LISA FISCHER
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center opened in October 1997 with a star-studded, multi-genre concert featuring the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Kathleen Battle, American Ballet Theater dancers, Chita Rivera, Savion Glover, and Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, it has put together a similarly impressive lineup for “NJPAC@20: Friends in Concert!,” taking place Sept. 23: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Paquito D’Rivera, Michael Feinstein, Lisa Fischer, Savion Glover, James Monroe Iglehart, India, and members of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Xian Zhang). Christian McBride will serve as musical director and also lead his own big band.
The “Friends” refers to the fact that all the performers have performed at NJPAC before, at least once and, in some cases, many times. Students in NJPAC’s arts education programs will also perform.
The Women’s Association of NJPAC’s annual Spotlight Gala will begin with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the performance at 7 p.m., and then dinner, dancing and dessert. For gala information, contact Sarah Rosen at srosen@njpac.org or call (973) 297-5806. Performance-only tickets, priced at $50, go on sale Aug. 11 at 10 a.m.; visit njpac.org.
