The Investors Bank Performing Arts Center is a 2,400-seat theater located in Washington Township, in Gloucester County,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, United States, that is one of

South Jersey South Jersey, also known as Southern New Jersey, comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located between Pennsylvania and the lower Delaware River to its west, the Atlantic Ocean to its east, Delaware to its south, ...

's major entertainment venues. Completed in 1998, the 2,400-seat Center was originally designed as the auditorium for Washington Township High School, built to hold the school's 2,000 student body. During the planning stages of the facility, officials decided that the auditorium should host large scale productions in an effort to bring local and regional entertainment to the area. Now known as the Investors Bank Arts Center, the center originally opened its doors on September 1, 1998, with a production of

Rodgers and Hammerstein Rodgers and Hammerstein was a theater-writing team of composer Richard Rodgers (1902–1979) and lyricist-dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960), who together created a series of innovative and influential American musicals. Their musical ...

's ''

The King & I ''The King and I'' is the fifth musical theatre, musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon's novel ''Anna and the King of Siam (novel), Anna and the King of Siam'' (1944), which is in turn derived from the m ...

''.

History

Before being known as the Investors Bank Arts Center, it was the TD Bank Arts Center, the Commerce Bank Arts Centre, and originally the Washington Township High School's Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) when it opened in 1998. In 1999, Chesapeake Concerts Inc. had to terminate their contract in September via a 60-day escape clause due to the death of its CEO, who died in August. In 2000, the Board of Education hired Township resident Rebecca Marie Keith as the center's manager/grant writer." Keith was dividing her time between writing grants to bring revenues to the center, and also scheduling the performances. In 2004, with a five-year, $300,000 investment, Commerce Bank was looking to capitalize on the school district's performing arts venue. Commerce Bank chairman and president presented Superintendent Thomas Flemming with a $55,000 check after announcing the new name of the CPA, which thereafter became the Commerce Bank Arts Centre. By taking the new name and the $300,000 investment scheduled over the next five years, it would be providing three arts-related scholarships each year, a summer theater program, upgrade in the lighting and sound, and co-sponsor additional events at the center. In 2015, the name was changed to the Investors Bank Performing Arts Center. It is currently named the Republic Bank Performing Arts Center.

Previous events

* Styx *

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* Dwight Yoakam * Delirious *

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* Trisha Yearwood * Grease * Weird Al Yankovic * Sawyer Brown * Barry Manilow * Moody Blues * k.d. lang * Jo Dee Messina * Willie Nelson * Mary Chapin Carpenter * Plus One * '' A Walk Down Abbey Road'' *

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* Lone Star * Kenny Rogers * Point of Grace * Twila Paris *

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* Plus One * Wayne Brady * Jubilate Deo * Philadelphia Orchestra * Indigo Girls * Pennsylvania Ballet * "Cabaret" *

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* "Swing" *

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* Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theatre * South Pacific * David Copperfield * Frankie Valli * Paul Anka *

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* Charlie Daniels Band * Lord of the Dance * Hero – A Rock Opera * Rent * Saturday Night Fever * CATS * Tim Conway & Harvey Korman * Sandy Patty * John Michael Montgomery * STOMP! * "The Rat Pack" * The Irish Tenors *

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* Bill Cosby * Fiddler On The Roof * Tony Bennett * Crazy For You * Andy Williams * Engelbert Humperdinck * 42nd Street * Chris Tomlin * Big Comfy Couch *

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* Dave Koz & Friends * Blast! *

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Crew

Crew for performances at the center is provided by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 8.

Additional facts

*In 2002, using $150,000 in state grants and loans, the Washington Township High School Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) purchased and installed an “orchestra shell”. By installing this “shell” it projects the sound out and to the audience. *The school district used a $75,000 state grant which was obtained by State Senator

John J. Matheussen John J. Matheussen (born January 30, 1953) is an American Republican Party politician. He served in the New Jersey Senate from 1992 to 2003, where he represented the 4th Legislative District. Early life and education Born in Jersey City, Mat ...

, R-4 of Washington Township, as a year end 2001 “Christmas Tree appropriation” and $75,000 left over from the bonds sold to fund the construction of the CPA.Sholinsky, Ed. "Orchestra Shell Final Piece of Center." ''Gloucester County Times'' 25 July 2002.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Investors Bank Performing Arts Center Buildings and structures in Gloucester County, New Jersey Performing arts centers in New Jersey Theatres completed in 1998 Tourist attractions in Gloucester County, New Jersey Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey