Sherman Theater

Sherman Theater is a nonprofit live-entertainment venue and community theater on Main Street in downtown Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The building was completed in 1928 and originally operated within the entertainment traditions of the period, serving as both a vaudeville house and a movie theater. Its long history was interrupted by a major fire on August 14, 1944, after which the building continued to function as an entertainment venue for much of the twentieth century. By the 1990s, however, the property had fallen into disrepair following multiple ownership changes. The venue’s modern revival was led by Richard and Catharine Berkowitz, who viewed the deteriorating theater as an underused cultural and economic asset for downtown Stroudsburg and Monroe County. After an intensive three-month renovation, the Sherman reopened on July 16, 2004. The reopened venue was designed to serve a broad audience, with particular attention to teenagers and people in their twenties who had relatively few local entertainment options. It subsequently combined concert promotion, venue operations, community theater, youth programming, and festival organization. The Sherman’s main room accommodates approximately 1,377 people with seats installed. Removing the seating increases its standing-room capacity to approximately 1,800. Its programming has covered rock, metal, alternative, jam, blues, country, pop, comedy, and other touring entertainment, alongside performances by local musicians and productions by its in-house community theater group, the Black Sheep Players. Artists associated with the venue’s concert history include Megadeth, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Clutch, Hatebreed, Deftones, Volbeat, Halestorm, Theory of a Deadman, Papa Roach, Trey Anastasio, Blues Traveler, 311, Kansas, Weird Al Yankovic, Train, RatDog, and many others. Youth access has been a recurring part of the organization’s mission. Richard Berkowitz created the Sherman Independent Rock Series as a monthly concert program for people approximately 13 to 21 years old. The series provided opportunities for young audiences to attend shows, local bands to perform, and aspiring musicians to develop a following. Bands connected with the series included Motionless in White and Patent Pending, which later achieved wider recognition. The venue also supports theatrical productions and civic events. The Black Sheep Players have staged community productions including Cinderella, High School Musical, Seussical the Musical, and Footloose. The organization has additionally helped organize festivals in and around Stroudsburg, including the Pocono Raceway Festival, a free music and racing-themed downtown event that has attracted large crowds. In 2012, ownership of the theater building was transferred to the nonprofit organization, and a smaller adjoining performance space opened. That space was initially called the Sherman Theater’s Living Room and was later renamed the Sherman Showcase. It hosts local music and community events. The organization’s nonprofit structure dates to 2008, when the theater changed from private ownership to nonprofit operation.

The Sherman Theater occupies a historic entertainment building on Main Street in downtown Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Construction was completed in 1928, during a period when American theaters commonly combined live stage entertainment with motion pictures. For much of its early and middle history, the building operated as both a vaudeville house and a movie theater, giving it a role in the cultural life of the local community beyond its later identity as a concert venue. On August 14, 1944, the building was severely damaged by fire. Despite that setback, it continued to be used as an entertainment property over the following decades. Ownership changed hands several times, and by the 1990s the theater had deteriorated substantially. The property was increasingly regarded as a neglected downtown asset rather than a functioning cultural center. Richard and Catharine Berkowitz spearheaded the theater’s modern restoration. Their objective was not simply to preserve the building, but to reactivate it as a venue capable of serving downtown Stroudsburg and the wider Monroe County area. They also identified a need for entertainment aimed at teenagers and young adults, who had limited local options. Following approximately three months of renovation work, the Sherman reopened on July 16, 2004. The revived venue developed a hybrid operating model. It acted as a promoter and operator for touring concerts, hosted community theater, supported local musicians, and participated in broader civic and festival programming. Richard Berkowitz provided direction and leadership during the organization’s growth. The operation was supported primarily by ticket sales, with logistical and technical assistance from a production company associated with Berkowitz. The organization later merged its work with nonprofit groups and has operated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit structure. The main theater has approximately 1,377 seats when configured for seated events. The seats can be removed to create a standing-room layout for approximately 1,800 people. This flexibility helped the venue present both conventional theater productions and high-energy concerts. Its booking history has included national and touring acts from metal, hard rock, alternative, jam, blues, country, pop, comedy, and related genres. The theater became particularly associated with concerts by artists such as Megadeth, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Clutch, Hatebreed, Deftones, Volbeat, Halestorm, Papa Roach, Trey Anastasio, Blues Traveler, 311, Kansas, Train, and Weird Al Yankovic. Youth programming became one of the venue’s distinctive community roles. Berkowitz created the Sherman Independent Rock Series, a monthly program aimed at people between approximately 13 and 21 years old. The series offered a regular setting for young audiences, local performers, and developing bands. Its roster included groups such as Bayside, Valencia, Dawes, Driver Side Impact, Thriving Ivory, and Crude Boi. Motionless in White and Patent Pending were among the bands associated with the series that later reached international-level recognition. The organization also maintains a community theater identity through the Black Sheep Players, an in-house group that has presented productions including Cinderella, High School Musical, Seussical The Musical, and Footloose. In addition to its regular venue schedule, the Sherman has helped organize local festivals. The Pocono Raceway Festival, a free downtown event combining music and racing themes, reportedly drew more than 25,000 attendees and featured performers including Molly Hatchet, the Marshall Tucker Band, and Blue Öyster Cult. In 2008, the theater changed from private to nonprofit operation. In April 2012, ownership of the building was transferred to the nonprofit group. The same period saw the opening of a smaller neighboring performance room, first called the Sherman Theater’s Living Room and later renamed the Sherman Showcase. The smaller space broadened the organization’s ability to host local music and community events. The venue was reported by Pollstar as the number-two club-sized concert venue in Pennsylvania in 2011, 2012, and 2013. The Sherman’s continuing identity is therefore rooted in adaptive reuse: a historic theater building functioning simultaneously as a concert hall, community stage, youth program, and downtown cultural institution.

