BWW Interviews: LAWRENCE MCCULLOUGH – Executive Director of UCPAC

Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) is enjoying rapid growth as a premiere destination for the performing arts. They offer three venues, the Mainstage, Hamilton Stage and The Loft so that shows enjoy ideal staging for a variety of productions

The Center plays a vital role in the revitalization and cultural renaissance of area communities. Last season they presented over 200 performances that included theater, music, children's shows and dance. And with recent shows like the blockbuster comedy show by Steve Solomon and American Theater Group's tick, tick BOOM!, there is an exciting schedule of performances on their 2015 schedule.

Broadwayworld.com had the opportunity to interview Dr. Lawrence McCullough, the Executive Director of UCPAC. He told us why this performing arts center is getting so much buzz in the area. "Union County Performing Arts Center is a tremendous organization with a sterling history and a superb team of dedicated staff, volunteers and board members," says Dr. McCullough. "I feel deeply honored to have been entrusted with guiding UCPAC forward in its mission of using the arts as a catalyst for community development."

A native of Speedway, Indiana, Lawrence McCullough, Ph.D. holds a doctorate in ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh and has been an active organizer of arts and non-profit community ventures since 1973. Dr. McCullough has served as coordinator for dozens of arts and humanities events across the country, including the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, Joseph Taylor Urban Studies Symposium, Austin Songwriters Competition and South by Southwest Music Conference, along with scores of symposia and conferences administered while employed as Assistant Director, Indiana University School of Music at Indianapolis; Administrative Director, Humanities Theatre Group; Executive Director, Music Umbrella of Austin; Senior Publicist/Event Coordinator, Englander & Keesee, Austin; Public Information Officer, Township of Woodbridge, NJ; Press Director, Hall Institute of Public Policy, Trenton, NJ.

As "L.E. McCullough" he enjoys a career as an author-musician who has written/edited 48 books of fiction, non-fiction and plays, including 177 published stage and script works. He has performed on soundtracks for Ken Burns PBS series (The West, The Dust Bowl, The Roosevelts, Lewis and Clark, Not for Ourselves Alone) and recorded with numerous Irish, French, Cajun, Latin, blues, jazz, bluegrass and rock ensembles on 52 albums for Angel/EMI, Sony Classical, RCA, Warner Brothers, Rounder and Bluezette. His playwriting commissions include works on 1920s jazz bandleader Charlie Davis, World War II journalist Ernie Pyle, Colonel Eli Lilly, Ben Franklin, Galileo, Dorothy Day and the U.S. Constitution (National Constitution Center). His most recent New York productions are the musical Orphan Train and First Mothers: The Women Who Raised America's Presidents. (publication/performance details at www.lemccullough.com).

We asked McCullough why Rahway is ideal for patrons to attend the arts. "Rahway is one of the friendliest towns you'll ever visit. It has a great downtown arts district with wonderful restaurants, plenty of free parking and a shuttle bus to UCPAC from the train station parking garage. By car it's just 2 miles off the Parkway and Route 1, right in the heart of a very active culture zone. With all the apartment buildings springing up in the downtown, we're seeing a welcome influx of newcomers adding their own flavor to the mix."

McCullough told us why UCPAC is so distinctive. "Our three UCPAC stages present a blend of established performers as well as up-and-coming artists. We also have a significant number of international performers brought in by local promoters, and we have flexible meeting space for business and nonprofit groups to meet and hold conferences, fundraisers, workshops."

UCPAC provides a wide variety of shows for every type of audience. McCullough commented about their offerrings. "Our broad-based performance menu reflects the increasingly diverse interests of our audience(s). There is actually quite a bit of cross-over range in what an individual patron might like ... someone attending a Charlie Daniels concert is just as likely to be interested in a flamenco show by Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre. Today's PAC-goers like to see familiar performers, but they're interested in new experiences as well."

Recent marketing trends and mass transit helps to bring a diverse audience to UCPAC. McCullough said, "The internet and social media help us spread word way beyond the limits of traditional print or broadcast advertising. With Rahway's central location and public transit accessibility via 2 train lines out of Manhattan, we're seeing many more folks from beyond the 20/30-mile travel radius of years past."

We are impressed that UCPAC has fine programming for young people interested in the arts. McCullough told us a little about their approach. "You've heard that sales mantra, 'ABC - Always Be Closing' ... in the cultural field, it's 'ABC - Always Be Cultivating.' An arts center must find ways to foster the next generation of artists and arts audiences. Our Rahway Digital Arts Academy is designed for that. We host the annual Paper Mill Playhouse Musical Theatre Conservatory each summer, along with our own Children's Theatre Camp. We received a Union County HEART grant for children's music workshops, and the County's Sensory Friendly Theatre events reach children with autism who typically have little access to public arts events."

We asked McCullough about his vision for the future of UCPAC. "UCPAC has been a community cornerstone for decades. We will continue to present a multi-disciplinary performance menu appealing to diverse audiences. We'll partner with Union County College's new Rahway campus to harness that magical power young people have in sparking up a neighborhood with vibrant creative endeavors. We'll take on a leading role helping the City of Rahway and Union County Freeholders implement all the expanded arts programs they're organizing. Most importantly, we'll make sure that whenever you come to a UCPAC event, you'll leave with a smile on your face and joy in your heart."

The Union County Performing Arts Center is conveniently located in downtown Rahway and is easily accessed by car or train. Upcoming performances include Parade from 2/20 to 2/28, British Invasion 50th Anniversary Tour on 2/28, Blood, Sweat & Tears on 3/20, and Split Level Concerts Presents James Maddock on 3/27. For the full schedule of performances and ticketing, please visit www.ucpac.org.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lawrence McCullough

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