Ja Rule & Ashanti
Elmwood Park
Tickets: GA -$45.00, Day of - $50.00
Show time: 7:00pm
Jeffrey Atkins better known by his stage name Ja Rule was born in Hollis Queens, NY. He debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its lead single "Holla Holla". During the 2000s, Ja Rule was signed to Murder Inc., formerly known as The Inc. and led by Irv Gotti. From 1999 to 2005, Ja Rule had multiple hits that made the top 20 of the U.S. BillboardHot 100 chart, including "Between Me and You" (featuring Christina Milian), "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" and "Ain't It Funny" (both with Jennifer Lopez)—which both topped the Hot 100—the number 1 hit "Always on Time" (featuring Ashanti), "Mesmerize" (featuring Ashanti), and "Wonderful" (featuring R.Kelly and Ashanti).
Rule has been nominated for two American Music Awards and four Grammy Awards with respective collaborators Lil' Mo, Vita, Ashanti and Case. Following the release of his platinum-selling debut Venni Vetti Vecci (1999), he released his second and third albums Rule 3:36 (2000) and Pain Is Love (2001). Both albums topped the US Billboard 200 album chart, launching him into the mainstream, selling over a combined 15 million units to a wide audience, and attaining triple platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), becoming his best-selling albums to date. Rule followed up with his fourth, fifth and sixth albums The Last Temptation (2002), Blood in My Eye (2003), and R.U.L.E. (2004), with The Last Temptation attaining Platinum status and R.U.L.E. reaching Gold status. As of 2018, Rule has sold 14.4 million units in the USA and has sold over 30 million records worldwide.
Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, actor and author Ashanti burst onto the music scene with her smash hit, self-titled debut album, Ashanti. It landed the #1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, selling a whopping 504,593 units in its first week. This set a SoundScan record as the most albums sold by any debut female artist in the chart’s history and granted her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Over the span of her 20-year career, Ashanti has released six studio albums and received a number of illustrious rewards including eight Billboard Awards, a Grammy, two American Music Awards, two Soul Train Awards and six ASCAP Awards. She has reigned at the top as one of Billboard’s “Top Females of the Decade from 2000-2010” and continues to break Billboard records having a Hot 100 entry every decade in the 2000’s, 2010’s and 2020’s.
In 2005, Ashanti made her telefilm debut starring as Dorothy in The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz, opposite Miss Piggy and Kermit. She also starred in Disney’s animated series The Proud Family and continued her journey in television landing roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Army Wives, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, as well as portraying Dionne Warwick on NBC’s American Dreams.
In her feature film debut she co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson in the #1 box office hit Coach Carter. Ashanti’s additional film credits include Resident Evil Extinction, John Tucker Must Die and Bollywood film Bride & Prejudice. Ashanti executive produced and starred in the musical drama and feature film STUCK, released April 2019. She donned her executive producer hat once again for the feature film Mothers and Daughters, starring Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon and Mira Sorvino.
In partnership with Build-A-Bear Entertainment and Sony Pictures, Ashanti leads the cast of the family friendly Honey Girls and will soon begin filming The Plus One in March 2022. The Ashanti brand has continued to flourish with several major partnerships including her own fragrance, "Precious Jewel" with AMC Beauty. Endorsements with Candies Apparel and the groundbreaking Herbal Essence, where she is the first African American to land a national campaign inspired her to launch a clothing line in collaboration with Miss Circle and partner with
Pretty Little Thing to create her own swimsuit line “Ashanti.”
As an author, she has written her first book of poetry through Hyperion titled Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections on Love and will release a book with Harper Collins in 2022.
As a philanthropist, Ashanti is the Ambassador for the Jumpstart Reading Program and became the “Youth of the Year” Ambassador for the Boys and Girls Club of America in 2009 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. She became a member of their "BE GREAT" Campaign with Denzel Washington and was a part of the “Let’s Move” health campaign with Michelle Obama. To celebrate her contributions to music and recording, Ashanti will receive a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Spring 2022.
Policies and Procedures
Featured Events
Berglund Performing Arts Theatre
SHOWTIME: 7:00 PM
Suggested 16 +
*Yondr Fan Advisory
This event will be a phone-free experience. Use of cellphones, smart watches, smart accessories, cameras, or recording devices will not be permitted in the performance space.
Upon arrival at the venue, all phones, smart watches, and accessories will be secured in Yondr pouches that will be opened at the end of the event. Guests maintain possession of their belongings at all times and can access their phones throughout the event at designated Phone Use Areas in the venue. All phones will be re-secured in Yondr pouches before returning to the event space.
Anyone seen using a non-permitted device during the performance will be escorted out of the venue. Guests are encouraged to bring a credit card for purchases inside the venue. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a phone-free viewing experience.
Crowned by Vulture as “stand-up comedy’s most prolific storyteller,” Ali Siddiq has built a dedicated massive fanbase clamoring to attend his live shows and watch his masterful independently produced and released specials. He premiered his four-part stand-up series The Domino Effect 1-4 in 2022-2024 which has amassed over 47 million views. The storytelling saga cemented Ali’s reputation as a master craftsman of narrative comedy. Each chapter became a cultural event, landing Ali among the top-viewed comedians on YouTube year after year.
