(HOPEWELL, NJ) -- April is Jazz Appreciation Month, and Hopewell Theater is offering several live performances that celebrate the genre this month and next: live in concert performances by Keith Spencer, Madeleine Peyroux, and Syreeta Thompson.
Hopewell Theater is also offering a special Jazz Appreciation Month coupon code “JAZZY22” which allows patrons to waive online ticketing fees when they purchase tickets for the following jazz-themed performances.
KEITH SPENCER QUINTET: THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC on Friday, April 15 at 8:00pm. Baritone showman Keith Spencer presents an entertaining, bluesy, and sentimental romp through some of the most recognizable standards of the American Songbook brought to life by the African-American greats Nat “King” Cole, Sammy Davis, Jr., Billy Eckstine, and Johnny Hartman. In That Old Black Magic, patrons will hear songs such as “Route 66,” “Love Me or Leave Me,” “Lush Life,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” “Birth of the Blues,” and plenty more. Keith is backed by a sizzling five-piece jazz quintet featuring some of the most talented instrumentalists in the region.
MADELEINE PEYROUX on Friday, April 29 at 8:00pm and Saturday, April 30 at 8:00pm. Madeleine Peyroux is an international singer-songwriter who spent her teenage years busking the busy streets of Paris, singing vintage jazz and blues. In 2004, she released the album, Careless Love, which would sell half a million copies. In tandem with the Anniversary Edition release of her bestselling record, Madeleine Peyroux returns to the stage with the acclaimed repertoire that has melted the hearts and soothed the souls of audiences all over the world.
She will be performing twice during her visit to Hopewell. These performances are sure to be an intimately uplifting, romantic affair.
FILMS THAT MADE MUSIC: “BLOW YO HORN!” SCREENING WITH PANEL DISCUSSION on Thursday, May 12 at 7:00pm. This spring, Hopewell Theater continues its Films That Made Music series, which provides an unvarnished look at iconic musicians and offers deeper insights into the music that defines our lives. In May, the series presents Blow Yo Horn!, a documentary film about “Trumpet Lady” Syreeta Thompson, whose fans have been singing her praises for over a decade.
Syreeta Thompson’s career has taken her around the world and to the top of the Billboard charts, but it's also taught her a lesson: no matter how hard they blow, or how brilliantly they strum, women still struggle to make noise in the music industry.
In this documentary film, you will meet some remarkable female talents, like Syreeta, striving to shatter the sound barrier and make it big. Stick around after the film for a lively panel discussion featuring:
* Syreeta Thompson, Musician and Director of Blow Yo Horn!
* Rudresh Mahanthappa, Director of Jazz and Associate Director of the Program in Musical Performance, Princeton University
* Danielia Cotton, International Singer and Recording Artist
* M'Kina Tapscott, Executive Director of Artworks Trenton
“BLOW YO HORN” SYREETA THOMPSON TRUMPET LADY WITH SPECIAL GUEST MINE ROAD on Saturday, May 14 at 8:00pm. Syreeta Thompson will also be performing live the Saturday following her documentary screening. She will be opened by special guest Mine Road, starring Michelle Klein of Hopewell’s Peasant Grill.
Syreeta is a graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and she holds a Masters Degree from NYU in film scoring, jazz composition, and arranging. She has also skillfully written six music curriculums for East Orange School Districts and is a Master Music Educator with the New Jersey Education Association. Her songs “Winner” and “Evolution of a Winner” debuted #1 in both jazz and gospel charts.
Remember to use the code “JAZZY22” at checkout to waive ticketing fees for any of these performances.
The theater has taken the necessary precautions for the safety of its patrons, staff, and talent, including HVAC upgrades, thorough cleaning and sanitation before and after shows, and requiring all patrons, staff, and talent to wear a mask when inside the building. Patrons must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to attend a show. Read more about the theater’s Health & Safety Policy here.
Hopewell Theater is located at 5 South Greenwood Avenue in Hopewell, New Jersey. Enjoy this spring season with your loved ones at one of the best performing arts theaters in New Jersey!
