April 24, 2025 12:00 PM - 12:00 PM
online

During this virtual event, we will discuss all of the things you need to know about applying to William Paterson University’s graduate programs! We will be able to answer questions about our application and the next steps you would need to take if you were considering applying for an upcoming semester.

Register Now! 

April 24, 2025 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Shea Center for Performing Arts

Featuring WP faculty soloist, Michael Baker, trumpet, and guest conductors, Sarah Culp-Abrams and John Maiello, performing music for winds and percussion.

April 26, 2025 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Shea Center for Performing Arts

Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix is a comedy act like no other. Johnny leads over a dozen dogs through challenging and hilarious tricks as Johnny plays the straight man role in this wonderful show. Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix have appeared in Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus and on David Letterman as well as Performing Arts Centers around the Country! Now this hilarious dog show comes to the Shea Center!

Sit! Stay! Get ready to howl! Johnny Peers and his personality-plus canines are coming to tickle your funny bone! A Ringling Brothers Clown College graduate, Johnny Peers has been working with dogs since he got his first puppy, Freckles, a Beagle mix, from the Humane Society. Since their 1980 debut, the Muttville Comix have appeared on David Letterman, Primetime Live and Circus of the Stars, and at Disneyland, Busch Gardens, the Big Apple Circus, the Royal Hanneford Circus, even The White House! A show for the whole family and the dog lover in all of us, the show stars mostly dogs rescued from shelters or pounds, like Daphne, the world’s only skateboarding Basset Hound; Squeaky, the ladder climbing Fox Terrier; Mr. Pepe, who only responds to commands in Spanish; and Sir Winston, the Pointer mix who only answers to “Sir.” The 2003 Animal Planet Pet Star Winners, the Providence Journal-Bulletin calls the show, “...a truly funny, slapstick dog act.”

April 27, 2025 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Shea Center for Performing Arts

This concert creates a truly rare performance by bringing together two true jazz giants who have only performed together rarely in the past and never have toured.  Christian McBride has a solid reputation as one of the world’s most respected jazz basists and bandleaders, but that is only the beginning: he leads the Newport Jazz Festival, and co-leads Jazz House Kids with his wife Melissa Walker. Bill Charlap is one of the world’s foremost pianists, touring and recording with his trio of 27 years with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, releasing award-winning albums on the Blue Note label and winning a 2016 Grammy Award with Tony Bennett.  This promises to be a truly memorable event, a very rare collaboration between two New Jersey residents who are worldwide jazz icons.

Sponsored by the Woody Shapiro Endowment

Free to all ticketholders. Sittin’ In Meet–the–Artist sessions are one hour prior to each concert in Shea Center Recital Hall and feature a rare opportunity for audience members to hear from and interact with the artist of the day.

Tickets:
General Admission $33 / Senior Citizens $30 / WP students are admitted free with ID

April 28, 2025 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Shea Recital Hall 101

WP piano students, faculty, alumni, Emeriti and special guests celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Maurice Ravel! Curated by Carl Patrick Bolleia

Free admission and open to the public.

May 1, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
online

During this virtual session, we will discuss all of the things you need to know about applying to William Paterson University’s graduate or certificate programs in the Cotsakos College of Business.  Join program director, Brian Grzymkowski, and a member of the Graduate Admission Team as they answer questions about the next steps you would need to take if you were considering applying for an upcoming semester.

Register Now! 

May 2, 2025 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Shea Center for Performing Arts

Dr. Hannah Carr, Director of Choral Activities
Featuring WP Choirs, a Gospel soloist, guest musicians, and 150+ high school student participants.

Free admission and open to the public.

May 4, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Shea Center for Performing Arts

New repertoire for percussion ensemble.

Free admission and open to the public.

May 5, 2025 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Shea Center for Performing Arts

Presenting compositions of the 20^th and 21st Century, including original works by WP students and faculty. Directed by Dr. Carl Patrick Bolleia and conducted by John Ferrari

Free admission and open to the public.

May 6, 2025 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Shea Center for Performing Arts

An Evening with Roger McGuinn is a love for folk music – the music that took him to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Mr. Tambourine Man not only lived history, he made history with his fearless sense of experimentation. As the leader of the influential 60s group, The Byrds, he was on the leading edge, combining the rock beat of the Beatles with the folk sensibilities of Bob Dylan, to create the genre known as “folk-rock.” His groundbreaking work on The Byrds “Sweetheart Of The Rodeo” album, is widely credited with ushering in the genre of country rock. Roger’s solo career began in 1973 and has yielded 13 albums, a Grammy nomination, and extensive touring and performing for enthralled audiences ever since.  

Jim McGuinn (he changed his name later to Roger) began playing professionally at the age of 17. He was first recognized around the industry for his banjo and guitar playing ability. He began touring with the Chad Mitchell Trio which eventually led to his touring gig with Bobby Darin. When Bobby decided to take a break from performing live, he invited Jim to join him in New York city to work at the famed Brill Building as a songwriter for TM Music. It was there that he became Judy Collins’ musical director, helped Paul Simon record the demo for “Sound of Silence” and was very active in the recording business as the “go to” guy for 12-string guitar.

It was at this time that Roger became fascinated with “rocked up” folk music made popular by The Beatles.

The folk audience didn’t appreciate the combination of folk songs and a Beatle Beat but there was one musician that did. His name was Gene Clark. It was the beginning of a musical revolution. David Crosby, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke joined the duo and history was about to be made. The Byrds were born!

Their first single was penned by Bob Dylan but when the group heard the demo, they weren’t too impressed. Jim had an idea on how to fix the folkie song. He had been an arranger in NYC, so adding a Bach type intro and a Beatle Beat took the song “Mr Tambourine Man” to the number one slot across the world.

Roger disbanded the BYRDS in 1973 to pursue his dream of being a folk singer like Pete Seeger. He says that the BYRDS were a nice detour on his way to his dream. He recorded five solo albums on Columbia Records. In 1978 he joined with Gene Clark and Chris Hillman for 3 albums on Capitol Records. In 1991 just after the BYRDS were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he recorded on Arista Records his acclaimed “Back From Rio” album with a host of friends, including Tom Petty, Elvis Costello , David Crosby, Chris Hillman and others. It was the last vinyl record in his catalogue.

In 1995 Roger became concerned the traditional folk songs were being lost. No one was recording the songs of over one hundred years ago, so he had an idea. He decided to post an original folk song with a live recording on his web page mcguinn.com each month. He hasn’t missed a month since November 1995. It is carried by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a public service.

Appleseed Records invited Roger to record some of his favorite folk songs with the vanguards of folk music: Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Jean Ritche, Josh White Jr and his guitar teacher Frank Hamilton and his wife Mary. The recording “Treasure From the Folk Den” received a Grammy nomination in 2002. He continues to record and release music on his independent label. When asked if he plans on retiring, he laughs, “What? Give up show-business? It’s called “playing music” and I’ve been playing since I was 14.

Tickets:
Gold Circle $59
Orchestra/Front Loge $49
Rear Loge/Accessible Seating $39