Premiere Stages presents the NJ Premiere of "Flawless" by John J. Wooten

Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 09/08/2026

(UNION, NJ) -- Premiere Stages at Kean University presents the New Jersey premiere production of Flawless by John J. Wooten, September 3-20 in Kean University’s Bauer Boucher Theatre Center. Flawless had its world premiere at Penguin Rep and is being produced in partnership with Penguin Rep and Shadowland Stages. In this darkly comedic play, a writer and an AI software designer engage in a battle of wits to create the next great play in this tale about the impending intersection of technology and creativity.

Director Joe Brancato, Artistic Director of Penguin Rep, returns to direct. Original cast Ellen Adair, Michael Frederic and Alexander Rios reprise their roles from Penguin Rep production.

John J. Wooten’s plays have been produced commercially Off- Broadway, internationally and in regional theaters across America. Published plays include: Trophies, Humbug, The Role of Della (Concord), and Kiss the Bride (Dramatic Publishing Company). John wrote the screenplays for The Role of Della (Toronto, Ft. Lauderdale, Cleveland and DC Film Festivals) and Cat in the Pan (Montreal Film Festival).

Director Joe Brancato, cited by The New York Times as “one of America’s most insightful directors,” is Artistic Director of Penguin Rep Theatre where he has staged nearly 200 theatrical productions. Joe has also directed Off-Broadway at the Public, Cherry Lane, 59 East 59, Primary Stages, Theatre at St. Clements and Westside Theatre, and regionally as, among other, Houston’s Alley Theatre, Cape Playhouse, Capital Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, Delaware Theater Center, George Street Playhuse, Hartford Stage, Royal Manitoba Theatre Center, Seattle Rep, TheaterWorks Hartford, Westport Country Playhouse, and Williamstown Theatre Festival.

The accomplished cast includes Ellen Adair, whose television credits include Chicago Med, The Sinner and Homeland, Michael Frederic whose theatre credits include Linger (Premiere Stages), The Great Divorce (Tour), and After (59E59) and Alexander Rios whose theatre credits include Company (Broadway First National Tour), Drat! The Cat! (J2 Spotlight) and Pip's Island (Theatre Row). Courtney Renee Stallings and Mason Horne are the understudies.

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The professional design team includes Scenic and Costume Designer Christian Fleming, Lighting Designer Martin Vreeland, Projections Designer Yana Biryukova, Original Music and Sound Designer Max Silverman, Props Master Buffy Cardoza with Fight Direction by J. Allen Suddeth. Madeleine Blossom is the Production Stage Manager and Caroline Laberdee is the Assistant Stage Manager. Michael Notardonato serves as the Assistant Director.

Flawless runs September 3 – 20 in the Bauer Boucher Theatre Center on the Kean University campus (1000 Morris Avenue) in Union, N.J. The performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays, September 4 and 11 at 7:30pm, Friday, September 18 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm, Saturdays, September 5 and 12 at 3:00pm & 7:30pm, Saturday, September 19 at 3:00pm and Sundays at 3:00pm.

Tickets are $42 standard, $32 for senior citizens and Kean alumni and staff, $27 for patrons with disabilities and $18 for students, inclusive of any fees. Significant discounts for groups of ten or more apply. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling the box office at 908-737-7469.

Premiere Stages offers affordable prices, air-conditioned facilities and free parking close to the theatre. A series of free interactive lobby talks and post-show discussions are scheduled in conjunction with select performances. All Premiere Stages facilities are fully accessible spaces, and companion seating is available for patrons with disabilities. Premiere Stages also provides free or discounted tickets to patrons with disabilities. Assistive listening devices and large print programs are available at all times; publications in alternate formats are available with advance notice. Sign-interpreted and audio described performances are available by request, at least three weeks in advance. Please call 908-737-4077 or email [email protected] to request these services.

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 Shubert Foundation, Masterwork Music and Art Foundation, The 1772 Foundation, Carole Shaffer-Koros and Robert Koros, The Northfield Bank Foundation, Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation, Union County Savings Bank Charitable 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.

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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. Designated an R2 research university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, Kean ranks among the top eight percent of U.S. universities for research and doctorate production. Founded in 1855 as a teachers college, Kean has evolved into a thriving research university that supports nearly 25,000 students worldwide as they persist to graduation, give back to their communities and launch successful careers.

Kean’s six colleges offer more than 75 undergraduate programs, 10 doctoral programs and more than 90 graduate options leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications, across a full range of academic subjects. With campuses in Union, Jersey City, Toms River and Manahawkin, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, as well as Kean Global, the University provides students of all backgrounds an affordable and accessible world-class education.