Hopewell Theater | Performing Arts Theater in Central NJ

Experience movies, live music, talks, and performance in one cool theater. Dine in on local comfort food. Hopewell Theater is a spectacular live venue with State-of-the-art projection, lighting and sound. Theater is available for private events.

April Showers Bring...

For the month of May, say "May Flowers" at concessions and receive a free small popcorn. Limited to one per customer.

Featured Events

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Carmine Street Guitars

Opens Friday, May 24th! Also showing on May 25th and 26th.

Once the centre of the New York bohemia, Greenwich Village is now home to lux restaurants, and buzzer door clothing stores catering to the nouveau riche. But one shop in the heart of the Village remains resilient to the encroaching gentrification: Carmine Street Guitars. There, custom guitar maker Rick Kelly and his young apprentice Cindy Hulej, build handcrafted guitars out of reclaimed wood from old hotels, bars, churches and other local buildings. Nothing looks or sounds quite like a Rick Kelly guitar, which is the reason they are embraced by the likes of Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Jim Jarmusch, just to name a few. Featuring a cast of prominent musicians and artists, the film captures five days in the life of Carmine Street Guitars, while examining an all-too-quickly vanishing way of life.

Directed by Ron Mann
Runtime: 80 mins
Rating: NRmore

24^th May 2019 | 7:00 pm

Family Matinee: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Saturday, May 25 - Crybaby Matinee at 11 am on Thursday, May 23

A sweet boy from a poor family dreams of finding one of five golden tickets hidden inside chocolate bar wrappers which will admit him to the eccentric and reclusive Willy Wonka's magical factory. One after another, tickets are discovered by ghastly children - but will the lad find the last remaining one and have all his dreams come true?

Directed by Mel Stuart.
Runtime: 89 mins.
Rating: G
Common Sense Media rating: Ages 8+more

25^th May 2019 | 4:30 pm

Baraka

One Night Only! Tuesday, May 28!

Named after a Sufi word that translates roughly as "breath of life" or "blessing," Baraka is Ron Fricke's impressive follow-up to Godfrey Reggio's non-verbal documentary film Koyaanisqatsi. Fricke was cinematographer and collaborator on Reggio's film, and for Baraka he struck out on his own to polish and expand the photographic techniques used on Koyaanisqatsi. The result is a tour-de-force in 70mm: a cinematic "guided meditation" (Fricke's own description) shot in 24 countries on six continents over a 14-month period that unites religious ritual, the phenomena of nature, and man's own destructive powers into a web of moving images. Fricke's camera ranges, in meditative slow motion or bewildering time-lapse, over the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the Ryoan-Ji temple in Kyoto, Lake Natron in Tanzania, burning oil fields in Kuwait, the smoldering precipice of an active volcano, a busy subway terminal, tribal celebrations of the Masai in Kenya, chanting monks in the Dip Tse Chok Ling monastery...and on and on, through locales across the globe. To execute the film's time-lapse sequences, Fricke had a special camera built that combined time-lapse photography with perfectly controlled movements of the camera. In one evening sequence a desert sky turns black, and the stars roll by, as the camera moves slowly forward under the trees. The feeling is like that of viewing the universe through a powerful telescope: that we are indeed on a tiny orb hurtling through a star-filled void. The film is complemented by the hybrid world-music of Michael Stearns.

This film is a part of Hopewell Theater's ongoing series, The Art of Living Well, featuring inspiring films, speakers and interactive discussions exploring ways of cultivating serenity, meaning and a deeper connection to one’s self and the world.

Directed by Ron Fricke.
Runtime: 96 mins.
Rating: NRmore

28^th May 2019 | 7:00 pm

Films That Made Music: Purple Rain

Thursday, May 30 - Crybaby Matinee Thursday, May 30 at 11 am.

The Kid is a Minneapolis musician on the rise with his band, the Revolution, escaping a tumultuous home life through music. While trying to avoid making the same mistakes as his father, the Kid navigates the club scene and a rocky relationship with singer, Apollonia. But, another musician, Morris, looks to steal the Kid's spotlight -- and his girl.

