In the politically fraught climate of Chicago in 1968, two young nuns crisscross the city in order to ask strangers the question, "Are you happy?" The answers vary: "Happiness is the absence of fear," "Avoiding people," "Raspberries," "Joy in knowing Christ." They meet a lonely girl, a happy mother, young lovers, hippie musicians, a sociologist and even character actor Stepin Fetchit. The humor and sadness of these honest encounters lift the film beyond its conceit into a serious and moving inquiry into contemporary society and the circumstances under which people examine their lives. Tuesday, April 30th at 7:00pm.

This program 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.
A tiny nymph found inside a bamboo stalk grows into a beautiful and desirable young woman, who orders her suitors to prove their love by completing a series of near-impossible tasks. Thursday, May 2 and Thursday, May 16 at 11:00am.

Hopewell Theater is proud to offer Crybaby 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.
Ask Dr. Ruth chronicles the incredible life of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a Holocaust survivor who became America's most famous sex therapist. With her diminutive frame, thick German accent, and uninhibited approach to sex therapy and education, Dr. Ruth transformed the conversation around sexuality. As she approaches her 90th birthday and shows no signs of slowing down, Dr. Ruth revisits her painful past and unlikely path to a career at the forefront of the sexual revolution. Opens Thursday, May 2.
Join us for our ongoing series This Really Happened... featuring some of the most hilarious and moving storytellers on stage. With a rotating cast of storytellers, the show is always fresh. Audience members can also claim a spot in the show and share a "two-minute tale" at the open-mic at the end of each show, for up to six audience members. Hosted by Joey Novick, each show will be one hour long with no intermission, followed by the open mic segment of “two-minute tales." The cast for the May 3rd show includes Jude Treder Wolff, Tracey Miller Segarra, Denise McCormack, & Cory Kahaney.  Friday, May 3 at 8:00pm.

Can't get enough of Storytelling and Comedy podcasts? Subscribe to our new storytelling podcast, This Really Happened...Storytelling at HT, now available on  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  Spotify , &  Anchor ! A new installment will be release each month. 
Join us for a Kentucky Derby Open House on Saturday, May 4. See all the action from Churchill Downs LIVE on our big screen! The event is free and concessions will be open. The first 15 attendees will receive a free movie ticket valid through the end of May. No tickets or registration is required. Saturday, May 4 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.
spring-word-flowers.jpg
May Concessions Specials

Boylan's Soda:
Buy One, Get One Half Off!
AND DON'T MISS:
MOVIES, COMEDY, SPECIAL PROGRAMS & LIVE MUSIC COMING SOON
MANTRA: SOUNDS INTO SILENCE
The Art of Living Well series
Sounds into Silence is a feature-length documentary that charts the history, expansion and effect of the new music and social phenomenon of chanting. It focuses on the everyday people who are finding healing and a sense of inner peace by singing mantras together with others just like them, but it also features the artists and musicians who are the focus of this new music-based movement. It’s a film about spirituality not religion, it’s about people reconnecting with their true selves and finding meaning in their lives.
Tuesday, May 14 at 7 pm.

All screenings are at 7 pm. Upcoming films in The Art of Living Well series:

Tuesday, May 28
BARAKA

Tuesday, June 11
SAMSARA

Tuesday, June 25
IYENGAR: THE MAN, YOGA, AND THE STUDENT'S JOURNEY with post-film Q/A with film's director
AS YOU LIKE IT
From Stage To Screen
 Come into the forest; dare to change your state of mind. Rosalind is banished, wrestling with her heart and her head. With her cousin by her side, she journeys to a world of exile where barriers are broken down and all can discover their deeper selves. Director Kimberley Sykes (Dido, Queen of Carthage) directs a riotous, exhilarating version of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy from The Royal Shakespeare Company.
Wednesday May 15 at 7 pm and Saturday, May 18 at 4:30 pm.

Upcoming films in From Stage to Screen series:

Wednesday, July 10 and Saturday, July 13
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

Wednesday, July 24 and Saturday, July 27
ROMEO AND JULIET
AMAZING GRACE
The never before seen movie featuring Aretha Franklin recording the most successful gospel album of all time, Amazing Grace. Amazing Grace is crafted from never before seen footage originally captured in 1972.

