Laughter echoed throughout Hopewell Valley Stage on Saturday as children eagerly answered questions from performers, sang along to familiar stories and cheered when their peers joined the cast on stage during Aesop Romp!, a 45-minute interactive production written by Brad Goren-Wilson.
Families gathered for an afternoon of storytelling that also marked an important milestone for the theater. The performance was one of the final scheduled events before Hopewell Valley Stage begins a planned six-week pause to install new equipment, make improvements to the space and prepare for its first full fall season under the Hopewell Valley Arts Council.
Volunteers greeted families as they arrived, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere before the performance even began.
“Everybody was so kind when I even first walked into the theater, but then that wasn’t even the show,” said audience member Lynn Losavio.
Inside, the performers transformed the entire theater into part of the experience. Rather than remaining on stage, they moved through the audience, encouraged children to sing, dance and answer questions, and even invited young audience members to become part of the storytelling.
“I like that it was interactive. I like the enthusiasm of the people that were on stage,” said Susan McQueen. “They were really all in on the whole thing.”
The production featured playful adaptations of familiar tales including The Tortoise and the Hare, The Three Little Pigsand The Lion and the Mouse, while weaving in Hopewell Valley references that gave local audiences an extra reason to smile.
“I think that they are introducing ideas that are important to reflect on,” McQueen said.
Preparing for the Next Chapter
Hopewell Valley Stage will pause programming for approximately six weeks before reopening later this summer with expanded offerings.
“We’re pulling it all together and are excited to come back in the fall ready to go,” said Carol Lipson, executive director of the Hopewell Valley Arts Council.
The break will allow the organization to complete improvements to the theater while continuing to build programming and replace equipment needed for larger theatrical productions.
“We were very eager to get started and felt that it was better that we learned by doing and jump in before everything was perfect and polished,” said Maeli Goren-Wilson, theater manager for Hopewell Valley Stage.
The organization is also developing a membership program and evaluating pricing after learning more about how the community has responded during its first two months of operation.
“One of the main goals is to figure out how to make it as frictionless as possible for locals in this community to experience this place all the time, and it becomes more of a community hangout and cultural hub,” Goren-Wilson said.
Building Future Theatergoers
Children’s programming remains one of the organization’s highest priorities.
“We want to have children’s programming every week and kind of build a following of kids and teach kids what it’s like to be a theatergoer,” Lipson said.
Goren-Wilson said exposing children to working artists within their own community is an important part of the theater’s mission.
“The idea that my daughter could grow up in a community where there are thriving artists who are practicing their work, and for her to be able to grow up and see real people are doing this, and they’re making a life of doing this, and it’s actually a possible, accessible thing because it’s happening here in my own community,” she said.
Lipson said one of the biggest lessons from the theater’s first two months has been building awareness and encouraging people to return regularly.
“It’s been great that so many people have learned that the theater is back, and we’re excited to have everyone in the region come to shows and programs regularly,” she said.
Audience members said the planned pause feels like a natural part of the theater’s growth.
“I think they’re finding their feet, and they should be able to do that in whatever way they need to,” McQueen said.
Looking Ahead
Since reopening this spring, Hopewell Valley Stage has primarily hosted concerts and special events while the Arts Council works to restore equipment needed for full theatrical productions. Previous operators removed much of the theater’s technical equipment, and the organization continues fundraising to replace it.
The theater has also prioritized partnerships with local businesses, including Sourland Bread, Aunt Chubby’s, local breweries and collaborative programs such as The Crossing.
“We feel pretty strongly about trying to use local,” Lipson said. “There are so many great local businesses and we’re thrilled to partner with them.”
When Hopewell Valley Stage reopens later this summer, audiences can expect expanded children’s programming, concerts, comedy performances, community partnerships and, eventually, a return to regular live theater.
The six-week pause is not an ending, but an opportunity to build on the excitement already taking shape as Hopewell Valley Stage works toward becoming a place where families create memories together, and the arts become a lasting part of everyday community life.
