Fri · Oct 23 · 7:30pm
Effa Loves Baseball in Hillside, NJ — October 23, 2026
Enlow Recital Hall, Kean University East Campus · 215 North Avenue
Effa Manley wanted one thing. She wanted her Newark Eagles to win the Negro League World Series. To get there, she took on the press, her own coaching staff, segregation, and at times herself.
Her story is now on stage in Hillside. Effa Loves Baseball is a play by Pia Wilson, directed by marcus d. harvey, and produced by Premiere Stages at Kean University as a Liberty Live Commission. Union County Life readers can catch the performance on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 7:30 PM. Effa Manley was the first woman inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and this play brings neighbors close to the woman behind that honor.
The cast includes Kerry Warren as Effa Manley, Greg Alverez Reid as Abe Manley, Grant Kennedy Lewis as Larry Doby, DeShawn Harold Mitchell as Biz Mackey, David Andrew Morton as Branch Rickey and others, and Justin Walter Cook as Marion and others. The show runs 90 minutes with no intermission. There is no talkback listed for this performance. The production is made possible in part by a 2026 HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant from the Union County Board of County Commissioners.
The performance takes place at Enlow Recital Hall, 215 North Avenue, Hillside, NJ 07205. Tickets are $42 standard, $32 for seniors 65 and older, $32 for Kean alumni and staff, $27 ADA, and $18 for students. A $60 opening night tier with a party applied only to Friday, October 16, which has passed. Buy tickets at kean.vbotickets.com/event/Effa_Loves_Baseball/193780 or call the Premiere Stages Box Office at 908-737-7469 or email ticket@kean.edu. The run closes Sunday, October 25.
Find more Hillside events, arts coverage, and community news on Union County Life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much are tickets for Effa Loves Baseball in Hillside?
A: Tickets for the October 23 performance of Effa Loves Baseball are $42 standard, $32 for seniors 65 and older, $32 for Kean alumni and staff, $27 ADA, and $18 for students. The $60 opening night tier applied only to October 16.
Q: Where is Effa Loves Baseball playing, and is there parking?
A: Effa Loves Baseball plays at Enlow Recital Hall, 215 North Avenue, Hillside, NJ 07205. Parking details are not listed in the source, so check with the Premiere Stages Box Office at 908-737-7469. You can find more Hillside theater and event listings on Union County Life.
Q: Who is Effa Loves Baseball for, and do I need to buy tickets ahead of time?
A: Effa Loves Baseball is a play for general theatergoers, with student, senior, ADA, and Kean alumni and staff pricing offered. Tickets are sold online at kean.vbotickets.com/event/Effa_Loves_Baseball/193780, and an age recommendation is not listed in the source.
