Many students may not know the different theatres and galleries that are a part of the Kean University campus. With many different theatres and galleries that Kean University has, students can enjoy different concerts and exhibitions that the Kean University theaters and galleries offer. Below are the details of each theatre and gallery:
Gene and Shelly Enlow Recital Hall: Mainly known as Enlow Recital Hall, Enlow is located in East Campus on North Avenue in Hillside. With five seasons, and many sold out shows, it is expected that the 2014-2015 season—and many more seasons to come—will have an abundance of sold out shows as well. The Enlow Recital Hall consists of a recording studio equipped with a PC Samplitude and Mac ProTool dual recording station. “People are usually in there recording music,” comments the theatre director Lindsay Gambini, “we also use it to record the shows that happen in the recital hall.” The recital hall also includes two beautiful grand pianos—a Fazioli Concert Piano and a Model D Steinway Piano. Several percussion instruments like the Marimba, which is a type of bell, and a Yamaha Professional Series Hammered Copper Timpani also reside in Enlow. Along with these several features comes a café, a rehearsal room and a few chorus dressing rooms, as well as a seating of 300. The various performers that have performed at the recital hall includes Sutton Foster, Vienna Boys Choir, and Herbie Hancock. For more information about Enlow Recital Hall, as well as upcoming performances and ticket sales, please visit the website of Enlow Recital Hall.
Eugene G. Wilkins Theatre: Otherwise known as Wilkins Theatre, this theatre lies on the Main Campus of Kean University on Morris Avenue. This theatre is known to have featured a variety of music from different cultures like New Zealand, Senegal and Mexico. Wilkins Theatre is also known to have a variety of performances that ranges from dance, theatre, and musical performances. Hundreds of people can enjoy a show or two at this theatre as it can hold about 500 audience members. Along with the performances mentioned above, Wilkins Theatre also features acts presented by The Kean University Dance Ensemble [KUDE]. KUDE performs during the spring semester and usually performs about two to three times a year. Lindsay Gambini, the director of theatre mentions that approximately 50,000 tickets were sold between Wilkins Theatre and Enlow Hall Recital, both a part of Kean Stage, in the 2013-2014 season.
Kean University Galleries: Located on campus are five distinct galleries for people to enjoy. The galleries include:
The Karl and Helen Burger Gallery: Located on the first floor of the Maxine and Jack Lane Center for Academic Success [CAS], this gallery—which is open to all students, faculty and staff, and visitors—has a mission of educating all visitors the different arts from a variety of cultures around the world. This gallery is known to be the largest art gallery on the campus of Kean University and there are four shows presented at this gallery every academic year. The gallery is open during the summer, fall and spring semesters. The Gallery’s hours of operation during the 2015 spring semester are:
Monday: 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The James Howe Gallery: This gallery is known to feature work from Kean University students of the Kean University Graduate Program, faculty and any visiting artists. This gallery is open during the fall, spring and summer semesters and is located on the first floor of the Vaughn Eames building. The James Howe Gallery is known to be the teaching gallery for Kean University students and all shows are sponsored by the departments of the Kean University School of Visual and Performing Arts. The gallery’s hours of operation during the 2015 spring semester are:
Monday: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday: 12:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Nancy Dryfoos Gallery: Located on the first floor of the Nancy Thompson Library, the Nancy Dryfoos Gallery features plenty of artwork each month created by Kean University alumni and faculty. This gallery came about in the year of 1991 after the famous artist Nancy Dryfoos pasted away that same year. The Nancy Dryfoos Foundation had donated approximately 250 artworks created by Dryfoos to Kean University that year, as well as help fund the Nancy Dryfoos Gallery. Dryfoos, a native of Rochelle, New York, is known to create fabulously semi-realistic sculptures and prints. Her artwork displays expressionism as well as impressionism “with a dash of romanticism” countless critics claim. Dryfoos had become interested in the art department of Kean University when a dear friend of hers, Professor Judy Rosenthal, mentioned it to her. The hours of operation for this gallery is Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.
The Human Rights Institute Gallery [HRI]: This gallery is also located in the Nancy Thompson Library, and is known to feature many exhibits about human rights. The gallery has a purpose of teaching and providing awareness to the issues of human rights that are taken away by many due to cultural laws, gender equality, and many other reasons that take away the natural rights that a human being has. HRI opened in 2010 with a dedication ceremony that had featured American Human Rights Activist and writer, Kerry Kennedy. She is currently the co-founder of the HRI, formally known as the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights, which is known as one of the leading Human Rights Advocacy in the world. Hours of operation:
Monday: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Student Art Gallery: Located in Vaughn Eames and open during the fall, spring and summer semesters, this gallery is a great way for students to showcase their artwork in a high quality gallery. The art gallery consists of artworks that range from drawings and paintings to printmaking and book arts.
Don’t miss out on any upcoming shows and exhibitions expected to be held in any of these theaters or art galleries. More information of these galleries and theaters can be found at the arts page of Kean University, as well as the gallery page of Kean University.
