originally published: 05/14/2025
Megan Chappius and Jeiris Cook will perform on August 20th
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) is excited to announce its 2025 Summer free concert lineup. Events will take place outdoors at Vail Mansion Plaza, adjacent to MPAC, and Pioneer Park, by 1776 on the Green. This year's outdoor events will feature music ranging from salsa to country line dancing to Bollywood.
This summer, MPAC will kick off this year’s area Juneteenth Arts Celebration, a three-day event in partnership with Morris Museum, Art in the Atrium and Morris Arts. See www.JuneteenthArtsCelebration.com for event details.
Wednesday, June 18 | Juneteenth Arts Celebration Kickoff Concert featuring Lynette Sheard and Gregory Burrus Productions; Location: Vail Mansion Plaza. Celebrate the spirit and message of Juneteenth with this concert by vocalist Lynette Sheard that features popular freedom songs that demonstrate the joy and hope of the African-American experience. This 90 minute performance will illustrate the spirit and message of Juneteenth. African American communities have used music and art; sometimes in place of written communication, to discuss life, death, spiritual philosophies, and emotions to cope with the traumas that came with being enslaved. This interactive and engaging performance will feature popular freedom songs listed below that demonstrate the joy, sorrow, pain, inspiration, discontent, and hope experienced by African Americans on their continued journey towards healing and emotional emancipation.
MPAC Arts in the Community Free Summer Events 2025 (All events start at 6:00pm)
Wednesday, June 4 | MPAC Music Student of the Month Recital; Location: Vail Mansion Plaza. Morris County middle and high school musicians honored as MPAC Music Students of the Month throughout the past season showcase their talents in this year-end recital. The Music Student of the Month program is sponsored by the Walter F. and Alice Gorham Foundation
Wednesday, July 9 | Country Line Dancing with Paul Stoddard; Location: Pioneer Plaza. A li’l bit of Nashville comes to Morristown! Put on your cowboy boots for a honky-tonk evening of country line dancing with DJ and dance instructor Paul Stoddard, who will have you swinging to the sounds of classic and contemporary country music whether you’re an experienced line dancer or novice! Paul Stoddard is a respected figure in the country dance community, known both as an accomplished instructor and an in-demand DJ. With over 30 years of experience teaching country line and partner dance, Paul has guided more than 10,000 students, from first-timers to competitive dancers, with a teaching style that’s clear, professional, and fun.
Wednesday, July 23 | Bollywood Dance Party with DJ Arjun; Location: Pioneer Plaza. Back by popular demand! Born in Mumbai, DJ Arjun is known for his Bollywood and Top 40 dance music mix, infusing his events with energy and enthusiasm that captivates the dance floor! B2Z Dance School returns to bring the rhythm of Bollywood moves and Mehndikalogie will provide intricate designs of henna art.
Wednesday, August 6| Salsa at Sunset featuring Bri’La Flor Dance Studio; Location: Pioneer Plaza. MPAC’s annual salsa night spices up the town with zesty night of Latin rhythms, great dancing and much more. Instructors will be on hand to help you learn all of the steps! The performance will feature a dynamic DJ playing salsa and other Latin rhythms, creating an upbeat atmosphere. Throughout the event, attendees will enjoy a series of dance lessons led by skilled instructors. In addition, professional dance performers will join the group of salsa dancers, engaging with attendees by dancing alongside them and encouraging participation. The instructors and performers will foster an inclusive and interactive environment.
Wednesday, August 20 | An Evening with Singer-Songwriters Megan Chappius and Jeiris Cook; Location: Vail Mansion Plaza. Singer-songwriter and Morristown-native Megan Chappius’ warm vocal tone and playful melodies encapsulate a blend of soul, jazz, and folk. Megan is a multi-instrumentalist, and music therapist based in Morristown, NJ. She has serenaded local and international audiences for the last decade and frequently performs in the tri-state area at music venues, restaurants, yoga studios, and private events. Notably, she performed at the International Serenade Festival in Chalabre, France in 2018 and 2019. Megan began singing and playing instruments at a young age and quickly developed a deep passion and connection to music. She studied classical voice and Music Therapy at Montclair State University and continued to independently explore music within the Jazz and Rhythm & Blues genres where she honed her vocal improvisation skills. Megan’s eclectic musical palette inspires a creative approach that intrigues listeners. Her warm vocal tone and playful melodies encapsulate a whimsical blend of soul, jazz, and folk styles.
With a style that’s an infusion of vintage soul, folk and rhythm and blues rolled into a velvety serenade, Jeiris Cook marries sounds old and new while delivering a performance that is truly unique and memorable. Jeiris, a former warehouse manager and current “bowtie”aficionado, dove with both feet into musicianship at the age of 37 with a young family in tow. After many late nights after work honing his craft, a 2017 camping trip with his son proved to be a prime opportunity to test his newly developed skill. How does one go from a warehouse manager to full-time troubadour you might ask? In Cook’s words “I’d always sing in situations when it wasn’t deemed appropriate. I’d sing at work, during meetings or conference calls and I realized my calling. Like the universe kept knocking me in the head to drive the message home. So I stopped resisting, and went with it”.
Free Summer movies at MPAC will be added at a later date.
The Summer Arts in the Community concert series is sponsored by ADP.
All Programs Subject to Change.
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2023-2024 season is made possible, in part, by a grant the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and numerous corporations, foundations and individuals. Mayo Performing Arts Center was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres, and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine.
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