• 2012

  Building transferred to nonprofit ownership

  [1]Sherman Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The theater building was transferred to the nonprofit group, which opened an adjoining smaller performance space.

• 2010

  Fastest reported sellout

  [1]Sherman Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The July 5 Furthur concert sold out in eight minutes.

• 2008

  Nonprofit operating structure established

  [1]Sherman Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The theater changed from private to nonprofit operation.

• 2004

  Renovated venue reopens

  [1]Sherman Theateren.wikipedia.org

  After a three-month renovation led by Richard and Catharine Berkowitz, the theater reopened on July 16.

• 1944

  Major fire damages the building

  [1]Sherman Theateren.wikipedia.org

  A fire on August 14 severely damaged the theater.

• 1928

  Original theater building completed

  [1]Sherman Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the Sherman Theater building was completed in downtown Stroudsburg.

A regional nonprofit entertainment and community venue combining touring concerts, youth music development, theatrical productions, local performances, and downtown cultural programming.

• Concert hall and community theater · 1928

  Main Sherman Theater

  The principal venue is a flexible room used for touring concerts, community theater, and other live events. It seats approximately 1,377 in a seated configuration and can accommodate approximately 1,800 people when the seating is removed for standing-room events.

• Youth concert series

  Sherman Independent Rock Series

  A recurring rock concert program created for audiences approximately 13 to 21 years old. It provided young people with access to live music and gave local and emerging bands a regular performance platform.

• Community theater

  Black Sheep Players

  The Sherman’s in-house community theater group presents musical and theatrical productions. Reported productions include Cinderella, High School Musical, Seussical The Musical, and Footloose.

• Small performance venue · 2012

  Sherman Showcase

  A smaller adjoining performance space opened after the 2012 ownership transfer. Originally called the Sherman Theater’s Living Room, it was later renamed the Sherman Showcase and has hosted local music and community events.

• 2011Pocono Raceway Festival

  Stroudsburg · Pennsylvania

  A free downtown festival combining live music and racing-related themes, organized with the Sherman’s involvement.

  Outcome. The festival reportedly attracted more than 25,000 people and featured Blue Öyster Cult in 2011.

  Source
• Sherman Independent Rock Series

  Stroudsburg · Monroe County · Pennsylvania

  A monthly youth-oriented concert initiative focused on audiences aged approximately 13 to 21 and on developing local and emerging rock acts.

  Outcome. The series gave hundreds of young people a regular live-music outlet and was associated with bands that later achieved broader success.

  Source

• 2012

  Transfer building ownership to nonprofit groupM&A

  Background

  The theater was already operating through a nonprofit structure and sought to consolidate control of its historic building.

  Action taken

  Ownership of the Sherman Theater building was transferred to the nonprofit organization, and a smaller adjoining performance space was opened.

  Aftermath

  The new space, first called the Living Room and later the Sherman Showcase, expanded capacity for local music and community events.

  Source

• 2008

  Adopt nonprofit operating modelStrategy

  Background

  The theater had been revived as a community-oriented entertainment venue after years of disrepair.

  Action taken

  The operation changed from private ownership to nonprofit status.

  Aftermath

  The nonprofit model became the basis for the venue’s continuing community, concert, and theater programming.

  Source

1. 1Sherman Theateren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sherman Theater official websiteshermantheater.org