Asbury Park Art House Announces Move to Larger Venue

July 5, 2011 - PRLog -- After just two years, The ShowRoom, Asbury Park’s art house movie theater, today announced it will be moving to a new location, 707 Cookman Avenue, in order to expand to two-screens.  Co-owned by film professionals Michael Sodano and Nancy Sabino, The ShowRoom’s move is a part of a growing art-house movie theater movement taking place across the country.

Like many art house theaters, The ShowRoom’s personalized movie-going experience is rooted in its mission-based, community-driven philosophy.  Sodano and Sabino have spent the past 26 months personally selecting The ShowRoom’s schedule, as well as booking musical acts, multi-media performances and private events.  

Their creative efforts are responsible for bringing Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz to Asbury Park; the New Jersey premiere of “Jean-Michele Basquiat: The Radiant Child”; and Asbury Park’s first indie-themed filmmaking contest, The AP in 3.  The ShowRoom’s carefully selected schedule of films and events was recognized by New Jersey Monthly readers in April 2011, when it was voted the Best Independent Movie House in the state.

“Nancy and I put a lot of thought and consideration into expanding to a larger venue,” said The ShowRoom’s Michael Sodano.  “For the past two years, our audiences have been growing and the ShowRoom brand is getting more recognition throughout the state. We were presented with a variety of opportunities for larger space in the downtown. .  Ultimately, we found an ideal location right across the street that will allow us to expand to two screens and include a community-driven space for film discussions and events.  This is a natural progression for us in terms of venue size and overall mission.”

Sodano and Sabino are excited to announce their new Cookman Ave. cinema will include raked seating, two theaters, a new lobby and box-office area, a large concession area, and the potential of a second floor screening room with café-style seating.  Eventual plans for rooftop movies in the summer are also being discussed.

The ShowRoom will move into its new screening space in early 2012.  In the interim, Sodano and Sabino will continue to screen a full movie schedule at The ShowRoom’s current location – 708 Cookman Ave.  To learn more about The ShowRoom, please visit www.TheShowRoomAP.com or call 732-502-0472.

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About The ShowRoom
Since opening in April 2009, The ShowRoom has continued to present relevant and provocative movies and events that engage audiences for a memorable experience. Its mission-driven film philosophy was recognized by New Jersey movie fans when it was voted Best Independent Movie House in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly readers. The ShowRoom is a versatile, locally owned and operated entertainment venue on Cookman Avenue’s Art Bloc that is renowned for its roster of critically acclaimed, independent, classic, international and festival-winning films. In addition, The ShowRoom endeavors to provide the community with a welcoming and acoustically ideal environment for live performances, workshops, seminars and mixed-media presentations. Owners Michael Sodano and Nancy Sabino are film-industry veterans with more than 25 years of experience in creative communications for corporate productions.