Kean Stage returns to live performances with Black Violin
originally published: 09/22/2021
(UNION, NJ) -- 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." See for yourself when the classical/hip-hop crossover superstars behind Black Violin open Kean Stage’s 12th season on Friday, September 24 at 7:30pm in the Wilkins Theatre.
“We are so excited to have Black Violin open our season and our return to live performances.” said Manager of Kean Stage Steve Cochran. “Black Violin was originally scheduled to perform at Kean Stage in April 2020, and when we began making plans to reopen, they were one of the first groups we rebooked.”
Black Violin returns to the stage this fall on the “Impossible Tour” bringing their Grammy-nominated album Take the Stairs to audiences across the country. Fans can expect to hear top hits Impossible is Possible and Showoff, from the album that Billboard claims, “continues to celebrate Black Violin’s genre-less approach to music.”
Pre-pandemic, Black Violin was playing over 200 shows a year (many of these are performances for young low-income students in urban communities - in the last year alone, the group played for over 100,000 students) with the goal of challenging stereotypes and preconceived notions of what a “classical musician” looks and sounds like.
“The stereotypes are always there, embedded so deep in our culture,” says Wil. “Just by nature of our existence we challenge those ideas. It’s a unique thing that brings people together who aren’t usually in the same room, and in the current climate, it’s good to bring people together.”
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Tickets range from $23-$50 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 Monday and Friday, 10:00am- 3:00pm and Tuesday-Thursday, 10:00am- 6:00pm.
To ensure the safety of all patrons and staff, Kean Stage will be implementing specific safety protocols for all indoor performances. Masks will be required for all patrons, regardless of vaccination status. All seating will be sanitized before the performance and hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the lobby.
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.
Here is a look at upcoming shows taking place from April 16-23, 2024 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.
Here is a look at upcoming shows taking place from April 16-23, 2024 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.
(AUSTIN, TX) - Since the nation's inception nearly two and a half centuries ago, music has informed, interpreted, and inspired our national identity. To celebrate and explore this remarkable heritage, the LBJ Presidential Library and the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music at Monmouth University announce the premiere of the exhibition Music America: Iconic Objects from America's Music History. Opening at the LBJ Presidential Library on Saturday, February 17, during Presidents' Day weekend, the exhibition will be on display through August 11, 2024.
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