Pleasant Valley Productions

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West Orange, NJ
Pleasant Valley Productions

The community theatre of West Essex and the surrounding area in NJ.

Our mission is to provide professional quality entertainment for an affordable cost to all patrons. Pleasant Valley Productions (“PVP”) was formed in 2012 as an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) community theatre company. Based in West Essex County, we observed that our area of New Jersey had no theatre companies that focused on mentoring local youth in the technical and administrative, as well as the artistic aspects, of theatrical production. Keeping that in mind, our goals are to produce quality productions, mentor the development of young people in the technical, administrative, and artistic roles of a theatre and to develop new works and provide a platform for their expression.

10/02/2026

Tonight at OSPAC!

Don’t forget your lawn chair or blanket!

09/30/2026

This Friday at OSPAC!! Come check it out!

09/17/2026

🎷 Dion Parson & 21st Century Band: The Caribbean Sound - Now

FEATURING DRUMMER DION PARSON WITH SAXOPHONIST RON BLAKE, STEEL PLAYER VICTOR PROVOST, TRUMPETER LEE HOGANS, PIANIST YAYOI IKAWA, BASSIST KENNY DAVIS AND PERCUSSIONIST ALIOUNE FAYE

The 2026 Annual OSPAC West Orange Jazz Festival concludes with a spectacular celebration featuring Dion Parson & 21st Century Band: The Caribbean Sound! Led by internationally acclaimed drummer Dion Parson, this dynamic ensemble brings together the rhythms of the Caribbean with the improvisational spirit of jazz, creating a vibrant musical experience unlike any other. With influences ranging from reggae and calypso to funk and traditional jazz, the band celebrates culture, community, and the universal language of music. Join us as we close out the festival with an energetic performance that will have audiences celebrating from beginning to end.

DION PARSON: PBS exclaims, “High-energy, sophisticated Caribbean jazz,” while The Latin Jazz Network declares, “The energy is propulsive, accents are unapologetic, and the music dances.” The all-star septet, known for its captivating performances, is helmed by Grammy-winning drummer, composer, and educator Dion Parson. He has performed in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, has been a vital member of trumpeter Jon Faddis' band for 34 years, and has also collaborated with pianists Monty Alexander and Cyrus Chestnut, singer Dianne Reeves, trombonists Steve Turre and Wycliffe Gordon, percussionist Master Griot Babatunde Olatunji, and Jamaican guitar master Ernest Ranglin. Parson is also the Chair of the Communication and Performing Arts Department at the University of the Virgin Islands in his native St. Thomas. Rooted in tradition, refined through time, and defining today's sound, Dion Parson & 21st Century Band has been bringing its distinctive, insatiable, and ever-evolving Caribbean groove to international stages for more than three decades. Parson co-founded the ensemble with celebrated saxophonist Ron Blake, a longtime member of NBC's Saturday Night Live Band, who also grew up in St. Thomas. Their latest recording is St. Thomas. Parson and his wife, Nicole, also run the nonprofit organization United Jazz Foundation, dedicated to elevating the aspirations and economic opportunities of underserved youth in the U.S. Virgin Islands through music education, performance, and mentorship.

🕒 Performance Time: 7:00pm-7:45pm

📅 19th Annual OSPAC West Orange Jazz Festival - September 19th, 2026 (1pm-8pm)

📍 OSPAC (4 Boland Drive - West Orange, NJ)

🎟️ https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/pvpospac/ospac-west-orange-jazz-fest

*JazzFest logo created by Monet Sheard*

09/15/2026

🎷 The Antoinette Montague Experience

FEATURING VOCALIST ANTOINETTE MONTAGUE WITH PIANIST ANTHONY WONSEY, BASSIST MELISSA SLOCUM, DRUMMER BRIAN SANDERS, JAY HOGGARD ON VIBES AND TAP DANCER AC LINCOLN

A beloved festival favorite returns to the OSPAC West Orange Jazz Festival with the extraordinary Antoinette Montague Experience! Celebrated for her powerful voice, engaging stage presence, and heartfelt connection with audiences, Antoinette Montague brings together the timeless traditions of jazz, blues, and gospel in every performance. Her concerts are more than just musical experiences—they are celebrations filled with joy, soul, and a deep appreciation for the stories and emotions that make jazz so meaningful. Prepare for an unforgettable performance from one of the most captivating vocalists in the jazz world.

