FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
! !
NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER’S POPULAR “$3.50 FOR 350” PROGRAM RETURNS FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF GREAT PERFORMANCES THROUGH 2017!
Select Performances include Buena Vista Social Club’s Omara Portuondo “85 Tour”, Jazz in the Key of Ellison with Wynton Marsalis, the Dance Theater of Harlem, Swan Lake: Moscow Festival Ballet, NJPAC’s phenomenon, The Hip Hop Nutcracker featuring MC Kurtis Blow and more.
NEWARK, NJ – August 22, 2016 –In honor of Newark Celebration 350’s ongoing yearlong celebrations commemorating Newark’s 350th anniversary of its founding, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center is proud to announce that a new slate of select shows has been made available for the “NJPAC: $3.50 for 350” program for Newark residents. From the critically acclaimed smash The Hip Hop Nutcracker to the legendary Dance Theatre of Harlem, there will be something for everyone to enjoy during NJPAC’s exciting 2016-2017 season!
A limited number of tickets for select performances will be available for $3.50 at the box office only, commencing on August 23, 2016. Valid ID with proof of Newark residency is required. Ticket limit: two tickets per person. For more info about performances and box office hours visit njpac.org.
“NJPAC’s generous $3.50 for 350 program for Newarkers fulfills Newark Celebration 350’s goal to open the doors wide of our city’s venerable arts institutions to our residents through this affordable offering” states Junius Williams, NC 350 Chair and Director of the Abbott Leadership Institute. “This great program allows our residents to discover why some of the best international artists come to the world class arts destination of Newark.”
The offer is valid for these performances: Buena Vista Social Club’s Omara Portuondo “85 Tour” with special guests Roberto Fonseca, Anat Cohen and Regina Carter October 15, 8pm Legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo celebrates her 85th anniversary in a rare concert tour with pianist Roberto Fonseca, clarinetist-saxophonist Anat Cohen and violinist Regina Carter!
Mariza with special guest Bebel Gilberto October 16, 7pm Grammy nominee Mariza (“Meu Fado Meu”), the new face of Portuguese fado, has risen from a local phenomenon to one of the most widely acclaimed stars of the world music circuit. This young singer with a rich, vibrant voice and a strong artistic personality will perform alongside special guest multi-Grammy nominated singer Bebel Gilberto.
Jazz in the Key of Ellison November 1, 7:30pm Wynton Marsalis leads an all-star lineup, including singers Catherine Russell, Angélique Kidjo and Patti Austin, with music director Andy Farber and His Orchestra, in tribute to the great American novelist Ralph Ellison and his remarkable jazz collection. Special guests include NBA great Kareen Abdul-Jabbar and actor Joe Morton.
GRP Jazz Revisited: Honoring Larry Rosen November 17, 8pm In tribute to Larry Rosen, an esteemed consulting producer of the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, GRP Records is reuniting some of the greatest artists of the jazz label to present, individually and collectively, music from the studio’s heyday: Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Phil Perry, David Sanborn and The Yellowjackets.
Cinderella December 4, 3pm This full-scale production by the State Ballet Theatre of Russia is choreographed by Vladimir Vasiliev, former principal dancer with the Bolshoi Theater Ballet. Set to the music of Prokofiev, Cinderella is one of the most magical and hopeful of the storybook ballets, the enchanting story of wishes that really do come true.
The Hip Hop Nutcracker featuring MC Kurtis Blow December 17, 3pm NJPAC’s very own holiday smash is back! The Hip Hop Nutcracker reimagines Tchaikovsky’s classic score through explosive hip-hop choreography. A dozen all-star dancers, DJ, violinist, and digital scenery bring the traditional Nutcracker story to life with a contemporary urban twist. Rap legend Kurtis Blow rejoins the cast for this mash-up for the entire family. Dance Theatre of Harlem January 14, 8pm Experience poetry in motion as the legendary Dance Theatre of Harlem, celebrating 47 years of passion, power and perfection, returns for this year’s Martin Luther King Celebration at NJPAC.
Budapest Festival Orchestra February 4, 8pm Hungary's acclaimed orchestra performs the Fifth Symphony in an all-Beethoven program featuring pianist Richard Goode.
Peking Acrobats February 18, 1pm China’s most gifted tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, cyclists and gymnasts, accompanied by musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments, dazzle audiences with their bravery and dexterity. A performance by the Peking Acrobats is the epitome of a rich and ancient folk art tradition, blended with 21st-century special effects to highlight the action on stage.
Swan Lake: Moscow Festival Ballet April 15, 8pm A company of 50 dancers, direct from Moscow, performs the tale of a beautiful woman doomed to be a swan in this opulent production set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score. Whether you’re a dance aficionado or a newcomer, this ballet about an evil sorcerer who stands in the way of true love, performed to heart-wrenching music, is a must-see.
The Signature Partners for Newark Celebration 350 are Prudential Financial, Victoria Foundation, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and PSE&G. Premier Partners are Foundation for Newark’s Future, Community Foundation of New Jersey, Barnabas Health, Panasonic, Dodge Foundation, Newark Charter School Fund, Rutgers University-Newark, City of Newark, Fidelco and MCJ/Amelior Foundation. Spotlight Partners include Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Charles Edison Fund, Bank of America, PNC Bank, Investors Foundation, JP Morgan Trust, TD Bank, Essex County College, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Profeta Urban Investment Foundation, Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, Edison Properties, Turrell Fund, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Capital One, Novartis, Gibbons Law, McCarter & English, Wells Fargo, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC, Century 21 Construction, Schumann Fund for New Jersey, Matrix Development, Lowenstein Sandler, Genova Burns, AAA Northeast, Audible, Newark Happening, NJ Advance Media/Star Ledger, M&T Bank and Dream Play Media. About New Jersey Performing Arts Center
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States and is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse 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 10 million visitors (including over 1.5 million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. NJPAC is a proud partner of Newark Celebration 350.
About Newark Celebration 350
Newark Celebration 350 (NC 350) is a year-long jubilee of unique events and festivities commemorating the 350th anniversary of the city of Newark’s founding. Over 150 marquee programs will highlight the city’s rich history, remarkable achievements, diverse communities and extraordinary culture presented by a unique coalition of citizens, educational institutions, cultural organizations and community groups. This spectacular “festival of festivals” aims to inspire and excite locals and visitors from around the world by showcasing the best of this great American city. For more information visit www.nc350.org #newark350.
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Contact:
Mozell Miley-Bailey
Director of Marketing & Communications, NC 350
(973) 297-5159 [email protected]
#newark350 Dan Bauer Senior Director of Public and Media Relations, NJPAC 973-353-8051 [email protected]