SOPAC Announces its Summer Performance Schedule May - August

A look at what's ahead at South Orange's premiere performing arts venue.

SOPAC Seeks Community Input

South Orange Performing Arts Center asks the public to complete a survey

South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) wants to know what the community thinks. The organization, headed by new Executive Director Mark E. Packer, has launched an online survey. A letter from SOPAC follows: Dear South Orange Community Members:  The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is seeking your guidance and opinions about how our organization can better serve the community.   We would greatly appreciate it if you would complete a brief survey and share your thoughts with us. Please click on the link below or copy and paste the entire URL into your browser to access the survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G5BH6VJ  If you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me.  I welcome the opportunity…

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Girl (Scouts) Can Do These Jobs, Too

Maplewood scouting troop hosts mini career expo to introduce girls to different professions.

  Girl Scout Troop 20718 of Maplewood will host "Girls Can Do These Jobs Too!," an educational leadership workshop and fundraiser at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Saturday, April 20 from 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. The program seeks to encourage girls of all ages -- from elementary school through high school -- to learn what it takes to be successful in any job, including those in typically male-dominated professions. The event marks the completion of the Troop’s Leadership journey on women, stereotypes, and teaching girls to reach out and speak up.  "In leading the girls, we found that the jobs that came to mind for them were teacher, nurse, doctor, lawyer, finance or professor," said Troop Leader Sherina Larrier. "These were …

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CCR Hosts Children's Theatre Performance at SOPAC

Special live shows, part of "Integration through the Arts," are on March 16.

  The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race (CCR) will sponsor a special theater performance for children, as part of its "Integration through the Arts" program, at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. A $5 donation is recommended. This year’s program includes a theater production for children using two well-known children’s books.  These productions are live theater performances by local professionals that use stories to get kids to think about fairness and discrimination, to learn to not fear people who are different, and to work together to solve problems.  Gertrude McFuzz, which demonstrates how accepting our differences can be the source of our strength and …

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SOPAC Welcomes Harlem Gospel Choir

SOPAC Welcomes Harlem Gospel Choir for a performance

Former SOPAC Director Lands New Gig

Michael Bollinger, former head of SOPAC, is Executive Director of Virginia's Louisa Arts Center

Michael Bollinger has been named Executive Director of Virginia's Louisa Arts Center (LAC). Bollinger, who recently headed SOPAC, came to New Jersey from Virginia.  “I am pleased to be selected as the new leader and public ambassador for the Louisa Arts Center. It’s nice to return to Virginia,” says Bollinger. “The arts and cultural are important resources for any community. The Center has much to be proud of." LAC board president Brian Marks stated, “Bollinger is a solid addition to the Center. We’re thrilled to be welcome Michael Bollinger to Louisa! His diverse background, experience and enthusiasm will help elevate LAC to a new level of excellence." Bollinger is Founding Director of Mainstage Theatre, has served as Artistic Producing …

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SOPAC Receives $118,000 County Improvement Grant

Essex County announces recipients of Community Development Block Grants.

South Orange is among 16 Essex County municipalities to receive Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), according to a press release released Tuesday by Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. South Orange will receive government sponsored project grants totaling $118,216 for improvements at the South Orange Performing Arts Center. The township will also receive non-profit project grants for $7,900 for the purchase of a radio reader for EIES of New Jersey, the release said. A total of $4.4 million was distributed Tuesday through the CDBG program, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development. “Programs supported …

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SOPAC Annouces New Executive Director Pick

He takes the helm March 1

The Board of Governors of the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) today announced the appointment of Mark Packer as its new Executive Director. Packer will assume his official duties at SOPAC on March 1, 2013. From a release issued by SOPAC: “I’m thrilled to be joining the team at SOPAC,” says Packer. “It’s an honor to soon be at the helm of what has become the cultural center of the South Orange–Maplewood communities as well as a cultural beacon for the state of New Jersey. This marks a new chapter for SOPAC and I’m excited to be playing a role in it.” As the long-time Executive Director of Appel Farms Arts & Music Center, Packer expanded the center to a year-round performing arts organization offering a diverse array of …

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SOPAC Hosts Winter Rep, Music, Christopher O' Riley, John Waters

The January - February schedule is packed

JANUARY                                                                                                                                                                                              SUN 1/13 @ 7:00PM – MIDTOWN DIRECT REP IN THE LOFT: IN THE BOOK OF Theatre Tickets: $15 Cover, Cash Bar, No Minimum   Join Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) in developing new and innovative American theatre.  Following on the heels of MDR's successful development of Rated P (for parenthood), a new program, “Midtown Direct Rep in the Loft,” aims to do the same for other previously unseen material. MDR will be presenting monthly readings or workshops of new plays and musicals one Sunday night a month at 7PM in the SOPAC loft. With a cash bar and post show …

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Win SOPAC Tickets For Two Holiday Shows

Sign up for the Patch newsletter and email your name to win two pairs of free tickets to see a live staging of a 1940s-style radio performance of "It's a Wonderful Life" and two pairs of free tickets to "The Juilliard Jazz Ensemble Featuring Carla Cook."

Thanksgiving 2012 is history, as are Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Now, the holiday season is here. Everybody has his or her favorite holiday song, favorite holiday movie or favorite holiday show. To help you get in the holiday spirit, Patch and the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) are offering Patch readers a chance to enjoy two holiday classics for free. We’re teaming up with SOPAC, located at 1 Trenchard Place in South Orange, and giving away two pairs of tickets to the winner’s choice of the 2 p.m. matinee or the 8 p.m. evening performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” at SOPAC on Saturday, Dec. 8. Winners must specify which show is their preference in their entry. Presented by …

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