Anyone who was in the Jersey City area this weekend may have noticed a bright spotlight circling the sky. Anyone near St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church may have heard roars of laughter and cheers exuding from the doors. These sights and sounds indicated the successful grand opening weekend of Saint Peter’s PAC.
Earlier this year Saint Peter’s University announced the opening of Saint Peter’s PAC, a consortium of distinctive performing arts spaces situated within the campus of Saint Peter’s University. This weekend marked the grand opening with performances by Bill Cosby and The Midtown Men, four stars from the original cast of the Broadway hit “Jersey Boys.”
“The tremendous success we had with the opening of Saint Peter’s PAC truly marks a momentous occasion for our neighborhood, Hudson County and the Saint Peter’s University community,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “The positive energy from our performers and the sold out audiences were inspirational. We are looking forward to future Saint Peter’s PAC events, which will continue to build our community and benefit St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church.”
Saint Peter’s PAC features a variety of diverse event spaces with seating capacities ranging from 200 to 3,200. Venues include St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church – a 1,200 seat cathedral that transforms into a majestic theatre, providing a grand backdrop for world-class artists; a 3,200 seat arena that hosts family events, trade shows, food expos and more; an intimate 200 seat theatre; and intimate spaces which can be used to showcase everything from poetry jams to comedy improv to film screenings. A cabaret-style performance space with a coveted view of the Manhattan skyline is also currently under construction and will serve as the perfect arena for jazz and acoustic concerts.
Bill Cosby, one of America’s most prolific comedians of all time, took the stage for the premiere event on Friday, December 7. St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church opened its doors at 7:00 p.m. to begin welcoming guests to the VIP reception before Cosby’s performance began. The intimate VIP reception gave guests a chance to meet and greet Cosby who has dazzled generations of fans with his comedy routines. When the lights dimmed and Cosby took the stage decked out in his Saint Peter’s University gear, roars of laughter was all that was heard from the packed audience.
However the success of opening weekend did not end there! On Saturday, December 8, The Midtown Men, gave a special performance. It was hard for the fans to keep from dancing in their seats as they listened to the sounds that made the group famous on Broadway. Beyond singing the hits of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the group performed a variety of 60s and Motown hits. The Midtown Men also added a number of Christmas songs to their repertoire including the debut of their new Christmas single, “All Alone on Christmas,” written and produced by Little Steven van Zandt of E-Street Band fame.
Guests had the opportunity to meet and greet The Midtown Men at the VIP reception before the performance and after the show where they autographed their CDs. The group offered the opportunity for guests to purchase their CDs at the performance and all of the sales from the evening went to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.
Anyone who missed the debut performances of Saint Peter’s PAC still has a chance to visit! The calendar is filling up with an impressive line-up of performers for the upcoming year.
On Saturday, April 27, 2013, Jay Black and Darlene Love will take the stage. Jay Black, former lead singer of Jay and the Americans, led the group in their string of hits including “Come A Little Bit Closer,” “Cara Mia,” “This Magic Moment” and more. Black will be performing alongside Darlene Love, a former leader on the charts with legendary producer Phil Spector and a Broadway star.
An “Evening of Doo Wop” will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2013. This performance will feature a variety of legendary performers such as Kenny Vance & The Planotones famous for their hit “Looking for an Echo,” Jay Siegel & The Tokens, singers of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” Frankie Lymon’s Legendary Teenagers known for the song “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” Shirley Alston Reeves, the original singer from The Shirelles, who will be performing her legendary hit, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and Linda Jansen, original lead singer of The Angels, performing her classic “My Boyfriend’s Back.”
Additional performances will be announced soon. Advanced ticket sales are available by phone at (888) 943-4864 or online at www.saintpeterspac.org. For additional information and details on upcoming performances, please join the mailing list on the website.
Click the below image to view photos from opening weekend.
