The Resurgence of New Brunswick

As part of NJTV’s "In Your Neighborhood: New Brunswick" series, One-on-One with Steve Adubato looks at the history and resurgence of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Guests include Anna Marie Gewirtz, Acting President and CEO, State Theatre NJ and Amanda Potter, Curator of Education and Interpretation for the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University. Joanna Gagis sits down with Jaymie Santiago, President and CEO of New Brunswick Tomorrow.

12/13/17 #2093

 

 

 

 

Excerpt:

"Hi, I'm Steve Adubato. In this edition of NJTV's In Your Neighborhood series, we look at the great city of New Brunswick, New Jersey. In this half hour, I'll interview leaders in the fields of art and theatre, who are reaching out to the community and helping children explore their creativity in the most unique way. You'll also hear from my colleague, Joanna Gagis, who looks at one organization that is working to improve the lives of New Brunswick residents by connecting local corporations and institutions with the community. We hope you enjoy this very special edition of In Your Neighborhood, New Brunswick.I am pleased to welcome Anna Marie Gewirtz. You were with us as a former staff person of the Caucus Educational Corporation a few years back, and now you're doing great things at State Theater. Tell folks what State Theater is all about. Sure. So the State Theater is an 1,850 seat performance theater in Downtown New Brunswick. We have all different kinds of performances. Everything from Broadway, classical, comedy, rock, pop, family shows, variety, so there's something for everyone. So it's interesting. Again, because you know our operation as a not-for-profit television production company, and you've been in the development and external affairs fundraising operation... and you love the arts. You're an artist yourself. I've had the pleasure of being able to listen to you play the piano. You're exceptional in that regard. You love the arts, always have? I always have. Yeah. I was very lucky. I had music lessons from a very young age. When I was four I started taking piano lessons, and later I took French horn, and I took voice lessons later on. So my parents felt like arts needed to be part of our education, and we were really fortunate. And then later in my teens, I started realizing that not everyone had that same exposure to the arts, so I got a chance to volunteer and do some performances for inner city schools, teaching kids classical and jazz music. Hmm. I did piano class at the Count Basie Learning Center down in Red Bank. Great place. And I had ten kids in my piano class, which gave me a run for my money, but I felt very strongly that everyone should have access to the arts. So now at State, the whole idea of arts education, the whole idea of making arts more accessible, how... dare I use the term "marketable" is that? And how hard is it... how challenging..."