran, Manager of Kean Stage. “No one could have expected the pandemic to derail our reopening as long as it did, but here we are, ready to provide you with world-class entertainment at Kean University. As we continue into the year additional artists will be announced. Be assured, we are being diligent in providing a safe environment for our patrons, staff and artists.”

The a-capella group Voctave will be the first performance at Enlow Recital Hall this season on Sunday, October 3 at 2:00pm. Voctave is best known for their Disney medleys and showtunes - watched by more than 150 million on YouTube. Their latest album, The Corner of Broadway & Main Street Vol. 2, debuted at number 3 on the iTunes chart. Vocatve sings original arrangements of Disney and Broadway hits and have collaborated with the Boston Pops, London Symphony, Marvin Hamlisch and David Foster.  

Join Kean Stage on Saturday, October 23 at 7:30pm for An Evening with Jimmy Webb at Enlow Recital Hall. Singer, songwriter and composer Jimmy Webb is the only artist to receive Grammy Awards for music, lyrics and orchestration. Among his many timeless hits are The Worst That Could Happen; By the Time I Get to Phoenix; Wichita Lineman; Up, Up and Away and MacArthur Park.

The hit public radio and podcast series Selected Shorts returns to Kean Stage on Saturday, October 30 at 7:30pm at Enlow Recital Hall. Selected Shorts: Tales After Dark is an evening full of beguiling tales filled with cryptic characters, mysterious surroundings, and nail-biting intrigue. Master storytellers Ray Bradbury, Robertson Davies, and more conjure up gothic Frankencats, vengeful creatures, and a coven of vampires gathered for a family reunion. With performances by four-time Tony winner Boyd Gaines, Sonia Manzano (Sesame Street) and Anthony Rapp (Star Trek: Discovery). Actors are subject to change.

Broadway's leading man Norm Lewis performs at Enlow Recital Hall on Saturday, December 18 at 7:30pm. Mr. Lewis will be returning to Broadway this fall starring in Chicken and Biscuits at the Circle In The Square Theatre. He recently appeared in the Broadway revival of Once on This Island and as Sweeney Todd in the Off-Broadway production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Barrow Street Theatre, receiving the AUDELCO Award for his performance. In May of 2014, he made history as The Phantom of the Opera’s first African American Phantom on Broadway.

Spend an afternoon with the Branford Marsalis Quartet on Sunday, January 30 at 3:00pm at Wilkins Theatre. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. After more than three decades of existence, the Branford Marsalis Quartet is revered for its uncompromising interpretation of a kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics.

To ensure the safety of all patrons, staff and artists, Kean Stage will be implementing specific safety protocols for all indoor performances. Masks will be required for audiences attending indoor performances, regardless of vaccination status. All seating will be sanitized between performances and hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the lobby. Touchless ticketing, as well as, printed and digital playbills, will be available for all patrons.

Tickets range from $28-$75 and can be purchased online at www.keanstage.com or by contacting the Box Office at (908)737-7469. The Box Office is currently open Tuesday-Friday, 10:00am-3:00pm.

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 complement 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. 

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.