Also during that time, Ali released the special Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover (2023) which has amassed 6 million views. In 2025 alone he released 3 more hour standup specials, My Two Sons (12M+ views), Rugged (7M+ views) and Mondays (3M+ views). Deadline included Ali in their list of “Comics Who Won 2025” and My Two Sons earned Siddiq a 2026 NAACP Nomination for “Outstanding Variety Series or Special.” He will be releasing 3 more new hour specials in 2026 that have already been filmed. An emerging comedy mogul, Ali also executive-produces and distributes multiple specials for other comedians including Malik S. and Ryan Davis, with a 2nd special from Marcus D. Wiley coming up on February 1.
From Houston, TX, Ali developed his unmistakable voice in one of the most unlikely places — behind the walls of incarceration, where storytelling was survival, currency, and community. Comedy Central would later sent him back inside a Texas jail to film It’s Bigger Than These Bars (4M+ views). Today, that same voice has made him one of the most watched, respected, and consistently viral comedians in the world.
For more information - www.AliSiddiq.com
BUY TICKETS
The versatile performers of the RSO and Chorus present the splendor and devotional richness of the Baroque era. Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks dazzles with its bold brass and was written to accompany a grand celebration in London’s Green Park. Vivaldi’s Gloria, is a joyful and spirited work filled with vibrant contrasts and lyrical beauty sure to uplift. J.S. Bach’s brilliant Magnificat is a masterful setting of the Virgin Mary’s song of praise, blending intricate counterpoint with exuberant choruses, virtuoso trumpet solos, and joyful choral writing.
Berglund Performing Arts Theatre
SHOWTIME: 7:30 PM
VIP PHOTO OP
PREMIUM VIP PHOTO OP
Set your phasers to stun! Prepare to be beamed up for an unforgettable night with the original ‘Captain James T. Kirk’, award-winning actor William Shatner.
Following a screening of the classic film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, William Shatner takes to the stage to share fascinating and humorous behind-the-scenes stories from his illustrious career, including answering audience questions.
VIP tickets will be available, which include a post-show photo op with Mr. Shatner. It’s going to be a warp-speed, once-in-a-lifetime adventure you won’t
want to miss!
Two tiers of VIP tickets are available for each date on top of the regular ticket price. The Standard VIP option includes a post show photo opportunity with Mr. Shatner, shot by a professional photographer. Premium VIP tickets are also available, which include an exclusive signed poster in addition to the photo opportunity. VIP add on is not valid without a show ticket. Each attendee must have both for photo op entry.
Berglund Special Events Center
Saturday, April 18, 2026- 10 AM – 7 PM
Sunday, April 19, 2026- 10 AM – 5 PM
Screamiverse Expo is a horror, sci-fi, and arts convention taking place at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, VA on April 18-19 2026. We will feature vendors, special guests, panels, film fest, tattooing & piercing, and more!
FEATURED CLASSES
Behind The Yellow Tape- Presented by Crime Scene Investigator Rebekah Hollingsworth
This is a "FREE ADD ON TICKET". A ticket for admission to Screamiverse Expo is still required.
Class Location- Berglund Hall, Parlor B (Ross Room)
Saturday, April 18, 2026: 4:00-4:45 PM
Title: Behind the Yellow Tape
Think horror movies are scary? Try investigating one in real life. Join veteran Crime Scene Investigator Rebekah Hollingsworth as she takes horror off the screen and into reality. In this up-close look at her work, you’ll walk through an actual crime scene and explore the gruesome, shocking, and sometimes bizarre details that CSI teams face every day. If you love horror, true crime, or just want to know what really happens when the scene is sealed off and the gloves go on—this is an experience you won’t want to miss.
Due to the graphic nature of this event, it will be held in Parlor B in Berglund Hall. Only 48 tickets will be available for this event, so be sure to get them while you can! This is an "ADD ON TICKET", a ticket for admission to Screamiverse Expo is still required.
Dead Men Do Tell Tales- Presented by Crime Scene Investigator Rebekah Hollingsworth
This is a "FREE ADD ON TICKET". A ticket for admission to Screamiverse Expo is still required.
Class Location- Berglund Hall, Parlor B (Ross Room)
Saturday, April 19, 2026: 11:00-12:00 PM
Title: Dead Men Do Tell Tales
Step beyond the jump-scare and into the real world of Death Investigation. Join Crime Scene Investigator Rebekah Hollingsworth as she guides you through what really happens when a life ends unexpectedly; you’ll discover how investigators read a scene, interpret the body, and separate fact from Hollywood fiction. We’ll break down common myths, surprising truths, and the small details that speak louder than any ghost story. Whether you’re a writer, a horror fan, or just fascinated by the macabre side of science, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the stories the dead can tell, if you know how to listen.
Due to the graphic nature of this event, it will be held in Parlor B in Berglund Hall. Only 48 tickets will be available for this event, so be sure to get them while you can! This is an "ADD ON TICKET", a ticket for admission to Screamiverse Expo is still required.
*Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult for this event*