The New Jersey Performing Arts Center announced their 2016-17 lineup of programming. Here’s a look at the recurring programming that will return to NJPAC once again this year.
Happy Returns
Coming back to NJPAC for the fourth time in its history, the biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary from October 20-23. A poetpalooza of readings, talks and workshops, featuring many of the greatest voices on stage and page, “The Dodge” is recognized as the largest poetry festival in North America. Check dodgepoetry.org for an upcoming announcement of events.
Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City
The free outdoor concerts of Horizon Foundation Sounds of the City, the hottest spot in Newark on Thursday nights in the summer, is also back. An NJPAC tradition, Felix Hernandez’s Rhythm Revue Dance Party opens the series on July 7, which goes on to feature Tiempo Libre (July 14), Universal Hip Hop Museum: The Peace, Unity & Love Show (July 21), artist TBA (July 28), Junior Marvin’s Wailers (August 4), Avery*Sunshine (August 11), Tortured Soul (August 18), and Bilal (August 25).
American Songbook and Broadway
Michael Feinstein, considered the go-to interpreter and historian of the American Songbook, puts a hand upon this season’s music broadcasts. The pianist and singer, who performed last season in NJPAC’s centennial salute to Frank Sinatra, is the new host of American Songbook at NJPAC, the Emmy-nominated public TV series. Tapings take place on December 1 and 2 in the Victoria Theater, with a dazzling, upbeat cast of stage and cabaret performers to be announced. This concert-and-conversation series, presented by NJPAC and NJTV, airs on NJTV, WNET and WLIW21.
Some of the finest musical theater performers grace NJPAC’s stages, which include the 2,800-seat Prudential Hall, 500-seat Victoria Theater and 250-seat Chase Room. Appearing twice-nightly in the intimate, cabaret-style Chase Room are “The Voice of Broadway” Betty Buckley (Cats, Sunset Boulevard) on September 17; James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin, Memphis) on January 28, 2017; Judy Kuhn (Fun Home, Les Miserables) on March 18, 2017; and Paulo Szot (South Pacific and the Metropolitan Opera) on May 6, 2017.
SiriusXM Broadway host Seth Rudetsky, who has emceed, music-directed and performed in a number of events at NJPAC, strikes up the band on October 7 for Broadway’s Best with Seth Rudetsky, featuring beloved numbers from the Great White Way, sung by his friends. A centennial tribute to composer Leonard Bernstein, a Cole Porter cavalcade with Judy Kaye, and an all-star concert version of The Muppet Christmas Carol are other can’t-misses for those who love shows and standards.
