Kean University to Welcome Natalie Merchant & Tomaseen Foley Next Month

The Gene and Shelley Enlow Recital Hall, currently celebrating its fifth anniversary on the grounds of Kean University's East Campus, will kick off its much anticipated spring season with a pair of groundbreaking performances by two of the world's most eclectic artists. Platinum recording artist and prolific songwriter Natalie Merchant visits Enlow Hall on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. for an evening of all new works, while master storyteller Tomáseen Foley's Irish Times arrives just in time for St. Patrick's Day on Sunday, March 15 at 3 p.m. Tickets are currently sold-out for Ms. Merchant, but limited seating is still available for Mr. Foley's Irish Times.

Perhaps best known as the former lead singer of the famed folk-rock band 10,000 Maniacs, Ms. Merchant has since gone on to a successful solo career, quickly establishing herself as one of the preeminent women in pop music with hits like Carnival and Wonder. Her self-titled, self-produced sixth studio album was released in 2014, and features 19th and 20th-century poetry adapted to music augmented by strings, brass and woodwinds in sparse to lush arrangements.

A master of the much-beloved Irish narrative, Tomáseen Foley and his ensemble of world-class Celtic musicians, traditional Irish dancers, and singers from both sides of the Atlantic bring fiery music, stirring ballads, foot-stomping traditional dances, and unbelievable stories to exhilarating life on stage. Tickets for Irish Times are $35 - $45, and may be purchased by calling the Kean Stage box office at 908-737-SHOW (7469) or visiting http://enlowhall.kean.edu/. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Kean Stage Box Office, located in Kean University's Wilkins Theatre at 1000 Morris Avenue in Union.

Completed in 2009, the Eugene and Shelley Enlow Recital Hall was specifically designed to showcase world-class musicians in an intimate setting. Conveniently situated on Kean University's East Campus in Hillside, the 5,000 square foot, 324-seat performance hall is home to an exclusive Fazioli F308 concert grand piano and professional recording studio. For more information on Enlow Hall's amenities and upcoming programming, please visit http://enlowhall.kean.edu/.

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, please call the Kean Stage box office at 908-737-SHOW (7469), email ticket@kean.edu, or visit http://www.keanstage.com/.