The New Jersey Performing Arts Center has garnered national attention in its first eight seasons, serving as a model for its programming and audience diversity, education initiatives, and the catalytic role it has played in returning nightlife and economic activity to New Jersey’s largest urban community. On its Opening Night, NJPAC became the sixth largest performing arts center in the United States (based on annual operating budget).
A major component of NJPAC’s multi-faceted mission is to develop into a world-class cultural complex, showcasing the best artists of national and international acclaim. Since the grand opening, centerstage in NJPAC’s two halls -- the 2,750-seat Prudential Hall and the 514-seat Victoria Theater -- has been filled by renowned artists, cultural icons, and some of the world’s most cherished orchestral, dance, theater, and instrumental works, as well as the best performers from New Jersey’s outstanding array of artists and performing companies.
Included among the artists appearing on NJPAC stages in its first eight seasons are the Boston Symphony Orchestra; Yo-Yo Ma; Bob Dylan; Ballet Nacional de Cuba; Lauryn Hill; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Twyla Tharp Dance; Dance Theatre of Harlem; Israel Philharmonic; Nancy Wilson and Ramsey Lewis; the Berlin State Opera Orchestra; the Royal Danish Ballet; Hilary Hahn; Bill T. Jones; Itzhak Perlman; the Vienna Choir Boys; Midori; Sarah Brightman; Sting; Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo; Elvis Costello; National Song & Dance Company of Mozambique; Don Henley; the Afro-Cuban All-Stars; Audra McDonald; Buena Vista Social Club; Melissa Etheridge; the Czech Philharmonic; Bette Midler; The Chieftains; Herbie Hancock; Sweet Honey in the Rock; and Diana Krall.
NJPAC has also played host to acclaimed tours of such popular Broadway musicals as Evita; The Sound of Music; Grease; Annie; Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk; Fame; Fosse, Sunset Boulevard; Peter Pan; Les Miserables; The Full Monty; Fiddler on the Roof; and Blast!
NJPAC has attracted over 3.5 million patrons (including 700,000 children) since its October 18, 1997 Opening Night. 26% (1 in 4) of all NJPAC ticket buyers are other-than-Caucasian, including 17% African-American. NJPAC has been cited in many major media outlets, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Miami Herald, The Baltimore Sun, Crain’s New York Business, Travel & Leisure, Forbes and others, as a motivating catalyst in the renewed interest in the City of Newark by developers, investors and tenants. In additon, NJPAC’s Prudential Hall has been named one of the "world’s greatest concert halls" by former New York Times music critic Hans Fantel, and "the nation’s most glamorous theater" by Clive Barnes.
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