Build Our Future: The Campaign
for MPAC
Imagine there’s a place in the middle of Morristown that is a go-to destination for the world’s greatest entertainers, a home for children to participate in the performing arts and a place where our community can gather. That place is MPAC.
For three decades, the Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) has served as a gathering place in Morristown by bringing neighbors and friends together to share a connection to the arts, while infusing life into the local economy and inspiring children. Originally built in 1937 as a movie theatre, it became a favorite destination for the next 40 years. Then, this grand community theatre fell into disrepair. In 1994, community volunteers donated countless hours and resources to restore it, and the Theatre re-opened on September 29, 1994 with a sold-out concert featuring the Kirov Orchestra.
Since then, with the help of donors, volunteer leaders and partners, the nonprofit Mayo Performing Arts Center has become a preeminent destination for arts, culture and education that hosts nearly 300 events on-site and throughout our community while serving over 225,000 patrons and students each year. This past school year, our Performing Arts School provided arts education to 1,000 students within the MPAC complex. By presenting an ambitious season of worldclass performances, MPAC entertains, enriches and educates the diverse population of our region and fortifies the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. According to the Americans for the Arts' Arts & Economic Prosperity Calculator MPAC generates more than $18 million in annual revenue for the local economy.
During the pandemic, MPAC’s vital role in our community became even more apparent. With the shutdown, MPAC pivoted to provide virtual performances and educational programs as well as off-site outdoor shows for its loyal audiences. Today, after more than four years rebuilding lost pandemic revenue, MPAC is back on solid footing, realizing more than $10.5 million in ticket sales and more than $3.5 million in contributions in FY24 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024)
The Mayo Performing Arts Center continues as an uplifting gathering place that brings friends and neighbors together Yet with ever-increasing community demands, we face growing challenges of improving its infrastructure and meeting the need for more space to accommodate its “sold-out” classes. For MPAC to continue providing exceptional performances and renowned educational programs, a strategic expansion and facility enhancement is required.
Now is the time to build on our achievements, three decades in the making. Let’s preserve and amplify our founders’ vision. Your philanthropic investment in Build Our Future: The Campaign for MPAC will ensure that MPAC remains the heart of Morristown, the heart of Morris County, the heart of Northern New Jersey and beyond.
Help us do what we do best...
We entertain.
We teach.
We inspire.
We delight.
We uplift.
We bring JOY.
“We absolutely love the theater, easily accessible in a beautiful area and the kindness of the people, performers and staff are incredible!! I have never been disappointed!!” – MPAC Patron
Now is a pivotal moment in MPAC’s evolution.
Our expansion and renovation plan creates a modest additional footprint, while strategically enlarging and upgrading our existing facility. This comprehensive and thoughtful approach serves as the key to keeping MPAC a vibrant and dynamic destination to enjoy world-class performances and creating an expanded and diversified cultural arts education program.
Build Our Future: The Campaign for MPAC will also ensure that it remains a driver in the area’s economic vitality by supporting local small businesses, attracting new investments and bringing new residents to Morristown.
“Always first class. Everyone who works there should give lessons to other theaters - they are fantastic. Getting in and out is a dream. The sound system is perfection. I applaud the Mayo for an amazing experience every time we attend.” – MPAC Patron
We invite you to join donors, volunteer leaders and community partners in
Build Our Future: The Campaign for
MPAC . Take action to safeguard the vitality of arts in our region. With your help, MPAC will continue to be the arts leader in Northern New Jersey and beyond, enriching and empowering lives through the power of performance and arts education. Your involvement will also ensure that MPAC remains the center of art, culture, education and commerce for your benefit and for future generations.
Our Story...
