12/17/25 07:00 PM - 12/17/25 09:00 PM

Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts

02/15/26 03:00 PM - 02/15/26 05:00 PM

Sponsored by Heart of Jazz Foundation

Pianist-composer Orrin Evans is a Trenton native, and a veteran of the Philadelphia and worldwide jazz scenes. He leads his own small groups, as well as the powerful Captain Black Big Band. His most recent recording, Magic of Now, is his 20^th, featuring such well-known players as Bill Stewart and Vicente Archer along with young saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins. His previous albums were on Smoke Sessions and Imani Records (his imprint), garnering several Grammy nominations. Evans, who topped the DownBeat “Rising Star” poll in 2018, was a member of the Mingus Big Band for a year and was formerly the pianist in the Bad Plus trio. He is a committed educator and is a board member for the Heart of Jazz Foundation, which is sponsoring this exciting performance.

Tickets:
$25 – Public
$22 - Senior/WP Community
$15 – Non-WP Student
Free for WP Students with show of ID

All prices include fees

Location: Shea Center for Perfroming Arts

02/21/26 08:00 PM - 02/21/26 10:00 PM

One of Rock & Roll’s founding vocal groups The Drifters have provided a half century of classic American music, including solid gold hits: Up on the Roof.  Under the Boardwalk.  This Magic Moment. There Goes My Baby.  Dance with Me.  Spanish Harlem.  Stand by Me.  The list of hits goes on and on.

From their inception in the early 1950's and up until recently, THE DRIFTERS are considered the second most successful recording artist of all time, according to Billboard Magazine. They enjoyed twenty years straight in the music business with uninterrupted hits. 

Through an historical journey, which included no less than 5 legendary lead singers, including Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Clyde McPhatter and Ben E. King the group's ongoing story has covered the entire spectrum of Rock & Roll.  They were the first musical group to include string instruments into Rhythm & Blues music with their hauntingly beautiful song, "There Goes My Baby".  They were the first musical group to sell 2 million records with their pop classic, "Up On The Roof".  They were the first African American vocal group to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  Along with fellow inductees the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Supremes, the Drifters were in the first class of Rock & Roll legends to be initiated into the Hall of Fame.  Their classic tune "Under The Boardwalk" is the most played R & B record of all time. 20 other million sellers followed.                            

Their songs have been penned by such historic songwriters as Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Carol King, Jerry Goffen and Phil Spector.  They have played at the White House on 3 different occasions, give a benefit concert in Berlin the day the wall fell, performed for the Pope, the Queen of England, Nelson Mandella and toured the world for the USO in 3 different war zones from Korea to Iraq.  And behind it all was George Treadwell and his family, guiding the career of this historic group.

Tickets:
Gold Circle: $63
Rear Orchestra: $58
Front Loge: $48
Rear Loge / Obstructed / Accessible: $43

Discounts:
Senior citizens and William Paterson employees and students are eligible for 10% discount. Groups of ten or more can get 15% off

Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts

02/26/26 08:00 PM - 02/26/26 10:00 PM

Branford Marsalis continues to thrill audiences around the world while racking up achievements across diverse musical platforms, even after four decades in the international spotlight. From his initial recognition as a young jazz lion, landing his first major jobs with trumpet legend Clark Terry and alongside his brother Wynton in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, he has expanded his vision as an instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and educator, crossing stylistic boundaries while maintaining an unwavering creative integrity. Branford went on to form his own quartet and it remains his primary performance vehicle. Known for the telepathic communication among its uncommonly consistent personnel, its deep book of original music replete with expressive melodies and provocative forms, and an unrivaled spirit in both live and recorded performances. The Branford Marsalis Quartet has long been recognized as the standard to which other ensembles of its kind must be measured.  

Along Branford’s musical journey, he has become an avatar of contemporary artistic excellence winning three Grammy Awards, a Tony nomination for his work as a composer on Broadway, a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as Jazz Master, and a 2021 Primetime EMMY nomination for the score he composed for the Tulsa Burning documentary.

As for other public stages, Branford spent a period touring with Sting, collaborated with the Grateful Dead and Bruce Hornsby, served as Musical Director of The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno and hosted National Public Radio’s widely syndicated Jazz Set.  The range and quality of these diverse activities established Branford as a familiar presence beyond the worlds of jazz, classical, and beyond.

Tickets: 
Gold Circle $75
Rear Orchestra $67
Front Loge $57
Rear Loge/Accessible $47

Discounts:
10% off for senior citizens and William Paterson employees and students. 15% off for groups of ten or more.

Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts

03/08/26 03:00 PM - 03/08/26 05:00 PM

Virtuoso saxophonist/flutist Steve Wilson first gained recognition in the Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra and the Mingus Big Band. Since then, he has become widely recognized as one of the most respected jazz performers on the scene. He has been a member of ensembles led by Dave Holland, Helen Sung, and Rufus Reid; Chick Corea’s Origins Quintet; and an all-star ensemble formed to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of Blue Note Records. Primarily an alto player, he is also recognized as one of the leading performers on the challenging soprano saxophone. This concert will feature the premiere performances of several arrangements created for Wilson by William Paterson graduate student arrangers. He has been on the faculty of Manhattan School of Music, City College of New York, SUNY Purchase, and William Paterson University.

Tickets:
$25 – Public
$22 - Senior/WP Community
$15 – Non-WP Student
Free for WP Students with show of ID

All prices include fees.

Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts

03/14/26 08:00 PM - 03/14/26 10:00 PM

Songs You Know and Love.  A Voice You’ll Never Forget

Described as “the next Justin Timberlake”, this handsome young man always wanted to be singer and now finds himself, in his mid-twenties, an in-demand showman and social media superstar.  He’s appeared on national PBS specials, shared the stage with music icons, performed live on Good Morning America, and is succeeding at wowing audiences in his solo show across the nation.

This rising young entertainer has created a live stage show that shares his remarkable story, while breathing new life into timeless hit songs of the last six decades, from the 60s and 70s up to today.    One moment he and his spectacular band will be weaving a song by Adele into a Lionel Richie classic, and the next, marrying Bruno Mars “Just the Way You Are” with the iconic “This Magic Moment”.   All the while sharing his incredible Cinderella story that began with a dream of being able to make it as a singer and make people happy.

Now more than ever, people need to feel hope that they can make something of their own lives.  Which is why Chris Ruggiero’s “Livin’ the Dream” delivers a musically uplifting experience that engages and inspires audiences and lives on in their hearts long after he leaves the stage.  If there’s any doubt that what he’s doing is resonating with people everywhere, his Facebook page reached a staggering 63 million people last year. And he’s just getting started. 

Everybody has a dream. Chris Ruggiero is living his.

Tickets: 
Gold Circle $58
Rear Orchestra $53 
Front Loge $48 
Rear Loge / Obstructed / Accessible $43

Discounts:
10% off for senior citizens and WP employees and students. 15% off for groups of ten or more.

Location: Shea Center for Performing Arts