If the Past could somehow send a postcard to the Present it could very well feature the regal neon profile of the iconic Uptown theater in Marble Falls, TX. For over seven dusty decades since its inception, the theater’s hand-squared bricks have been slowly absorbing notes, lyrics and melodies. From music of all genres and eras. Music that reflected the changes in thought and culture through times of war and unrest and times of peace. Just by simply stepping inside the grand auditorium one can almost sense the ethereal reverberations of past performances, laughter and applause. It’s with this rich history in mind that the new proprietors of the theater, Laurie and Jim Halfpenny, hope to rekindle a new era of entertainment with their newly renamed, Uptown Art House.
Sixteen years ago the couple abandoned successful careers in the film and music industry to rejuvenate themselves in the Texas Hill Country, bringing with them their deep love of songs and songwriting. Their first big endeavor was to create and organize the popular Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival, a once-a-year event that features 3 days of phenomenal songwriter showcases. The Uptown Art House is the next logical progression for them – a full-time venue. An opportunity for them to share with Marble Falls and the surrounding communities their love for quality songwriting, classic and art house films, comedy and variety shows.
Their programming will be heavy on songwriters, both popular and unknown. But whether the songwriters are household names or up and coming artists they will all have one thing in common – top quality songwriting. “We hope to earn the trust of the community,” says Jim Halfpenny, “we want them to know that although they may not recognize the name on our marquee, they can count on hearing some incredible singer/songwriters here.” There are two stages at the Uptown Art House – the spacious auditorium and the newly renovated Loft listening room, where folks can enjoy intimate songwriter performances in a “house concert” type environment. The couple also plans to rent the entire venue out for private events, and their lobby lounge is now home to a revolving gallery for local artists.
Upcoming shows at the Uptown Art House include Slaid Cleaves on Sat., April 14, Adam Carroll on Fri., April 27, Monte Montgomery on Fri. July 13, and on Fri., June 1 a very prominent artist that cannot be disclosed at the time of this article. In addition to live music, the Uptown Art House will also showcase classic film screenings from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and one Sunday a month will screen a classic silent film with a live-performance piano accompaniment. Each event at the Uptown Art House can be enjoyed with a good selection of local craft beer and wine from the Cinema Lounge, and fresh popcorn will be sold at each movie screening. Come enjoy and support the brand new Uptown Art House – now open every Thursday through Sunday. For more information and to purchase event tickets, please visit www.theuptownarthouse.com.
