Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize The Elephants in the Room by Liba Vaynberg as a Semi-Finalist for the 2026 Premiere Play Festival. It rose through a competitive process to become one of 65 Semi-Finalists out of 894 submissions. Moving from humor to heartbreak, the play successfully tackles big ideas about identity and freedom through vivid theatrical moments. Our congratulations and thanks to Liba.

An elephant never forgets... but when you've lived a lifetime in captivity maybe you'd like to? This achingly funny, philosophical, and poignant play delves into the heart of the question of personhood and centers an indelible odd couple in Happy and Patty that I won't soon forget.