NJPAC celebrates former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean's 90th with Broadway-themed bash on April 21.
On the episode of The Art of the Story, WBGO's Janice Kirkel chats with Governor Kean and NJPAC President and CEO John Schreiber about the special fundraising event.
The Broadway Birthday Salute Honoring Gov. Thomas H. Kean will include dinner (5:30pm) on the Betty Wold Johnson stage in NJPAC’s Prudential Hall, and a performance by a quartet of the musical theater world’s brightest young stars presenting songs by New Jersey’s most beloved Broadway composers and lyricists, including Jerry Herman (Mame; Hello, Dolly!), Jerome Kern (Showboat) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked).
Governor Kean first imagined creating an Arts Center in downtown Newark more than a generation ago, during his second term in office. This special evening, curated by leading Broadway musical director, conductor and pianist Andy Einhorn (currently leading the orchestra for Gypsy at the Majestic Theatre), is a tribute to Governor Kean’s service to the citizens of New Jersey and his lifelong love of musical theater.
In addition to honoring Governor Kean, the evening will serve as a fundraiser for NJPAC’s extensive social impact programming, including its arts education programs that reach almost 50,000 children and families every year, community engagement programs that offer more than 200 free events and performances across Greater Newark each season, and Arts & Well-Being initiatives that deliver everyone access to the healing power of the arts through efforts like in-hospital performances and one of the nation’s first arts-on-prescription programs.
