Draft:Vivid Stage in Summit New Jersey

• Comment: Remove the Mission Statement: this is entirely self-promotional. The tone of the rest of the article needs to be made more neutral. WikiDan61^ChatMe!_ReadMe!! 15:01, 1 December 2023 (UTC)

• Comment: Literally none of these sources are secondary sources. Stuartyeates (talk) 19:02, 17 November 2023 (UTC)

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Mission and History

Vivid Stage’s company of professional local actors builds community with their audience by sharing contemporary, life-affirming stories that challenge, energize and entertain. Their work has at its heart a belief in the essential goodness of people and the power of live performance to connect people through our shared humanity.

Vivid exposes theatregoers of all ages to ideas and lives like and unlike their own, with the intention of awakening their imaginations and creating empathy for others.

Vivid deepens the experience of all of our patrons with personal contact through receptions, talkbacks, and interactive programs.

The company began performing in 1994, renting Luna Stage and 12 Miles West in Montclair. They then moved to Bloomfield College, which allowed them to produce nine months of the year. They relocated in 2003 to the Baird Recreation and Cultural Center in South Orange. In 2012, Vivid found a new home at the Oakes Center in Summit. Vivid is an Equity Producing Member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, and is a significant part of the arts landscape of Northern New Jersey.

Programming Overview

The mainstage plays, which are often World Premieres or New Jersey Professional Premieres, are chosen for their humor, intelligence, and their humanity. In addition, Vivid presents two improv comedy shows, a holiday special, a monthly podcast series, and several outreach performances and workshops. In addition, they offer four Meet the Artist new play readings, and present solo show readings and a cabaret over the summer months.

Vivid Stage's year-round internship program provides an in-depth experience for high school and college students. Students receive hands-on instruction and training in administration and on each show, in such jobs as assistant stage managers, running crew, prop and costume assistants, and house managers. For the past two years, Vivid has collaborated with Eleven+, a non-profit that acts as a liaison between college students of color seeking internships and non-profit organizations.

Vivid Dreamers is a three-week summer program, during which the students develop their own original show, created around a theme chosen by the instructors. The program is open to students entering grades 5 through 12.

In collaboration with Empowering Kids, Vivid offers bilingual improv classes to Summit high school students who receive free or reduced lunch. They emphasize self-confidence, communication and self-expression.

Throughout the year, Vivid holds workshops and classes at area schools while also offering classes in improv for adults and teens at their theatre and improv for business classes off site. They also perform cabarets featuring popular and Broadway music from many different eras and dramatic shows for seniors at facilities and residences around the state.