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HEART OF THE COMMONWEALTH: Profiles of Excellence 169 Broadway shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and West Side Story have taken center stage at The Hanover Theatre. the backbone of e Hanover eatre, maintaining the outdoor gardens, working as ushers and ticket-takers and distributing collateral materials, among many other duties. ey also contribute to the food pantry at South High School and help distribute backpacks filled with canned goods and other non-perishable items. Since raising the curtain, e Hanover eatre has earned significant kudos, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation Excellence Award (2010), given to only thirteen institutions in the country; American Institute of Architects Design Award (2010); MassEcon Economic Impact Award (2009); and the Timothy J. Anderson Award for Historic Rehabilitation (2008). In 2011, e Hanover eatre was named to the National Registry of Historic Places and POLLSTAR ranked e Hanover eatre #45 worldwide for attendance (Midyear 2012). In a salute to the past, e Hanover eatre features the Mighty Wurlitzer – the 2,400-pipe instrument is the largest theatre pipe organ in New England. An integral part of the theatre experience, the Mighty Wurlitzer entertains patrons as they await the curtain rising. e Hanover eatre owes a debt of gratitude to other arts and nonprofit organizations and foundations, educational institutions, corporations, local businesses and committed citizens without whose generosity the performing arts center would not have achieved its prestigious position in the community and in the arts world. Corporate sponsors include: Bank of America, Commerce Bank, Fallon Community Health Plan, Fletcher Tilton, e Guild of St. Agnes, e Hanover Insurance Group, Nichols College, Polar Beverages, Reliant Medical Group, UniBank, United Bank, UMASS Medical School, and UNUM. Broadway shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and West Side Story have taken center stage at e Hanover eatre. Audiences have delighted in musical and dance acts, including Alvin Ailey American Dance eatre, e Boston Pops, Lord of the Dance, Neil Young, and Jackson Brown. e UMass Medical School Distinguished Speaker Series has brought a number of notable authors to e Hanover eatre's stage. e holidays sparkle as executive director Troy Siebels presents his own adaptation of A Christmas Carol and children of all ages enjoy the traditional Nutcracker Ballet. e overwhelming success of e Hanover eatre is helping to drive economic development in downtown Worcester. A leader among other theatres of comparable size in New England and beyond, e Hanover eatre operated in the black during the 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons. Positive public response and fiscally responsible operations prompted the Worcester Business Development Corporation and the city to launch plans for a theater district, which will border the CitySquare development and leverage the theatre's success. e economic impact to the city is estimated at more than $13 million. To ensure the ongoing preservation and maintenance of this historic facility and the ability to deliver the highest level of quality in every aspect of the theatergoing experience, e Hanover eatre has launched the $7 million Securing the Future capital campaign. Funds raised will be used to retire the remaining costs of the restoration and will enable the theatre to proactively plan for capital needs and continue to reinvest in this historic gem, and, thanks to e Hanover Insurance Group for its early commitment and support, the campaign is off to a running start. Today e Hanover eatre is fulfilling the promise of bringing memorable entertainment experiences to visitors, generating economic rejuvenation, and fostering interest in the growth and development of the City of Worcester. As e Hanover eatre honors the past, it is also playing a major role in creating the future. n Many families have made attending a Christmas Carol part of their annual holiday tradition.