Arts for All at Celebrate South Orange

Celebrate South Orange organizers, in conjunction with the South Orange Performing Arts Center, have announced the entertainment lineup scheduled for on Saturday, June 16. Entering its sixth year, the family-friendly downtown celebration has made a name for itself as South Orange, NJ’s signature annual community event.

This year’s entertainment comes courtesy of the Arts for All Festival at Celebrate South Orange, a brand-new partnership among Main Street South Orange, SOPAC, and The Baird. Arts for All will bring a full schedule of live local entertainment to the main stage area throughout the day, along with a juried craft show that will feature some of the best local painters, photographers, jewelers, and artisans. The celebration will culminate in the evening with a community dance party at the main stage.

The Arts for All Festival at Celebrate South Orange will kick off the prior week, on Friday, June 8, with a free performance by Lydia Johnson Dance, the dance company in residence at SOPAC. The troupe will perform a special preview performance of new and recent dances. The free performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.; seats are available on a first come, first seated basis.

Headlining the evening community dance party at CSO on Saturday, June 16, will be the Wisenheimers, a popular New Jersey pop, rock, and top-40 band playing a variety of upbeat, danceable hits from the last five decades, from 60s Motown and 70s disco through 80s New Wave and 90s Britpop to today’s modern chart-toppers. The performance will be held on the main stage area beginning at 6:30 p.m.; admission is free and no tickets are necessary.

In addition to the headlining performances, the main stage at CSO will host a variety of musical performers throughout the day beginning at 2:00 p.m. Featured entertainers—many of whom have roots in South Orange—include:
•    RedWall The members of this South Orange-based foursome describe themselves as “essentially a blues rock band that throws in some other random music from time to time.”
•    Doomsday Diaries Think progressive/psychedelic music meets “School of Rock,” as all five band members are still in their teens. Doomsday Diaries has performed at the Stony Pony and at last year’s Bamboozle Music Festival.
•    FELT Defining itself as “‘Accoustafolkadelic’ with thump and grind,” this band harkens back to an earlier era’s popular country-rock with a good dash of the blues sound.
•    Matt Mattheiss + Rob Betrus South Orange native singer/songwriter Mattheiss teams up with Rob Betrus to present original acoustic rock and classic rock covers from the 70s and 80s.
•    First Baptist Church of South Orange This local gospel ensemble adds an upbeat, uptempo, and energetic flavor to the main stage.

Arts for All at Celebrate South Orange has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. More information on Celebrate South Orange 2012, including sponsorship, vendor, and volunteering opportunities, is available at www.celebratesouthorange.org.

About SOPAC
Since 2006, SOPAC has been serving as a premier performing arts center in the region. SOPAC offers innovative artistic and cultural experiences for diverse audiences in an intimate, inviting environment. The multidisciplinary arts center hosts a variety of live performances, community events and education programs for all ages. To further expand its offerings, SOPAC has a partnership with the Juilliard School of Music to present Juilliard @ SOPAC—a series featuring upcoming musicians from the acclaimed conservatory. SOPAC is also a home for Seton Hall University Arts Council’s performances, including Classical Concert Series, Jazz N’ the Hall performances and Seton Hall Theatre productions. SOPAC also presents performances by its theater company in residence, Midtown Direct Rep, and its dance company in residence, Lydia Johnson Dance. For more information, visit SOPACnow.org.