Capitol Center for the Arts
A 1,304-seat performing arts venue in Concord, New Hampshire, established through the renovation of the former Capitol Theatre.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Capitol Center for the Arts is a performing arts venue in downtown Concord, New Hampshire. Its principal auditorium, the Chubb Theatre, seats approximately 1,304 people and retains an Egyptian-inspired decorative scheme associated with the original Capitol Theatre. The venue presents a broad program of live entertainment, including theatrical productions, concerts, comedy, dance, and other touring performances. The building began as the Capitol Theatre, which opened in 1927 at a time when large movie palaces served as important cultural and social destinations in American cities. The Capitol Theatre was connected to the regional theater business operated by Maine-New Hampshire Theatres Co., a chain associated with Joseph P. Kennedy. A second Concord cinema, the Star Theatre, was located nearby. In its early decades, the Capitol combined motion pictures with live stage presentations and was noted for its ornate interior, Egyptian motifs, and pipe organ. Accounts of the venue's mid-century operation describe a theater that retained the visual richness and presentation style of an earlier generation of movie palaces. The original Capitol Theatre operated until 1989. Rather than demolish the building, local arts supporters pursued a conversion into a modern performing arts center. The redevelopment was supported by a substantial community fundraising effort, with Chubb Life providing the largest contribution. The auditorium was named the Chubb Theatre in recognition of that support. Volunteers also played a major role, contributing thousands of hours to repaint the interior and restore the building's Egyptian-themed design elements. Concord attorney and arts patron Martin L. Gross was an important supporter of the redevelopment effort. Paul Hodes, who later represented New Hampshire in the United States House of Representatives, helped lead the campaign to restore and reopen the venue after being encouraged by Gross. The renovated Capitol Center for the Arts opened in 1995, combining the character of a historic movie palace with the technical capacity required for contemporary touring productions, including major theatrical shows. Since reopening, the center has functioned as one of New Hampshire's principal regional venues for touring entertainment. Its programming has included the Billy Joel musical Movin' Out, concerts by pianist George Winston, and appearances by humorist David Sedaris, among other performances. In 2019, the organization expanded its footprint by opening BNH Stage at 16 South Main Street in Concord. The additional space broadened the center's ability to host performances and events alongside the main theater. The Capitol Center's positioning rests on the combination of historic architecture, a substantial auditorium, and a varied calendar capable of serving both local audiences and touring artists. It is not a consumer-goods brand or a national entertainment conglomerate; its identity is tied to a specific civic venue, its restored architectural heritage, and its role in Concord's cultural infrastructure.
History
The history of Capitol Center for the Arts begins with the Capitol Theatre, a movie palace opened in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1927. The theater was part of a regional chain associated with Maine-New Hampshire Theatres Co., which was owned by Joseph P. Kennedy. The nearby Star Theatre was also connected with that chain. Like many large American cinemas of its period, the Capitol Theatre was designed not only for film exhibition but also for live presentation. Its Egyptian-inspired interior, pipe organ, and stage facilities gave it a ceremonial character that distinguished it from a conventional neighborhood cinema. The theater remained an important Concord entertainment venue through the middle decades of the twentieth century. Retrospective descriptions of the 1950s and 1960s emphasize the building's ornate appearance and the continuing relationship between film screenings and stage programming. Its design reflected the movie-palace tradition, in which architecture and spectacle were central parts of the audience experience. The original theater closed in 1989. Local arts advocates subsequently organized an effort to preserve the building and convert it into a nonprofit-oriented performing arts center. The redevelopment depended on donations and community participation. Chubb Life supplied the principal corporate support, and the renovated auditorium was named the Chubb Theatre. Approximately 250 volunteers helped with the restoration work, including repainting and efforts to recover the Egyptian decorative character of the interior. Concord arts patron and attorney Martin L. Gross encouraged and supported the restoration campaign. Paul Hodes was instrumental in organizing the effort to renovate and reopen the venue; he later became a member of Congress from New Hampshire. The project transformed the former cinema from a primarily film-oriented building into a contemporary live-performance facility while preserving its historic visual identity. The renovated Capitol Center for the Arts opened in 1995. Its 1,304-seat Chubb Theatre was equipped to accommodate substantial touring productions, including Broadway-scale theater, concerts, and other forms of live entertainment. The center's subsequent program has included the Billy Joel musical Movin' Out, pianist George Winston, and humorist David Sedaris. These examples illustrate the venue's broad programming approach, spanning musical theater, instrumental music, and spoken comedy. In 2019, Capitol Center for the Arts expanded beyond its original auditorium by opening BNH Stage at 16 South Main Street in Concord. The additional venue strengthened the organization's capacity to present events in different formats and at different scales. The organization therefore operates as both a historic theater and a broader local performing arts platform, with its public identity grounded in preservation, live entertainment, and service to audiences in New Hampshire.
- 2019
BNH Stage opens
[1]Capitol Center for the Arts adds BNH Stage at 16 South Main Street in Concord.
- 1995
Renovated Capitol Center opens
[1]After a multiyear renovation supported by donations and volunteer labor, the venue reopens as Capitol Center for the Arts, with the main auditorium named Chubb Theatre.
- 1989
Original theater closes
[1]The original Capitol Theatre ceases operation, creating the opportunity for a preservation-led conversion into a performing arts center.
- 1927
Capitol Theatre opens
[1]The Capitol Theatre opens in Concord as a large movie and stage entertainment venue associated with Maine-New Hampshire Theatres Co.
Products and positioning
A historic New Hampshire performing arts venue that combines a restored Egyptian-inspired movie-palace interior with a large auditorium for touring theater, music, comedy, and related live events.
Performing arts auditorium · 1995
Chubb Theatre
The principal 1,304-seat auditorium of Capitol Center for the Arts. It occupies the restored historic theater and preserves the building's Egyptian-inspired decorative scheme while providing a venue for touring theater, concerts, comedy, and other large-scale live events.
Performing arts venue · 2019
BNH Stage
A second Capitol Center for the Arts venue opened in 2019 at 16 South Main Street in Concord. It expands the organization's presentation capacity and complements the larger Chubb Theatre with an additional space for live programming.
Recent events
- 2019
Capitol Center for the Arts opens BNH Stage[1]
Other
The organization opened BNH Stage at 16 South Main Street in Concord, adding a second performance venue to its operations.
Sources2 sources
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