Union County Performing Arts Center

Union County Performing Arts Center, commonly known as UCPAC, is a nonprofit performing arts venue in Rahway, New Jersey. Its principal building began life in 1928 as the Rahway Theater, an ornate movie palace designed in the Classical Revival style by New York architect David M. Oltarsh. The venue originally combined vaudeville programming with silent films, reflecting the period when large downtown theaters served as multipurpose entertainment palaces rather than single-format cinemas. The Mainstage remains the center's defining facility. It has a reported capacity of 1,334 and retains an original Wurlitzer theater organ that has been restored to working condition. The instrument is listed on the American Theatre Organ Society's National Registry of Significant Instruments, reinforcing the site's significance not only as a performance venue but also as a surviving example of American theater architecture and organ culture. The former movie palace was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The building experienced decline as a movie house during the 1970s. A local nonprofit preservation effort helped reopen it in 1984, beginning a transition from deteriorated cinema to community arts institution. In 2006, at the request of Rahway mayor James J. Kennedy, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders committed $6.2 million to renovate the UCPAC Mainstage. That public investment supported the preservation and modernization of the historic theater while maintaining its architectural and cultural identity. UCPAC has subsequently developed into a broader campus rather than a single auditorium. Its spaces include the Mainstage; the Loft at Mainstage, a smaller 65-seat room created in a second-floor addition in 2008; Hamilton Stage, a 199-seat theater built beside the Rahway River in 2012 and renovated during 2023–24; and the Fazioli Room at Hamilton Stage, a rehearsal and event room with conservatory windows, mirrors, and a Fazioli piano. The campus also includes the Café at UCPAC, which hosts the Jazz Club at UCPAC. Programming spans concerts, theater, comedy, dance, film, community events, and arts education or development activities. The venue has presented or hosted music and comedy performers including Johnny Cash, Martina McBride, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Joan Jett, Joan Rivers, Louie Anderson, Sinbad, Cedric the Entertainer, Pat Benatar, Kenny Rogers, En Vogue, Starship, Vanessa Williams, Doug E. Fresh, Mark McGrath, and Slick Rick, among others. Because of its historic cinema configuration, UCPAC also presents classic 35mm films, often preceded by performances on the original Wurlitzer organ, and hosts the UCPAC Film Festival. The center operates within Rahway's expanding arts district, an area that includes galleries, studios, rehearsal facilities, and converted industrial spaces. Its proximity to Rahway Station connects the venue to New York City and the wider regional audience. UCPAC is also associated with the Willows Residence for the Arts, an affordable housing initiative for artists developed by the city of Rahway, UCPAC, and the Actors Fund. Taken together, these activities position UCPAC as both a historic theater and a civic arts institution supporting Rahway's cultural redevelopment.

The building now operated as Union County Performing Arts Center originated as the Rahway Theater in 1928. It was constructed as an ornate movie palace and vaudeville venue during the era when large downtown theaters combined live entertainment, silent cinema, and elaborate architectural interiors. New York architect David M. Oltarsh designed the building in a Classical Revival style. Its surviving Wurlitzer pipe organ is an important feature of the historic theater and remains operational after restoration. The theater later declined as a movie house, particularly during the 1970s, when changing cinema patterns and the deterioration of many downtown movie palaces placed such buildings at risk. A local nonprofit preservation group reopened the venue in 1984, creating the basis for its later use as a performing arts center. The property was recognized for its architectural and historical importance when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. A major public renovation effort followed in the 2000s. At the request of Rahway mayor James J. Kennedy, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invested $6.2 million in the UCPAC Mainstage renovation in 2006. The work supported the continued use of the historic theater while helping it function as a modern venue for touring artists, film, comedy, theater, and community programming. UCPAC expanded beyond the Mainstage over time. The Loft at Mainstage was created in a second-floor addition in 2008 and provides a smaller 65-seat performance environment. Hamilton Stage was built several hundred feet west of the Mainstage beside the Rahway River in 2012. With a capacity of 199, it broadened the center's ability to host smaller productions and events. Hamilton Stage was renovated in 2023–24 and received a new fully equipped proscenium theater configuration. The present campus includes the 1,334-seat Mainstage, Hamilton Stage, the Loft, the Fazioli Room, and the Café at UCPAC. The Fazioli Room serves as a rehearsal and event space and contains a Fazioli piano, described in the reference material as one of only two in New Jersey. The Café hosts the venue's Jazz Club. UCPAC also continues to use the Mainstage's historic identity in its film and music programming, including classic 35mm screenings commonly accompanied by organ performances. The center's role extends beyond ticketed performances. It forms part of Rahway's arts district, which includes galleries, studios, rehearsal spaces, and adapted industrial properties. UCPAC has also participated with the city of Rahway and the Actors Fund in the Willows Residence for the Arts, an affordable-housing initiative intended for artists. Through preservation, performance, film, hospitality, and arts-community initiatives, UCPAC has become a cultural anchor for Rahway and a regional venue accessible from New York City by rail.

