UCPAC CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH WITH SONG, POETRY, AND DANCE
Rahway venues acknowledge the holiday with two events on June 19th and 20th.
RAHWAY, NJ –In observance of Juneteenth, the federal holiday that commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States, Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) will offer two events celebrating Black voices in America. On Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 7 PM, UCPAC’s historic Main Stage will present the 2006 film “Dreamgirls” in 35mm, and on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 7 PM, UCPAC, in partnership with American Theater Group (ATG) and the New Jersey Creative Arts Collaborative (NJCAC) will present “Juneteenth – The Soundtrack of Freedom,” at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage.
“Dreamgirls” starring Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Beyoncé Knowles, and Best Supporting Actress Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson, depicts the challenges Black women in the music industry encountered in the 60s and 70s. Adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name, with a story loosely based on the career of Diana Ross and the Supremes, “Dreamgirls” is a movie musical that captures the sound and fashion of that iconic era. Immediately after the film, there will be a Motown/R&B dance party on UCPAC’s iconic Main Stage.
Hosted by Production Director and ATG Co-Vice President Diane L. Parker, “Juneteenth – The Soundtrack of Freedom” will take audience members on a path through Black music as a powerful force in the struggle for freedom, identity, and creative expression. The event will feature performances by a vibrant community choir, talented soloists, including tap dancer extraordinaire Jeffry Foote, and singer Sandra Ward, powerful poetry, dynamic dance, and returning for this year’s event by popular demand, the electrifying Junior Mack Band.
Tickets for “Dreamgirls” in 35mm at UCPAC’s Main Stage in Rahway on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 7 PM, and for “Juneteenth: The Soundtrack of Freedom” featuring the Junior Mack Band at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 7 PM are on sale now. Prices for “Dreamgirls” are $17 in advance//$21 day of show; prices for “Juneteenth: The Soundtrack of Freedom” are $29, with student and senior tickets available for $18 (All In Pricing). Call UCPAC’s Box Office at 732-499-0446 or visit ucpac.org for tickets.
The New Jersey Creative Arts Collaborative (NJCAC) is a non-profit organization whose goal is to inform, inspire and illuminate artists of color by sharing and broadening cultural awareness through the creation of original content and partnership opportunities. More information is available at: njcac.org.
American Theater Group (ATG), founded in 2012, produces new and classic works primarily by American playwrights with an emphasis on the development of new works and the reimagining of undeservedly neglected older ones. ATG engages audiences by making theater’s glorious possibilities accessible to the diverse community in which we live, through remarkable performances as well as quality arts-in-education programming. More information can be found at americantheatergroup.org.
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating the Main Stage, built in 1928 and listed in both the State and National Register of Historic Places, at 1601 Irving St., and the modern and intimate Hamilton Stage, at 360 Hamilton St., in the heart of Rahway, New Jersey’s Arts District. Established as a Film Palace in 1928, the Main Stage’s tradition of showcasing beloved films continues today with UCPAC’s Third Thursdays 35mm & Classic Film Series. To learn more, visit ucpac.org.
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