Completed in 1998, the 2,350-seat venue (1750 seats on the first floor; 600 seats in the balcony) was originally designed as the school district's high school auditorium, built to hold the school's 2,000+ student body. During the planning stages of the venue, officials decided that this theater could host large scale productions in an effort to bring local, regional and world-renowned entertainment to the community.
Photo by: Emma Schemelia WTHS Class of '21
The theater opened its doors on September 1, 1998 (a national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King & I).
Since then, the stage has been graced with talent featuring
The Moody Blues Barry Manilow Willie Nelson Tony Bennett Johnny Mathis
Gladys Knight Frankie Valli Kenny Rogers Paul Anka The Beach Boys
BB King Trisha Yearwood k.d. Lang David Copperfied Dave Koz The Piano Guys
Straight No Chaser Barenaked Ladies Jordin Sparks Engelbert Humperedinck
CAKE Anne Murray Chaka Kahn George Benson Maynard Ferguson
Charlie Daniels Leon Russell The Irish Tenors The Philadelphia Orchestra
Mannheim Steamroller The President's Own Marine Corps Band The United States Army Field Band
The Pennsylvania Ballet Riverdance The Moiseyev Ballet SLASK: The National Ballet of Poland America's Best Dance Crew
Mutya Phillipine Dance Company The BYU Ballroom Dance Company Peppa Pig Live! The Price is Right Live!
John Mulaney & Pete Davidson Tim Conway & Harvey Korman George Carlin Lewis Black Wayne Brady Sinbad
Weird Al Yankovic Gary Mule Deer Jim Labriola One Night of Queen w/ Gary Mullen & The Works
Lonestar Clay Aiken Andy Williams Glen Campbell STYX The Oakridge Boys LeeAnn Womak Dwight Yokum
Natalie Merchant The Golden Boys: Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell Trace Adkins Tegan & Sara Phil Coulter
The Chieftains Tenth Avenue North NewSong MercyMe Sandi Patty Jay & The Americans
Little Anthony & The Imperials The Temptations The Four Tops Peter Noone Flo & Ed The Buckinghams
The Grassroots Mary Chapin Carpenter Jessica Simpson Mint Condition Monica Gordon Lightfoot
A Walk Down Abby Road w/ Allan Parsons, Ann Wilson, Todd Rundgren & John Entwistle
The Rippingtons The Indigo Girls The Intruders JoDee Messina Jargit Singh Gurdas Maan Deepak Chopra
Sweet Honey in the Rock Stephanie Mills Jesse McCartney David Cassidy John Michael Montgomery
Commander Cody Debby Boone Morris Day and The Time Harold Melvin's Blue Notes
The Skyliners The Cleftones Patti Austin Wayman Tisdale Kimberley Locke Justin Guarini Jonathan Butler
RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles Howard Hewitt Carol Riddick Liv Devine Jesse Teich Geraldine Branagan
The New York Tenors: Andy Cooney, Daniel Rodriquez & Christopher Macchio
The Sicilian Tenors: Elio Scaccio, Aaron Caruso & Sam Vitale Ann Coulter Laura Ingraham
Aegis Shanker Mahadevan Hariharan
and the Broadway national tours of RENT CHICAGO West Side Story Evita CATS STOMP! BLAST! GREASE Fiddler on the Roof The Pajama Game Crazy For You 42nd Street Aida Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Man of LaMancha Jesus Christ Superstar Lord of the Dance Saturday Night Fever Fame The Musical Swing! Cabaret South Pacific The King and I Ring of Fire and many more! Also taking center stage are many regional and community arts organizations including the Marcia Hyland Dance & Arts Center The Dance Connection The Dance Factory Tricia Sloan Dance Center The Pennsport School of Dance and LJ Philly Dance Studio; along with national dance and talent competitions including OnStage New York Elite Believe Nexstar Revolution Celebration and Destiny.
Photo by: Emma Schemelia WTHS Class of '21
The Republic Bank Performing Arts Center's primary purpose is to serve its student population as a state-of-the-art facility that accommodates several student activities — our annual dance company performance, pops concert, multiple orchestral concerts, National Honor Society Induction ceremony, and Mr. Washington Township. The center's professional sound, lighting and rigging equipment offer students hands-on experience in the production and technical aspects of theater.
The 19,344 square-foot center boasts superb acoustics, fantastic sight lines, roomy cushioned seats and legroom. In addition, the Investors Bank Performing Arts Center's ample parking lots provide our patrons with more than 1,700 safe, well-lit parking spaces. The facility is entirely handicapped accessible and fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Republic Bank Performing Arts Center's prime location makes it easily accessible for our patrons from Philadelphia, Delaware and New Jersey shore points, while still only a short ride from Central and Northern New Jersey, New York City and Pennsylvania's Delaware Valley.
Washington Township and its surrounding communities offer an abundance of local amenities and community services. The area is rich with shopping, dining and lodging.