Some of the projects that we have implemented are:
. House tour: "The Historic Homes of Old Mauch Chunk."
. Heritage events: Combining, Music,Drama, photographic exhibiitons that reflect our regions past, with emphasis on Irish culture.
We have made our facility available the Carbon County Art League who now hold regularly scheduled exhibitions of the work of local and regional artists.
Other programs that are currently in progress are:
. "A Town Called Jim". We have initiated a call for participation to Writers, Directors, Performers asking them to get involved in a community theater project. The project design combines oral histories, historical research, interviews, recordings, poetry and storytelling as the basis for "play-making". The project will include writing and performance workshops. The plan is to produce a series of short scripts which will become the material for performance workshops. The result of these workshop "micro-performances" will be developed into a larger dramatic work. The finished play, "A Town Called Jim" will be performed at the Mauch Chunk Opera House. The goal of this project is to bring our history to the community and the public at large in new and exciting ways: through music, dance, drama and song. Separate but intended to be a part of this program is the Mauch Chunk Scholarship Video Festival. A Regional High School competition. The broad theme for all submissions is "A Town Called Jim". All genres, Drama, News, Documentary will be acceptable.
During its reign as a community center, The Mauch Chunk Opera House became the Capitol Movie Theater.
. In keeping with that part of the history of the building we are developing programming for a project called "Movies in Old Mauch Chunk." The program will celebrate the history of the medium and include a wide variety of significant films that cross all genres including the work of independent artists.
The Mauch Chunk Opera House will be a gathering place for filmmakers, film lovers, actors, writers, students and families to see exciting new and classic films, socialize and exchange ideas.