The Open Air Theatre in Washington Crossing State Park in the City of Titusville, NJ, is a permanent outdoor venue with a six-month summer seasonand has hosted a variety of performances, including musicals, plays, concerts, and dance recitals. The venue is available for use by submitting a special use application to the Park Office. The theatre was built in 1935 as part of the

New Deal The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1939. Major federal programs agencies included the Civilian Cons ...

's Works Progress Administration (WPA) programme.UMD
- Retrieved 2023-10-30 It was designed by architect Aymar Embury II, who also designed th
Cape May Point State Park Lighthouse
and th
New Jersey State Capitol Annex
From 2010–2017, the venue was leased by the Downtown Performing Arts Center (DPAC). The company have now moved indoors and rebranded as th
Music Mountain Theatre
The company has no intentions of coming back, and the theatre has remained closed and abandoned since.

Early History (1935-Late 1900s)

As part of the

Federal Theatre Project The Federal Theatre Project (FTP; 1935–1939) was a theatre program established during the Great Depression in the United States, Great Depression as part of the New Deal to fund live artistic performances and entertainment programs in the United ...

the theatre was constructed in 1935. Architect Aymar Embury II was responsible for its design.

Downtown Performing Arts Center (2010-2017)

Founded in 2001 by Virginia 'Ginny' Brennan, Downtown Performing Arts Center moved into the Open Air Theatre for the summer of 2010. The company was led by Co-Artistic Directors Louis Palena and Jordan Brennan. During their eight-year tenure, the company produced over 50 productions. Amongst these were numerous World Premieres, written by playwright Louis Palena. In addition to their extensive list of "Mainstage" productions, the company ran a parallel programme of "Children's Theatre" shows, which were produced in a week and performed for two weekends. "Mainstage" Production History included: * The Legend of Sleep Hollow '' orld Premiere' (2012) *

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'' (often colloquially known as ''Joseph'') is a sung-through musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the character of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis. Thi ...

(2016) * an annual production of a concert called "Stars 'n Stripes" *

the Wizard of Oz ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' or ''The Wizard of Oz'' most commonly refers to: *'' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', a 1900 American novel by L. Frank Baum often reprinted as ''The Wizard of Oz'' ** Wizard of Oz (character), from the Baum novel serie ...

(2017) "An Open Air Theatre tradition" "Children's Theatre" Production History included: * Sleeping Beauty '' orld Premiere' (2016)

Curtain Up! Productions

Due to the difficulties experienced with the weather they soon began looking for a new indoor venue. In November 2013, the company founded Curtain Up Productions Inc. to fund the creation of a new theatre. The two organisations worked together to fund indoor performances during the off season away from the park, including DPAC's annual performance of ''A Christmas Carol''. Production History included: * ''

A Christmas Carol ''A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas'', commonly known as ''A Christmas Carol'', is a novella by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. ''A Christmas C ...

'' (annual) * ''Rapunzel'' (2015) * '' Charlie Brown Christmas'' (2016)

Recent History (2017-Present)

Downtown Performing Arts Center has since relocated indoors and changed its name to the Music Mountain Theatre. The theatre has been "dark" and deserted ever since, though it is accessible to the public via footpaths and the original car park.

References

External links

Back to the Beginning - Just Upstage of Downtown (S1E1)
a Podcast History of Music Mountain Theatre & Downtown Performing Arts Center Buildings and structures in Mercer County, New Jersey Theatres in New Jersey Tourist attractions in Mercer County, New Jersey {{NewJersey-struct-stub