South Orange Performing Arts Center

The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is a prominent cultural institution located in South Orange, New Jersey. It stands as a beacon of the arts within the South Orange-Maplewood community and enjoys support from the Township of South Orange Village and South Orange Downtown, an organization committed to fostering a vibrant business and living environment. Established in 2006, SOPAC was the result of a collaborative vision between the South Orange Village Trustees and Seton Hall University, who saw the potential for a performing arts center to act as the cornerstone of a comprehensive redevelopment plan. Over the years, SOPAC has grown to become a cultural hub for the region, contributing significantly to the community's economic and social fabric. SOPAC's mission is centered on several Strategic Pillars, which include curating transformative arts experiences for a diverse community, building community engagement, ensuring long-term viability and sustainability, and strengthening its operations and impact through its Board and staff. The center boasts the Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall, a 439-seat mainstage theatre renowned for its exceptional acoustics, sightlines, and intimate seating arrangements. This venue is complemented by The Loft at SOPAC, a versatile 2,185 square-foot space designed for a variety of performances, rehearsals, classes, and events. The center's distinctive architecture features a striking three-story glass-enclosed atrium, which houses the Herb & Milly Iris Gallery, a space dedicated to visual arts exhibitions. In addition to its performance spaces, SOPAC is deeply invested in arts education. It offers a School Performance Series, performing arts residencies, and annual juried art exhibits known as INSPIRED MINDS and INSPIRING MINDS. Furthermore, SOPAC partners with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts to host the Region 5 Poetry Out Loud competitions. The Seton Hall University Arts Council also utilizes SOPAC's facilities to present a variety of events featuring both professionals and members of the university community. SOPAC's impact extends beyond its walls, as it co-produces local events such as South Orange Summer Nights, further enriching the cultural landscape of the area. The center's dedication to providing a platform for world-class artists in a welcoming environment has been recognized by audiences and critics alike, including Rolling Stone Magazine, which praised SOPAC's sound design. As a member-supported organization, SOPAC continues to thrive and serve as a catalyst for artistic opportunity, a driver of economic development, and a cultural centerpiece for South Orange and the surrounding region.