ANTOINETTE MONTAGUE: Antoinette Montague is a force of nature. Her show-stopping performances and uncanny ability to make every person in the audience feel as though she is singing solely to them garners her new fans wherever she goes. JazzTimes Magazine declares, "Antoinette is as real as they come," while The New York Times applauds the riveting singer for her “warmth and communication.” The Newark native, who was mentored by the late singer Etta Jones and vocalist Carrie Jackson, has worked alongside drummers Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Bobby Sanabria, and Winard Harper, pianists Mulgrew Miller and Danny Mixon, and saxophonists Frank Wess and Red Holloway, among others. Montague is passionate about utilizing music as a bridge for education, community, cultural understanding, and joy. Through performances, educational outreach, and intergenerational engagement, she strives to preserve and celebrate America's diverse and rich music traditions while inspiring new audiences. Last year, Antoinette Montague was awarded the Jazz Journalists Association Hero Award and Educator of the Year by The Newark School of the Arts. Montague has recorded six albums, including four as a leader, most recent being her appropriately titled, Jazz Woman to the Rescue.

🕒 Performance Time: 6:00pm-6:45pm

📅 19th Annual OSPAC West Orange Jazz Festival - September 19th, 2026 (1pm-8pm)

📍 OSPAC (4 Boland Drive - West Orange, NJ)

🎟️ https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/pvpospac/ospac-west-orange-jazz-fest

*JazzFest logo created by Monet Sheard*

09/14/2026

🎷 Joe Locke: Song & Stories/Solo Vibes

The 2026 Annual OSPAC West Orange Jazz Festival welcomes one of the most celebrated vibraphonists in the world, Joe Locke! With a career spanning decades and collaborations with some of the greatest names in jazz, Joe Locke has established himself as a masterful improviser, composer, and storyteller. His intimate solo performance, Songs & Stories / Solo Vibes, invites audiences into a personal musical journey where extraordinary technique meets emotion, imagination, and unforgettable melodies. This rare opportunity to experience Joe Locke’s artistry up close promises to be a highlight of the festival.

JOE LOCKE: JazzTimes Magazine credits vibraphonist and composer Joe Locke’s allure to his “daunting virtuosity…and overflowing passion,” while Jazzwise Magazine proclaims, “His live performances are vibrant, outgoing and full of character.” A master storyteller with unbounded energy, an uncontainable sense of swing, subtle beauty, and deep emotional range, Joe Locke is one of the pre-eminent vibraphonists of our time. Locke fell in love with jazz as a teen and was influenced by vibraphonists Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson. He attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester and now holds the distinction of being an inductee into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame. He has worked with such diverse artists as the legendary bassist Ron Carter, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Paul Simon and The Beastie Boys, and venerable pianists George Cables, Kenny Barron, Eddie Palmieri, and Cecil Taylor. The celebrated vibraphonist is a six-time recipient of the Jazz Journalists Association’s Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year. Locke has served as the International Vibraphone Consultant at London’s Royal Academy of Music on a visiting basis since 2008, holding the title of Honorary Associate since 2013. His discography includes over thirty recordings, with his most recent being Makram.

🕒 Performance Time: 5:00pm-5:45pm

📅 19th Annual OSPAC West Orange Jazz Festival - September 19th, 2026 (1pm-8pm)

📍 OSPAC (4 Boland Drive - West Orange, NJ)

🎟️ https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/pvpospac/ospac-west-orange-jazz-fest

*JazzFest logo created by Monet Sheard*

09/11/2026

🎷 The Freddie Hendix Experience & Fellowship

FEATURING TRUMPETER FREDDIE HENDRIX, PIANIST JEB PATTON, BASSIST TOM DICARLO & DRUMMER CHRIS BECK

Get ready for an electrifying performance from The Freddie Hendrix Experience and Fellowship! Led by acclaimed trumpeter Freddie Hendrix, this ensemble brings together some of the finest musicians in jazz for a performance filled with energy, passion, and musical excellence. Known for his powerful sound, versatility, and ability to blend jazz traditions with contemporary influences, Freddie Hendrix has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages. This performance promises to showcase incredible musicianship, soulful expression, and the spirit of collaboration that makes jazz such a powerful art form.

