Ben Vereen's 80th Birthday Concert Adds Broadway Stars at NJPAC
NJPAC will host Ben Vereen's 80th Birthday Concert on November 21, 2026, as part of the TD James Moody Festival. Guests include Karrin Allyson, Shoshana Bean, Melba Moore, Stephanie Pope, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Lillias White, with the Andy Farber Orchestra. The program will celebrate Vereen's career across Broadway, film, and television.
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center will stage the event on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, at 8 p.m. during the TD James Moody Festival. Joining Vereen are Karrin Allyson, Shoshana Bean, Melba Moore, Stephanie Pope, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Lillias White, with more guests promised. The Andy Farber Orchestra will accompany a program tracing his Broadway, film and TV work.
Vereen originated Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, won a Tony for Pippin, and appeared in Hair, Fosse and Wicked. His screen credits include All That Jazz, Roots and the 2026 series The Gray House. Allyson is a five-time Grammy nominee; Bean, Moore, Pope, Mitchell and White bring credits including Wicked, Les Misérables, Chicago, Ragtime and Hadestown.
This concert may draw Broadway and cabaret audiences to Newark while introducing Vereen's long career to younger listeners. It could strengthen the TD James Moody Festival's profile and give local venues, restaurants and arts groups a busy night. For performers, sharing a stage with Vereen may reinforce intergenerational ties across musical theater. Fans who grew up with his stage and screen roles could find a meaningful tribute, while newcomers may discover repertory from Hair, Pippin and beyond. The event's impact likely remains cultural and community-focused rather than broadly commercial.