New Brunswick Performing Arts Center

New Brunswick Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art performing arts center located in the heart of New Brunswick, New Jersey, near the Rutgers University campus and the New Jersey Transit station. The center is a hub for artistic expression, featuring a variety of performances, including those by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, American Repertory Ballet, and George Street Playhouse. With its proximity to New York City and its rich cultural scene, the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center has become a popular destination for audiences and performers alike, including Tony Award winners like Audra McDonald and Neil Patrick Harris. The center's grand opening was attended by notable figures such as Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey Sheila Oliver and Rutgers University President Robert Barchi.

● History

The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center has a rich history, dating back to the early 20th century when the city of New Brunswick, New Jersey was a thriving cultural center, with numerous theaters and performance venues, including the State Theatre New Jersey and the Count Basie Theatre. The center's construction was made possible through a partnership between Rutgers University, New Brunswick Development Corporation (Devco), and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, with support from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney. The center's history is also closely tied to that of the New Brunswick Cultural Center, which was established in the 1980s to promote arts and culture in the city, with the help of organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The center has hosted numerous performances and events, including the New Jersey Film Festival and the New Brunswick Jazz Festival, featuring artists like Wynton Marsalis and Diana Krall.

● Architecture

The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center was designed by the renowned architectural firm Elkus Manfredi Architects, in collaboration with Wilson Butler Architects, and features a unique and innovative design, with a sleek and modern exterior and a state-of-the-art interior, inspired by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and I.M. Pei. The center's design was influenced by the city's rich history and cultural heritage, with nods to the Rutgers University campus and the New Brunswick Train Station, designed by McKim, Mead & White. The center's architecture is also reminiscent of other notable performing arts centers, such as the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with its grand lobby and spacious performance venues, similar to those found at the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet. The center's design has been praised by architects and critics, including Robert A.M. Stern and Paul Goldberger, for its innovative use of space and its commitment to sustainability, earning it a LEED certification.

● Performance Venues

The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center features two state-of-the-art performance venues, the Arthur Laurents Theater and the Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater, which are designed to accommodate a wide range of performances, from Broadway shows to symphony orchestra concerts, and from ballet to opera, with productions like The Phantom of the Opera and La Bohème. The center's performance venues are equipped with the latest technology, including advanced sound and lighting systems, designed by JBL Professional and Vari-Lite, and feature comfortable seating and excellent sightlines, similar to those found at the Gershwin Theatre and the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. The center's venues have hosted numerous performances, including those by the New York City Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre, and the Martha Graham Dance Company, as well as concerts by The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen.

● Resident Companies

The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center is home to several resident companies, including the George Street Playhouse, the Crossroads Theatre Company, and the American Repertory Ballet, which produce a wide range of performances throughout the year, including musicals, plays, and dance productions, with collaborations with companies like the McCarter Theatre Center and the Paper Mill Playhouse. The center's resident companies have a long history of producing high-quality performances, with many productions going on to Broadway and other national tours, including shows like The Producers and Rent, which were directed by Susan Stroman and Michael Greif. The center's resident companies have also been recognized with numerous awards, including Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and Obie Awards, with winners like August Wilson and Edward Albee.

● Education and Outreach

The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center is committed to education and outreach, with a variety of programs and initiatives designed to promote arts education and accessibility, including partnerships with Rutgers University, New Brunswick Public Schools, and other local organizations, such as the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Princeton University Lewis Center for the Arts. The center offers a range of educational programs, including workshops, masterclasses, and lectures, led by industry professionals like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Renée Fleming, and features a variety of outreach initiatives, including free performances and ticket subsidies, with support from organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The center's education and outreach programs have been recognized for their excellence, with awards from organizations like the New Jersey Governor's Awards for Arts Education and the National Guild for Community Arts Education, with winners like Yo-Yo Ma and Kathleen Battle.

● Notable Performances

The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center has hosted numerous notable performances, including concerts by Elton John and Stevie Wonder, as well as productions of Hamilton and The Lion King, directed by Thomas Kail and Julie Taymor. The center has also hosted a variety of other performances, including dance productions by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Martha Graham Dance Company, and theater productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, with actors like Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren. The center's notable performances have been praised by critics and audiences alike, with many selling out quickly, and have helped to establish the center as a major cultural destination in the region, with a reputation similar to that of the Public Theater and the Signature Theatre Company.