Crescent Theatre celebrates 100 years

SUSSEX BOROUGH — Crescent Theatre in Sussex Borough, home of Cornerstone Playhouse, got a little sprucing up just in time for the approaching 100th anniversary, which is Monday, July 24.
The plywood discs that covered the third floor holes where white louvers have long been an eyesore on the building have been replaced with circular windows, according to the Theatre. The new windows are frosted to replicate the look of the original louvers.
Mario Poggi, Sussex Borough historian, president and founder of the Sussex-Wantage Historical Society and vice president/building manager of Cornerstone Playhouse, which occupies the theater, put out a call on Facebook last year asking if anyone would be willing to donate windows to replace the plywood discs.
Mike Lawlor, a musician in the area and owner of Superior Shower Doors in Newton, reached out to Poggi and offered to donate the glass.
It would be a tricky installation because of the round opening and took several different attempts at measuring and refining the glass before it could be properly installed, according to Poggi.
Also before it could be installed, the glass had to go to Marc Stipo of Etched – Artistic Laser Impressions in Branchville to be frosted so that the new windows would have the look of the louvers that once occupied the space.
Stipo also donated the hours of time needed and the use of his laser cutter for the frosting.
It all finally came together on Friday, May 19, opening night of Cornerstone Playhouse’s “Magical Sounds Of Disney” cabaret, when Lawyer completed the installation of the windows.
“I can’t tell you how pleased I am with how this project came out; the windows are awesome,” Poggi said. “Mike and Marc really stepped up for Sussex Borough and Cornerstone Playhouse. I can’t thank them enough for their time and effort. They are the greatest. Now we need people to come out and support Cornerstone Playhouse so that this theater always stays relevant to this town and the county.”
Celebration plans for the 100th anniversary include free anniversary cake being served at Deckertown Commons Park right next to the theater on Saturday, July 22, 12 to 3 p.m., and there will be souvenir commemorative envelopes, hand-cancelled by the United States Postal Service, with a 100th anniversary logo, designed by Poggi. They will be available for sale for $5 each at the theater on the anniversary date, Monday, July 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., of which all proceeds will go to supporting the Sussex-Wantage Historical Society.
People can also go directly to the Sussex Post Office on July 24 and request that their own mail be hand-cancelled with the commemorative cancellation.
For more information, go to www.mycptix.com.