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.
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Featured Events
Join us on Saturday, October 24 for Howl-O-Ween Night sponsored by Bojangles. The Dawgs will take on the Athens Rock Lobsters. This is a bring your dawg to the game night. Gates open at 6:00 P.M. and puck drops at 7:05 P.M. We'll see ya there!
Berglund Performing Arts Theatre
Pound for pound, Brad Williams is the funniest comedian in the country right now and has become one of the most in-demand comedians working today. Williams started doing stand-up comedy as a teenager and has been touring successfully ever since, routinely selling out prestigious venues all over the country and world.
Williams has parlayed his live performances into a multitude of stand-up television appearances, including The Tonight Show, Dave Attell’s Comedy Underground, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. His first one-hour special, Fun Size, was the highest rated special on Showtime, and a year later, he followed that up with his second one, Daddy Issues, which was even more successful than the first. His third special in three years was an uproarious one, hosting some of the edgiest comedians in the country from the prestigious Montreal Just for Laughs Festival. His last groundbreaking special on Netflix, The Degenerates, garnered more huge ratings and rave reviews.
Also an accomplished actor, Williams has appeared on numerous TV shows and feature films, including FX’s Legit, Sam and Cat, Mind of Mencia, Pitboss, a recurring role on the Hulu original show Deadbeat, and memorable roles in a plethora of movies, including Little Evil, produced by Scott Stuber (Ted), as well as the Netflix original Christopher Guest film, Mascots, and most recently Reno 911: It’s A Wonderful Heist.
Recently, Brad became the first stand-up comedian to headline a Cirque de Soleil show in their 30-year history, when he agreed to launch—and do a three-month run of—their newest show Mad Apple, at the magnificent 1200 seat New York New York Theater in Las Vegas. The show became an immediate smash hit to rave revues, singling out Williams for his incredible ability to captivate his audiences with his extraordinary performances.
In addition to stand-up and acting, Williams co-created and co-hosted one of the most successful podcasts in the world, with friend and fellow comic Adam Ray, entitled About Last Night, which was always a mainstay on the iTunes charts during their five-year run. Additionally, he is also a regular contributor with a series of incredibly funny appearances on several national radio and podcast platforms, including KROQ’s Kevin and Bean Show and The Adam Carolla Show.
Williams’ humorous and inspiring observations on disability, relationships, sex, and race consistently win over audiences; proving anyone can overcome their shortcomings. His high energy live performances frequently produce standing ovations from audience members, which prompted the late Robin Williams to call him “Prozac with a head.”
Berglund Performing Arts Theatre
Gather your fellow witches, warlocks, and Halloween lovers for an enchanting evening where every magical moment is paired with a delicious surprise. As the Sanderson Sisters cast their spell across the screen, audiences will bite, chew, and crunch specially curated treats timed to key moments throughout the film, creating an interactive experience that brings this Halloween favorite back to life (like a certain zombie we know).
Every ticket includes a premium Taste-A-Long® Candy Box—a beautifully designed, advent-style package filled with numbered treats that correspond to magical moments in the movie. Simply follow the on-screen prompts to unlock each surprise as the story unfolds.
Whether you're introducing a new generation to this Halloween classic or reliving the nostalgia with family and friends, Hocus Pocus: The Taste-A-Long® offers the perfect blend of spooky fun, delicious treats, and unforgettable memories.
**The Taste-A-Long® candy box includes a variety of candy that contain gluten, milk, peanuts and gelatin. Due to item substitutions, coconut and/or tree nuts may be present. Products are prepared in a shared environment where cross-contact with allergens is possible. Individuals with food allergies should exercise caution before consuming**
Join us on Friday, November 6 for Stick it to Cancer Night sponsored by American Cancer Society with Q99.1 FM. The Dawgs will face the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Fans are invited to paint the ice the day before, Thursday, November 5, with names and messages honoring loved ones impacted by cancer. The team will wear specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. Puck drops at 7:05 P.M. We'll see ya there!
Grab your four-legged friend and come out to the Rail Yard Dawgs on Saturday, November 7 for our Small Dawg Races sponsored by The Roanoke Times & Roanoke.com! Roanoke takes on the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Humans must register their dawgs in advance. This event is open to dawgs that weigh 25 lbs or less. Puck drops at 7:05 P.M. We'll see ya there!
BERGLUND PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE
Whitney Cummings first gained recognition as a stand-up comedian and has since become one of the most distinctive and influential comedic voices of the past two decades. She co-created and co-wrote the Emmy Award-winning CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls, while simultaneously creating, producing, and starring in NBC’s Whitney. She currently hosts the hit podcast Good for You [podcasts.apple.com] and starred in Friends: The Game Show on Max, a fan competition series celebrating the 30th anniversary of the iconic sitcom Friends.
Known for her bold, observational humor, Cummings is currently touring North America with her Big Baby [whitneycummings.com] tour, delivering her signature sharp wit and fearless perspective on navigating the world as a single mom. Her latest material dives into the chaos of personal growth, the comedy of owning your mistakes, and laugh-out-loud reflections on raising a son. Her stand-up continues to blend personal anecdotes with incisive cultural commentary.
Cummings has released six acclaimed stand-up specials across Netflix, Max, and Comedy Central. Beyond the stage, she’s the author of the 2017 memoir I’m Fine...And Other Lies [barnesandnoble.com], which offers an unflinchingly honest and humorous look at mental health and resilience. That same year, she made her directorial debut with The Female Brain, which she also co-wrote and starred in.
Cummings remains a creative force behind some of entertainment’s most original work. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Los Angeles with her son, Henry, her pack of rescue dogs, and her horse.
Friday, November 13 is a classic night of hockey between the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs and the Athens Rock Lobsters. Puck drops at 7:05 P.M. We’ll see ya there!
Join us for the 38th Annual Stocked Market, the signature fundraiser of the Junior League of Roanoke Valley, at the Berglund Center!
November 13-15, 2026
Friday, November 13
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Preview Coffee *VIP* Experience ONLY - SOLD OUT!
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - General Admission
Saturday, November 14
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - General Admission
Sunday, November 15
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - General Admission
A one-day, General Admission shopping pass is $12 in advance and $14 at the door.
A Preview Coffee *VIP* shopping pass is $35 in advance, availably online ONLY.
For more information regarding ticket availability, show events, and show merchants, visit www.stockedmarket.org and be sure to follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/stockedmarket and on Instagram at instagram.com/stockedmarket.
Stocked Market is the signature fundraiser of the Junior League of Roanoke Valley (JLRV). Stocked Market proceeds are used to further the JLRV's mission.