What if the arts could transform not just audiences, but entire cities?
In this episode of Lost in Jersey, we sit down with John Schreiber, President and CEO of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), to explore how a lifelong passion for music and culture became the engine behind Newark’s cultural and economic revival.
From his early days as an 11-year-old Broadway superfan to producing jazz festivals with legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Sarah Vaughan, Schreiber has spent five decades reimagining how arts institutions can thrive. His groundbreaking approach married corporate sponsorship with authentic cultural programming, reshaping how the arts are funded and experienced across America.
At NJPAC, John has built more than a venue. It’s a movement. The center anchors Newark’s downtown, sparks residential and business growth, and provides life-changing opportunities for 100,000 students each year. And through the celebrated TD James Moody Jazz Festival, the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, and bold new partnerships like Lionsgate Studios and arts-focused schools, NJPAC proves that culture is both community and catalyst.
A conversation about vision, impact, and the belief that everyone deserves a seat at the table. As Schreiber puts it:
“Come on down. You all are welcome.”
About John Schreiber
NJPAC Leader — President & CEO since 2011, guiding Newark’s cultural growth.
Newport Jazz Festival Producer — Spent 19 years producing iconic jazz events worldwide.
Film Executive — At Participant Media, he advanced campaigns for acclaimed films including An Inconvenient Truth, Good Night, and Good Luck, and Syriana.
Jazz Advocate — Founded NJPAC’s James Moody Jazz Festival, now a major annual event.
$336M Visionary — Leading NJPAC’s transformative campus redevelopment blending housing, education, and performance space.
Watch or Listen!
00:00 – Intro
01:34 – Jazz legends on the road
02:41 – KOOL Jazz Festivals
08:03 – Lionsgate Studios in Newark
12:21 – NJPAC’s $336M project
20:24 – James Moody Jazz Festival
22:27 – Samara Joy’s Grammy win
30:48 – Why New Jersey is cool
Janette (00:04)
John, welcome to Lost in Jersey. It’s really nice to meet you.
John Schreiber (00:08)
Yeah, nice to meet you.
Janette (00:09)
When we knew we were going to interview you, both of us started doing research and we were like, my gosh, your background is incredible. Not only are you the CEO and president of NJPAC, but you also have an incredible background of being part of the Newport Jazz Festival for many years. You’ve produced some of the most iconic films as well. Now you are leading NJPAC into an incredible era of growth and expansion. Can you tell us a little bit about your road to getting into jazz and the arts?
John Schreiber (00:46)
Sure. I’ve been doing this work for 50 years now. I was very lucky when I was a student at Haverford College outside of Philadelphia. I became friends with British jazz pianist Marion McPartland. I presented Marion and other jazz musicians while at Haverford. When I left school, I wanted to do one of two things: either work for Hal Prince, or work for George Wein, who founded the Newport Jazz Festival. Marion introduced me to George, and he gave me a job right out of school. I made $100 a week, which felt enormous at the time. I was very lucky.
When I joined Festival Productions, we produced over a thousand events a year all over the world with incredible jazz musicians. It was a time when Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie—you name it—were still working and touring. It was a remarkable education.
Janette (01:59)
Yes.
John Schreiber (02:03)
I went on the road with heroes of mine around the world and developed a deep love of jazz. George was a genius. He was the first to figure out how to integrate sponsors and brands with entertainment. The most famous example was the KOOL Jazz Festivals, at a time when cigarette companies were not legally allowed to advertise. Brown & Williamson used jazz and R&B as a way to reach customers. We pioneered that association between a brand and an event. We did R&B festivals with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and Ray Charles. These events drew 35,000–40,000 people. Then we evolved that work into authentic jazz festivals in about 20 cities around the country. It was a gift as a young producer to understand the intersection of community, sponsors, and music.
Janette (04:26)
Those are legends. You were there at the apex of jazz history. I noticed that from the start, you aimed for the very top—Broadway producers or top jazz festival producers. Where did you get the gumption to go for the A-list?
John Schreiber (04:55)
I was an odd little boy. I subscribed to Variety when I was 11 years old. I loved all things theatrical and musical. At 11, I would read Broadway grosses. My parents supported me. Growing up in Queens, I would take the subway into the city with $8, buy a balcony ticket, and see shows like Mame with Angela Lansbury or Hello Dolly with Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway. It was magical. I knew I wanted to be around that world somehow. In college, I produced a jazz series and ran a summer theater. I quickly realized I wasn’t going to make it as an actor, but I wanted to be around talent as a facilitator. I’ve spent my life surrounded by talent, and I’ve been lucky to showcase it.
Janette (07:04)
Arts are important because you can succeed in so many ways.
