Park Performing Arts Center facts for kids
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Park Theatre
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| Address | 560 32nd Street Union City, NJ US |
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| Coordinates | 40°46′26″N 74°01′50″W / 40.77389°N 74.03042°W |
| Owner | Archdiocese of Newark |
| Capacity | 1400 (est) |
| Opened | 1931 |
The Park Performing Arts Center is a cool place for arts and culture in Union City, New Jersey. It's located on 32nd Street and Central Avenue. A church parish first built it, but it became a non-profit group in 1983.
Today, the center welcomes artists from all over the world. It also hosts many local community events. You can find a small museum here that shows off amazing embroidery work. There are also art galleries and classes for performing and visual arts. The center is home to the longest-running passion play in the United States. Many of its programs celebrate the rich Hispanic culture of the area.
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History of the Park Theater
The Park Theater was built in 1931. It was an addition to the Holy Family Church complex. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark oversaw its construction. Monsignor Joseph Grieff, who loved theater, guided the project. The original church was built in 1887. It was the only stone church between Jersey City and Fort Lee at the time.
The church building is in a neo-Gothic style. It has beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were made by Innsbruck Art Glass Studio in Austria. They were fully restored in 2008. A year after the theater was finished, a new school was started. This school had a public hall, an auditorium, and dressing rooms.
A Historic Theater Building
The Park Theater is one of the few old, large theaters still open in North Jersey. Others include Newark Symphony Hall and Loew's Jersey Theater. The main part of the Park Theater is its 1,400-seat stage. It has a high, arched ceiling, like a vault. This theater was built in a special "atmospheric style." This means it was designed to make you feel like you're outdoors.
The theater also has a large pipe organ with 1,390 pipes. This organ was restored in 1991 and is kept in great condition. The building complex also includes a small "black box" theater. This is a simple, flexible space for performances. There are also exhibition areas, classrooms, and rehearsal rooms. In 2010, the theater's outdoor sign, called a marquee, was replaced. Parts of the old sign were used in the new one.
Becoming an Arts Center
The Performing Arts Center officially started in 1983. A non-profit organization was created to run it. The archdiocese still owns the building. However, the non-profit group has a long-term agreement to use it. Kevin Ashe, who was the pastor of Holy Family Church, started the project. He felt the building was not being used enough by the community.
By 1991, the center was operating as a full-time arts organization. It receives some funding for education and staff. "Art for the Park" is an annual event that raises money for the center. It includes art shows and performances.
The church and rectory buildings are listed as historic places. However, the theater and other buildings are not. In 2019, the theater was listed as one of the 10 most endangered historic places in New Jersey. This was because the building was falling apart. The Archdiocese of Newark thought about selling it. They hoped to find a group willing to fix it up. They wanted it to become an active entertainment spot, like Loew's Jersey Theatre.
A big renovation project was finished in 2020. The goal was to make the center a busy arts venue again. From March 6-8, 2020, there was a grand re-opening. It included live music, tours, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. But just a few days later, the theater had to close. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened in October 2020.
Performances and Exhibits
The Passion Play: "America's Oberammergau"
A passion play is a theater show performed during Lent. It tells the story of the last days of Jesus Christ. The famous Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany has been performed since 1634. Around 1900, many German-speaking immigrants lived in North Hudson, New Jersey. By the mid-1910s, two local churches started their own annual passion plays. These shows were put on by many volunteers from the community.
One show was called "Veronica's Veil." It started in 1915 and ran until 1999. The other passion play was started by Holy Family Church in 1915. It has been performed every year since then. This makes it the longest-running passion play in the United States. The show has been at the Park Theater since it was built. Because of this, the theater is sometimes called America's Oberammergau.
The Park's passion play has changed with the times. In 1997, a Black actor, Desi Arnaz Giles, played the part of Jesus Christ. This was a big deal and caused some strong reactions. However, many people supported the theater. Ticket sales went up, and Giles's performance received a standing ovation. He played the role again the next year.
The Cultural Thread/El Hilo
"The Cultural Thread/El Hilo" is an exhibit about embroidery and lace-making. For over a hundred years, towns in North Hudson, New Jersey have been the center of this industry. The area was known as the Embroidery Capital of the United States. It produced more than 70% of all embroidery in the U.S.
German and Swiss immigrants first brought this craft to the area. The industry grew a lot after a special machine, called the Schiffli machine, was introduced in 1902. Making embroidery provided jobs for many waves of immigrants. This included people from Central and South America. The embroidery industry in the area slowed down in the 1990s.
Stage Performances
Since it opened, the Park Center has hosted many different performances. These include Broadway shows, music concerts, and dance performances. They also have film screenings, talent shows, and community celebrations. The resident theater company, "Hudson Exploited," has used the center's black box theater since 1992. The center also celebrates Three Kings Day every year.
Many famous musicians have performed at the Park. These include Johnny Cash, Paquito D'Rivera, and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. Dance groups like José Greco and Ballet Folklórico de México have also performed.
The theater has also been used for filming movies and videos. In 1986, the bands Aerosmith and Run-D.M.C. filmed their famous music video "Walk This Way" here. Comedian George Carlin recorded his album What Am I Doing in New Jersey? and an HBO special in 1988.
Visual Arts Exhibits
Besides the passion play, another long-running event was the Multi-Arts Festival. It started in 1981. This festival was a place for students and others to show off their artistic talents. It included workshops, art shows, and performances. The festival was held at the Park Performing Arts Center until 2010. Then it moved to the Union City Performing Arts Center.
The center also hosts other art shows. These feature works by local artists, some of whom are very well-known. Since 2004, a group show called "NoHu Vision" has displayed art by people living in North Hudson, New Jersey.
On September 30, 2020, a new art gallery opened at the renovated theater. It's called "The Gallery at the Park." It featured paintings by New Jersey artist Cara London. This exhibit had first opened in March 2020, but the pandemic forced the theater to close.
See also
- Monastery and Church of Saint Michael the Archangel
- Schuezten Park
- Stanley Theater
