Description
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 6in F Major, Pastoral
Vastly Kalinnikov
Tsar Boris Overture
Hector Berlioz
Marche Hongroise
from The Damnation of Faust
Nestled in the heart of Bound Brook, New Jersey, the Brook Arts Center—originally the Brook Theatre—first opened its doors on January 19, 1927. Designed by renowned Newark architect William E. Lehman and built by local entrepreneur Alexander Morecraft, this grand space debuted as a 1,300-seat vaudeville house, featuring live acts and silent films that captivated audiences across the region.
Today, the Brook stands as the only surviving vaudeville theater in Somerset County and one of just eight such venues remaining statewide. Recognized for its historical and cultural significance, the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 2014.
A registered nonprofit institution, the Brook Arts Center is managed by the Somerset County Cultural Arts Center, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) organization). After devastating floods in 1999 and 2007, it was preserved and revitalized thanks to federal, state, county, and community support.
Our mission is clear: to cultivate creativity, nourish artistic growth, and bring high‑quality performing arts to our diverse community. We serve as an arts incubator—welcoming live theater, dance, music, silent and classic films, community productions, concerts, and educational programming. Highlights also include youth summer camps, the Brook Orchestra residency, and the vibrant Community Players