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!
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!
Take off your shoes, get comfortable in your body, and go on a journey of connection to self through this beautifully calming Reiki Energy Crystal Sound Bath with sound bowl modality healer Sasha Green.
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.
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.
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!
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!
One of the most popular adventure tales of all time, PANTO’s Treasure Island delivers audiences of families with children of all ages a thrilling adventure of a perilous sea journey, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, a scramble for buried treasure, and the message that good triumphs over evil every time.
Curated by Grammy Award-winning producer John Lee, Jazz in the Loft features award-winning artists from the greater SOMA area and beyond who are master improvisers and consummate band leaders. Blues, Bebop, Bossa — as long as it’s swinging, you’ll hear it at SOPAC! This performance features Dave Stryker.
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!
The acclaimed artists and committed educators of the Seton Hall Faculty Ensemble return to SOPAC for an evening of thrilling repertoire and tight arrangements. When these hard-swinging musicians take center stage — and plenty of high-octane solos — they engage audiences of all ages with their virtuosity and spirit.
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
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.
Join world-class artists & local legends for the Blues in the Loft concert series live at the SOPAC Loft. Whether you're seeking some slow burners, classic funk grooves, tear-your-heart-out ballads, or down-home shuffles, Blues is the Loft is the event for you! This event features Blues People, Dave Keyes & Chuck Lambert.
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!
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.
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.
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.
All 4 Dance Presents; Love In Motion, our 2025 Recital! Join us as we celebrate how much we LOVE to dance!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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
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.