The curtain is about to go up again at the Concord Theatre

The Concord Theatre opened on Main Street in October of 1933 in the heart of the Depression – screening films like Duck Soup, King Kong and I’m No Angel. Before television, before cable and before Netflix moviegoers in the 30’s were striving to escape with the best of Hollywood on a 30-foot screen. 

Theresa Cantin, co-owner, bought the Theatre in 1947, and she continued running the business until September 1994. Since then, the building, owned by the Aznive family, remained shut as downtown was reborn around it. Then, something exciting happened….

“Several years ago, before embarking on our current capital campaign, the CCA commissioned a feasibility study which recommended an expansion with a second, smaller venue.” Says Joe Gleason, from the Capitol Center for the Arts. They wanted a smaller venue more suited to events, and programming that would not work in their classic 1,200-seat theatre.

Meanwhile, Steve Duprey, local developer, had been trying to purchase the Concord Theatre building for some time. The deal came to fruition last year and Steve called Nicolette Clarke, the Capitol Center for the Arts Executive Director, and a partnership was born. 

Together, they will return the old Concord Theatre as an exciting, modern venue in the heart of Main Street as the Bank of New Hampshire Stage.  The work kicked off on last summer with a $4 million investment for renovations to bring the old venue back.

With space for 400 to 450 people standing and around 280 sitting, the new Bank of New Hampshire Stage is expected to open in late June 2019. It will offer a bar, a lobby and the box office out front. Its main focus will be concerts, but as a small intimate space it’s also open to host theatre, dance performances, live music and all types of events.

By keeping the buildings’ main goal of featuring music and the arts, this investment will also enhance Concord as a booming cultural hub.  Tickets are now on sale! Curtain goes up June 22, 2019!

We can’t wait for the première! 

With space for 400 to 450 people standing and around 280 sitting, the new theatre is expected to open in May 2019. It will offer a bar, a lobby and the box office out front. Its main focus will be concerts, but as a small intimate space it’s also open to host theatre, dance performances, live music and all types of events.