" 'Amazing Grace' can stand as an essential filmed record of what is undoubtedly one of the greatest gospel performances you'll ever see." - Owen Glieberman, Variety

Opens Friday, May 17.
WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Family Matinee
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?
Saturday, May 25 at 4:30 pm

Upcoming Family Matinees:

Saturday, June 22 at 4:30 pm
THE RED BALLOON & WHITE MANE

Saturday, July 6 at 4:30 pm
THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH

Saturday, August 3 at 4:30 pm
BACK TO THE FUTURE
BUGS BUNNY AND FRIENDS
Saturday Afternoon Cartoons
It's "wabbit" season! Reunite with Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester, Daffy Duck and all the Looney tunes gang in an animated assortment of hits that have tickled the funny bones of cartoon lovers for generations. There's something for everyone in this screening of Looney tunes classics that helped contribute to 90 years of Warner Bros. cartoon magic. 
Saturday, June 8 at 2:30 pm

Upcoming cartoons in the Saturday Afternoon Cartoon series:

Saturday, July 20 at 1 pm
SUPERMAN CARTOONS, PART 1

Wednesday, August 21 at 1 pm
SUPERMAN CARTOONS, PART 2
TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD
Father's Day Brunch Club
Join us for a delicious and entertaining Father's Day brunch with a screening of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet with an array of delectable food items. A film only ticket is available. To purchase, select mezzanine seats or call our box office at 609-466-1964 for assistance.  The menu for the Sunday, June 16 brunch is to be announced. Doors open at 10:30 am, brunch is served at 11 am, and the film will begin at 11:45 am.  
Sunday, June 16 at 11 am.
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
Wayback Wednesdays
This summer, journey back in time one Wednesday a month to revisit some of the best of the best of repertory and cult cinema classics! LAWRENCE OF ARABIA chronicles the World War I experiences of T. E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole, in a breakout role). Early on, Lawrence gets transferred to Arabia, where he befriends Sherif Ali Ben El Kharish (Omar Sharif). At a time when the Arabs were rebelling against the Turks, Lawrence helps the Arabs. Dismissed by Prince Feisal (Alec Guinness) and his British superiors, Lawrence manages to unite Feisal's faction with that of Auda Abu Tayi (Anthony Quinn). After his success, the Allies use Lawrence in order to gain Arab cooperation against the Imperial Powers. The epic of all epics, Lawrence of Arabia cements director David Lean's status in the filmmaking pantheon with nearly four hours of grand scope, brilliant performances, and beautiful cinematography.
Wednesday, June 19 at 7 pm

All screenings are at 7 pm. Upcoming films in the Wayback Wednesday series:

Wednesday, July 17
PSYCHO BEACH PARTY

Wednesday, August 21
DIRTY DANCING
Crybaby Matinees
Crybaby Matinees take place every Thursday at 11 am, though not all films will be programmed in advance.
Upcoming dates in the series:

May 9: TBD
May 23: WILLY WONKA
May 30: PURPLE RAIN
June 6: TBD
June 13: TBD
June 27: TBD
July 4: TBD
August 1: BACK TO THE FUTURE
August 8: TBD
August 22: TBD
August 29: TBD
COMEDY, PERFORMANCE, & BRUNCH CLUBS COMING SOON
Bread and Puppet Theater present Diagonal Life: Theory and Praxis
Diagonals are created from the leaning power of hurt verticals," says Peter Schumann, founder and director of Bread and Puppet Theater, which will present their new play, Diagonal Life: Theory and Praxis, at Hopewell Theater on May 9th. We inhabitants of Western modernity are no strangers to verticality, from the architecture of our cities, to the "ladder(s) of success" we're asked to scale, to the incessant wakefulness required of us, postponing the horizontal pleasures of sleep. Bread and Puppet's Diagonal Life presents the diagonal as a potent and promising opposition to the dominating verticality of our culture. Puppeteers long ago realized that the most aesthetically radical movements for puppets are diagonals, because these movements are cannot be sustained by human actors or dancers for more than a moment. (Gymnasts upsidedown themselves frequently and with ease, but diagonal positions remain inaccessible without the use of puppet.) Diagonal Life brings all the bewildering, beguiling, and downright funny possibilities and implications of diagonality to life with song, dance, magic, mechanism, and stunning cardboard and paper maché puppets painted in Peter Schumann's exuberant, slapdash expressionist style.

