Seton Hall and SOPAC Celebrate a Two-Decade Partnership Through the Arts

Seton Hall University’s Arts Council brings students, faculty and professional performances to South Orange Performing Arts Center's 21st season.

Seton Hall is continuing its longstanding partnership with the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), bringing a diverse lineup of live performances to the professional stage throughout the venue’s 21st season. Presented by the Seton Hall University Arts Council, which is based at the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media, the season features student theatre, big band jazz, grand opera and other performances that connect the University’s artistic community with audiences across South Orange and the surrounding region.

The fall season began on October 13 with a performance by the Lionel Hampton Big Band, launching another year of programming that showcases the breadth of the performing arts at Seton Hall.

SOPAC opened its doors in 2006, growing out of a shared vision of the Seton Hall and South Orange Village Trustees. Today, the partnership continues to provide opportunities for Seton Hall students and faculty to present their work in a professional setting while enriching the cultural life of the local community. Performances take place in SOPAC’s Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall, where students, faculty and neighbors experience the arts together.

The collaboration also makes live performances more accessible to the Seton Hall community. University students attend Seton Hall University’s Arts Council performances at SOPAC free of charge, while students and faculty receive up to 50 percent on SOPAC main-stage shows through the Seton Hall discount program. The Seton Hall Shuttle Service van further connects the campus to SOPAC, making it easy for students to participate in performances and experience live entertainment close by.

"Seton Hall has been part of SOPAC since before the lights first came on,” says Miriam Vales, SOPAC interim executive director. “When SHU students step onto our mainstage, they're performing in a professional theatre for a real community audience and our neighbors get to see the next generation of artists up close. That's what this partnership has always been about and we're proud to celebrate 21 seasons of it."

Chris Aurilio, director of production and facilities for the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media, emphasizes the value of the partnership. "SOPAC gives our students and faculty something no classroom can – a professional stage and an audience that extends beyond campus. We're grateful for 20 years of partnership and excited to share another full season with the South Orange community."

Seton Hall at SOPAC: Fall Season

Seton Hall University Theatre: William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Thursday, October 29 at 8 p.m. | Friday, October 30 at 8 p.m. | Saturday, October 31 at 8 p.m. | Sunday, November 1 at 2 p.m.

Seton Hall University Theatre stages Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy of shipwrecked twins, mistaken identity and a tangled love triangle, performed by a cast and crew of Seton Hall students and directed by Stephanie ila Silver-Silberstein.

Classical Concert Series: Vincenzo Bellini's Norma
Wednesday, November 11 at 6 p.m.

The Seton Hall Classical Concert Series and the Alberto Italian Studies Institute present MidAtlantic Artistic Productions in Bellini's operatic masterpiece, starring Amy Shoremount-Obra (Norma), Laura Zahn (Adalgisa), Nathan Schafer (Pollione) and Henry Kim (Oroveso).

Jazz 'n the Hall Concert Series: The Analog Jazz Orchestra
Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Led by saxophonist Geoff Vidal, The Analog Jazz Orchestra brings together veterans of the United States Army Jazz Band for an evening honoring U.S. veterans through music.

More Seton Hall programming will be announced for winter and spring.

For the full lineup, visit SOPAC.

For details on the Seton Hall discount, click here.

About Seton Hall University Arts Council
The Seton Hall University Arts Council supports the integral role of the arts in higher education. The Arts Council, housed within the College of Human Development, Culture and Media, strengthens the cultural vitality of the visual, literary and performing arts for the University campus and the surrounding community.

About SOPAC
The South Orange Performing Arts Center curates a distinctive lineup of performances, bringing artists and experiences to audiences in the greater South Orange/Maplewood region and contributing to the economic and social vibrancy of its diverse community.

With its artistic partnership with SOPAC, the Seton Hall University Arts Council presents a diverse range of events at SOPAC with seasoned professionals, students and faculty. Through these collaborations, SOPAC continues to expand access to the arts and create opportunities for learning, connection and discovery across generations.

Categories: Arts and Culture