Once the crown jewel of Walter Reade's chain of movie theaters in New Jersey, The Community Theatre closed in 1987 due to declining attendance and lay dormant until 1994. Much has changed since that first civic-minded band of dreamers joined together to save an abandoned community theatre. MPAC has grown into a world-class, renowned nonprofit performing arts center, becoming the go-to destination for arts and entertainment lovers and a “top 50 venue” for its size in the world according to Pollstar. Here is a sampling of MPAC’s achievements:
1994 The South Street Theatre Company was formed after a group of hard-working volunteers rolled up their sleeves to prepare the theatre for its first concert by the Kirov Orchestra on September 29, marking the rebirth of The Community Theatre.
1995 - 1996 Now incorporated, the South Street Theatre Company, Inc. subsequently purchased the theatre. Also known as The Community Theatre, its first full year of operation began with a $700,000 operating budget.
1997 - 2001 The Theatre Builder’s Capital Campaign is undertaken to create a comprehensive refurbishing and upgrade of the theatre. $7.5 million dollars is raised to completely refurbish the auditorium, lobby areas, original restrooms, plaza entrance and a portion of the facade.
March 2005 Arts education workshops begin; a precursor to the Performing Arts School’s launch in September 2005.
March 2006 Ticket sales for Community Theatre presentations break the $2 million barrier for the first time.
Fall 2006 The theatre launches its first performing arts workshop focusing on Drama/ Improv with a resident artist on-site at Frelinghuysen Middle School in Morristown, NJ for students of Neighborhood House.
September 2006 The Performing Arts Company, consisting of talented teens, is launched. Troupe members perform as a community service, free of charge at nursing homes, senior centers, non-profit organizations and fundraising events throughout the region.
2006 - 2007 The $7.3 million Setting the Stage Capital Campaign enables a “back of house” expansion to turn the theatre into a performing arts venue with essential “load in” capabilities and a backstage area with dressing rooms, a fly system and more. In addition, the new Pine Street Center allows for administrative office space and a floor dedicated to the Performing Arts School.
June 2007 The Community Theatre is renamed Mayo Center for the Performing Arts after Board Chairman Bud Mayo for his longtime financial support and service.
September 2007 Liza Minnelli christens the newly expanded stagehouse and opens the 2007 - 2008 season on September 28.
June 2008 MPAC installs an HVAC system, enabling the launch of its first ever summer season and year-round programming.
October 2008 The Starlight Room begins use as a reception space for sponsors and members.
February 2009 The Performing Arts Education studios open on the second floor of the Pine Street Center.
December 2010 MPAC becomes the new home of NJ Ballet's Nutcracker, which presents its 40th Anniversary of this beloved production on our stage for 10 performances.
April 2011 Upstairs balcony renovations are complete. The new lobby features a refurbished Art Upstairs Gallery, additional restrooms and upgraded concessions.
December 23, 2012 The theatre celebrates the 75th Anniversary of its opening in 1937. Mayor Timothy Dougherty of Morristown declares December 23 Mayo Performing Arts Center Day.
May 2013 MPAC presents its first Spring Musical production, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, with four performances featuring a cast of 75 talented young artists.
September 2014 On the 20th Anniversary of its opening, MPAC unveils the completion of the Main Lobby Building Project, a $2 million renovation that includes a digital marquee, expanded Box Office, upgraded restrooms, elevator to the Balcony Lobby and more.
November 2015 Six students from MPAC’s Performing Arts School are among the 30 nationwide selected to participate in Broadway at The White House, a day-long seminar conducted by Broadway professionals and hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama. A TV special of the day’s events airs on the TLC network on Thanksgiving night.
January 2017 With generous funding from Bruce Jacobs and Ken Levy of Jacobs Levy Equity Management, MPAC launches The Miracle Project at MPAC, an arts education program for children on the autism spectrum and with other specific needs.
June 2020 Due to the significant impact of COVID-19 and mandated closure of the theatre, as well as the urgency to bring live entertainment back to Morristown, MPAC hosted New Jersey’s first Drive-In Concert Series, with the generous support of Trend Motors, on June 25, featuring a performance by John Ginty & Friends.
October 2020 Following the closure of the theatre due to the COVID-19 shutdown, MPAC became the first New Jersey venue to host an indoor concert, with limited capacity, since March 11 with a performance by Jerry Vezza, Grover Kemble and Brynn Stanley.
