(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Sweet Honey in the Rock, the GRAMMY-nominated vocal ensemble celebrating more than 50 years of artistry, returns to McCarter Theatre Center on Friday, April 24, 2026 with its signature blend of socially conscious and spiritually uplifting music. Showtime is 7:30pm.
Founded in Washington, D.C. in 1973, Sweet Honey in the Rock has long embodied a mission of empowerment, education, and entertainment. Known for rich harmonies and resonant storytelling, the ensemble’s music explores civil and human rights, women’s issues, gun violence, love, loss, spirituality, and community strength.
For more than five decades, the group has built a global reputation for performances that are both artistically powerful and socially urgent. Blending gospel, blues, jazz, and African-rooted traditions, Sweet Honey in the Rock bridges genres and generations with messages of resilience, hope, and unity.
Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling Patron Services at (609) 258-2787. McCarter Theatre Center is located at 91 University Place in Princeton, New Jersey.
Audiences are invited to arrive early for a pre-show performance by Old NasSoul, Princeton’s premier low-voice R&B and soul a cappella group, at 6:30pm in the Lockwood Lobby.
The current lineup features vocalists Carol Maillard, Louise Robinson, Aisha Kahlil, Nitanju Bolade Casel, and Rochelle Rice, with Romeir Mendez on upright acoustic/electric bass and American Sign Language interpreter Barbara Hunt.
The ensemble has appeared on stages worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
McCarter is one of the country’s flagship theaters and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages.
A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence dates back to its first performances in 1930. Our Town, You Can’t Take It with You, and Bus Stop all premiered at McCarter, paving the way for a long history of launching remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances worldwide.
The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock. Of the 100,000 community members who engage with McCarter each year, more than 5,000 are students participating in educational programs in Princeton, Trenton, and schools across the region. McCarter leads with values of justice, joy, and beauty in belonging—creating a space where artists and audiences can come together to celebrate the power of live performance.
