The public is invited to join Arts!Longview on Thursday, March 10, for the reopening of the historic Longview Community Center, which will celebrate its debut with an opening night performance of the play “Crimes of the Heart” by Theatre Longview.
“We are so proud to play a role in bringing live performances back to the Longview Community Center,” Arts!Longview Executive Director Christina Cavazos said. “This historic building is a true gem in ourcommunity. Many people have treasured memories of theater performances, concerts, receptions, showers, birthday parties and so much more in this building. We are excited to welcome the public back to the Longview Community Center on March 10.”
Arts!Longview will host a come-and-go reception from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at the Longview Community Center, 500 E. Whaley St. Complimentary refreshments will be served.
The first event at the Longview Community Center will be Theatre Longview’s performance of “Crimes of the Heart,” which is slated for shows March 10-13. The play will open at 7:30 p.m. March 10 after Arts!Longview’s opening reception for the Community Center. Tickets are available in advance through Theatre Longview and will be available prior to performances at the Longview Community Center’s box office.
Efforts to reopen the Longview Community Center came about as a collaborative partnership between Gregg County and Arts!Longview. As part of an agreement with the county, Arts!Longview took over management of the Longview Community Center in late 2021. Gregg County has provided many enhancements, such as repainting the lobby, parlor, dressing rooms, and several other areas of the building, to prepare it for reopening.
“We are incredibly grateful for this partnership with Gregg County. This partnership is great for Arts!Longview and our founding arts organizations but also for the county as a whole as we work to make the Longview Community Center available to the general public for rentals at reasonable rates,” Cavazos said. “We are excited to bring renewed life and energy to this building and believe it goes a long way toward furthering our mission to spark a love for the arts, history and culture in our community.”
Arts!Longview is a nonprofit organization that oversees the city’s 320-acre state-designated Arts!Longview Cultural District. The district encompasses downtown Longview and stretches south along Mobberly Avenue to LeTourneau University, which is home to the Belcher Center. The Longview Community Center, which is part of the Arts!Longview Cultural District, includes a 259-seat auditorium, stage with an orchestra pit, kitchen, dining room and meeting spaces. The Community Center opened in 1940 and has been a recorded Texas Historical Landmark since 1994.
To learn more about Arts!Longview, visit www.artslongview.org.