Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 03/17/2025
(NEWARK, NJ) -- The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) will celebrate the birthday of New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean with a dinner and evening of musical theater on his 90th birthday, April 21, 2025. The event begins at 5:30pm.
The Broadway Birthday Salute Honoring Gov. Thomas H. Kean will include dinner on the Betty Wold Johnson stage in NJPAC’s Prudential Hall, and a performance by quartet of the musical theater world’s brightest young stars presenting songs by New Jersey’s most beloved Broadway composers and lyricists, including Jerry Herman (Showboat), Jerome Kern (Hello, Dolly!) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked).
Governor Kean first imagined creating an Arts Center in downtown Newark more than a generation ago, during his second term in office. This special evening, curated by leading Broadway musical director, conductor and pianist Andy Einhorn (currently leading the orchestra for Gypsy at the Majestic Theatre), is a tribute to Governor Kean’s service to the citizens of New Jersey and his lifelong love of musical theater.
Tickets are available for purchase online. New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is located at One Center Street in Newark, New Jersey. For questions about sponsorships, tickets or donations, contact Stacey Joseph at [email protected].
“New Jersey has been blessed to have a passionate and committed advocate for the arts in Governor Kean, who has always believed that everyone in New Jersey deserves the opportunity to experience and benefit from the arts,” says John Schreiber, NJPAC’s President and CEO. “We couldn’t be more grateful to the Governor for inventing and supporting the Arts Center, and we’re thrilled to be able to celebrate this landmark occasion with him.”
The performance will feature four acclaimed young Broadway stars including:
* Christine "Christy" Altomare, who made her Broadway debut as Sophie in Mamma Mia! and originated the title role in the premiere Broadway production of Anastasia.
* Nicholas Christopher, who made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of Motown: The Musical, performed in the Broadway revival of Miss Saigon and portrayed George Washington in Hamilton.
* Mandy Gonzalez, who originated the role of Nina Rosario in Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of In the Heights. She has since played Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked, Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway production of Hamilton, and is starring as Norma Desmond in the current revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard.
* Zachary Noah Piser, who originated the role of Spenser in both the La Jolla Playhouse and Broadway productions of the current hit musical Redwood. He’s also been seen in the musicals Kpop, Dear Evan Hansen and Wicked.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is the most diverse performing arts center in the country, and the anchor cultural institution for both the city of Newark and the state of New Jersey. It is an artistic, cultural, educational and civic center where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 12 million visitors (including more than two million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.
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