The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery presents Columbia High School 2025 AP Art Showcase Opening Reception

Wednesday, March 19 at 6:00PM

The Columbia High School (CHS) AP Art Showcase returns to SOPAC from March 19 to April 26, 2025, featuring diverse works by CHS students in painting, sculpture, and digital media. Under the guidance of teacher Alexandra Cappucci, students display their creativity and artistic growth in this professional setting. The exhibition is part of SOPAC’s Arts in Education programs, offering students valuable exposure. The opening reception is on March 19, 2025, at 6:00 PM.

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SOMA Celebrates Unsung Sheroes A Free Women's History Month Reception

Wednesday, March 19 at 6:30PM

South Orange Village, Maplewood Township & South Orange Performing Arts Center presents: Unsung Sheroes: An unforgettable celebration of local women making remarkable contributions in our communities. Join us for a celebration on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the SOPAC Loft as we shine the spotlight on women for their outstanding contributions and achievements in their fields, our communities, and beyond.

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Taylor • Simon • King Three American Troubadours

FRI, MAR 21, 2025 at 7:30PM

SOPAC welcomes Three American Troubadours, a production that celebrates iconic artists James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carole King, featuring performances of their greatest hits and reflections on their lives alongside video projection and a 9-piece band. Delighting audiences across the country with hits like “How Sweet It Is,” “Country Road,” “Shower The People,” “Anticipation,” “You’re So Vain,” “Mockingbird,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” “It’s Too Late,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” and more beloved tunes, Three American Troubadours immortalizes the legacy of these singers and songwriters whose personal lives and careers have intertwined throughout the years, and whose memorable songs provide enduring inspiration.

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SOMA Sings Taylor Swift

SAT, MAR 22, 2025 at 7PM

Calling all SOMA Swifties: Your friendly neighborhood stars are bringing Taylor Swift’s iconic repertoire to SOPAC! Join your local Broadway performers and sing along to TayTay’s greatest hits! What song will kick off the set? “Cruel Summer” ... “Bejeweled” ... “Karma” ...? It’s anybody’s guess! Shake off the winter and welcome the spring with this anticipated event for Swifties of all ages! Following last season’s densely packed SOMA Sings Disney event, SOMA Sings Taylor Swift is brought to you in partnership with our friends at SOMA Stage. This performances features local Broadway stars Dara Naomi Gallagher (Cruel Intentions), Ken Clark (Water for Elephants), Becky Gulsvig (A Beautiful Noise), Laurel Harris (Wicked), Autumn Jones (Revival), Ross Lekites (Parade), Ayla Schwartz (Frozen) & Jared Zirilli (Summer). 

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Ladies of Laughter

THU, MAR 27, 2025 at 7:30PM

Now known as “The Careerbuilder for Women in Comedy,” Ladies of Laughter boasts a roster of former competition participants that includes Amy Schumer, Tammy Pescatelli, and Big Bang Theory star Melissa Rauch, among many others. This performance features acclaimed comics Liz Glazer, GL Douglas, Nancy O’Connor & Becky Veduccio!

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George Porter, Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners

SAT, MAR 29, 2025 at 7:30PM

SOPAC welcomes one of the greatest there ever was, George Porter, Jr., to the Mainstage! A master architect of Funk and syncopation, Porter is a founding member of legendary New Orleans outfit The Meters. With the deepest pocket and bass lines to bite into and chew on, the instrumentalist, songwriter, and acclaimed vocalist brings down the house wherever he performs. Don’t miss this decorated Lifetime Achievement Award winner and true hero of the bass alongside his incredible band live at SOPAC! 

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Laughs in the Loft April Fools

This event is eligible for the new
SOPAC Loft Multibuy Package.

WED, APR 2, 2025 at 7:30PM

It’s “a comedy cure for the midweek blues!” (Baristanet)  Hosted by comedian Joe Larson, Laughs in the Loft features stand-up comics from SOPAC’s own South Orange-Maplewood community, Brooklyn & beyond. Each Laughs in the Loft event features a variety of comics in a New York City-style showcase. SOPAC announces talent approximately two weeks prior to each show. You never know who might drop in! Intended for mature audiences. Recommended for ages 18 and up. No drink minimum.  

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Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report

THU, APR 3, 2025 at 7PM

Kurt Elling brings his vocal mastery and sublime song interpretation to SOPAC in tribute to Weather Report’s musical impact and cultural legacy. From Wayne Shorter’s imaginative harmony to the enduring hookup between Jaco Pastorius and Joe Zawinul, Elling celebrates the sounds, concepts & breakthroughs that render Weather Report among the most influential outfits of the 20th century. Don’t miss the Grammy Award-winning singer and band leader interpret hits like “Mysterious Traveller,” “Teen Town” & “Birdland,” plus lesser known gems.

