June 12, 2026 | 5 - 11pm
Tickets On Sale April 8, 2026 at 3PM
Buy Performance Tickets Buy Full Event Tickets
Join us to celebrate SOPAC’s 20th Anniversary on Friday, June 12 as we honor two decades of extraordinary performing and visual arts right in the heart of downtown South Orange. We’re throwing open the doors and transforming the entire building into one lively and unforgettable party that salutes our past, energizes our present, and sets the stage for the future.
Evening’s Events
5-6PM – Cocktail Hour
6-8PM – Dinner
8-9:30PM – Max Weinberg’s Jukebox Performance
9:30-11PM – Venue-Wide Afterparty
Tickets
$175 Performance Ticket
Includes Max Weinberg’s Jukebox Performance and Afterparty
Buy Performance Ticket
Full Event Tickets (varied levels)
Includes access to the full schedule of events.
Buy Full Event Ticket
Max Weinberg's Jukebox
Just finishing a sold out US tour with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, legendary Rock And Roll Hall of Fame drummer Max Weinberg brings his Jukebox band to SOPAC on June 12th.
The audience will pick the set list from over 300 classic rock hits from the Beatles, Stones, Tom Petty, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Cheap Trick, and of course Bruce and the E Street Band, and Max and his incredible musicians will play them exactly as you remember them.
Join us in raising a glass to three steadfast partners who have been with SOPAC since the beginning!
Anthony J. Leitner
Tony Leitner served on SOPAC’s Board of Governors for over ten years, 6 years as Chair. During his tenure as Chair, he renegotiated the original financial relationship between SOPAC and the Village of South Orange. He also strengthened the relationship with the Village by codifying participation of Village Trustees in SOPAC’s governance. This new partnership between SOPAC and the Village was a key factor in assuring SOPAC’s long term financial viability by making it possible for SOPOAC to receive grants from the New Jersey Council on the Arts and to attract other foundation support. He was also instrumental in strengthening SOPAC’s relationship with Seton Hall University, an original contributor to SOPAC’s construction.
Since his retirement from the Board, he and his wife Jennifer have continued to support SOPAC and to attend SOPAC events.
Seton Hall University
One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall has been inspiring great minds to greater purpose since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 rigorous majors, Seton Hall’s academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, US News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek. Seton Hall, which embraces students of all religions, prepares its graduates to be exemplary servant leaders and caring global citizens. Its attractive main campus is located in suburban South Orange, New Jersey, only 14 miles to New York City, offering a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. A new independent economic analysis of the University found that Seton Hall provides a significant impact on New Jersey’s economy, totaling over $1.6 billion annually and creating and sustaining nearly 10,000 jobs. The University’s nationally recognized School of Law is prominently located in downtown Newark. The University’s Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus in Clifton and Nutley, New Jersey, houses Seton Hall’s College of Nursing, its School of Health and Medical Sciences as well as the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. Our outstanding faculty and values-centered curricula prepare students to grow into well-rounded professionals who lead with purpose by engaging the mind, heart and spirit. For more information, visit www.shu.edu.
South Orange Village
South Orange Village is a vibrant, diverse, and historic New Jersey community where “City Sense, Village Vibe” comes to life every day. With its walkable downtown, iconic gas-lit streets, distinctive housing stock, and deeply engaged residents, South Orange offers a welcoming, compassionate, and culturally rich environment just minutes from New York City.
Governed by an elected Mayor and Village Council, the Village is fully committed to fostering community connection, embracing innovation, and celebrating the arts as a cornerstone of civic life. That spirit is reflected in its enduring partnership with the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), which opened in 2006 as part of a transformative redevelopment effort. Today, SOPAC stands as both a cultural anchor and a powerful economic engine—bringing energy, creativity, and vitality to the heart of the community.
$175 Performance Ticket
Includes Max Weinberg’s Jukebox Performance and Afterparty
Buy Performance Ticket
The following ticket and tables include access to the full schedule of events.
$500 Catalyst Ticket
1 ticket to Full Evening’s Events
$1,000 Luminary Ticket
1 ticket to Full Evening’s Events, Preferred Seating, Quarter-Page Program Ad
$2,500 Changemaker Package
2 tickets to Full Evening’s Events, VIP Seating, Half-Page Program Ad
$5,000 Innovator Table
8 tickets to Full Evening’s Events, Preferred Seating, Half-Page Program Ad
$10,000 Visionary Table
8 tickets to Full Evening’s Events, VIP Seating, Full-Page Program Ad, SOPAC Memberships for Everyone in Your Party
$20,000 Leadership Table
Up to 16 tickets to Full Evening’s Events, VIP Seating, Full-Page Program Ad, SOPAC Memberships for Everyone in Your Party
Become an Underwriter
Make your mark on this unforgettable evening by supporting a key element. To reserve, please contact Director of Development Molly Marinik at molly@sopacnow.org or 973-712-4102.
Advertise in the Journal
All Gala attendees will receive a 20th Anniversary Gala journal to take home. Ad specs include full page (5.5 x 8 in) for $600 and half page (5.5 x 4 in) for $300. To purchase an ad, please contact Development Associate Kriti Venkat at kriti@sopacnow.org or 973-913-8532.
Donate to the Gala
Can’t attend the event but want to show your support? Want to give an additional donation in support of SOPAC’s biggest fundraiser of the year? All gifts go a long way, and are extremely appreciated.
Honorary Co-Chairs
Sheena Collum, Aida Jones, and Douglas Newman
Host Committee
Paul Bartick, Linda Beck, Marc Chalom, Jeremy Dobrish, Randall Haase, Michael and Marlene Karu, Tatiyana Lofton, Jeremy Moss, Eve Peterson and Tom Hut, Rev. Dr. Terry L. Richardson, Sharon Schwartz, Dan Stankus, Adena Traub