This March, the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is roaring in like a lion with an inspired line-up of live music, a new art exhibition, student and faculty jazz showcases, and much more.

“I’m truly blown away by the terrific line-up of artists and acts coming to SOPAC in March of 2023,” says SOPAC Executive Director Stephen Beaudoin. “It’s impossible to pick favorites among so many highlights, but I’m especially inspired by the SOPAC debuts of two remarkable vocalists, Haley Reinhart on March 18 and Jimmie Herrod on March 25, as well as the stunning photography exhibition ‘Papaver’ by artist Stuart Tyson opening March 9 – and so much more. I can’t wait to see you this March at SOPAC.”

You’re invited to join us for transformational experiences all month long at SOPAC.  Tickets for our March 2023 performances are on sale now!

Read on for SOPAC’s full calendar of presented and partner performances:

 

SOPAC Presents shows

Croce Plays Croce
Friday, March 3 at 8PM

Singer-songwriter A.J. Croce pays tribute to his father, the late, great Jim Croce, with a heartfelt night of music and stories featuring Jim Croce’s enduring songs—such as “Time in A Bottle,” “One Less Set of Footsteps” and “Operator”—as well as A.J.’s own tunes, and songs that influenced both father and son.
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Naturally 7 — a cappella brilliance
Sunday, March 5 at 7:30PM

Naturally 7 is more than a tightly orchestrated collection of great a cappella singers—it’s magic! They transform their voices into human instruments, effortlessly producing music of any genre. Their “vocal play” has redefined what is possible with the human voice.
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Laughs in the Loft with Joe Larson and Friends
Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30PM

Join us for Laughs in the Loft, a monthly series featuring stand-up comics from our own backyard, Brooklyn and beyond. The March showcase features Joe Larson with guest comedians Sharon Simon, Chris Gethard, Matt Fulchiron, and SOMA resident Rob Keller.  Recommended for ages 18 and up.
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Papaver — Opening Reception of new photography exhibition by artist Stuart Tyson
At The Herb + Milly Iris Gallery
Opens Thursday, March 9 at 5PM and runs through early May

In Papaver, Stuart Tyson uses photography to visually describe the sinuous revelations of form that poppies make through their short but spectacular lives, from their emergence as a furry bud through their unfolding like a butterfly’s wing, to their inevitable decline and withering, shedding petals to leave behind their most characteristic seed pod.
RSVP to the Opening Reception

Kids + Family Series: Stone Soup & Other Stories
Saturday, March 11 at 1PM

Highlighting the spirit and customs of different cultures, this familiar brew of story favorites from Africa, India, Eastern Europe and our own United States is filled with music, color, fantasy and fun. Dynamic, participatory and filled with zesty entertainment, Stone Soup and Other Stories is on the gourmet “not to be missed” menu for young viewers! Recommended for ages 4-9.
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Jazz in the Loft with Don Braden’s Earth, Wind, and Wonder
Sunday, March 12 at 7PM

As a young man growing up in Louisville, Kentucky in the 1970s, Don Braden discovered the music of both Earth, Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder. It immediately captured his heart, mind, and soul. His show “Earth Wind and Wonder” is Braden’s tribute to these beloved, influential Jazz artists.
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Vocalist Haley Reinhart in her Off the Ground Tour
SOPAC Debut!
Saturday, March 18 at 8PM

With a timeless voice that outlasts any era, Haley Reinhart feels just as at home in the sixties as she does in the TikTok age.  With her signature sound that Entertainment Weekly lauds as being able to “flip from bell-clear coo to throaty belt in an instant,” Haley’s music pays homage to classic Rock and Pop hits from the late sixties
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Healing Sounds in the Loft with Sound Bowl Healer Sasha Green
Sunday, March 19 at 5PM & 8PM

In this 75-minute guided Reiki Energy Crystal Sound Bath, take a journey of sound and energy to recalibrate and balance the flow of energy throughout your entire body and lead you into deep rest and relaxation.
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New Voices New Visions Series with Vocalist Jimmie Herrod
SOPAC Debut!
Saturday, March 25 at 8PM

Straight from the finals of America’s Got Talent and the national broadcast of the Joni Mitchell Songbook from the Kennedy Center, singer Jimmie Herrod brings his singular vocal power and uniquely high voice to SOPAC in his first New York/NJ area show of 2023, launching SOPAC’s New Voices, New Visions series.
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Shows Presented from Our Partners

Columbia High School Jazz Ensemble Final Concert Celebrating Completion of Jazz Residency with SOPAC
Thursday, March 2 at 7PM

Join us for the Final Gala Concert of the Columbia High School (CHS) Jazz season as the CHS Jazz Ensemble presents, for the first time, at SOPAC! This year’s concert celebrates Jazz music through the works of legendary Jazz musicians Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Green, and more. The CHS Jazz Ensemble would like to thank the CHS Cougar Boosters for their continued support. In addition, they are grateful to SOPAC, the Orange Orphan Society, and the Bergen Foundation for affording the Jazz Ensemble the pleasure of working with local Jazz legends John Lee (bass guitar), Mark Gross (saxophone), Freddie Hendrix (trumpet), Karl Latham (drums), and Jason Jackson (trombone).
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Seton Hall University Faculty Jazz Ensemble
Tuesday, March 21 at 7:30PM

The Seton Hall University Faculty Jazz Ensemble, highly acclaimed by the University and the general community for its energetic, entertaining, and educational jazz performances, will be celebrating its tenth appearance on the Jazz ‘n the Hall series at SOPAC. Come and experience the joy of Jazz!
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