Finally, an exciting program comes to Kean University's students who are seriously interested in a career with the performing arts. John Wooten brings his experience as a Producing Artistic Director to Kean University with the development of Premiere Stages, a new professional actor equity association theater program. This amazing program consists of four components and provides opportunities for Kean Students to work with professional actors, playwrights and designers.An excellent chance for students to gain exposure, the Premiere Stages Play Festival, gives students the opportunity to submit original un-produced and unpublished scripts, and have them publicly read. Some of these scripts will be chosen for continued development, while other opportunities include student readings, staged reading and world premiere stage opportunities with professionals for students with potential.
Another wonderful component is the Premiere Stages Intern Program. This portion provides internship opportunities in stage management, new play development, audience services, administration, education and theater teaching and design. Interns can earn college credit along with a weekly stipend of $150 and FREE housing.
And if those portions of the program aren't exciting enough, the Premiere Artist Series provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a master class with high profile professional artists. Artists spend a one-day residency at Kean University teaching a master class in the afternoon and then participating in a question/answer session for students and the general public alike.
And finally, the program also allows at risk and special needs New Jersey high school students to experience the arts through summer camps, residencies and musical fun with the Premiere Stages Play Factory.
Setting up a professional theater will not only increase enrollment but also offer many incredible opportunities for students to implement their passion for writing and the theater - which Kean has never provided in the past. "The mission of Premiere Stages is to celebrate the ideal model for a professional theater in residence at a growing university. I look forward to helping to facilitate President Farahi's goal of making Kean University the cultural hub for the region," says John Wooten. A leg up from other Arts Universities, this program gives Kean students an upper hand by experiencing what it is like to work in a professional union. John Wooten enthusiastically adds "creating an environment with outside professionals allows Kean Students to get an idea of how professional artists work." And to drive this point home, John Wooten has plans to add a Soap Master Class, enabling students to work with daytime drama actors and have their performances taped.
December 1 marks the launch of the Premiere Stages program at Kean. Hand picked Kean students will attend a master class with current artists of Broadway's Rent and associate conductor, David Truskinoff. Following the master class is a question and answer session in Wilkins Theater at 7pm monitored by Dan Higgins, Executive Director of University Relations. Admission for Kean students is free and only $5 for non-Kean students, so don't miss this remarkable opportunity to experience the arts in a whole new light. Purchase your tickets today by calling the Wilkins Theater Box Office at (908) 737-SHOW (7469).
Students interested in the Premiere Stages program should contact John Wooten at jwooten@kean.edu.