John Schreiber (07:16)
That’s right. Everyone doesn’t need to be center stage. For every performance, 50 people work behind the scenes. At NJPAC, we show young people that there are many career opportunities in the arts: sound technicians, lighting, tour accountants, and more. We’re about to break ground on a film studio in Newark’s South Ward with Lionsgate, along with a magnet high school for careers in TV and film. Apprenticing at a film studio can help young people get union cards and jobs without college degrees. Thanks to Governor Murphy and the tax credit program, film and TV in New Jersey is a burgeoning business.
Janette (08:55)
Yes, and NJPAC has an incredible impact on the community. My daughters have danced at NJPAC during Alvin Ailey performances—it’s always such a joyous experience.
John Schreiber (09:43)
Yes, and we partner with Ailey and Prudential on Ailey Camp. It recruits Newark youth who’ve never performed before, runs six weeks of intensive training, and ends with a performance. Sixty kids suddenly become Ailey dancers. It’s transformational. Some alumni are now in the main company. We’re also working on a film, The Good Life, about healthy and creative aging, featuring Chris Taylor, a Newark-born Ailey dancer.
Janette (11:34)
The importance of NJPAC in revitalizing Newark cannot be understated. Looking back, it seems the turnaround began in 1997 when NJPAC first broke ground. The arts really helped revitalize the community. Now NJPAC is breaking ground on a $336 million project.
John Schreiber (12:21)
Yes, we’ve master planned our campus. When NJPAC was imagined in the 1980s by Governor Kean, he insisted on saving 20 acres around it for future development. That was prescient. In 2008, we announced the first residential tower, which became One Theater Square—the first market-rate residential building in Newark in 60 years. It rented quickly and sparked more real estate development. Now we’re building a 25-story tower, townhomes, and a 60,000 sq ft Education and Community Center, opening in 2027. Everything we do there will be free to the community. We also run 200+ free cultural events across Newark. The big idea is: come on down.
Janette (16:37)
And there are also opportunities for schools.
John Schreiber (16:51)
Yes, we reach 100,000 kids and families each year. 30,000 students come to NJPAC with school groups. For many, it’s their first live performance.
Janette (17:17)
For those who haven’t been, NJPAC is stunning inside.
John Schreiber (17:26)
Yes. When I show someone the concert hall for the first time, they’re always in awe.
John Schreiber (19:11)
We want NJPAC to be part of a full Newark experience—visit the museum, dine in the Ironbound, and then see a show. Newark has so much to offer. We also partner on the Dodge Poetry Festival, the largest in North America, and now host poetry year-round.
Janette (20:19)
Let’s talk about the TD Jazz Festival.
John Schreiber (20:24)
We started it in 2012. I wanted it named after James Moody, a generous saxophonist and flautist who lived in Newark. His widow agreed, and so we founded the James Moody Jazz Festival. TD has sponsored it since the beginning and also supports our student jazz programs. We also launched the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, which has become a joyous event. Hundreds of singers submit, and five finalists perform live. Our most famous winner is Samara Joy, who later won a Grammy.
Janette (22:29)
Incredible.
John Schreiber (22:33)
Yes, and Christian McBride, whom I first met when he was 14, is now our Artistic Advisor and on our board. He embodies jazz’s spirit of collaboration. Wynton Marsalis once said that jazz is the most democratic of musics—it requires listening, respecting, and giving space. That’s also how communities thrive.
John Schreiber (25:21)
Highlights of this year’s festival include Christian McBride’s big band with singers like Andra Day, Jose James, and Ledisi; Stanley Clarke; Stanley Jordan playing Hendrix; and our annual brunch with Dorthaan Kirk, Newark’s “First Lady of Jazz.” We also present Represent, a program mixing arts with social justice, featuring Chuck D, Rakim, and slam poets. George Wein used to say: not everyone likes jazz, but everyone likes a jazz festival. These events bring the most diverse audiences—people of all ages and backgrounds. That sense of celebration and community is powerful.
Janette (28:09)
Looking back, what were the most incredible festivals you’ve experienced?
John Schreiber (28:31)
Two stand out. First, in 1972, George moved the Newport Jazz Festival to New York after riots in Newport. In 1976, I experienced it for the first time—50 events across venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, even the Staten Island Ferry. I thought, this is heaven. Second, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. My job was parking cars, but the food, crafts, and music were magical.
Janette (30:36)
You’ve had an incredible career. We didn’t even touch on the films you produced. You’ve contributed so much.
John Schreiber (30:40)
Thank you. I’ve led a very lucky life.
Rachel (30:41)
Before you go, tell us something you love about New Jersey.
John Schreiber (30:48)
I’ve lived in Montclair, Newark, and now Brooklyn, so I’m a dual resident. What frustrates me is when people in New York pity me for working in Newark. They don’t realize how robust and diverse New Jersey’s cultural environment is. I want to be an evangelist for why Jersey is cool. And Jersey is cool.
Janette (32:04)
Thank you so much for being with us, John. It’s an honor to have met you. I’m so impressed with all that NJPAC does for the community and for Newark.
John Schreiber (32:15)
Thank you. Please come on down. Everyone is welcome.
