Hopewell's Off-Broadstreet Theatre is reopening following extensive renovations.
It was a little bit tired, somewhat shopworn. Like an aging actor, it was beginning to feel its years, but you knew there was a reservoir of energy somewhere in there, just waiting to be tapped.
Now the spark has been ignited by Jon and Robin McConaughy, owners of Brick Farm Market, who saw in Hopewell's Off-Broadstreet Theatre the bones of a performing arts center that promises to reinvigorate the borough's downtown while drawing fans of live entertainment back to the decades-old facility.
Partnering with area residents Liza Morehouse and Mitchel Skolnick, the couple set about creating Hopewell Playhouse, starting with a physical overhaul of the 1940s-era building on South Greenwood Avenue.
Originally opened as the Colonial Playhouse, it went through several incarnations - including use as a polling place run by the Gallup Organization - until Bob and Julie Thick opened it as a theater/dessert restaurant in 1984.
For 30 years, audiences were treated to more than 250 shows of all genres: dramas, comedies, musicals, Shakespearean plays.
Off-Broadstreet Theatre reopens
But then, as the Bard wrote in "As You Like It," True it is that we have seen better days.
Dated lighting and overtaxed acoustics took their toll, while audience members of a certain age found it harder and harder to navigate the stairs to the theater's only restroom upstairs.
The new partners took matters into their hands, redesigning the theater's lobby and box office, ramping up the food presentation area, installing new lighting and sound systems. There are new permanent theater-style seats to check out, too.
Although the Thicks no longer own the building, they have signed a lease and will continue producing shows.
Under the collective vision of all the players, the building has the potential to come back to life as a venue for a full range of performances, from classical music and jazz to staged readings and TED talks.
Hopewell's downtown revitalized
The newly dubbed Hopewell Playhouse will have celebrate its grand opening March 25, to be followed by cabaret acts on April 9 and 16 and a theatrical series in May, details still to be worked out.
We particularly like that the business partners turned to local providers, from the architecture down to the floor tiles, to complete the project.
We welcome this new community venture into our midst. And we share Liza Morehouse's dream of bringing in people who will help make it a lively and entertaining place.
Curtains up on the next act.