FREDDIE HENDRIX: Grammy-winning trumpeter Freddie Hendrix is one of the most sought-after trumpeters in jazz, having worked with The Roy Hargrove Big Band, The Count Basie Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra as well as The Christian McBride Big Band, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, and Fred Wesley and the JB’s, among many others. The Teaneck resident who has performed twice for President Barack Obama, prompted All About Jazz to rave, “Freddie Hendrix continues to flourish as one of the most exciting trumpet voices on the music scene,” while Jazz Weekly declared, “Freddie Hendrix has a hard bopper’s DNA…the heart of a lion.” Professor Hendrix has taught at Princeton University, his alma mater William Paterson University, Montclair State University, Jazz House Kids, and the Sligo Jazz Project in Sligo, Ireland. He has appeared on over 100 recordings. The most recent to date is the Christian McBride Big Band: Without Further Ado Vol.1.

🕒 Performance Time: 4:00pm-4:45pm

📅 19th Annual OSPAC West Orange Jazz Festival - September 19th, 2026 (1pm-8pm)

📍 OSPAC (4 Boland Drive - West Orange, NJ)

🎟️ https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/pvpospac/ospac-west-orange-jazz-fest

*JazzFest logo created by Monet Sheard*

09/09/2026

🎷 Montclair State University Jazz Ensemble

The Montclair State University Jazz Ensemble, directed by Oscar Perez, represents the future of jazz through the creativity, dedication, and musicianship of today’s emerging performers. As one of New Jersey’s leading collegiate jazz ensembles, the group continues the tradition of this uniquely American art form while bringing fresh perspectives and exciting energy to the stage. Audiences will experience the passion, precision, and collaboration that define these talented young musicians as they share their love of jazz with the OSPAC community.

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE: The MSU Jazz Ensemble has had the privilege of performing at such esteemed venues as Dizzy's Club and the Montclair Jazz Festival. Since its inception, the ensemble has performed with an all-star lineup of guest artists, including saxophonists David Bixler, Don Braden, and Ed Palermo, vocalists The Manhattan Transfer and Jazzmeia Horn, trumpeters Wynton Marsalis, Terrell Stafford, and Ingrid Jensen, and guitarists Pat Metheny and John Pizzarelli. The MSU Jazz Ensemble has also been honored to perform alongside its distinguished faculty, including trumpeter Marcus Printup, vocalist Aubrey Johnson, guitarist Dave Stryker, saxophonists Mike Lee and Bruce Williams, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, drummers Steve Johns and NEA Jazz Master Billy Hart, and bassist Bill Moring.

OSCAR PEREZ: The Latin Jazz Network affirms, “Oscar Perez beguiles with sheer beauty" while Jazzwise Magazine heralds Perez's playing as “Post-bop Jazz of the highest order.” The celebrated West Orange based pianist and composer, Dr. Oscar Perez, has studied with such piano giants as Sir Roland Hanna and Danilo Perez and has collaborated with a who's who of jazz that includes vocalists Phoebe Snow and Dianne Reeves, trombonists Curtis Fuller and Steve Turre, and saxophonists Lakecia Benjamin and Rudresh Mahanthappa. Perez is a member of the BMI Composers Workshop and has been commissioned to write compositions for Chamber Music America and ASCAP/IAJE. He has written commissioned arrangements for pianist Chick Corea, violinist Regina Carter, banjo player Béla Fleck, and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval. Dr. Perez has taught at Jazz House Kids, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education and is currently the Coordinator of Jazz Studies at the Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. His latest recording is Prepare a Place for Me.

🕒 Performance Time: 3:00pm-3:45pm

📅 19th Annual OSPAC West Orange Jazz Festival - September 19th, 2026 (1pm-8pm)

📍 OSPAC (4 Boland Drive - West Orange, NJ)

🎟️ https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/pvpospac/ospac-west-orange-jazz-fest

*JazzFest logo created by Monet Sheard*

05/05/2026

Pleasant Valley Productions' Summer Theatre Intensive is BACK! We are thrilled to present Shrek The Musical JR this summer!

Registration is open now on our website! Visit https://www.pleasantvalleyproductions.org/education for information regarding tuition, before and after care, dates, workshops and more!

Address

West Orange, NJ

Website

http://www.pleasantvalleyproductions.org/

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