Kozak shares one particularly memorable moment.

“One of the most impactful moments that stands out to me from an Especially Everyone event is when we featured one of our friends and bandmates, Jewels Harrison. Jewels is a phenomenal piano player who also has Autism, and has played with the band on many occasions. At one particular show, Jewels sat in with the band for three or four songs, then took a bow and joined his mom in the audience for the remainder of the performance. After the show, a man approached me and stated that he was incredibly impressed with Jewels’ musical ability, and even more importantly, that he had no idea that he had Autism until he finished playing and left the stage. 

Through music, Jewels was able to reveal so many of the other qualities that make him unique and are often overlooked, and that is something that we try to replicate in as many ways as possible during our shows.”

Hundreds of Beavers is the quintessential cult movie. Both a paean to the silent comedies of Chaplin, Lloyd and Keaton and a tribute to the Warner Bros. cartoons of the 40s, 50s and 60s.With a little “Mr. Bean” thrown in for good measure.

The places of old hold secrets to which only a select few are privy. If you believe the stories of the employees of the Williams Center, the Rivoli theater could be one of those hollows. Several staff members have strange tales of what goes on during the twilight hours at the hundred-year-old hall.

Film curator, Peter Parlegreco, explains, “… the Time Machine Series is an opportunity to have a seat in an historic theater and travel back through the annals of movie history. Each Wednesday, we present an important art house film from around the world.”

Animation Elevation is a series of animated films presented by the Williams Center Art Director, Michael Olivo. This particular set of movies focuses on Japanese animation of the ‘80s and ‘90s with a heavy slant towards space opera and cyberpunk science fiction. The series selections balance high adventure with adult themes while opening the viewer to completely original worlds.

Music at the Movies! Soldato Selects is a film series comprised of concert films and music documentaries. Curated by Larry Fried, the films are a mix of both contemporary and classic musical, and music-related, cinema.

Rutherford and the Williams Center have been intertwined since their beginnings, with the theater bringing life and entertainment to the town for over a century. From its early days as a vaudeville venue to its struggle through fires and financial hardships, the Rivoli Theater has remained a community cornerstone. Today, with the support of local advocates and new ownership, the Williams Center looks toward a hopeful future as an arts hub, continuing its legacy of enriching Rutherford. Here's to the next chapter—let the music play.

Explore the depths of the arts with Blind Shovel: Arts and Music Interviews. Born from a desire to highlight the thoughts and projects of often overlooked artists, this podcast offers casual yet deep conversations with creatives across various disciplines. With custom intros and outros by Dory Bavarsky and Mingjia Chen, each episode is a unique experience.

“But as for the first RFF, our team put together an event that felt genuine in its intent, and intimate in its format. In this sense, it was a success, and I hope it inspired spectators and participants to continue to embrace the potential of film and also the potential of the Williams Center.” - Michael Olivo

Join us for an exclusive interview with Julia Roome from NBC’s “The Voice”, a rising star who stole our hearts on 'The Voice'. From her ecstatic journey to the battle rounds, she shares her inspiring story, her musical journey, and the personal insights behind her heartfelt songs. Get ready to dive into Julia's world as she opens up about her experience on the show, her mentors, and her upcoming performance at the Williams Center.

From the big screen to the small screen, to YouTube to TikToks, our art is shrinking every day from all sides. We have to save it. This is the clarion call.

See you at the movies!

At the ceremony renaming the Rivoli Theater “The Williams Center”, Williams’ sons described him as down to earth unlike his artist friends.

“His energy was inexhaustible,” said William E. Williams. Paul Williams said, “I’m honored that my father is being used as a symbol of a rebirth, a rejuvenation for Rutherford.”

Next time you come to a show in the Rivoli look up at that chandelier and try to appreciate it for more than just an object made to reflect light.

When you step into the Spring Hall theater at the Williams Center you step into a different world. Swords, skeletons and lights decorate the theater in addition to stuffed dragons and unicorns.

From blistering guitar solos and growling vocals to acrobatic drums and pounding bass, every performance was on point.

Soldato Books & Records at the Williams Center