Brook Arts Center – Somerset New Jersey

The volunteer supported Brook Arts Center opened in 1927 to feature primarily vaudeville acts and movies. The only vaudeville theater left in the county, the fact that it survives at all is a testament to the tenacity of the volunteers and supporters throughout the decades, as its history will illustrate.

I’m sure you’re familiar with the timeline of many old theaters, with their bright heyday, then the “dark times”, then ideally being rescued by concerned citizens. While that narrative represents what happened here at the Brook, there has been some extra off-screen drama in the story of this theater, thanks to Mother Nature

During 1999’s Hurricane Floyd the Brook was flooded. It was then rescued, transformed into the Brook Arts Center and reopened in 2006. Less than a year later it flooded again, damaging the newly restored theater. Again it had to be restored, and it was, reopening AGAIN in 2009. Though not historically correct, the 600+ new theater seats are mobile so they can be easily moved - in case of another flood!

The theater was not the only thing damaged by flooding then revived, as this is also the home of the Brook 3/10 Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ. Moved here in 1997, it too was harmed by good ol’ Floyd in 1999. Thank goodness for the volunteers members of the Garden State Theatre Organ Society who sourced parts from other old organs to rebuild it, so it is still in use today.

It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places - nice!

A mixed venue, the Brook features movies, music, comedy and more.

Public parking available just a few steps away.