The script has been a thrilling success, and now the Uptown! Entertainment Alliance is turning its attention to transforming the set for West Chester’s soon-to-be new home for the performing arts. A groundbreaking bash will premiere at the old National Guard Armory building on High Street May 18 at 5:30 p.m., featuring the Uptown! “family” and the Bancroft Construction team.

The free public event invites the community to put on a hard hat, strap up your boots and join Uptown! for a ceremonial groundbreaking, snacks, photo opps and a short speech by Sen. Andy Dinniman.

“We can’t wait to see the preservation of this building progress in the next eight months and to finally have a place in West Chester for performing arts to call home,” an Uptown! spokesperson wrote in previewing the groundbreaking.

“The goal of bringing a theater to West Chester is to create a cultural hub for Chester County individuals and families within walking distance to West Chester’s lively restaurant and shopping district. An additional goal is to engage underserved age and income groups in West Chester and the surrounding area through children’s programming as well as film and live performance.”

Read more about and/or donate toward Uptown! 5-year-old, multimillion-dollar effort through the crowdfunding platform Generosity here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of the progress made by Uptown! here.