Hip-Hopera coming to River City

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Classically trained baritone Babatunde HipHopera is the featured performer for Summertime in the River City which is set for July 26 at 5 p.m. at the historic Strand Theatre in Vicksburg.

Babatunde HipHopera, an internationally acclaimed performed with millions of views and features on major media outlets, is credited with creating the genre of music now known as “Hip Hopera.” His performance is a mixture of recognizable songs and his original pieces along with thoughtful and sometimes comedic commentary weaved throughout.

In addition to Vicksburg, Babatunde’s 2026 Summer tour includes locations such as Atlanta, New York, and Chicago. The stop in Vicksburg is being orchestrated by Sojoz, LLC, a Vicksburg-based initiative that promotes cultural wealth, empowerment, and enlightenment through entertainment and education.

This will be the third production of this celebration of Black musicals from the Golden Age of Theatre. The first two productions featured operatic pieces from shows such as “Porgy and Bess” and “Carmen Jones.” This era was revolutionary as Black creatives and performers who were long overlooked gained valuable Broadway exposure.

Seating is limited for the upcoming production. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite or at www.lovebeginswithyou.live.