Black Box Theaters have their roots in the American Avant-Garde of the early 20th century. Black Box Theaters became popular and increasingly widespread in the 1960s as rehearsal spaces.
The simplicity of the space allows it to be used as a blank slate for any setting!
A blast to the past!
The original Janesville High School Women’s pool room is right below you in this nostalgic space. Perfect for employee appreciation parties, baby showers, bridal showers, networking events, workshops, paint nights, cocktail hour, or any intimate gathering!
Janesville Performing Arts Center was created with the specific goal to showcase and support local arts groups, therefore, our lease agreement states that all performances must be produced or presented by non-profit arts organizations. The theatre is not available for rental for for-profit arts events, political events, religious worship services, or to individuals.
In general, events presented in the theatre must be produced or presented by the 15 local arts groups that have been approved for “User Group” status through an application process that is submitted to the JPAC Board of Directors and agreed to by JPAC’s landlord. Interested non-profit arts groups are encouraged to apply for “Temporary User Group Status” to produce one event at the center. A request for full “User Group” status will be entertained by the board following the event.
Exceptions are often made for non-profit groups that would like to present an arts event as a fundraiser. This can be done by receiving “Temporary User Group Status” from the JPAC Board if a group is interested in hosting an annual event, or by partnering with a current JPAC User Group if the non-profit is interested in a “one time only” event.
Janesville Performing Arts Center’s Community Events Manager, Amanda Gittens, offers event coordination, item rentals, and floral arrangements for various events throughout the community.
This 637-seat theatre was built in 1923 as the auditorium for Janesville’s first high school. The historic theatre has received numerous technical and facility upgrades thanks to the AriseNow Capital Campaign including a lead donation from Dennis and Liz Hansch. The theatre now features an upgraded sound board, lighting console, speakers, moving lights, LED strip lights & more.
This artistic incubator is a new addition to JPAC and is utilized to provide performing arts classes to the area’s youth. The center was completed in July 2019 thanks to the AriseNow Capital Campaign and a lead donation from the Hendricks Family Foundation.
This 100-seat blackbox theatre hosts intimate theatrical events including resident group plays, comedy, improv nights, cabarets, fundraisers and private events. The gallery is equipped with a new lighting plot and has its own sound system made possible by a grant from the Janesville Foundation.
The Janesville Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization who serves the greater Rock County area through performances and events produced by 15 local non-profit arts groups and hosts over 200 events a year.