Directed by Albert Magnoli.
Runtime: 111 mins.
Rating: Rmore

30^th May 2019 | 7:00 pm

Crybaby Matinee: Purple Rain

Thursday, May 30 - Regular screening Thursday, May 30 at 7 pm.

The Kid is a Minneapolis musician on the rise with his band, the Revolution, escaping a tumultuous home life through music. While trying to avoid making the same mistakes as his father, the Kid navigates the club scene and a rocky relationship with singer, Apollonia. But, another musician, Morris, looks to steal the Kid's spotlight -- and his girl.

Directed by Albert Magnoli.
Runtime: 111 mins.
Rating: R
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Hopewell Theater is proud to offer Cry Baby Screenings the third Thursday of each month. Babes-in-arms, infants in strollers, and carriers will be let in for free. Otherwise all tickets are $6. These screenings offer a sensory friendly environment:

Lights are turned up and sound is turned down
All ages are welcome (including infants)
Talking and noise is allowed and guests can move around
Latecomers are admitted

Please note that though the environment is sensory friendly, not all film content may be suitable for this purpose. Please contact our box office at 609-466-1964 for further information.more

30^th May 2019 | 11:00 am

Funny Stories: A night of tales featuring Gastor Almonte and friends

Friday, May 31!

Get prepared for a night of laughs featuring jokes and stories from some of the best standups around.

Andrew McGill is a stand up comic and storyteller born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. You can catch him all over NYC doing stand up and telling stories when he isn’t making people laugh he can be found at Hunter College library completing grad school assignments and also teaching English at a high school in Brooklyn.

Lucas Connolly has been seen on Comedy Central's South Beach and NBC’s Seeso's New York's Funniest Comedians (2016), Comedy Central's New York (2013-2018) and South Beach Comedy Festivals (2012 and online content), Won National Lampoon's Joke Off (2011), He has been featured in a national commercial for Joe's Crab Shack and was featured on the front page of Reddit countless times. He has been heard on Sirius XM Radio, Guys We F**ked, Creek Cave Radio, Keith and The Girl network. He has been written up in The New York Times, The New York Post and Time Out for his standup. He runs four successful shows in New York City "The Dirty Show" "Ambush" “Comedy By Proxy and "Camouflage" which have become staples in the New York comedy community.

Jeff Simmermon is a storyteller, stand up comic, and the producer/performer behind 'And I Am Not Lying,' a variety show that combined stand-up, storytelling, burlesque, sideshow and music for 5and a half years at UCB East. His album ‘And I Am Not Lying’ was released in June of 2017 and reached #1 on the iTunes comedy charts. He’s also won multiple Moth StorySLAMS, including a GrandSLAM in March of 2014. His stories have appeared on This American Life, The Moth's podcast, and in written form on The Paris Review Daily. Jeff also teaches standup-as-storytelling classes in Brooklyn.

Gastor Almonte keeps busy. He is an award-winning stand up comedian, storyteller, writer, and host. He's appeared on Comedy Central's This Is Not Happening, Vice and PBS. He’s been featured on the Risk! podcast and the Story Collider Podcast. Timeout magazine named him one of your "New Comedy Obsessions." He's appeared in The New York Comedy Festival, The People's Impov Theater's SoloCom and Cinderblock Comedy Festival. His new album, Immigrant Made, debut at #1 on the Amazon comedy charts, #1 on the Google Play comedy charts, and #2 on the iTunes comedy charts.more

31^st May 2019 | 8:00 pm

Connection Beyond *LIVE* The VIP Experience with Medium Marisa Liza Pell

Saturday, June 1

One of the nation’s most detailed mediums brings a riveting interactive experience to audiences nationwide with a performance inspiring laughter, tears, and astounding detail.

Experience LIVE readings from the other side during this event – individual messages that are sure to leave you thrilled and amazed! You may have seen or heard Ms. Pell on CBS, FOX News, NBC and many major radio programs.

Hopewell Theater's concession stand will not be open for this event.