Now is the time to ensure a vibrant future for MPAC as New Jersey’s preeminent arts, cultural and educational organization. We ask for your generous support, as Build Our Future: The Campaign for MPAC seeks to raise funds to teach students and serve patrons.
Build Our Future: The Campaign for MPAC
“Everything about the evening was perfect. The facility is great, the sound was fantastic, and Trombone Shorty and his band were smokin’ hot!
Love coming to MPAC.”
–MPAC Patron
“I
thought the sensory-friendly performance was especially thoughtful and well done! Please keep offering them!”
– MPAC Patron
Expansion Summary...
• Our Performing Arts School will have enough space to double our student enrollment thanks to the creation of six new studio spaces. Designed with flexibility in mind, two studios can convert into an auditorium-style theatre with 150 retractable seats for use, even during main-stage productions. These improvements will create the additional classroom space need to accomodate more students and expand the schedule of offerings from four to six days a week.
• With various improvements to its production areas, MPAC will be able to load-in large-scale Broadway-style sets and offer a wider range of events to our patrons. Highlights include the addition of a large capacity freight elevator, an expanded loading bay area (from two to three bays), added storage for artists’ equipment backstage and generous basement storage space for light and sound equipment, as well as musical instruments. The Green Room will be enlarged to accommodate bigger tours and three new dressing rooms will be added.
Our Future: The Campaign for MPAC
• A new Starlight Veranda overlooking Pine Street offers an additional space for community gatherings and patron receptions. This new space is located across from the Starlight Room, which will also receive enhancements.
• To meet space demands for MPAC’s ever-increasing staff, facility improvements will be made to create additional permanent and flexible office space. All enhancements will provide the best possible work environment for our dedicated and talented employees.
• With Morristown parking always a challenge, the creation of a two-tiered parking deck with 84 spaces will ease parking woes for artists, staff, patrons and parents of students.
View from along King Place and up Pine Street
Our Future: The Campaign for MPAC
Teach Our Students: An Expanded Performing Arts School (PAS)
Our PAS is literally bursting at its seams
A typical semester sees waitlists of hopeful students eager to learn about musical theatre, acting and voice. During the pandemic, MPAC served its students with virtual classes and summer camps. MPAC now teaches over 1,000 students in its Performing Arts School. To ensure that a family’s economic status never prevents a child’s participation, no child is ever turned away due to financial stress.
The expanded school will feature greater and improved studio space through the creation of six studios, two of which can be converted into an auditorium-style theatre with 150 retractable seats. The flexible design allows for classroom use as well as rehearsals when the full stage is in use.
Zion, PAS student, age 13:
“The Performing Arts School is important to me because it gives me a different way to express how I feel. At the end of the day, there’s no way to fail at MPAC because there’s always somebody to bring you up.”
These PAS improvements will ensure accommodation for every child wishing to join performing arts classes by doubling its offerings and expanding the schedule from four to six days. New opportunities include classes in visual arts, instrumental programs, daytime preschool classes and adult classes. In addition, MPAC’s Miracle Project –the only theatre arts education program in the state that serves children with autism and other specific needs – will have a dedicated space. Help ensure the future of our PAS students with your gift today.
Serve Our Patrons: Improved Facilities to Meet Growing Needs
Success brings challenges. With more than 300 events and educational programs each year, MPAC is pushed to full-capacity. Main stage productions, arts education classes and performances, meetings and receptions all compete for precious space. MPAC often turns away events, reschedules or cancels classes and declines requests from community groups and non-profits to rent space. This results in lost income, inability to meet demand for education programs and missed opportunities to grow partnerships with local business and nonprofits. Thanks to the foresight of MPAC leadership, four adjacent properties were purchased to make the 31,000-squarefoot building addition possible. MPAC’s improvements and updates will impact almost the entire complex.
