Pictured: John J. Wooten, Producing Artistic Director and Nick Gandiello, Education and Play Festival Manager of Premiere Stages; Diane Senerchia, Executive Director, Northfield Bank Foundation; Drew Hirschfield and Jennifer Pillaga, Residency Teaching Artists, Mrs. Jennifer Cirillo and teachers and staff of Roosevelt Elementary School in Rahway and students in Mrs. Cirillo's sixth grade class who particpated in the residency. Photo by Ian Alfano.

(UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages, the professional theatre company in residence at Kean University, has returned to the Rahway School District in 2024, with a playwriting residency at Roosevelt Elementary School, graciously funded by the Northfield Bank Foundation.

Over the course of seven weeks, 18 sixth grade students at the Roosevelt Elementary School have learned the basics of playwriting and worked collaboratively to write original short plays for the stage. Premiere Stages Teaching Artists used the novel Blended by Sharon Draper, which the students were reading in class, as a launching pad to explore themes of identity and authenticity, and ultimately guided students through writing about friendships and overcoming conflicts. The residency culminated in a school wide assembly of the student-written monologues and scenes, performed by professional actors.

“Northfield Bank Foundation is proud to support the arts program at Kean University,” stated Diane Senerchia, Executive Director of Northfield Bank Foundation. “Northfield believes that the arts foster innovation and are crucial elements to our communities, and we salute the work and dedication of Premiere Stages and Kean University’s arts programming.”

The mission of the Northfield Bank Foundation is to support not-for-profit groups, institutions, schools or other organizations operating in the communities in which Northfield Bank does business - specifically Staten Island, Brooklyn and Central New Jersey. The Foundation focuses its efforts on projects to support education, health and human services, youth programs, and other types of community organizations or civic-minded projects that improve the quality of life around us. The Foundation has given to date in excess of $10 million.

Premiere Stages’ education programs, under the umbrella of the Premiere Play Factory, have introduced theatre to thousands of children across New Jersey, particularly those children in underserved and underfunded school districts. Through our playwriting residencies, Play Factory Performance Series of professional theatre for young audiences, and Camp Premiere for middle and high school students, we introduce students to theatre with an eye towards increasing literacy, supporting English language learners, modeling the collaborative process, and encouraging self-expression.

“The partnership between Premiere Stages and the Northfield Bank Foundation continues to be an extremely vital and important collaboration,” stated John J. Wooten, Producing Artistic Director of Premiere Stages. “Support from the Foundation has been instrumental in expanding the arts in Rahway’s public schools and providing the participating students with an essential outlet for creative expression.”

Sixth grade language arts teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School, Mrs. Jennifer Cirillo, was asked her thoughts about this play residency.  "I am fortunate to have another opportunity to work along with [Lead Teaching Artist] Mr. Drew Hirschfield !  It's an incredible opportunity to watch the growth of students who had no previous knowledge of play writing, to have their written scripts acted out by professional actors! This awe-inspiring program enabled students to develop their own characters and to see them come to life,” said Mrs. Cirillo. “It was amazing for students to see that what started out as a small idea, developed into an entire play. When the students were able to watch and listen to professionals read and act out their work, the expressions on their faces were priceless.”

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, Carole Shaffer-Koros and Robert Koros and ExxonMobil Foundation, The Dubose and Dorothy Heyward Foundation, Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation, The Northfield Bank Foundation, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, The Union Foundation, E.J. Grassmann Trust, The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, The Union County HEART Grant and through the generous support of individual patrons and local organizations. Discover Jersey Arts is our marketing partner. Visit JerseyArts.com for more information about other arts programming happening around the Garden State.

Premiere Stages is committed to producing topical plays and interactive programs that reflect people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, national origins, nationalities, ancestry, religious groups, gender expression or identities, sexual orientation, political beliefs, ages, abilities and disabilities.

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.

Kean University, New Jersey’s urban research university, is a national institution of higher education recognized for its diversity, innovation and the social mobility of its graduates. Founded in 1855 as a teachers college, Kean has evolved into a thriving research university that supports students as they persist to graduation, give back to their communities and launch successful careers. Kean’s six colleges offer more than 50 undergraduate programs, six doctoral degree programs and more than 70 options leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications, across a full range of academic subjects. With campuses in Union, Toms River and Manahawkin, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, as well as Kean Online, the University provides students of all backgrounds an affordable and accessible world-class education.