New Brunswick Performing Arts Center Opens Thursday; Show Lineup

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The brand-new New Brunswick Performing Arts Center will officially open this Thursday, Sept. 5, flinging open its doors to the public after years of planning and construction, and collaboration between Rutgers, Middlesex County and the city of New Brunswick.

The New Brunswick PAC, as it's called, is located at 11 Livingston Avenue and already has shows booked through the end of 2019: American Repertory Ballet will perform there Sept. 20-22, Rutgers Theater Company presents "Sense & Sensibility" Oct. 4 - 12, the Rutgers Jewish Film Festival will be there Nov. 3 and "A Christmas Carol" will be performed there Dec. 5-15.

The New Brunswick PAC will also be the new performance home of George Street Playhouse, a Rutgers institution, American Repertory Ballet, Crossroads Theatre Company as well as the Middlesex County Arts Institute and Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Its opening heralds a new and rapidly-expanding era for live entertainment and theater in Central New Jersey: The Avenel Performing Arts Center opened in Woodbridge this past April, and the New Jersey State Theatre, located just a few blocks away, has a booming lineup of shows, including comedian George Lopez Sept. 21, magician Jason Bishop Sept. 22, Tony Bennett Oct. 20 and Jay Leno in March.

Whew! Can Central New Jersey sustain all this culture? You betcha.

"Middlesex County is strengthening its status as a destination for experiencing arts and culture,” said County freeholder director Ronald Rios.

"This state-of-the-art facility is on par with some of the finest performing arts houses in the country,” said New Brunswick Development Corporation President Chris Paladino.

“This is the newest act in the story of arts and culture in our city,” said New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill, speaking at a soft opening of the PAC Wednesday night, where there was a Rutgers student dance performance of Heaven on One’s Head, a work by Mason Gross faculty member and acclaimed choreographer Pam Tanowitz. “This spectacular venue will house live music, dramatic theater, film screenings, community discussions and theater workshops — something for everyone."

The New Brunswick PAC is a $172-million building, with two state-of-the-art theater spaces, three rehearsal spaces, an elegant lobby and bar area, plus two floors of office space for the Middlesex County Arts Institute. The two theaters are named for major benefactors: The Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater is a 463-seat theater space meant to house larger productions, such as musical theater or opera. The Arthur Laurents Theater is an intimate space that can seat 252 and was designed to showcase dramatic theater and dance productions.

The Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater has an 86-foot stage, a 75-foot fly tower and a trap system, and an orchestra pit that accommodates 60 to 70 musicians. The smaller theater has a 60-foot stage and contemporary grid system for lighting and sound.

The NBPAC complex also includes 207 residential units, 20 percent of which are designated as low and moderate-income housing.

There will be a formal ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Thursday, followed immediately by public tours of the new building. Refreshments will be available and live music will be performed by the New Brunswick District Jazz Band. Admission is free and open to all Thursday afternoon.

"We’re thrilled to be able to open the doors and welcome in the public to see it for the first time,” said New Brunswick Mayor Cahill.

For all upcoming performances and to buy tickets: www.nbpac.org.

Related: Woodbridge's Avenel Performing Arts Center Opens To Fanfare

State Theatre of NJ Unveils 2019/2020 Family Series

George Lopez At State Theatre Of New Jersey Sept. 21