Community News

Major news was announced at the Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre at the end of the Saturday, June 18 performance of Little Women the Broadway Musical. Producer Ginny Brennan announced from the stage that the Downtown Performing Arts Center will become Curtain Up Productions and after three years of searching will build a year-round, performing arts venue in Lambertville, New Jersey.

The venue, set to be called Music Mountain Theatre, is located at 1483 Route 179 in Lambertville N.J., adjacent to the site of the former Lambertville Music Circus. Unlike the Music Circus which was performed under a circus-style big top tent, the new Music Mountain Theatre will be a 265-seat, indoor venue with a traditional proscenium stage. Shows will be year-round and feature mainstage Broadway revivals, plays and a children's theatre schedule. Additionally, the theater will be open for concerts and community events.

The structure will be the new home of Curtain Up Productions which has operated as the Downtown Performing Arts Center in Lambertville, N.J. for over 15 years. The studio has grown in size and changed its location two times since its inception. This permanent home will allow for growth and for the studio to continue to provide classes in dance and acting to the area's youth.

Fundraising has commenced with a variety of sponsorship and donor levels offered. Included are opportunities to purchase an engraved bronze star that will be embedded into the floor of the lobby, naming rights for areas within the theatre and a Name-A-Seat Campaign that will allow patrons to purchase an engraved plaque that will be permanently affixed to a seat. Sponsorship and donor information can be seen at www.curtainupproductions.org.

Building of the new Music Mountain Theatre has begun with the interior scheduled to be outfitted for productions throughout the summer months. A late 2016 opening is scheduled.

photo caption: Building in Lambertville, N.J. has begun on the new Music Mountain Theatre set to open in late 2016. Photo by Jordan Brennan

Building in Lambertville, N.J. has begun on the new Music Mountain Theatre set to open in late 2016. Photo by Jordan Brennan