Department of Theatre Partnerships
Learn about our educational and professional partners.
The Kean Department of Theatre has a long tradition of community touring and engagement, and prizes partnerships that further our ability to educate the artists of tomorrow and entertain and engage our local communities.
Students admitted to the Academy of Performing Arts (APA) at the Union County Vocational & Technical Schools spend their senior year of high school in residence at the Kean Department of Theatre, earning dual credit as freshmen in college. This partnership affords high school students who have spent three years at the UCVTS Scotch Plains Campus as Acting, Technical Theatre, and Dance majors the opportunity to complete 30 credits of Kean coursework at no cost. Kean Theatre faculty bring their expertise to the coursework that furthers the students’ exposure to their majors. The APA students are given the same rights and privileges as regular Theatre majors at Kean: participating in mainstage productions, joining the Kean Theatre Council, and benefiting from guest artist workshops and master classes. APA students who continue their education at Kean can typically graduate in three years, depending on course load.
Equity Through Design Mentorship is designed to increase diversity in TV and Film production by introducing students to behind-the-scenes careers. ETDM matches students from Kean and other select institutions with mentors who are professional set designers, costume designers, art directors and others from the worlds of TV, film and theatre.
Since 2005, Premiere Stages has been Kean’s professional theatre company on campus. Premiere Stages offers understudy and internship opportunities in areas of production, stage management, education, performance, producing, and literary management. The Premiere Artists program has provided Kean University students with professional training, credit towards AEA union affiliation, and paid positions in a professional theatre. Premiere Stages produces the Department of Theatre's Actor Showcase, and sponsors the Playwrighting and Acting as a Profession courses.
Kean Stage (or TMPO) is the professional presenting series at Kean, featuring professional artists and presenters from around the world. Through Kean Stage the Department of Theatre offers On School Time performances of MainStage productions, inviting APA students and other local middle and high school students to a school-time performance with a talkback. The partnership with Kean Stage allows the Department of Theatre opportunities such as private profession-focused conversations with President's Lecture Series Guests like Lauren Ridloff and Giancarlo Esposito, and performance masterclass and backup choir opportunities with concert guests like Patti Lupone, Billy Porter, and Alex Newell.
"I loved the dedication to student opportunity at Kean. I was encouraged to enhance my performance skills, and to also study technical elements of theatre. Kean has an outstanding partnership with equity theatre Premiere Stages, where I completed two student internships for stage management. Through Kean Stage - which partners with many well-known professionals in the industry for the Kean concert series - I had the opportunity to sing alongside professionals like Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, and Melissa J. Winokur. This introduction to the profession helped me grow exponentially and elevated my resume."
"As a student, I had the amazing opportunity to sing on stage in the Kean Stage Concert series with Javier Muñoz and Mandy Gonzalez. Two performers I’ve looked up to for a long time. Between the on-stage rehearsal and the performance time, they were kind enough to share a bit about their experiences and answer some of our questions. To witness their immense talent up close like that was a truly special moment."