VIP PACKAGE INCLUDES:

Priority Table Seating
Access to Post-Show VIP Talkback with Marisa
$25 Gift Card to Create Yourself Salon and Spa
Two movie passes to *ANY* Hopewell Theater Film (June-August)

VIP Voucher Bags Include:

BOGO Unlimited Ride Pass to iPlay America, Freehold NJ
Voucher for Free Pair of Leggings ($25 value) with any purchase from LuLaRoe Jersey Fly Girls
Gluten Free Handmade Cookie and 15% off first order certificate from Dot Catering & Confections

*Please Note: This show is a theatrical experience. Purchasing a ticket does not guarantee an individual reading. VIP and/or priority seating does not increase the chances of being read. Anyone may be read in any section.*more

01^st June 2019 | 8:00 pm

What's Playing

Explore HT

Belong Here: Membership

History

Patron Reviews

An awesome venue! Looking forward to making it one of my new Hopewell ... read more read less

Raymond A. Segarra
10/25/2017

We love Hopewell Theater! It's a new theater and very clean. They hav... read more read less

Jackie Marie
12/22/2018

My Favorite Place I love the quality of the musicians that come to play here. The sound ... read more read less

madmiz
4/19/2019
Great place! Loved the staff who were kind and helpful. Will definit... read more read less

Debra J. Markland
3/20/2019

Fantastic sound system and the best place for entertainment in the are... read more read less

Beth Brody
1/03/2019

Nice folks and excellent acoustics! ❤️🎶

Patrick Martin
3/31/2019
Great intimate theatre with nice food establishments nearby. BYOB

Robert Arnold
4/01/2019

I'm so glad to have discovered this sweet little spot. Lovely staff as... read more read less

Felicia Villiers
4/27/2018

First Time Patron We recently attended the Max Weinberg Jukebox concert and loved everyt... read more read less

Thomas D
5/01/2019
Took my wife and 6 y/o son to see Ghostbusters this past Saturday. Th... read more read less

Tom Sroka
10/28/2018

Best kept secret in Central NJ! I've been to the Hopewell Theater several times for live music events ... read more read less

ScorpioWordsmith
5/16/2019

If you haven’t had the privilege of attending an event at Hopewell The... read more read less

Anita Muentener Bennison
4/13/2019
Love this little theater! Lucky to finally visit our local theater. What a gem! Saw Max Weinbe... read more read less

Delchel
5/01/2019

Excellent venue. Nice snack stand. Good acoustics.

Thomas Reed
11/17/2017

Excellent venue, warm brand new field… Very inviting and great sound q... read more read less

David Koch
11/17/2018
Visited for the first time last night. FANTASTIC venue. Great place to... read more read less

Buffy Leach
7/22/2018

Great food and atmosphere! Super cool venue!

Amy Elizabeth
12/29/2018

Just what we needed in our area! Fabulous acoustics!!

Lisa Bengivenga Meisenbacher
1/27/2018
Terrifically thought out venue. Have heard live music here and seen a ... read more read less

Lisa Goetz
12/30/2017

Great intimate venue Saw Max Weinberg’s Jukebox tour in a very nice setting, allowing one t... read more read less

Len J
5/07/2019

great place for wonderful entertainment and a local night out

Henry Joseph
1/06/2019
Great music venue. Great jazz, and a brunch!

Charles Legg
3/10/2019

Went to see Love, Gilda. Great atmosphere, the space is well designed.... read more read less

Michael Pirozzi
9/22/2018

Went to Sold Out Willie Nile show and was so impressed by this Lovely ... read more read less

Teena Murphy
1/29/2018
Such a beautiful theatre to perform in! And for you audience members n... read more read less

Dwayne Dunlevy
4/07/2019

Documentary film I had no idea that the Hopewell Theater was anything more than a movie... read more read less

redhutch68
4/15/2019

Lovely, small venue for intimate performances. Also shows curated spec... read more read less

Robin Margolin
10/21/2018
Mick Moloney and the Green Fields of America - fabulous night of music... read more read less

Debbie Goodkin
3/17/2019

A fantastic venue, great staff, and wonderful guests. Couldn't be hap... read more read less

Billy Yank
5/26/2018

My new favorite venue (next to my own)! Beautiful theater, superb sou... read more read less

Linda Cacciatore Bolton
9/28/2017
Really fun time bringing in the New Year!

