PLAYIN' AROUND SOUTH ORANGE Kick-Off Set for Today

South Orange, NJ -- Get ready for outrageous colors, vibrant music, community feedback, local artists and professional musicians playing pianos-turned-contemporary-art stationed at five outdoor locations around South Orange today, August 29, 2015, from 12 to 1 p.m.

It all takes place at Cameron Park, The Gateway, Spiotta Park, Irvington and W. Fairview Avenues, and the Sloan Street Gazebo in South Orange.

Sponsored by SOPAC and PNC Bank, painters include South Orange residents Bill Billec, Larry Ciarallo, Marie Glynn, Lisa Hirkaler, Columbia High School student Austin Romanaux, as well as Seton Hall University Peer Advisors. Musicians are all professional local talent including Bob McKay of West Orange, Columbia High School graduate Ian Kenselaar and Friends, Campbell Charshee of Mark Murphy's Music, and The Kludge with SOPAC Board member Rob Sandow and his wife Joyce Isabelle of Growth for Good.

About Playin Around South Orange: Each year, local artists complete an application process for the honor of transforming an old piano into a contemporary piece of art. On average each artist donates up to 30 hours per piano to bring this musical event to life. Paint and supplies either come from the artists themselves or are donated by local businesses.

The project runs from August 24-October 6 with Wednesday night jam sessions under the Sloan Street Gazebo 5-7 p.m in September. Other community supporters of the project include The Baird, Village of South Orange, South Orange Village Center Alliance, and Seton Hall University.

SOPAC Director of Community Engagement Linda Beard's goal for the program is "to interrupt the humdrum day-to-day and allow South Orange residents the opportunity to interact with different genres of art in a unique way." She says with obvious enthusiasm, "It's about bringing what we do inside the [SOPAC] building outside the building."

All six pianos will be up for auction on Biddingforgood.com from the point of kick-off until October 4th when Playin' Around South Orange is scheduled to end. More information on the auction, jam sessions, and the pianos is available on the SOPAC website at www.sopacnow.org/community/sopianos.

Since 2006, SOPAC has been serving as a premier performing arts center in the region. SOPAC offers innovative artistic and cultural experiences for diverse audiences in an intimate, inviting environment. The premier arts center hosts a variety of live performances, community events and education programs for all ages. To further expand its offerings, SOPAC has a partnership with the Juilliard School of Music to present Juilliard @ SOPAC-a series featuring upcoming musicians from the acclaimed conservatory. SOPAC is home for Seton Hall University Arts Council's performances, including Classical Concert Series, Jazz N' the Hall performances and Seton Hall Theatre productions. SOPAC also presents performances by its theater company in residence, Midtown Direct Rep, and its dance company in residence, Lydia Johnson Dance. For more information, visit SOPACnow.org.

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