• 2024

  Hamilton Stage renovation is completed

  [1]Union County Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Hamilton Stage is renovated during 2023–24 and updated as a fully equipped proscenium theater.

• 2012

  Hamilton Stage opens

  [1]Union County Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A 199-seat secondary venue opens beside the Rahway River west of the Mainstage.

• 2008

  The Loft at Mainstage is created

  [1]Union County Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A 65-seat performance space is added in a second-floor extension of the Mainstage building.

• 2006

  Mainstage renovation receives county investment

  [1]Union County Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Union County commits $6.2 million to renovate the UCPAC Mainstage.

• 1986

  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

  [1]Union County Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The historic theater is added to the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1984

  Local preservation group reopens the theater

  [1]Union County Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  After declining as a movie house, the building is reopened through the efforts of a local nonprofit preservation group.

• 1928

  Rahway Theater opens

  [1]Union County Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The ornate Rahway Theater opens as a vaudeville venue and silent movie house.

A historic, community-oriented performing arts center that combines restored movie-palace architecture and heritage programming with concerts, theater, comedy, film, jazz, and flexible contemporary performance spaces.

• Historic theater and concert venue · 1928

  UCPAC Mainstage

  The historic 1,334-seat theater occupies the former Rahway Theater movie palace. It is the center's largest room and supports concerts, theater, comedy, film screenings, and special events. The Mainstage retains its restored Wurlitzer pipe organ and is used for classic 35mm film presentations, frequently with an organ performance before the screening.

• Performing arts venue · 2012

  Hamilton Stage

  Hamilton Stage is a 199-seat theater located beside the Rahway River several hundred feet west of the Mainstage. Built in 2012, it provides a smaller-scale venue for productions and events. Renovation work in 2023–24 equipped the space as a proscenium theater.

• Studio theater · 2008

  The Loft at Mainstage

  The Loft is a 65-seat room located in a second-floor addition to the Mainstage building. Its smaller capacity makes it suitable for intimate performances, presentations, and community-oriented programming.

• Rehearsal and event space

  The Fazioli Room at Hamilton Stage

  The Fazioli Room is a 40-by-60-foot rehearsal and event space with floor-to-ceiling conservatory windows and wall-length mirrors. It can accommodate approximately 55 to 75 people and contains a Fazioli piano.

• Hospitality and music space

  The Café at UCPAC

  The Café is an on-campus hospitality and performance area associated with the Jazz Club at UCPAC. It complements the center's larger theaters with a more intimate setting for music and social programming.

• Film program

  UCPAC Film Festival

  The UCPAC Film Festival uses the historic Mainstage as a setting for film programming. The center also presents classic 35mm films, a distinctive offering for a New Jersey venue, often incorporating performances on the original Wurlitzer theater organ.

• 2024

  Upgrade Hamilton Stage into a fully equipped proscenium theaterGeneration change

  Background

  Hamilton Stage provided a smaller performance room within the UCPAC campus and required modernization to support expanded production needs.

  Action taken

  The venue renovated Hamilton Stage during 2023–24 and equipped it as a proscenium theater.

  Aftermath

  The upgraded 199-seat space broadened UCPAC's ability to present smaller productions and events alongside the Mainstage.

  Source

• 2006

  Preserve and modernize the historic MainstageStrategy

  Background

  The former movie palace had deteriorated after its decline as a movie house, but its historic architecture and theater organ made preservation a significant cultural objective.

  Action taken

  Following advocacy by Rahway mayor James J. Kennedy, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invested $6.2 million in renovation of the UCPAC Mainstage.

  Aftermath

  The renovated Mainstage continued operating as a historic performance venue while supporting contemporary concerts, theater, comedy, film, and community programming.

  Renovation investment. $6.2 million committed (2006)

  Source

1. 1Union County Performing Arts Centeren.wikipedia.org