By: Megan Costello | Publish Date: September 28, 2026
When the leaves start to fall and the air gets a little crisper, many emotions are up in the air. From the melancholy of summer’s end and the stress of coursework starting to pile up, to the joys of the upcoming holiday season, the fall semester is a time of great turbulence for many.
This fall, Kean Stage will be providing the Kean community with a wide variety of performances, including performances by soul icons, musicals about strange weddings, and heart-to-hearts with the Moon.
No matter what surprises the changing seasons bring, you can always count on Kean Stage to deliver productions as diverse and vibrant as the Kean community itself. Here are some highlights of this semester’s performance season to look forward to.
The Stylistics
Early into October, Philadelphian soul group The Stylistics (currently comprised of Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, and Jason Sharp) will share their legendary music with the Kean community.
Reaching smash levels of success in the 1970s, the group is known for weaving elegant, romantic lyrics with lush, artistic musicianship. Their sensitivity to the wonders of R&B is sure to deliver an unforgettable night of music.
The Stylistics will be performing at 3:00 p.m. on October 4, 2026, at Wilkins Theatre. Tickets will range from $68-93.
References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot
For a little over a week in October, Kean’s Department of Theatre will be putting on José Rivera’s Obie Award winning play, References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot. The play is directed by Joshua Feliciano-Sanchez Moser.
References tells the tale of lonely housewife Gabriela, as she struggles to cope with her husband Benito’s absence while he fights in the Gulf War. Gabriela indulges in a rich, surreal fantasy world, where she confides in her pet cat, a coyote, and the Moon.
The play will be performed at Bouer Boucher from Friday, October 9 to Saturday, October 17. Showtimes and ticket prices will vary by date, so be sure to check the info and ticket pages carefully. References is recommended for those age 14 and up, due to strong language, mature themes (including war, infidelity, toxic masculinity, and PTSD), and scenes involving staged kissing/sexual contact.
The Drowsy Chaperone
As the Kean community treks through the middle of the fall semester, the Department of Theatre will be providing much needed relief with their production of the 5-time Tony award winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone, directed by Holly R. Logue.
The Drowsy Chaperone follows a man as he listens to the soundtrack of a fictitious Broadway musical from the 1920s. As he explains the (rather unhinged) plot of the musical to the audience, actors bring it to life around him; portraying soon-to-be-wed lovers, drunken chaperones, gangsters and more.
The Drowsy Chaperone will run from November 13 to November 21 at Bauer-Boucher, and tickets are $15-18. Similarly to References, performance times and ticket prices will vary from date to date, so pay attention to the info and ticket websites. Drowsy is recommended for those ages 10 and up due to mild language, adult themes, and references to alcohol.
Fall Choral Concerts
- No tickets, free admission all dates
Under the direction of Rachel Carlson, PhD and Professor Christine Scott, Kean University’s choral ensembles, Concert Choir, Chorale, and University Choir will be returning to Enlow Recital Hall this winter better than ever. Typically, the concert happens in one big performance, but this semester, the concerts will be happening over two dates to allow each choir more performance time.
Chorale (led by Carlson) will be performing on November 21, 2026, starting at 7:30 p.m.. Concert Choir (also led by Carlson) and the newly formed University Choir (led by Scott) will perform on December 6, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.. Both concerts will happen at Enlow Recital Hall, and admission is free to the public.
Chorale’s concert will feature a full performance of Mozart’s Requiem. The Concert and University Choir concert will feature music from a diverse group of genres, time periods, and composers, including gospel, art songs, and traditional pieces from various cultures. Justine Langman will serve as the collaborative pianist.
A Christmas Carol
CMI Entertainment and Entertainment Central Productions Orlando will be ringing in the winter holiday season with their heartfelt theatrical production of Charles Dickens’ iconic novel of the same name. With dazzling costumes, immersive staging, and a timeless tale of redemption, this production is sure to get the whole family in the holiday spirit.
This nationally-touring show will be performing at Wilkins Theatre on December 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $38-52.
Clifford the Big Red Dog: The Musical
Produced by TheaterWorksUSA, the playful yet gigantic puppy Clifford will be coming to Kean in a hilarious new musical.
Worried that his humongous size is causing problems for his family, Clifford the Big Red Dog successfully wishes to become a normal sized. Living as a small dog goes well for him, until his friends get into trouble, and Clifford must learn to put his true size to use.
Clifford will be performing on Saturday, December 12 at 11:00 a.m. in Wilkins Theatre. Tickets cost $20-28. It is especially recommended for children grades pre-K to second.
Is There Life After High School?
As the Fall Semester comes to a close, Kean’s musical theatre workshop class will put on a staged production of Is There Life After High School? in Enlow Hall. The musical explores all the nostalgic highs and painful lows of high school, and is great for teens and young adults.
Is There Life After High School? will be performed for one night only on December 17 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will range from $15-18.
Whether you’re a music lover, theatre lover, or just looking for something fun to see with your friends and family, Kean Stage’s lineup this fall will be serving up poignant storytelling, passion-filled music, and hilarious moments for everyone to enjoy.
For an extended list of more performances at Kean, box office information, and contact information, do not hesitate to visit the Kean Stage website, linked below.
Click here for the KeanStage website’s homepage
Click here for box office information
You must be logged in to post a comment.