Morristown’s Community Theater Since 1937
Mike Ham travels to the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, NJ to visit with General Manager Ed Kirchdoerffer. Mike and Ed discuss the history of the theater, its ties to the community, the educational programs it offers and more!
About Mayo Performing Arts Center
Mayo Performing Arts Center is where our community comes together to be inspired, entertained and uplifted by the power and the passion of the performing arts. With over 200 events covering the span of performing arts, MPAC brings the world’s greatest entertainers, New Jersey-based artistic organizations, and emerging and dynamic new performers to our region. Through arts education and community outreach programs, MPAC is committed to providing cultural enrichment for both young audiences and the public at large by increasing their exposure to the arts.
The Community Theatre was built in 1937 and was once the crown jewel of Walter Reade’s chain of movie theatres in New Jersey. Its success mirrored the love affair between America and movies during Hollywood’s Golden Age. It officially opened on December 23, 1937, with the showing of the movie Nothing Sacred. The Community Theatre was Morristown’s first first-run movie theatre and remained at the center of Morristown entertainment for four decades. By the 1980s, however, the Theatre had fallen into disrepair and sat idle and hulking for nearly a decade. Things changed in 1994 when an army of tireless volunteers, armed with a sense of civic pride and limitless elbow grease pulled together and saved the Theatre from its uncertain fate.
On September 29, 1994, after months of toil, the Theatre reopened as a performing arts center with a gala performance featuring the Kirov Orchestra of Saint Petersburg and Morristown resident and renowned pianist, Alexander Slobodyanik. Many volunteers openly wept as the Theatre’s renaissance finally came to fruition.
In January, 1995, the South Street Theatre Company, a nonprofit organization, was formed to purchase and renovate the theatre. From 1997-2000, a capital campaign was undertaken to create funding for a comprehensive refurbishing and upgrade of the theatre. In March 2005, it launched two Performing Arts School workshops as a precursor to the launch of an official school in September 2005, which now educates over 650 students (2016) in musical theatre and acting.
In May 2011, the Theatre officially changed its name to Mayo Performing Arts Center, completing a three-year transition. In July 2016, the Theatre earned the distinction of Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres.
Now in its 27th season, Mayo Performing Arts Center has become one of New Jersey’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations and now hosts more than 200 performances to more than 200,000 patrons every year.
100 South Street Morristown, NJ 07960
@mayopac
Today in New Jersey History: Joseph Bloomfield was born on October 18, 1753
New Jersey Fun Fact: Beemerville, NJ is home to a volcano that is no longer active.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Calandra's Bakery and Restaurants www.calandrasbakery.com
Albert & Whitney CPAs www.awcpasllc.com
TRJ Consulting Services www.trjconsultingservices.com
Contact the show: greetingsfromthegardenstate@gmail.com
Website: greetingsfromthegardenstate.com
Follow us on Instagram: @greetingsfromthegardenstate
Music (used with permission): "Crazy" by Manny Cabo https://www.mannycabo.com/
