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Contact: Megan Witkovsky
megan@primatheatre.org | 717-327-5124
primatheatre.org

From Café Cabarets to Cultural Catalyst: 

Prima Theatre Celebrates 15 Years With a New Season Built for Joy

LANCASTER, PA — What began in a coffee shop has become a cultural movement. Prima Theatre, one of America’s most energetic theaters, announces its 15th Anniversary Season — a slate of performances that promises not entertainment, but shared joy in a world that’s aching for it.

Launching with the Off-Broadway hit Disenchanted, Prima’s new season asks: What if a theatrical experience made you feel more alive?

It’s a timely question. As regional theaters shutter at record rates — with attendance nationwide down 27%, according to the National Endowment for the Arts — Prima is bucking the trend. Under Founding Executive Producer Mitch Nugent, the organization has grown attendance 32% since 2019 and draws audiences 25 years younger than the national average.

And now, for its milestone year, Prima unveils a season designed for exactly what our hurried lives need most: presence, laughter, and connection.

The 2025–2026 Prima Season at a Glance

BOLD PERFORMANCES. SHARED JOY.

DISENCHANTED
A sassy musical comedy where fairy tale princesses rewrite their own stories. PG-13, subversive, and wildly funny.

ILLUMINATION
Prima’s signature candlelit holiday concert — a peaceful, immersive musical sanctuary during the busiest season.

THE 70s EXPERIENCE
A high-energy immersive retro concert adventure with nonstop hits from Queen to Stevie Wonder.

THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (Abridged)
Three actors, 90 minutes, and the entire history of the U.S. — told at warp speed with irreverent, whip-smart comedy.

THE MOTOWN CLUB
An original soul concert that transforms Prima into a swanky, live music lounge. Pure heart. Legendary sound.

“Joy is a balloon. And life has pins. But we can refill it together.”

— Mitch Nugent, Founding Executive Producer

Fifteen years ago, Prima was just an idea scribbled on a napkin in Prince Street Café. That very café became the venue for Prima’s earliest cabarets — intimate performances packed with talent from Broadway and regional theaters, where locals sipped lattes just feet from world-class artists. It was raw, unpolished, and electric. And it worked.

In the years that followed, Prima became a nomadic company, performing in vintage car garages, historic warehouses, film studios, and anywhere art could thrive. The company staged immersive concerts, modern rock operas, and reinventions of classics.

In 2018, Prima established a permanent home in the former Hamilton Watch Company executive offices, transforming a stark industrial space into an intimate black box theater that now hosts thousands each year. This building — once known for precise timekeeping — now pulses with bold performance and human connection.

Praised by Broadway legends like Billy Porter and Stephen Schwartz, Prima has premiered daring new works, including a recent partnership with bestselling author and cultural thought-leader Rob Bell. Their 2025 production We’ll Get Back to You was hailed as “soul-shaking” by audiences and critics alike, and more original works are on the horizon.

Prima’s impact extends beyond the stage. Its Creative Current initiative removes financial and logistical barriers to access, recognized statewide as a model of arts equity. Its Encore experiences bring businesses into the heart of the arts, creating curated evenings for clients and teams. And its Producer’s Circle offers behind-the-scenes access for donors seeking deeper engagement.

All of it is rooted in Prima’s mission: to invigorate lives through fresh theatrical experiences. Whether it’s a soul-stirring concert, a boundary-breaking play, or a joy-filled evening with friends, every show is designed to spark something real — to lift, to connect, and to wake us up to the wonder possible in our lives. Details on Prima’s 15th Anniversary Season at primatheatre.org/events..

MEDIA & PRESS INVITATIONS

Interviews with Mitch Nugent and artists available upon request.
Photo and video assets can be accessed here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PFZLWQdHo5bTb9D1umdiqwOsG2TceuQd?usp=sharing
Press seats are available for all performances — early booking recommended.

Prima Theatre
Bold performances. Shared joy.
primatheatre.org