MITCHELL BILUS
Anthony D’Amato, performing as Remember Jones.
In his new capacity as producing artistic director of the Strand Theater in Lakewood, Anthony D’Amato — who also performs under the name Remember Jones — has created a new space at the venue titled Gallery. It will debut after the Remember Jones Halloween night concert (which will feature a live performance of R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet” hip-hop soap opera).
The first Gallery show will see four local acts — Mad Feather Group, The Shady Street Show Band, Chris Rockwell, and Remember Jones + The Emancipation Congregation — collaborate as one band.
In the weeks to come, Gallery, which has a capacity of approximately 200 and includes an art gallery and a bar, will feature comedy, open mics and other performances in addition to music.
Many of the Gallery events will take place after Strand shows; ticketholders can enter via the lobby for free, though the space will also have a outside entrance of its own with a small admission fee for non-ticketholders.
In a press release, D’Amato said his goal is “to keep our audiences in Lakewood and entice new economy. I don’t want anyone to feel shut out, so how do I entice them to stay? Create a separate atmosphere on my own where you can comfortably drink, be social, and be entertained, directly adjacent to the theater.”
It’s also “a chance for us to be creative at a lower cost for our community and us as a theater, while complementing performances on our main stage,” he said.
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