(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Joe D'Urso and Joe Rapolla bring their Songwriters by the Sea series to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 7:30pm. Joining them will be Vonda Shepard, Nicole Atkins, and Jake Thistle.
What once started in a small coffee shop as an area for local songwriters has now grown into a series that features some of the top songwriters in the country in an intimate, Nashville-style singer-songwriter circle.
With Shepard’s soulful ballads, Atkins’ hypnotic blend of pop and soul, D’Urso’s Americana roots, Thistle’s modern pop-rock sound, and Rapolla’s Nashville-inspired melodies, the performers will create a rich tapestry of musical styles throughout the night.
Tickets range from $29-$42 and are available for purchase online. South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is located at One Sopac Way in South Orange, New Jersey.
Songwriters by the Sea began as intimate, casual coffeehouse jam sessions around Asbury Park, and has since evolved into a national show attracting some of the most revered singers and songwriters of today’s scene— from Joe Grushecky and Garland Jeffreys to Glen Burtnik, Marshall Crenshaw and Alison Moorer.
Along the way, D’Urso (front man of Stone Caravan and board member of WHY Hunger and Light Of Day) and Rapolla (a veteran music industry executive, solo performer, and front man of the band Perfect Square) have fine-tuned their circle of artists, trading favorite songs and illuminating backstories behind their most personal works, into a vehicle that brings out the best in the assembled talent. Whether the venue is a club, a historic theater or a campus performing arts center, Songwriters by the Sea has been known to turn any space into an intimate house party atmosphere; a gathering of friends and a place where something akin to magic often takes hold.
The South Orange Performing Arts Center offers audiences exhilarating and diverse arts entertainment in its intimate venue, serving as the cultural heartbeat of the greater South Orange/Maplewood region and contributing to the economic and social vibrancy of its highly diverse community.
SOPAC is an accessible cultural destination that presents world-class artists in an intimate and welcoming environment. The Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall is a 439-seat mainstage theatre with superb acoustics, sight lines and seating. Audiences remark that performances in this space are like having their favorite artists right in their own living room. Artists acknowledge that the atmosphere encourages conversations with audiences. The Loft at SOPAC is a 2,185 square-foot multi-purpose space used for performances, rehearsals, classes, and special events.
The unique architecture of SOPAC’s building, which includes a stunning 3-story glass-enclosed atrium, is also home to the Herb + Milly Iris Gallery. Beyond the building, SOPAC co-produces local events such as South Orange Summer Nights and serves students and schools through its arts education residencies.
