Our Mission is to preserve our historic, landmark theater and the classic cinema experience by offering a wide range of films, educational programs, creative special events, and a meeting place for our entire community.

The Garden Theatre is Princeton’s original cinema, built in 1920. Today, the Garden is an independent, nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to presenting the finest indie, international, documentary, and classic films, series, and educational programs. The Garden preserves the classic theater experience at the historic, walkable theater combined with premiere presentation and sound. The Garden fosters entertainment, exploration, and community engagement through diverse and thoughtful programming.

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Learn about our history »

The Garden’s relationship with Princeton University. Princeton Garden Theater, Inc. is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit that operates the historic Princeton Garden Theatre. It is wholly separate from Princeton University and has its own finances, staff, and Board of Trustees.

In 1993, Princeton University saved the Garden Theatre from being demolished. It then oversaw renovations to modernize and update the historic theater. The University, however, does not operate the theater, but contracts with outside companies to do so.

In 2014, Princeton Garden Theater, Inc. entered a long-term lease agreement to operate the theater. Princeton Garden Theater, Inc. is responsible for all operations of the theater: from programming, to staffing, to building upkeep, and long-term maintenance. As a member-supported, community-based organization, we rely on our loyal members, individual giving, and grants to operate the theater sustainably and to provide engaging, artful films and special events.

Christopher R. Collier is the Executive Director of Renew Theaters, a nonprofit management company that operates four nonprofit, member-supported theaters in Pennsylvania and New Jersey: The Ambler Theater, County Theater, Hiway Theater, and Princeton Garden Theatre.

He has worked at Renew since 2007, starting as a manager of his hometown Ambler Theater. Over his 15 years working at Renew, the company has doubled in size, both in staff and number of theaters. He became Executive Director in 2019.

He served as the 2018-2019 AHC Conference Co-Chair, served on the Provisional Board from 2019-2020 and joined the Transitional Leadership Group stewarding the organization through the pandemic from 2020-2022.

Chris holds degrees in Musicology from Dartmouth College and the University of Oxford, where he wrote his dissertations focused on film music. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

Meet our administrative staff »

Liz Lempert, President
James Steward, Vice President
John Toner, Treasurer
Kim Otis, Secretary

Stephen Forden
Carol Golden
Valerie Giguere
Randy Hill
Patty Leuchten
Leigh Lockwood
Jim McKinney
Adelaide Zabriskie
Chris Collier, ex officio