Over the years, the City of Taunton has put great effort into making downtown a place for lively entertainment and great food, but something was still missing.

The desire for live entertainment forced the community over the Washington Bridge and into Providence, but now, with the combined efforts of the City of Taunton, Applause Academy, and Nesmasket River Productions, the Taunton Performing Arts Center looks to bring theatre and live entertainment to the city.

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Getting TPAC Off the Ground

Jay Pateakos is the Executive Director of the Taunton Office of Economic and Community Development, and he wanted to create a space where theatre and live entertainment can flourish.

“I’m a big theatre buff, and growing up, The Z in New Bedford was always a draw, and I wanted to create something like that,” he said.

The Applause Academy at 21 Main Street is a wonderful venue, but it has always been catered to children and theatre education.

Pateakos approached Tim Knief, the owner of Applause Academy, with the idea of evolving the theatre. In just a few short months, Nesmasket River Productions was on board to help Knief and Pateakos develop the Taunton Performing Arts Center.

The Vision for TPAC

“I am excited to share that Applause Academy and Nemasket River Productions have merged to form The Taunton Performing Arts Center,” said Knief.

“This merger represents a significant step in our mission to provide outstanding theatrical experiences and educational opportunities. By combining our resources, talent, and expertise, we can offer even more performances, workshops, and programs while still upholding our high-quality production value.”

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Knief is excited to “bring new life” to the arts in Taunton as he and Nesmasket River Productions aim to make TPAC a cultural hub for all ages.

“Together, we can create a thriving arts scene that Taunton has long needed,” he said.

Courtesy of Timothy Knief
Courtesy of Timothy Knief
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According to Pateakos, the Mayor of Taunton provided $40,000 in funding to help renovate the theatre, and TPAC already has an exciting lineup of six productions, the first being The Rocky Horror Show.

Rocky Horror Picture Show Coming to TPAC

A cult-classic musical is set to be the inaugural show for the theatre.

The Rocky Horror Show is known for involving the crowd, with food throwing and prop assistance. It’s the perfect show to get the community excited, said Pateakos.

“I’ll be bringing my whole family on opening night and I hope the community will do the same,” he said.

Talisa’s Wine Bar will provide adult beverages for the show, creating a great partnership with a local wine bar and the new theatre.

The new Taunton Performance Arts Center promises to be the new spot for live entertainment for the entire family, and it all starts on October 25th with Rocky Horror's opening night.

Tickets are available online.

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