“Love the MPAC –it’s my favorite theatre in New Jersey! Best sound and comfortable seating and close to home.” – MPAC Patron
Some of the exciting additions include an inviting covered Starlight Veranda for receptions and patron gatherings, an artists’ Green Room expanded to accommodate larger touring groups, added and upgraded dressing rooms and storage space for our in-house production equipment.
MPAC’s loading and unloading facilities are inadequate, making it difficult to present Broadway productions and attract popular artists. Storage space is also insufficient to house artists’ production equipment backstage. The inclusion of a larger freight elevator, another loading bay and additional basement storage will allow MPAC to accommodate large-scale productions and events.
MPAC’s achievements have led to an increase in staffing demands. To accommodate its growing staff, the expansion will create permanent and flexible office space comprised of offices and cubicles.
Lack of adequate parking generates the most patron complaints. Offering added limited parking for artists, staff, patrons and parents of students will alleviate inconveniences and improve safety. Providing dedicated places for
Mia, PAS student, age 11:
“MPAC is definitely a place where you can be your best self because all the teachers, all the staff, they let you have fun but you also get to learn…
MPAC is really special to me, it’s like a second home. I have so many people who care about me, all together as a family…
Now that I’ve been here four years, I definitely see how much I’ve grown here, in singing, dancing, and acting and the person I’ve become.”
trucks and buses to park without using street parking and adjacent lots is vital if MPAC is to maintain and expand its high-caliber programs. The addition of a two-tiered parking garage will create 84 parking spaces to ease parking challenges.
MPAC will ensure all patron facing improvements are aesthetically pleasing, including the addition of landscaping and tree plantings. Theatre entrances will be more accessible and feature attractive brickwork.
MPAC By the Numbers...
303 events
14 in-school residencies serving 1,265 students
225,609 total attendance
$10.5M ticket revenue
1,000
children participated in MPAC’s Performing Arts School
1,300+
total membership exceeded (9% gain from previous year)
* Based on FY24 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024)
$2.9M
total amount of contributed revenue
In 1Q 2024, MPAC was ranked #32 in the world by Pollstar, an entertainment industry publication, for midsized performing arts centers
3,554
approx. tickets donated to fundraisers or to area non-profits and other organizations such as VetTix
120+ volunteers
56,835 children participated, engaged in or watched arts events
235 visual artists had works in our two galleries
Join Us...
Our thoughtful and meticulously planned strategic expansion and renovation project will enable MPAC to increase and continue to diversify its programming as it valiantly strives to meet ever-growing community needs and pressing demands. Through this prudent expansion and targeted facility upgrade, Build Our Future: The Campaign for MPAC will bolster the entertainment and educational experience for our beloved patrons, performers, students and staff. This campaign will ensure that MPAC continues to serve as the premier and most-celebrated destination for the arts, culture and education in Morris County, the tristate region and beyond.
Now we turn to you, our trusted friends and neighbors, and ask you to participate in Build Our Future: The Campaign for MPAC. Join us. Help build upon our legacy that started with a group of dedicated and committed volunteers more than 30 years ago, as our founders fought to save and preserve our historic gem of a theater Together, let’s usher in a new era of arts, education and entertainment as we set the stage for a brighter future, one that rises to the community’s call to serve, teach and inspire for many years to come. Lend your support today so we can make space to create more magic and memories.
If you’d like to discuss how your gift can make a can make a difference, please contact Marysue DePaola, Development Director, at (973)753-0353 or mdepaola@mayoarts.org.
Together, we can build our future.
Thank you.
Ethan, Miracle Project student, age 16
“I am excited to see everyone at MPAC. I feel happy and excited, and I feel proud.”
“Great show. I was not expecting the talent of the kids to be so extraordinary. They all were amazing [...] I thought I was watching a show on Broadway, it was that GOOD!! The set! The costumes! Amazing!!!”
–MPAC Patron
25 Build Our Future: The Campaign for MPAC
“We’ve been attending your venues for 25+ years. Every show is always treat. We thank you for all your endearing work and preservation of this beautiful event center!”
