The Axelrod Performing Arts Center will honor legendary vocalist Dionne Warwick with its inaugural New Jersey Arts Icon Award at a gala concert on Sunday, Sept. 22, at the new Bell Theater at Bell Works in Holmdel.
The event will feature a pre-concert reception and auction at 5 p.m., before the 7 p.m. concert. Ticket information can be found here. Corporate sponsorships opportunities are also available through Jonathan Bradley at jbradley@axelrodartscenter.org
Warwick, the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and the 2023 Kennedy Center Award winner, is regarded as one of the most successful female vocalists of all time, the winner of six Grammy Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Adored nationally and internationally as a consummate artist, her soulful vocal style bridged the gaps between pop, gospel, R&B and rock and roll. As the muse for songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, she made classics of songs like “Don’t Make Me Over,” “Walk on By,” “Alfie,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” “Say a Little Prayer,” and “What the World Needs Now,” among many others.
The concert What The World Needs Now… A Celebration of Dionne Warwick will feature conductor Luke Frazier and the American Pops Orchestra with Miss Warwick and special guests Deborah Cox, Michelle Williams, Nova Y. Payton, Cheyenne Elliot, and Remember Jones.
In addition, 12 talented students from the Axelrod Performing Arts Academy’s junior division will join Dionne Warwick on stage for a heartwarming rendition of That’s What Friends Are For, adding another layer of inspiration to this extraordinary evening.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have our academy students perform with the legendary Dionne Warwick,” said Mary-Kate Schmidt, director of the Axelrod Performing Arts Academy. “This opportunity allows them the chance to work closely with industry legends and gain invaluable insights into professional dynamics, stage presence, and collaboration.”
The Bell Theater at Bell Works, which opened this past spring, is a one-of-a-kind destination for business and culture, complete with offices, retail, dining, hospitality and much more.
The new intimate performance venue seats 285 patrons and features state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. Bell Theater is home to professional theater productions, as well as rock, pop and jazz concerts, monthly comedy nights, family entertainment, dance events and more.
