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
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
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - General Admission
Saturday, November 14
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 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.
A night dedicated to those who serve. Join us for Military Night on Saturday, November 14 sponsored by Sink Septic & Drain Service and Twenty-Six Defense with 94.9 Star Country. The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs take on the Athens Rock Lobsters. The team will wear specialty jerseys to honor those who served, which will be auctioned off after the game. Puck drops at 7:05 P.M. We'll see ya there!
Roanoke City Tax Sale
The City of Roanoke Delinquent Tax Auction will be held at Berglund Center on November 18th at 11 a.m., featuring a selection of real estate offered through public sale. Bidding will be conducted in a simulcast format, allowing participation both in person and online.
Online bidding opens October 16th at 11 a.m., giving buyers time to review properties and auction materials ahead of the live auction. For property details and the full auction packet, visit www.walkercommercialservices.com or call 540-344-6160.
Berglund Performing Arts Theatre
SHOWTIME: 8 PM
VIP PACKAGE
The magic dance continues. On the heels of a successful global tour to nearly 100 cities, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert returns in fall 2026 to visit more than 60 North America cities. An unforgettable night of fantasy, music, and nostalgia awaits, as fans celebrate the 40th anniversary of the movie’s 1986 release. Fans are invited to step into the magical world of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth in an exciting fusion of film and live music. Watch the cult classic on a stunning HD screen while a live band performs the full soundtrack in perfect sync with David Bowie’s legendary vocals. From iconic songs like “Magic Dance” to Bowie and Trevor Jones’ sweeping score, the music comes alive like never before. Dress in costume, sing along, and cheer for your favorite characters as Goblin King Jareth, Sarah, and the fantastical creatures of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop leap off the screen.
2026 marks 40 years of Labyrinth. The originally musical fantasy film was released on June 27, 1986. It was directed by Jim Henson and stars Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie.
BERGLUND PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE
THE INTERNATIONAL, AWARD-WINNING SMASH-HIT MUSICAL THE BODYGUARD IS BACK! Based on the 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, THE BODYGUARD is a thrilling, romantic musical that combines high-stakes suspense with unforgettable music. Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Both expect to be in charge of their situation-what they don’t expect is to fall in love.
A “BRILLIANT” (The Times), breathtakingly romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a whole host of unforgettable classics including “Queen of the Night,” “So Emotional”, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” "Saving All My Love," and "One Moment in Time," alongside thrilling plot twists and emotional drama. THE BODYGUARD is an electrifying combination of romance, suspense and chart-topping music that will captivate audiences from start to finish.
Celebrate Friendsgiving & our Fall Food Drive on Wednesday, November 25! Roanoke faces the Knoxville Ice Bears in a Thanksgiving warm-up presented by Kroger and K92.3 FM. Enjoy select beers for just $5 all game long and help support our Fall Food Drive by bringing non-perishable items to donate to Feeding America SWVA. Puck drops at 7:05 P.M. We'll see ya there!
Dawgs skate together! Come out Friday, November 27. This is a bring your dawg to the game night. Dawg-friendly sections marked on the ticket map. Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs face the Fayetteville Marksmen on the ice. Specialty jerseys will be worn by the players on the ice and auctioned off after the game. Gates open at 6:00 and the puck drops at 7:05. We’ll see ya there!