Dawn Cargiulo Berman
1/01/2019

We had a great time at the Mike Tramp and John Corabi show last nite!!... read more read less

Joel Walter
3/15/2019

Great little theatre Wish I had known to BYOB! However, the atmosphere was wonderful and th... read more read less

Road17606895205
4/25/2019
Great local venue. No matter what type of show you catch here you will... read more read less

Dirk Devlin
10/15/2018

just saw our first concert in the new venue. Besides enjoying the real... read more read less

Katja Proessdorf Lewis
11/03/2017

amazing venue, not a bad seat in the house

Matthew Budd
12/21/2018
Went last night for first time and love the venue

Mary Michaele Knops-Powers
7/22/2018

Really beautiful, clean venue with super friendly service!

Kalo Kalt Maloney
11/17/2018

We had an awesome time there last night. Will definitely return!

Annie Saunders Mingle
2/25/2018
The Hopewell theater is an entertainment gem. We are so fortunate to ... read more read less

Jim Angelus
4/19/2018

First time there but will definitely go back

Diane Keller
3/20/2019

Great film but sad that they were only two of us watching it! I think ... read more read less

Linda Willimer
3/16/2018
Real Comfortable/Real Music Enjoyed country/blues acoustic guitarist, from the last row of Mezzani... read more read less

Ronald S
4/26/2019

Table seating, BYOB, decent snacks and remarkable interior.

Michael Competielle
11/19/2017

felice brothers terrific venue for music; great sound; stressless atmosphere; byob; ea... read more read less

Camper458265
5/18/2019
Such a warm cozy perfect place no bad seats will be back for many more

Jon Hallowell
12/09/2018

Hopewell Theater, Hopewell NJ My husband and I, have been to 4 concerts and 1 movie review. Each tim... read more read less

Navigator66636657866
4/18/2019

Great local venue. No matter what type of show you catch here you will... read more read less

Dirk Devlin
10/15/2018
Such a beautiful theatre to perform in! And for you audience members n... read more read less

Dwayne Dunlevy
4/07/2019
Table seating, BYOB, decent snacks and remarkable interior.

Michael Competielle
11/19/2017
The Hopewell theater is an entertainment gem. We are so fortunate to ... read more read less

Jim Angelus
4/19/2018
My new favorite venue (next to my own)! Beautiful theater, superb sou... read more read less

Linda Cacciatore Bolton
9/28/2017
great place for wonderful entertainment and a local night out

Henry Joseph
1/06/2019
Great place! Loved the staff who were kind and helpful. Will definit... read more read less

Debra J. Markland
3/20/2019
Really fun time bringing in the New Year!

Dawn Cargiulo Berman
1/01/2019
Hopewell Theater, Hopewell NJ My husband and I, have been to 4 concerts and 1 movie review. Each tim... read more read less

Navigator66636657866
4/18/2019
Excellent venue. Nice snack stand. Good acoustics.

Thomas Reed
11/17/2017
Just what we needed in our area! Fabulous acoustics!!

Lisa Bengivenga Meisenbacher
1/27/2018
Great intimate venue Saw Max Weinberg’s Jukebox tour in a very nice setting, allowing one t... read more read less

Len J
5/07/2019
Love this little theater! Lucky to finally visit our local theater. What a gem! Saw Max Weinbe... read more read less

Delchel
5/01/2019
Went to Sold Out Willie Nile show and was so impressed by this Lovely ... read more read less

Teena Murphy
1/29/2018
We love Hopewell Theater! It's a new theater and very clean. They hav... read more read less

Jackie Marie
12/22/2018
Terrifically thought out venue. Have heard live music here and seen a ... read more read less

Lisa Goetz
12/30/2017
My Favorite Place I love the quality of the musicians that come to play here. The sound ... read more read less

madmiz
4/19/2019
Took my wife and 6 y/o son to see Ghostbusters this past Saturday. Th... read more read less

Tom Sroka
10/28/2018
We had an awesome time there last night. Will definitely return!

Annie Saunders Mingle
2/25/2018
Went last night for first time and love the venue

Mary Michaele Knops-Powers
7/22/2018
Real Comfortable/Real Music Enjoyed country/blues acoustic guitarist, from the last row of Mezzani... read more read less

Ronald S
4/26/2019
Great film but sad that they were only two of us watching it! I think ... read more read less

Linda Willimer
3/16/2018
Great food and atmosphere! Super cool venue!

