Aurora releases its lineup for season

Shows will be held in Lawrenceville’s new $35 million arts center.

The Aurora Theatre has announced its 2021-2022 season line up, one that’s a partic

ular milestone for the company. This will be the first season the company will perform in its new home in the $35 million, 59,500-square-foot Lawrenceville Arts Center. The theater moved to Lawrenceville in 2007, in a partnership with the city, into an old 1904 Methodist Church building that had been renovated and expanded just to house the Aurora. It became a draw bringing in about 80,000 people a year. Plans to expand it once

again soon followed. Now the theater will open in November in its new 500-seat auditorium in the arts center, with its popular holiday variety show, “Christmas Canteen.”

“This new facility, with its variety of stages, has excited not only Ann-carol (Pence) and me, but the entire Aurora Board, our staff and the artists we are bringing on board,” Anthony Rodriguez, Aurora Theatre co-founder, president and CEO said in a statement. “We will be able to increase our education department. We will be able to create unique private events. We will be able to expand the relationship we have created with this community.”

With multiple stages, orchestra pit, costume shop, and other facilities, the theater fulfills a long-time dream of Rodriguez, co-founder

and associate producer Pence, and city administrators of making Lawrenceville a viable home for arts. As smaller theaters around the metro have shuttered or had to make dire cuts to survive, the Aurora has thrived. “This season will inspire our loyal patrons and

will entice new audiences,” said Pence in a statement.