The Eagle Theatre: Breathing New Life Into a Century-Old Landmark

Co-Founder, June 2009 - 2023

TL;DR

• A nearly forgotten 100-year-old theater was rescued from demolition and reborn as The Eagle Theatre, a nationally recognized performing arts hub.

• What began as a restoration project evolved into a full-scale professional theater company: funded, innovative, and community-driven.

• Through innovation, perseverance, and collaboration, the theater became a cultural and economic catalyst for its town.

In 2006, I heard whispers that an old building in town, a former church and warehouse, was once a theater and was now slated for demolition. Most people had no idea it even existed beneath decades of renovations and neglect. I couldn’t let it disappear.

With a small group of volunteers, we secured the building under a local nonprofit and ultimately became the first theater in the country to receive funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through low-interest loans and grants. That decision saved the building, and sparked the rebirth of what would become The Eagle Theatre.

The project began as a passion for preservation. I’ve always been drawn to revitalizing historic spaces, and this one carried the potential to reignite local pride and creativity. My goal wasn’t just to reopen a theater, it was to create an engine of art, energy, and opportunity for the town.

Restoring a century-old building into a state-of-the-art theater wasn’t for the faint of heart. We faced financial hurdles, technical setbacks, and bureaucratic roadblocks at every turn.

The first event, a midnight Harry Potter premiere, set the tone for our approach: ambitious, community-centered, and a little audacious. From there, we experimented with community theater, youth programs, and live performances before realizing that our strength lay in professional productions.

We became a certified Equity theater, part of the Actors’ Equity Association that governs professional performers nationwide. Along the way, we also became the first theater in New Jersey to secure both a winery license and a liquor license, creating a unique and sustainable business model.

Over time, The Eagle Theatre grew into a nationally recognized arts organization:

• Secured millions in grants and loans for acquisition, restoration, and expansion.

• Added a technical workshop, actor housing, and a year-round conservatory.

• Launched the New Jersey Fringe Festival, an immersive, multi-day arts celebration.

• Partnered with every level of government and countless foundations to sustain growth.

The Eagle Theatre was the hardest and most complex project I’ve ever taken on. It demanded constant adaptation, balancing art with operations, and ambition with realism. When COVID-19 hit, it was devastating. Audiences changed, habits shifted, and like many theaters, we had to fight for survival. Still, the legacy stands: a century-old building reborn and a community transformed.

The Eagle Theatre became a cornerstone of local revitalization. From it grew Destination Hammonton, an unprecedented collaboration between arts, tourism, and government that positioned the town as a regional destination. This partnership model, where a theater acted as a community anchor rather than just an entertainment venue, has been recognized across New Jersey and beyond.

Big change doesn’t begin with big money, it begins with belief. Saving one forgotten building became a catalyst for cultural and economic renewal. If you see something worth saving, start with a small group and an idea. The rest can grow from there.

Today, The Eagle Theatre is entering a new chapter with new leadership, and I’m proud to cheer it on from the sidelines. Its story proves that creative restoration can spark not just art, but revival.