(UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company in residence at Kean University, in partnership with Matheny Arts Access and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, will present Plays by People on Saturday, March 27 at 4:00pm EST on Zoom. Plays by People will feature short works of prose, monologues, theatrical scenes and poetry by Arts Access contributor Cheryl Chapin. Featured works include: “Tea & Venom”, “Tea & Me”, “Ghostly Acquaintances” and “The Seasons”. The virtual presentation will also showcase pieces of visual art by Arts Access creators.

“We are so pleased to continue our long collaboration with Matheny Arts Access as part of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance Stages Festival,” stated John J. Wooten, Producing Artistic Director of Premiere Stages “This  presentation of Cheryl’s fine work is just the beginning of an expanded commitment with Matheny to share the work of Arts Access artists with a broader audience.”

Cheryl Chapin has won a number of awards for her art. Recently, Gallery 24/7 selected one of her original digital paintings for its public art project, Art on Traffic Control Boxes. Her work has also been exhibited at the Wallace Art Gallery in Overlook Hospital, Summit, NJ; Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ; and Johnson & Johnson in Raritan, NJ. Cheryl has composed numerous poems and essays, and some have been featured in Arts Access’ annual arts celebration, Full Circle.

Plays by People is free. Advance registration is required to attend the reading. For more information and to register for the reading visit www.premierestagesatkean.com .

Plays by People will benefit Matheny Arts Access which empowers individuals with disabilities to create art without boundaries. Through the use of innovative systems and techniques, participants can take part in the visual, performing and literary arts. Regardless of their disability, clients are provided with the tools and materials needed to produce complete pieces of work. To make a donation, click here.

This event is part of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance 2021 Stages Festival, made possible by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; Bank of America; The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey; OceanFirst Foundation; the George A. Ohl, Jr. Trust; New Jersey Historical Commission; and Fund for the New Jersey Blind. www.njtheatrealliance.org/stages

Premiere Stages wishes to express gratitude to the following Performers’ Unions: ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS, AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS, SAG-AFTRA through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear in this event.

Premiere Stages offers affordable prices, air-conditioned facilities and free parking close to the theatre. Premiere Stages also provides free or discounted tickets to patrons with disabilities. All Premiere Stages facilities are fully accessible spaces, and companion seating is available for patrons with disabilities. Assistive listening devices and large print programs are available at all times; publications in alternate formats are available with advance notice. Please call 908-737-4077 for a list of sign-interpreted, audio-described or open-captioned performances. For more information, please visit Premiere Stages online at www.premierestagesatkean.com.

Premiere Stages is made possible in part through funding from W. John Bauer and Nancy Boucher, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Northfield Bank Foundation, The Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life Improvement, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, The Union Foundation, E.J. Grassmann Trust, The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Investors Foundation, The Union County HEART Grant, Les Malamut Art Gallery, Actors’ Equity Foundation, and through the generous support of individual patrons and local organizations. Discover Jersey Arts is our marketing partner. Visit www.JerseyArts.com for more information about other arts programming happening around the Garden State. 

Created in 2004, Premiere Stages is the professional Equity theatre in residence at Kean University. Through its unique partnership with Kean, Premiere’s play development programs, educational initiatives, and professional development opportunities actively embrace the university's academic curriculum while expanding the scope, accessibility, and prestige of the professional programming on campus.  

Founded in 1855, Kean University has become 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 nearly 15,000 students. The University’s five 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 60 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education.   

Photo: Cheryl Chapin. Photo provided by Matheny Arts Access.