The Bread and Puppet Theater was founded in 1963 by Peter Schumann on New York City’s Lower East Side. Besides rod-puppet and hand puppet shows for children, the concerns of the first productions were rents, rats, police, and other problems of the neighborhood. In 1974 Bread and Puppet moved to a farm in Glover in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Bread and Puppet is one of the oldest, nonprofit, self-supporting theatrical companies in the country.
Thursday, May 9 at 8 pm
Mother's Day Brunch Club ft. live music by O'Neill & Martin
Join us for a delicious and entertaining Mother's Day brunch with a performance by O'Neill and Martin. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet with an array of delectable food items while listening to uplifting tunes!

The menu for the Sunday, May 12 brunch includes: 
  • Frittata with wild mushroom/blue cheese/caramelized onion
  • Turkey Bacon 
  • Chicken Marsala 
  • Vodka Rigatoni with plum tomato, onion, prosciutto, pecorino romano, cream
  • French Toast with Blueberry Compote
  • Homemade Seasonal Donuts with nutella syrup & salted caramel sauce

Jeannie O'Neill and Thomas Martin have been performing as a duo since 2008, mixing genres and styles to create a wholly individual sound. Their cover set combines elements from Rock, Pop, Country, Folk, Americana, and Blues. Led by the powerful vocals of Jeannie O'Neill, the duo incorporate unique vocal harmonies into a set of fresh, yet recognizable hit songs.
Sunday, May 12 14 at 11 am.

Mark you calendars for future Brunch Clubs:

Father's Day Brunch Club screening of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Sunday, June 16 at 11 am

Brunch ft. live music by Bill Flemer
Sunday, July 21 at 11 am featuring musical highlights from the 1970s

Brunch ft. live music by Bill Flemer
Sunday, August 18 at 11 am featuring musical highlights from the 1980s.
Family Fun Concert:
Little Rockers
Chris & Jessie Apple have been teaching kids to rock in their popular cool kids music classes around New Jersey, inspiring kids and families to bond through music. They share their off beat humor and charm in a regular web series called Little Rockers Clubhouse as well as a weekly video song series on their YouTube channel 2littlerockers.

Now, The Little Rockers Band brings their fun and energetic rock concert to The Hopewell Theater. Get ready to count, sing, move and jam with the Apples in this interactive show. 

Are you ready for rockin'?
Saturday, May 18 at 12 pm.
Funny Stories:
A night of tales featuring Gastor Almonte and friends
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. 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). 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.
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." 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.
Friday, May 31 at 8 pm
Connection Beyond *LIVE*
The VIP Experience
with Medium Marisa Liza Pell
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. For more information on the VIP package, see our website. Saturday, June 1 at 8 pm.


*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.*
Comedy Night:
John Poveromo &
Joanne Filan
A Brooklyn-born and Jersey-raised Stand Up, John Poveromo’s perfect blend of self deprecation and optimism makes him a dynamic and unpredictable performer that’s both engaging and fun to watch as he struggles to make sense of himself and the world around him. John has been featured in the New York Times and the Asbury Park Press. He can be heard on Sirius XM Radio, has been featured at the Jersey City Comedy Festival, The New York Underground Comedy Festival and appeared on Comcast On Demand's "Young Comedians Showcase." John has lent his writing talents to a variety of shows, including ESPN's Sports Nation, Current TV's Viewpoint with John Fugelsang, Joy Behar's 'Say Anything' on HLN, The Independents, CNN's Newsroom as well as Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld, Hannity and VH1's "Best Of" series.

Growing up in New Jersey (but refusing to die there), Joanne Filan is over a decade into the business and has never been more on top of her game. She consistently delivers a unique “stream of consciousness” style of humor full of random thoughts and quirky observations that keep audiences either rolling in the aisles or on the edges of their seats, anxious to hear what she has to say next. With an amazing gift for improv, razor-sharp wit, and a subtle delivery, Joanne is an unexpected gem- a comedian so able to tap into the moment that no two shows are ever alike. Wednesday, June 12 at 7:30pm.
Ladies Let Loose in Hopewell with Jackie Byrne & Marion Grodin
Get ready to "Let Loose" in Hopewell with Jackie Byrne and Marion Grodin! 

Jackie Byrne is a stand-up comic, actor and host who is known for being super fun, sassy and quick witted. She's a girl with a rubber face and Jersey attitude who brings her bubbly and spontaneous energy to audiences all over the country. She's been featured on Funny or Die and Buzzfeed, and you can see her in the feature film, Seclusion.  

