(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) offers a mid-season warm up to thwart the winter chill! December offers comedy, music, and special holiday shows. Among the highlights is a performance by South Orange resident and Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez on December 8th.
“I’m so excited to be celebrating the holidays with my family and friends in my hometown at SOPAC,” says Gonzalez. “The holidays in SOMA are absolutely magical — the lights, decorations, and free parking meters really get you into the holiday spirit! I can’t wait to see you there!”
Laughs in the Loft - Home for the Holidays on Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30pm. Hosted by comedian Joe Larson, Laughs in the Loft features stand-up comics from the South Orange-Maplewood community, Brooklyn, and surrounding cities. Each Laughs in the Loft event features several comedians in a New York City-style showcase. SOPAC announces talent approximately two weeks prior to each show. Audiences never know who might drop in! Intended for mature audiences. Recommended for ages 18 and up.
Seton Hall University Annual Winter Concert on Thursday, December 5 at 7:30pm. The Seton Hall University Chorus, Concert Band & Chamber Choir present their Annual Winter Concert, a favorite of SOPAC’s holiday season. Don’t miss this spirited event, presented by the Seton Hall University Arts Council, that features the university’s brightest stars performing selections of the season, spotlighting artistic range and spreading boundless joy!
Holiday Stomp With The Hot Sardines on Friday, December 6 at 8:00pm. Fueled by the belief that classic Jazz feeds the heart and soul, the Hot Sardines are on a mission to make old sounds new again and prove that joyful music can bring people together in a disconnected world. Praised by The Times London as “simply phenomenal,” The Hot Sardines features brassy horn arrangements, rollicking piano melodies, and nostalgic vocals that transport audiences to the eras of Ragtime, Swing & Gypsy Jazz. Get your tickets today!
Mandy Gonzalez Home for the Holidays on Sunday, December 8 at 7:30pm. South Orange resident and Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez possesses one of the most powerful and versatile contemporary voices of our time. Don’t miss an evening of seasonal cheer and delight as Gonzalez serenades audiences with a wide array of beloved holiday standards, including “Feliz Navidad,” “All I Want for Christmas is You,” and “Into the Unknown” from Disney’s Frozen II.
Valerie Simpson & Friends Sing Ashford & Simpson on Saturday, December 14 at 8:00pm. Valerie Simpson is back at SOPAC! One half of the iconic song-writing duo Ashford & Simpson, she and her late husband Nick Ashford spent their lives together writing chart-topping anthems for Motown and beyond. The duo penned timeless hits such as, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand,” and “I’m Every Woman” for Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, and other icons before embarking on a performing career of their own.
Nefesh Mountain: The Love & Light Tour on Sunday, December 15 at 7:30pm. Hailed as a formative, boundary-pushing roots music ensemble, New York-based outfit Nefesh Mountain thrills audiences across the country with lively finger-picking, bright melodies, and soulful storytelling. The band's creators, dynamic husband and wife team Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff, have created and refined a sound all their own, bonding Americana, Bluegrass, Folk, Jazz, and Blues — and revealing a shared mastery as songwriters, instrumentalists, and consummate performers. The Love & Light Tour features seasonal originals, plus music from the band’s forthcoming double LP release Beacons.
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.
SOPAC is invested in arts education. SOPAC serves students and schools in our region through a School Performance Series, performing Arts Residencies and annual juried art exhibits entitled INSPIRED MINDS: Young Artist Exhibition and INSPIRING MINDS. SOPAC also collaborates with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts each year to host the Region 5 Poetry Out Loud competitions. The Seton Hall University Arts Council presents a diverse range of events at SOPAC with seasoned professionals, students, and faculty.
Nearly ten years in the making, SOPAC first opened its doors in 2006. South Orange Village Trustees, in partnership with Seton Hall University, envisioned SOPAC as the center of an ambitious redevelopment plan. Through visionary leadership and an unwavering commitment, SOPAC has become a cultural centerpiece for the region, an economic driver for the community, and a catalyst for artistic opportunity.
