https://broadwayandmain.com/media/com_jbusinessdirectory/pictures/companies/98/photo448-1488301785.jpeg

Cape May Stage

Our mission is to produce stimulating and intellectually provocative theatrical work at a high level of professional competence; draw from and enrich the Cape May Community

Description

Our mission is to produce stimulating and intellectually provocative theatrical work at a high level of professional competence; draw from and enrich the Cape May Community; facilitate theatrical development and collaborations; and provide an educational theatrical resource for the community.

 

HISTORY

In January of 1853, the trustees of the Cape Island Presbyterian Church purchased a lot on the north side of Lafayette Street, at the corner of what is now Bank Street.  Local builder, Peter Hand, designed and built their church.  He designed a Georgian-vernacular style building with an oddly graceful, onion-curved, mosque-like belvedere.  For the rest of the summer, Cape Islanders and visitors alike thronged the beautiful new church.  In the fall of 1853, the Cold Spring trustees sold it to the Methodists.

The church served the congregation until 1898 when they moved to their new church at Hughes and Decatur Streets.  The trustees sold the old church to Annie Knight.  She bought it for the local Episcopalians, who had no building.

In the mid 50’s, one of the City’s proposed solutions to the increasing automobile problem was to tear down the church and an old fire station next to it to create a parking lot.  The City purchased the Church for $2,000 and began demolition plans.  However, an early Cape Island preservationist, Tom Harris, intervened to save the building.  He pointed out that Cape May did not have a much-needed Central Community House.  The City fathers agreed to support Tom’s effort. Incorporation papers were drawn up for the Historical and Community Center of Cape May (HCC), Inc.  The Board declared the building available for art shows, dances, plays, association meetings, banquets, etc.

After running the center for 17 years, Harris grew tired of the job and its responsibilities.  In 1973 Mayor Bruce Minnix suggested that the City take over operating the Center.  The City converted its primary use into a Visitor Welcome Center, though it still served for meetings, plays and such.

 

In 1988, Michael Laird descended upon Cape May and incorporated Cape May Stage as an Equity theatre company.  Laird, self-described as ‘an Equity actor and a director and producer and a sculptor and a playwright and a poet and a clown’ launched the first Cape May Stage production Sea Marks featuring Tom McCarthy at the Chalfonte Hotel in August, 1989. Ably assisted by Executive Director Angel Conran, during the theatre’s formative years, Laird produced plays at various venues in the Cape May community.

Business Info

31 Perry Street, Cape May 08204, New Jersey, United States

Map Location

Equity Theatres - Most Recent Additions

FreeFall Theatre Company

The mission of freeFall Theatre is to pursue art’s greater purposes and the transformative power of theatre – as a builder of community, a source of upliftment, and a builder of cultural…

Saint Petersburg, Florida
View details
Alabama Shakespeare Festival

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the State’s theater, builds community by engaging, entertaining, and inspiring people with transformative theatrical performances and compelling…

Montgomery, Alabama
View details
Colonial Theatre

The Colonial Theatre, a non-profit educational institution incorporated in the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island, began in April of 1985 with the renovation of two buildings (built in…

Westerly, Rhode Island
View details
A Contemporary Theatre Inc.

ACT is the only local theatre dedicated to producing contemporary work with promising playwrights and local performing artists since 1965. Thank you for your interest; take a look below for…

Seattle, Washington
View details
Old Log Theatre

The Old Log Theatre was purchased by Marissa and Greg Frankenfield in 2013.  Since their purchase they have modernized the theatre space with state of the art lighting and sound systems and…

Excelsior, Minnesota
View details
Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre

Each year it produces a selection of the Bard’s plays, along with other productions, in its summer festival in Conway. Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, which has been featured in the New York…

Conway, Arkansas
View details
Center Stage Associates

Baltimore Center Stage is a professional, nonprofit institution committed to entertaining, engaging, and enriching audiences through bold, innovative, and thought-provoking classical and…

Baltimore, Maryland
View details
Alpine Theatre Project

To imagine without boundaries, to create vibrant professional entertainment and transformative arts education, to inspire the audience, artists, and next generation.

Whitefish, Montana
View details