Kean Stage Kicks Off 2016 with Band of the Royal Marines & TAO's Seventeen Samurai

Kean Stage will usher in the New Year with British Regiments, a highly-anticipated concert by the Band of the Royal Marines and the Pipes, Drums & Highland Dancers of the Scots Guards, in Kean University's Wilkins Theatre on Saturday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Kean previously hosted the Black Watch, a centuries-old regiment still serving as a fully operational battalion in the modern British army, and the Band of the Scots Guards in 2013 for an evening of classics. In their distinguishing white helmets, Royal Marines Bands are celebrated for the quality of their music, visual grandeur, and precision drill. The Band's extensive repertoire includes popular classics, Big Band, stimulating contemporary works, and entertaining solo features. The Corps of Drums bring movement, color, and the tradition of the ceremonial occasions integral to the Royal Marines, whose regular duties include the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, beating retreat on Horseguards Parade, ship launches, Homecoming parades, and remembrance services.

Next, Kean Stage welcomes critically acclaimed Japanese drumming company TAO, fresh off a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, to the Wilkins stage on Saturday, January 30 at 7:30 p.m. Combining explosive Taiko drumming with innovative choreography and breathtaking contemporary costumes, TAO's latest production, Seventeen Samurai, features the same extraordinary precision, energy, and stamina the company is renowned for. Recently honored by the Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner's Awards and cited for their "Outstanding Cultural Contribution" by Oita prefecture, TAO garnered worldwide acclaim for their memorable performance at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and have toured over 22 countries, performing for an estimated 6.5 million spectators. Standard tickets for TAO and the British Regiments are $35.00, with a discounted rate of $20.00 available for children, students, and senior citizens.

Also in January, Kean Stage launches its 2016 International Film Series at Kean's STEM Auditorium with The Last of the Unjust, directed by Claude Lanzmann (Sunday, January 24 at 3:00 p.m.), and I Wish by Hirokazu Koreeda (Sunday, January 31 at 3 p.m.). French documentary The Last of the Unjust examines the life of Benjamin Murmelstein, the last President of the Jewish Council in the Theresienstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia during the Second World War, while the Japanese comedy-drama I Wish tells the story of two brothers whose lives are turned upside down by their parents' divorce. The Film Series, highlighting premier contemporary cinema from around the globe, concludes Sunday, March 6, and all tickets are $5.00 (or free with a Kean University ID).

Tickets for all Kean Stage events may be purchased by calling the box office at 908-737-SHOW (7469) or visiting www.keanstage.com. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office, located in Kean University's Wilkins Theatre at 1000 Morris Avenue in Union. The box office is open Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as one hour before any scheduled performance.

Kean Stage presents professional dance, music and theatre performances in premier venues throughout Kean's campus, including Enlow Hall. Kean Stage's mission is to educate, entertain and challenge audiences by presenting professional programs of high quality that reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of the central and northern New Jersey region. These programs extend and supplement the intellectual life of the classroom, increase opportunities for community and university interaction, and provide affordable access to the arts for New Jersey residents and students of all ages. To purchase tickets or request a season brochure, call the Kean Stage box office at 908-737-SHOW (7469), email ticket@kean.edu, or visit www.keanstage.com.

Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, boasting 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 Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers three doctorate degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master's degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. The University's five undergraduate colleges offer 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. With campuses in Union and Toms River, NJ, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University provides a world-class education. Visit Kean online at www.kean.edu.

Pictured: Kean Stage welcomes British Regiments to the Wilkins Theatre on January 16, 2016. Photo courtesy of Columbia Artists Management, Inc.