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The Machine Performs Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here & Animals

SAT, APR 5, 2025 at 7:30PM

Welcome, SOPAC patrons, welcome to The Machine. Acclaimed Pink Floyd tribute band The Machine returns to the Mainstage for an evening of searing guitars, chambered compositions & penetrating lyrics. Performing era-defining songs from Animals & Wish You Were Here — the latter celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — plus music from seminal albums like The Wall & Dark Side of the Moon and deep cuts from gems like Meddle & Ummagumma, these dedicated artists illuminate the evening with expanded theatrical elements and elaborate stage displays. The moments are ticking away...get your tickets now!

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Jane Monheit

FRI, APR 11 at 7:30PM

Spring is sprung at SOPAC when Jane Monheit takes the stage! Her crystalline voice and lyrical mastery rivaled only by her charm and charisma, the Grammy-nominated singer and master storyteller shares music from her 2024 release Jane Monheit. Don’t miss your chance to hear Monheit with her acclaimed ensemble interpreting what have become famed arrangements of standard tunes, including those from Stephen Sondheim, Ivan Lins & more. Get your tickets today! 

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Endea Owens & The Cookout

FRI, APR 18 at 7:30PM

Just in time for Jazz Appreciation Month, Grammy Award-winning bassist & composer Endea Owens debuts on the SOPAC Mainstage with her deep-pocket project The Cookout. As nimble as it is foundational, her sound serves up rhythmic dimension, buoyant melodies, Funk, Soul and plenty of Hard Bop influences. Special guest vocalist Shenel Johns joins the celebration, sharing her swinging lyricism and intimate storytelling alongside a full band of master improvisers. This Cookout feeds your mind, body & spirit — don’t miss these incredible artists performing live at SOPAC! 

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Cool at Camp A Staged Reading of a New Musical Comedy

WED, APR 23 at 7:30PM

Gather your camp friends, put on your favorite camp swag, and come revisit you summers at sleep away camp as we present a reading of the new musical, "Cool at Camp": a real and raunch meshuga musical about kids, camp, and coming of age. Cool at Camp follows four teenagers in their final years as campers at Camp Huron Lake where they must navigate the pressures of trying to be cool

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SHU Theatre at SOPAC Peter and the Starcatcher

Presented by the Seton Hall University Arts Council

THU-SUN, MAY 1-4, 2025 AT 8PM (2PM SUN)

Embrace your inner child! Join the students of SHU as they present Rick Elice’s Tony Award-winning play Peter and the Starcatcher. Directed by Ken Magos, Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair...and the bonds of friendship, duty & love.

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Seton Hall University Annual Spring Concert

Presented by the Seton Hall University Arts Council

MON, MAY 5, 2025 at 7:30PM

The Seton Hall University Chorus, Concert Band & Chamber Choir present their Annual Spring Concert, “A Celebration of Spring,” welcoming rebirth and awakening. Experience Seton Hall’s talented student musicians, under the direction of Dr. Jason Tramm, perform works of Gabriel Faure, William Byrd, Stacey Gibbs & many more. Piano soloist Dr. Dena Levine joins the University Chorus and Orchestra for a special performance of Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy,” Op. 80. Don’t miss this spirited event that features the university’s brightest stars sharing sounds of the season and spreading joy & hope!

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Laughs in the Loft Mommy Issues

This event is eligible for the new
SOPAC Loft Multibuy Package.

WED, MAY 14, 2025 at 7:30PM

It’s “a comedy cure for the midweek blues!” (Baristanet)  Hosted by comedian Joe Larson, Laughs in the Loft features stand-up comics from SOPAC’s own South Orange-Maplewood community, Brooklyn & beyond. Each Laughs in the Loft event features a variety of comics in a New York City-style showcase. SOPAC announces talent approximately two weeks prior to each show. You never know who might drop in! Intended for mature audiences. Recommended for ages 18 and up. No drink minimum.  

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The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery presents INSPIRED MINDS Opening Reception

Thursday, May 15 at 5PM

Join us for the opening reception of this year's INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition, the latest exhibition in The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery. This is a juried exhibit of art by Essex County high school students. Each year, thousands of submissions are juried by a panel of distinguished artists, photographers, museum curators, and arts advocates. The result is an exciting and eclectic body of work from the perspective of young emerging artists. Free and open to public.

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The Glenn Miller Orchestra

THU, MAY 15, 2025 at 7:30PM

Don’t miss the Glenn Miller Orchestra swinging at SOPAC! Experience the live energy of the big band era upheld by an 18-piece ensemble of today’s leading soloists and arrangers. Performing hits like “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” and “Moonlight Serenade,” hidden gems like “The White Cliffs of Dover,” “Rainbow Rhapsody,” “Everybody Loves My Baby,” and “That’s Sabotage,” and many more Miller-style tunes, this high-octane outfit shares lush, engaging renditions of timeless music. Experience a hard-swinging performance that will keep you snapping and tapping through the evening. 