–MPAC Patron
“I’ve been taking my daughter annually to The Nutcracker since she was 4. She will be 17 this year and she still looks forward to this tradition.” –
MPAC Patron
“We were so excited to have the opportunity to listen to 'Girl Named Tom!' My wife and I saw them perform their beautiful harmonizing songs, kudos to the Mayo Performing Arts Center ... for such a wonderful Christmas season experience!”
- Steven, U.S. Army Veteran
“I cannot even begin [to] explain what a difference these classes have made in Chelsea’s ability, confidence and level of ability to perform. There is no value that can be placed on the education she has gained and we are beyond grateful that she is able to receive the scholarship as we would not be able to do this without the generosity of those that make this possible. Chelsea has truly found her “place.”
– Performing Arts School Parent
“Today marks an experience that has forever changed me and that I will never forget.”
–
“Thank you and your staff for a wonderful experience. From the moment we got off the bus to the moment we left, your staff showed professionalism, organization, ability to solve an issue quickly, and the presentation was great! Besides being a teacher I work for a summer camp and this was by far the most organized operation I have seen. I look forward to coming to your venue in the future.”
– Jersey City School District Teacher
Alex Marichal, Music Student of the Month Honoree pictured with Wynton Marsalis of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
28 Build Our Future: The Campaign for MPAC
BUILD OUR FUTURE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CABINET
Honorary Co-Chairs
Ilene P. Jacobs
Bruce I. Jacobs
Co-Chairs
Jefferson W. Kirby
Mary Jane Robertson
Cabinet Members
William Conger
Anne DeLaney
James E. Hanson II
Marylyn McLaughlin
Eileen Paragano
Gregory J. Supron
MPAC Board of Trustees
Gregory J. Supron, Chairman
Retired Senior Partner/Managing Director, Accenture LLP
Marylyn McLaughlin, Vice Chair
Leisure Advisor
Travelong of Summit
Mary Jane Robertson, Treasurer
Retired Executive Vice President & CFO, Crum & Forster
Anita J. Siegel, Esq., Secretary & Legal Counsel
Managing Member, Siegel & Bergman, LLC
Allison Larena, President and CEO, Mayo Performing Arts Center
Edward W. Ahart Partner, Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLC
Tara Albritton
Divisional Vice President/General Manager, ADP
Susan Brauer President, SJB Group
Mary Cobb President & Founder, PatientVue, LLC
Art Corwin
Retired President, Railroad Construction Company, Inc.
Simone Craig Chief Executive Officer, Art in the Atrium
Kevin Dunphy
Partner, Head of U.S. Institutional, Lord Abbett
Kristin V. Gallagher Partner, Kennedys
Edward A. Gramigna, Jr. Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Thomas C. Jardim
Co-Managing Partner, Jardim, Meisner, Salmon, Sprague & Susser, P.C.
Ken Lantigua
U.S. Wealth Advisory Group at BlackRock Alternatives Market Leader
Kristin Lynn Sr. Manager, Asset Services, The Hampshire Companies, LLC
Elizabeth A. Mattson 1st Vice Chair, New Jersey State Council on the Arts
Howard Moseson Head of Commercial Digital and Strategy, Huntington National Bank
Harry J. Riskin, Esq.
Founding Partner and Of Counsel, McKirdy, Riskin, Olson & DellaPelle, P.C.
Nikki Sumpter
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Atlantic Health System Emeritus Trustees
Joseph M. Goryeb, Chairman Emeritus Retired President, Champion Mortgage
Dale “Bud” Mayo, Chairman Emeritus A.Dale Mayo & Associates
Leonard Sichel, Trustee Emeritus Retired CFO, The Mennen Company
The Late Stephen B. Wiley, Trustee Emeritus and Founding Member
Honorary Trustees
The Honorable Timothy P. Dougherty Mayor of Morristown
The Honorable Thomas H. Kean
Former Governor of the State of New Jersey
Mission
Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey.