Premiere Stages Announces Talk-Back Series for THE BEAUTIFUL DARK

Premiere Stages at Kean University has announced dates for its popular talk-back series in conjunction with their highly-anticipated production of 2013 Premiere Stages Play Festival Winner, The Beautiful Dark by Erik Gernand, scheduled to begin performances tonight at 8 p.m. In this affecting new play, a woman's life is turned upside down when she suspects that her teenage son may be planning an attack on a school.

Is her son capable of the unthinkable? And if she's wrong, will she ruin any chance he has at a normal life? Premiere Stages will offer four free interactive discussions (or "talk-backs") with the audience, affiliated artists, and guest speakers directly following the performances on Sunday, September 8 at 3 p.m.; Friday, September 13 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, September 14 at 3 p.m.; and Sunday, September 22 at 3 p.m. All talk-backs will be moderated by resident dramaturg, Clare Drobot.

Pamela Capaci, Executive Director of Prevention Links in Roselle, will join Premiere Stages for a post-show conversation Friday, September 13. Prevention Links' mission is to foster healthy, sustainable communities by empowering people through education, collaboration, and linkages to resources. With community defined as any environment where people live, work, or learn, Prevention Links seeks to leverage existing local resources, eliminate the negative effects of drugs, alcohol, and violence in neighborhoods, and assist in innovating improved educational and health institutions in our local neighborhoods. Prevention Links focuses on identifying and enhancing existing strengths within the individual, family, school, and work setting to serve as the first and most valuable resource.

On Saturday, September 14, Christine Adkins-Hutchison of the Kean University Counseling Center will be on hand following the 3 p.m. matinee for a question and answer session. The Kean Counseling Center is an important resource for Kean University students who desire additional assistance and support during their time in college. Students do not need to be in crisis to come to the Center, which offers individual, couples and group counseling, drug and alcohol counseling, psychiatric services and educational programs.

The Beautiful Dark's closing performance, scheduled Sunday, September 22 at 3 p.m., will feature a post-show dialogue with Shondelle C. Wills-Bryce, who currently works with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families' (DCF) Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships (DPCP) as the Administrator for the Office School Linked Services (OSLS).

The Beautiful Dark runs September 5 - 22, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Standard tickets are $30, with discounted rates of $20 for seniors, and $15 for students and patrons with disabilities. Significant discounts for groups of 10 or more apply. All performances take place in the Zella Fry Theatre in Vaughn Eames Hall, located on the Kean University campus at 1000 Morris Avenue. To purchase tickets or request a season brochure, please call the Kean Stage Box Office at 908-737-SHOW (7469) or visit Premiere Stages online at www.kean.edu/premierestages.

A special benefit performance of The Beautiful Dark is scheduled for Sunday, September 15, beginning with a pre-show reception at Kean University's Human Rights Institute at 1 p.m. The performance, scheduled for 3 p.m., will be followed by dessert and champagne with the cast. Tickets are $100 ($70 of which is tax-deductible), with proceeds to benefit Premiere Stages programming which supports emerging artists by developing and producing new plays. To purchase tickets to the benefit, or request more information, please call 908-737-4092.

Premiere Stages offers air-conditioned facilities and free parking close to the fully accessible spaces. Free or discounted tickets for patrons with disabilities are available. Please call for a list of sign-interpreted, audio-described, or open-captioned performances. Assistive listening devices and large print programs are available upon request. Publications in alternate forms are available with advanced notice.

Premiere Stages is made possible in part through funding from The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Shubert Foundation, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The New Jersey Historical Commission, The Provident Bank Foundation, The Hudson City Savings Bank Foundation, The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Union County HEART Grant, The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, and through the generous support of individual patrons. Discover Jersey Arts is our marketing partner. Visit www.JerseyArts.com for more information about other arts programming happening around the Garden State.

To order tickets or join the mailing list, please call the Kean Stage Box Office at 908-737-SHOW (7469). Brochures and further information can also be downloaded from the Premiere Stages website: www.kean.edu/premierestages.

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