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Emeline Michel

THU, MAY 22 at 7:30PM

Emeline Michel is full of surprises — and she’s unveiling them all on the SOPAC Mainstage! The internationally acclaimed singer, master entertainer & artistic ambassador presents a lively set that bonds traditional Haitian rhythms from Compas, Twoubadou and Rara with duly influenced and ever-expanding Pop, Jazz & Blues styles. Don’t miss this exhilarating performance that invites listeners to get up on their feet and participate in a live experience that will leave you tapping and clapping for more — get your tickets today!

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West Orange High School & SOPAC present AileyDance Kids Residency Finale

FRI, MAY 30 at 7PM

Celebrate the next generation of dancers at the West Orange High School AileyDance Kids Residency Finale! Through a special partnership with SOPAC, these students have trained under Ailey Teaching Artist Za’eed Eure, exploring the expressive movement of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. This performance is a culmination of their journey, showcasing ensemble works and choreography inspired by Ailey’s legacy. Join us for an evening of passion, creativity, and dance!

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Dead on Live Grateful Dead ’71 - ’72

SAT, MAY 31, 2025 AT 7:30PM

The sound, style & synchrony of the Grateful Dead lives on at SOPAC! The deadicated artists of Dead on Live return to the Mainstage to recreate, note for note, instrumental nuances, lush harmonies & signature phrasing of America’s lyrical vagabonds, leaving plenty of room for jamming. This event presents music from beloved live era releases of 1971-1972, featuring favorites from Skull and Roses, Jerry’s first solo release Garcia, classic album Europe 72, and more. The artists perform “Wharf Rat,” “The Wheel,” “China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider” (in its entirety!), “Mexicali Blues,” and “One More Saturday Night” as they were recorded. Ain’t no time to hate — barely time to wait — get your tickets today! 

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Momentum Dance Academy Presents: Momentum in Motion

SAT, JUN 1 at 12PM & 4PM

This milestone event marks an exciting moment for Momentum dancers. In their inaugural recital, they take the stage to showcase their passion, dedication, and artistic growth. Dance is more than just movement — it is an expression of energy, emotion, and storytelling. Momentum in Motion embodies the spirit of progress, celebrating each dancer’s journey from their first steps in the studio to this unforgettable performance under the spotlight. Combining ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and tap, Momentum dancers bring the stage to life with exhilarating choreography, breathtaking technique, and heartfelt performances.

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Laughs in the Loft Stand Up for Pride!

This event is eligible for the new
SOPAC Loft Multibuy Package.

WED, JUN 4, 2025 at 7:30PM

It’s “a comedy cure for the midweek blues!” (Baristanet)  Hosted by comedian Joe Larson, Laughs in the Loft features stand-up comics from SOPAC’s own South Orange-Maplewood community, Brooklyn & beyond. Each Laughs in the Loft event features a variety of comics in a New York City-style showcase. SOPAC announces talent approximately two weeks prior to each show. You never know who might drop in! Intended for mature audiences. Recommended for ages 18 and up. No drink minimum.

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An Evening with Avery*Sunshine

FRI, JUN 6, 2025 AT 7:30PM

2025 Grammy Award-winner of Best Progressive R&B Album, Avery*Sunshine delights audiences across generations with her intimate storytelling, soul-driven originals, dynamic vocals & mastery of phrasing. This season, she brings her energetic ensemble to the SOPAC Mainstage! An internationally acclaimed artist, Sunshine performs celebratory music that draws from Neo-soul, R&B, Gospel, Funk & more! Don’t miss this uplifting set live at SOPAC! 

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Joe DeRosa

SAT, JUN 7, 2025 at 7:30 PM

SOPAC welcomes the Mainstage debut of award-winning comic Joe DeRosa! Many know Joe from his recurring appearance as Dr. Caldera on Better Call Saul, and his six top-ten charting stand-up albums, as well as his regular performances on TV, film & radio. But to experience his live comedy is to experience the artist at his rawest, realest, and most acerbic. Don’t miss this brilliant comic live at SOPAC!

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SOPAC Celebrates Share The Love with Darlene Love

Thursday, June 12 at 7PM

Join us for a special evening honoring SOPAC’s role as the cultural anchor of South Orange & beyond —bringing world-class performances, transformative arts education, and meaningful community connections to our region. Featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend, Darlene Love & an Exclusive VIP Reception 

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Skerryvore

SAT, JUN 21, 2025 at 8PM

SOPAC welcomes the Mainstage debut of Skerryvore! Bonding traditional Scottish sounds, contemporary influences, and global appeal, Skerryvore delivers thrilling live performances throughout the world. Three-time winners of Scotland’s Live Act of the Year award, this explosive ensemble has reinvented the traditional Scottish scene for a modern, multicultural audience. Vocals, bagpipes, fiddles, accordions, and whistles create dazzling melody lines and harmonic pads alongside a driving rhythm section. Seven albums into a thriving and prolific career, Skerryvore shares music informed by wide ranging influences, creating a live experience at once thoroughly traditional and entirely contemporary. 

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