The Deal
- One ticket to a Johnny Gill and Dru Hill concert, an Armando Manzanero and Francisco Céspedes concert, or a Mo’Nique and Friends standup show
- Where: Arena Theatre
- Door time: one hour before showtime
- Full offer value includes ticketing fees
Performance Options
- $40 for Johnny Gill and Dru Hill on Friday, May 8, at 8 p.m. (up to $63.50 value). Seating is in sections 1–15, rows P–Q.
- $45 for Armando Manzanero and Francisco Cespedes on Saturday, May 9, at 8:30 p.m. (up to $89 value). Seating is in sections 1–15, rows P–Q.
- $45 for Mo’Nique and Friends on Sunday, May 10, at 8 p.m. (up to $81.50 value). Seating is in sections 1–15, rows R–S.
- Click here to view the seating chart
The Lineup
Johnny Gill and Dru Hill
After years of harmonizing with New Edition and being the G of LSG (the supergroup with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat, not the food additive), Johnny Gill broke a 15-year studio silence with 2011’s Still Winning. His latest album, 2014’s boundary-pushing Game Changer, reminded SoulTracks’ Melody Charles that Gill “can still serve it up with swerve.” He’s joined by decade-defining balladeers Dru Hill, who steamed up the ’90s with “Never Make a Promise,” “In My Bed,” and “How Deep Is Your Love.”
Armando Manzanero and Francisco Céspedes
Armando Manzanero is a Mexican romantic composer who received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Francisco “Pancho” Céspedes is a Cuban-born physician-turned-pop star best known for his touching 1998 ballad “Vida Loca.” What ties them both together is their shared love of the sensual genre of bolero music, which they exhibited on their 2014 collaboration album, Armando un Pancho. Now on tour together, the duo delights their fans with two-man renditions of the hits that made them famous, including “Será que hoy?,” “Somos Novios,” “Como yo te amo,” and “Nunca Más.”
Mo’Nique and Friends
The star of The Parkers who proved her dramatic chops when she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Precious, Mo’Nique brings that same fire to her first love, comedy. She’s performed to great acclaim at Showtime at the Apollo, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, BET ‘s Comic View, and The Montreal Comedy Festival, and imbued her self-titled talk show with her trademark straight-talking warmth from 2009 to 2011. In keeping with the collaborative nature of Arena’s recent events, she’ll bring some comedian friends along for the ride on May 10.
Arena Theatre
At Arena Theatre, nobody sits farther than 60 feet from the show. Most concertgoers who’ve squinted their ways through major concerts at other venues can attest that the in-the-round seating arrangement and revolving stage are causes for celebration. And the stars have noticed. Since the 1970s, the state-of-the-art venue has attracted a long list of legendary performers including Willie Nelson, Tom Jones, and Aretha Franklin. While their golden vocal chords ring through the stellar acoustics, fans sink into comfy seats, savor a flashy light system, and discard their unnecessary opera glasses.