Dear Sara,

We are deeply saddened to announce that we must close Hopewell Theater.

Rising costs and the inability to obtain a liquor license – a key income source for live venues – have contributed to our decision.

In 2017, we opened Hopewell Theater after considerable renovation and since that season we have welcomed thousands of patrons at our “selectively eclectic” lineup of shows: from films to live music, supper clubs, theatrical performances, and more.

We have partnered with the Hopewell, Princeton, and Pennington Libraries and hosted private events with local nonprofit organizations as well as the YOUR STAGE AT ANY STAGE open mic night with our beloved local songstress and emcee, Michelle Klein.

These highlights from our six years of presenting live shows are just a handful of the events we have hosted here at HT, featuring both nationally recognized talent and emerging artists.

None of what we have accomplished would have been possible without you.

You supported our opening, waited patiently through the pandemic, and returned in even greater numbers post-pandemic. Through it all, your five-star reviews of our staff and service endured.

Hopewell Theater has been re-imagined many times over the 144 years of its existence, with significant interior and exterior design changes. And yet, with each incarnation, the building has remained a place that has always welcomed and/or served the Hopewell community as an arts venue and gathering place.

And, though the Theater is closing, the building’s owners want to assure the community that efforts to try to re-open will be ongoing.

On a personal note, it has been an honor and privilege to breathe life into Hopewell Theater alongside our incredible staff, talent, and patrons. Seeing our community coming together here, to meet friends and get inspired, has continually inspired me. I will miss welcoming you to HT. However, I do remain hopeful that the spirit of Hopewell Theater will endure – a venue that has always served the community for nearly a century and a half.

Sincerely,

Sara Scully

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Hopewell Theater