Union County Performing Arts Center facts for kids
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Rahway Theatre
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Facade of the Rahway Theatre
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 Location in Union County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1601 Irving St., Rahway, New Jersey |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | David M Oltarsh |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001509 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 13, 1986 |
The Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) is a special place in Rahway, New Jersey. It used to be a grand old "movie palace" called the Rahway Theatre. Today, it's a non-profit venue where you can see all kinds of shows. Rahway is a small city west of Staten Island. It has become a popular spot for arts and culture. In fact, USA Today recently called downtown Rahway one of the best small town arts scenes in the country! The building itself is very old and important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Contents
History of the UCPAC Building
The Rahway Theatre first opened its doors in 1928. Back then, it was a place for live variety shows called vaudeville. It also showed silent movies. It was designed to look like a fancy "movie palace," which means it was built to be very grand and beautiful. The architect, David M. Oltarsh, used a style called Classical Revival.
One of the coolest things about the UCPAC is its original Wurlitzer pipe organ. This organ is still working today! It's so special that it's on the National Registry of Significant Instruments.
In the 1970s, the building started to fall apart. But in 1984, a local group worked hard to save it. They reopened it, and in 1986, it was officially listed as a historic place. In 2006, Union County invested money to fix up the main theater. This helped make UCPAC the amazing place it is today.
Performance Spaces at UCPAC
The UCPAC has several different spaces where shows and events happen. Each one is unique!
The Mainstage
This is the biggest space at UCPAC. It can hold 1,334 people. It's where many of the large concerts and performances take place.
The Hamilton Stage
The Hamilton Stage was built in 2012. It's located near the Rahway River, a short walk from the Mainstage. It was updated in 2023-2024. This stage has a new proscenium theater. A proscenium theater has a special arch that frames the stage, like a picture frame. This space can seat 199 people.
The Loft at Mainstage
The Loft is a smaller, more intimate space. It was built in 2008 and is on the second floor of the Mainstage building. It can hold up to 65 people.
The Fazioli Room at Hamilton Stage
This room is a large rehearsal space. It has big windows and mirrors along one wall. It can hold between 55 and 75 people. This room is special because it has a rare Fazioli piano. There are only two of these pianos in all of New Jersey!
The Café at UCPAC
The Café is another space at UCPAC. It often hosts the Jazz Club, where you can enjoy live jazz music.
What You Can See at UCPAC
UCPAC hosts many different types of shows. You can see famous musicians, comedians, and other performers. Some of the well-known artists who have performed here include Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Joan Jett, Joan Rivers, Pat Benatar, and Vanessa Williams.
Movies at UCPAC
Since UCPAC used to be a classic "movie palace," it still shows movies! It's the only theater in New Jersey that shows classic 35mm films. Before the movie starts, you can often hear a live performance on the original Wurlitzer theater organ. UCPAC also hosts its own film festival.
Rahway Arts District
The area around UCPAC is known as the Rahway Arts District. It's full of art galleries, old warehouses turned into art spaces, and studios for artists. In 2020, the downtown area of Rahway was recognized as a "Great Downtown" by the American Planning Association. They said Rahway's downtown is a wonderful place that focuses on being easy to live in and walk around. It has great shopping, food, art, and is a welcoming place for everyone.
The Willows Residence for the Arts
Rahway city and UCPAC have worked together to create special housing for artists. It's called The Willows Residence for the Arts. This housing is safe and affordable. Artists who want to live there need to show their work and then they can be added to a waiting list.
Getting to UCPAC
It's easy to get to UCPAC by train! The Rahway Station is within walking distance. From there, you can take a direct train to New York Penn Station. The train ride takes about 38 minutes.
See also
- New Jersey music venues by capacity
- Crossroads