Amy Elizabeth
12/29/2018
Great little theatre Wish I had known to BYOB! However, the atmosphere was wonderful and th... read more read less

Road17606895205
4/25/2019
A fantastic venue, great staff, and wonderful guests. Couldn't be hap... read more read less

Billy Yank
5/26/2018
Great music venue. Great jazz, and a brunch!

Charles Legg
3/10/2019
Documentary film I had no idea that the Hopewell Theater was anything more than a movie... read more read less

redhutch68
4/15/2019
Fantastic sound system and the best place for entertainment in the are... read more read less

Beth Brody
1/03/2019
Really beautiful, clean venue with super friendly service!

Kalo Kalt Maloney
11/17/2018
Excellent venue, warm brand new field… Very inviting and great sound q... read more read less

David Koch
11/17/2018
An awesome venue! Looking forward to making it one of my new Hopewell ... read more read less

Raymond A. Segarra
10/25/2017
Went to see Love, Gilda. Great atmosphere, the space is well designed.... read more read less

Michael Pirozzi
9/22/2018
Mick Moloney and the Green Fields of America - fabulous night of music... read more read less

Debbie Goodkin
3/17/2019
Lovely, small venue for intimate performances. Also shows curated spec... read more read less

Robin Margolin
10/21/2018
First time there but will definitely go back

Diane Keller
3/20/2019
If you haven’t had the privilege of attending an event at Hopewell The... read more read less

Anita Muentener Bennison
4/13/2019
felice brothers terrific venue for music; great sound; stressless atmosphere; byob; ea... read more read less

Camper458265
5/18/2019
Nice folks and excellent acoustics! ❤️🎶

Patrick Martin
3/31/2019
just saw our first concert in the new venue. Besides enjoying the real... read more read less

Katja Proessdorf Lewis
11/03/2017
Best kept secret in Central NJ! I've been to the Hopewell Theater several times for live music events ... read more read less

ScorpioWordsmith
5/16/2019
Such a warm cozy perfect place no bad seats will be back for many more

Jon Hallowell
12/09/2018
Great intimate theatre with nice food establishments nearby. BYOB

Robert Arnold
4/01/2019
First Time Patron We recently attended the Max Weinberg Jukebox concert and loved everyt... read more read less

Thomas D
5/01/2019
I'm so glad to have discovered this sweet little spot. Lovely staff as... read more read less

Felicia Villiers
4/27/2018
amazing venue, not a bad seat in the house

Matthew Budd
12/21/2018
Visited for the first time last night. FANTASTIC venue. Great place to... read more read less

Buffy Leach
7/22/2018
We had a great time at the Mike Tramp and John Corabi show last nite!!... read more read less

Joel Walter
3/15/2019

Latest News from HT

Get in the Groove with HT’s Spotify Playlists

Did you know you can listen to music that’s played at Hopewell Theater for free on Spotify? We showcase diverse and talented music acts every month and the best way to delve into the selectively eclectic range of who’s played in the past or sample who’ll be featured in the future is with our curated playlists.

Thursday May 23^rd, 2019

On Our Screen and Stage – Week of May 20, 2019

This week at Hopewell Theater, prolific singer-songwriter Damien Jurado performs songs off of his new album, In The Shape Of A Storm, on Wednesday night. Anna St. Louis opens. Then, three great films on our screen this week: Aretha Franklin doc AMAZING GRACE, closes Thursday.

Wednesday May 22^nd, 2019

A Night to Remember: Sarah Dash Pays Tribute to Her Friend Aretha Franklin This June

Aretha Franklin, who died this past August at age 76, is now a Pulitzer Prize winner.

The “Queen of Soul” is the first individual woman to receive the special citation prize, thanks to over 50 years of impassioned contribution to American music and culture.

Wednesday May 15^th, 2019

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Funny Stories: A night of tales featuring Gastor Almonte

Connection Beyond LIVE

HT's Summer Stars Theatre Camp

Belong at HT!

April Showers Bring...

Featured Events

Patron Reviews

Latest News from HT