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Broadway tunes to fill Ballroomin historic Jim Thorpe setting
.General Admission tickets are $30 . There will be a cash bar on site.
VIP tickets are $42 and include all beverages. Contact the Ballroom at the Mauch Chunk Museum 41 West Broadway by calling 570-325-9190 or
to purchase tickets online visit eventbrite.com/cc/broadway-at-the-ballroom-4556393
Popular Broadway tunes – from “Les Miserables ” to “Phantom of the Opera” – will soon fill the Ballroom in historic Jim Thorpe thanks to a creative team who recently relocated from Media, PA to this charming town in the Poconos.
Jesse Cline, retired artistic director at the Media Theatre, and Patrick Ward, retired executive director, left Media in 2023 and envisioned a quiet retirement in Jim Thorpe. But Cline and Ward couldn’t resist the call to delight audiences with the wonders of live theatre. So they are continuing to produce shows in this historic town, about an hour’s drive from Delaware County.
On Oct. 25 and 26, Cline and Ward will present “Broadway at the Ballroom,” celebrating the musical hits that have been a staple for American audiences for decades.
“Broadway musicals are a uniquely American art form,” Cline said. “Beginning in 1928 with ‘Showboat’ by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein to current productions today, musicals have had a strong impact on American culture.”
For three decades, Cline produced classic musicals, delighting Philadelphia-area audiences with shows starting with “My Fair Lady.” Over 30 years they staged practically every popular musical from “Annie” to “Grease,” “Mary Poppins” and “Sound of Music.”
While in Media, Cline produced over 200 shows through its Broadway series, concerts and children's theatre programs. Patrick Ward was the production manager and executive director.
Countless children had their first taste of live theatre while auditioning and starring in shows on the Media stage. Many went on to a career in theatre.
Cline presented Wanda Sykes, Betty Buckley (the original Grizabella in “Cats”), Judy Kaye, Andrea McArdle (the original Annie), Justin Guarini (competed in “American Idol,” Andy Karl and Philip Boykin to name a few on the Media Theatre stage.
Thinking they would be retired and hiking in the Poconos, they changed their minds when they saw the stunning Ballroom located in the Mauch Chunk Museum at 41 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe. Both men were amazed by the room’s beauty and felt it was the ideal venue for cabaret-style presentations.
“The former Victorian church sanctuary has been meticulously restored with its beautiful period details intact,” Cline said. “This is a gorgeous venue with its natural wood, high ceilings and vibrant acoustics. We are thrilled to be able to present some of Broadway’s most famous songs in such a beautiful venue.”
The first concert in the Broadway series will be staged Oct. 25-26 and will feature noted tenor John D. Smitherman who has many national music theatre credits to his name.
Smitherman’s concert, “For the Love of Broadway,” will feature some of the most beloved Broadway show tunes. Mark Yurkanin will accompany him on piano.
“The Love of Broadway” will be presented on Saturday Oct. 25 at 7pm and Sunday ,Oct. 26. at 2pm
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Ballroom at the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center, Mauch Chunk Museum & Cultural Ctr, 41 W Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229, United States