For the last decade, Marion Grodin has been one of the hottest comics in the country. She is a favorite at New York City’s top clubs, including Standup NY and Gotham Comedy Club, where she regularly headlines. As one of the country’s top emcees, Marion’s incredible ability to improvise has allowed her to master the art of talking with the audience. Always willing to be as self-revealing as she is probing of the audience…this affectionately edgy style has become Marion’s trademark. The result is a hilariously personal show that makes the audience feel like it was custom-made just for them. Friday, June 28 at 8 pm

Family Fun Concert: Steve Pullara
Grammy recipient Steve Pullara brings his popular Cool Beans Music ® to your family! Get ready for a really interactive children's family concert.  Steve Pullara's Cool Beans Music Concerts are considered among the top their genre. Bring your kids and grand-kids for a rollicking musical time through Steve's 20-plus years of award winning songs. They're guaranteed to put a smile on everybody's face. Put on your dancing shoes for a lively and upbeat show that your children will remember for a lifetime!
Saturday, June 29 at 12 pm
Summer Stars Theatre Camp
Kids, get ready to take the stage at Hopewell Theater - you are cordially invited to join our Summer Stars theater camp! Every afternoon will be filled with fun, hands-on theater arts activities exploring character, movement, costuming, and backstage jobs. The program will lead up to and prepare campers for the final big show at the end of camp, the "Showcase" where every camper will have a part, performed at Hopewell Theater. All campers will also have the opportunity to "meet-the-actors" after HT's children's theater production of My Mother, The Astronaut the week of camp (includes two free tickets to the show for camper and parent/guardian). 

Camp begins each day at 1:30 pm. Late-afternoon snack and supplies will be provided, included in registration cost. Pick up time is between 5 pm - 5:30 pm. Late afternoon snack will be provided in standard and vegetarian options each camp day for every registered camper. All late afternoon snacks will not contain nuts. Camp is appropriate for 1st through 7th graders. There will be an afternoon Summer Stars showcase at 4:30 pm on Friday, July 19. Camp runs Monday July 8 - Friday July 19.
LIVE MUSIC COMING SOON
Sam Reider & The Human Hands
Virtuoso jazz and bluegrass musicians from Brooklyn, NY
Friday, May 10 8:00 pm
XPN Welcomes The Felice Brothers with Johnathan Rice
American folk rock/country rock band from the Catskills
Sunday, May 12 7:30 pm
Damien Jurado
with Anna St. Louis
Singer/Songwriter touring new album In The Shape Of A Storm
Wednesday, May 22 7:30 pm
Carbon Leaf
Blending rock, folk, Celtic, bluegrass and Americana traditions into a high-energy style
Thursday, June 6 7:30 pm
Sarah Dash: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin
 Sarah Dash shares stories from her friendship with Aretha Franklin and sings songs from Aretha's songbook.  
Saturday, June 15 8:00 pm
Tom Rush
Iconic Folk star with
distinctive guitar style
Saturday, June 29 8:00 pm
The Brubeck Brothers Quartet Celebrates Dave Brubeck's Centennial
Sons of Cool Jazz great Dave Brubeck bring their unique inventiveness to HT
Saturday, July 20 8:00 pm
Sloan Wainwright
Folk music luminary who defies standard categorization
Saturday, July 27 8:00 pm
The Bailsmen
Hot Jazz and Gypsy Swing group from New York City
Thursday, August 8 7:30 pm
Lucy Kaplansky
“A truly gifted performer…full of enchanting songs...” - New York Times
Member pre-sale happening now!
Friday, August 16 8:00 pm
Sugar Ray and the Bluetones
Chicago style blues band led by Grammy nominated Sugar Ray Norcia
Member pre-sale happening now!
Saturday, August 17 8:00 pm
Danielia Cotton
Hopewell's own returns to HT!
Saturday, September 7 8:00 pm
Steve Forbert and the
New Renditions
Respected singer/songwriter with new book and album
Saturday, September 14 8:00 pm
Tameca Jones
Rising Austin, TX star with a " big, sweet, soulful voice"
Friday, September 27 8:00 pm
Jonah Tolchin
Artfully occupies the gulf between old-school tradition and contemporary appropriation
Saturday, October 12 8 pm
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Live music that spans the sonic spectrum. Indie, foreign and classic cinema. Satisfying snacks and personable people. Here at Hopewell Theater, they all come together. Join us for an upcoming event . Or join us for real and become a member to receive special perks and privileges. Either way, you’re in for a selectively eclectic experience.