'CHITA & TUNE' to Launch Kean Stage's 2017-18 Performance Season

Kean Stage, a presenter of world-class performances, continues to bring an impressive line-up of award-winning artists, engaging family events, dynamic dance companies and multicultural music and shows to Kean University as part of its 2017-18 Season.

Two of Broadway's most celebrated legends, Chita Rivera and Tommy Tune, who collectively have won 12 Tony Awards, will be the season opener at Kean's intimate Enlow Recital Hall on Saturday, September 16 at 7:30 p.m., in the premier performance of their nationwide tour, Chita & Tune - Two for the Road. Rivera and Tune will present a second matinee performance on Sunday, September 17, at 3 p.m.

"I am thrilled to be joining my dear friend, the incomparable Tommy Tune, on this concert tour," said Rivera. "When we performed together in my benefit concert for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in 2013, we knew then that we had something special."

Rivera, the winner of two Tony Awards, is best known for her starring roles in West Side Story, Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman and The Visit. She was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and was the first Hispanic woman ever chosen to receive the coveted Kennedy Center Honor.

Tune has been honored with 10 Tony Awards, including outstanding performer for My One and Only and Seesaw; best choreography for A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, Grand Hotel and The Will Rogers Follies; and best direction of a musical for Nine. In 2015, he received the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

"I love Chita Rivera," said Tune. "This is a dream come true!"

Steve Cochran, manager of Kean Stage, is elated that two of theatre's most beloved stars will open the upcoming season.

"We are honored that Chita Rivera and Tommy Tune have chosen Kean University to kick off their national tour of Chita & Tune - Two for the Road," he said. "These two legendary performers have made an invaluable contribution to the fabric of American theater, and now local audiences will have a chance to experience their immense talent at Kean's Enlow Recital Hall."

Among the other artists appearing at Kean Stage will be former "Teen Angel" Frankie Avalon, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love, Russian-American violinist Yevgeny Kutik, renowned Spanish guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas, and The Modern Gentlemen, backup singers for Frankie Valli.

For the holidays, the Russian Grand Ballet will delight audiences of all ages with the classic ballet, The Nutcracker, and America's Got Talent finalists Sons of Serendip will perform their holiday concert, Christmas Beyond the Lights.

In March 2018, Kean Stage will also present BiRDMAN LiVE, in which four-time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sánchez, who created the original score for the Academy Award-winning Birdman, or the Unexpected Virtue of Innocence, will perform the entire drum score live alongside the visually stunning film.

"These are just a few of the diverse and outstanding artists on our roster for the season," said Cochran. "We have something for everyone here at Kean Stage."

Tickets can be purchased at the Kean Stage Box Office in Wilkins Theatre at Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ, by phone at 908-737-7469 or online at www.keanstage.com.

Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The University's five undergraduate colleges offer more than 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers four doctoral degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master's degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education. Visit www.kean.edu.

Kean Stage at Kean University educates, entertains and challenges audiences by presenting high-quality programs that reflect the diversity of the region and of the arts. These cultural offerings complement the intellectual life of the classroom for our students, increase opportunities for community engagement, and provide affordable access to the arts for New Jersey residents. Audiences of all ages are invited to enjoy a wide range of professional theatre, Broadway tours, dance performances, concerts, international films and family-friendly shows. In addition, Kean Stage encourages University students to attend events, and provides several options to explore the performing arts through master classes, workshops, lectures, employment opportunities as ushers, backstage technicians and box office staff. Visit www.keanstage.com.

Pictured: Chita Rivera and Tommy Tune. Photo by Joseph Sinnott/THIRTEEN Productions LLC, Peter Glebo.