THE STORY Back Then...

The Multi Media Arts Center (TheMMAC), a production complex developed by Charles A Brownley, III, is an omni arts, multi cultural, multi media, multi venue, multi purpose facility designed to present arts and entertainment to regional patrons...
AND to connected world audiences!

Though his impresario ambitions began in junior high school, Brownley's professional career began not long after college in the fall of 1978, by establishing Orpheus Entertainment (OrpheusEntertainment.com) to present concerts. In addition to working in a couple of clubs that featured live entertainment, he soon began booking his own roster of jazz and pop artists into clubs, theaters & colleges nationally.

Through the 80's Brownley produced concerts events regionally. Early shows featured artists including Wynton Marsalis, Jeff Lorber, Dizzy Gillespie, Phoebe Snow, Roberta Flack, Spyro Gyra, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Noel Pointer... at venues including Liberty State Park, Club88, Rutgers University, Kean College, Symphony Hall, Town Hall, George Street Playhouse... A successful series of events at the now gone Whole Theater in Montclair featuring Tom Paxton, Taj Mahal, Michael Brecker, Dave Valentin, and many others, first inspired Brownley's desired to create a permanent venue in the area.

With the help of the late Ron Nelinson, they opened the Center Street Cabaret in Orange NJ in '88 with acts like David Bromberg, Hiram Bullock & Will Lee, Tom Browne, Taj Mahal, Gil Scott-Heron & many others.

In '93 after spending a couple of years as Marketing Director for the Carter G Woodson Foundation's Onstage in NJ, the state's premier Afro-Am Cultural/Performing arts series, Brownley's career shifted to managing major NYC concert venues. Wetlands-Preserve was a themed club with a community mandate that featured many nationally touring acts such as Hootie & the Blowfish, Dave Matthews Band, Run DMC, Blues Traveler, Gov't Mule, Phish, Ben Harper, Living Colour, Andy Summers, John Scofield, Skunk Anansie, Space Hog, Baba Olatunje, Fishbone, Joan Osborne, The Toasters, Spin Doctors, and loads others!

Later he became General Manager of the world known Knitting Factory, itself then a multi-venue multi-media enterprise. Lou Reed, Yoko Ono, Pat Methany, Rufus Wainwright, Al Green, Mos Def, Sonic Youth and tons others played the flagship of KnitMedia Inc. which in addition to it's pioneering web presence, produced the Verizon and other jazz/music festivals around the world, also opening a Knitting Factory in Los Angeles. With in house audio recording and video production facilities, the company also produced TV shows for NBC & BETJazz and spawned a few record labels.Villa Concert Poster

Unfortunately being located in the lower NYC's Tribeca, both were collateral victims of the events of 9/11, Wetlands being closed prematurely and the Knitting Factory ultimately moving to Brooklyn.

Since then, Brownley has become involved in video and film production having worked on over 250 indie features, shorts, tv shows/pilots, music docs, etc. (www.ChucksFilmServices.com) However, he has continued concert production on a limited basis under the banner Chuck's Concerts (Chucks Concerts) producing two series events Cozy Concerts at the then 12 Miles West Theater* and Villa Concert series in Mountain Lakes with Richie Havens, Leon Redbone, Lisa Loeb, Neville Brothers, Loudon Wainwright, Maynard Ferguson+

But again because of limited prime time access and unfavorable rent requests, the search continued for exclusive access to an at least 500 seat venue in the area to take advantage of the economies of scale and revenue potential afforded.Cozy Concerts Poster

Now the theater in Bloomfield NJ, where the Cozy Concerts series was successfully established, has been purchased. TheMMAC is now open for limited operations. Though he has made a significant personal commitment to fund this project, Brownley continues to attract the needed resources to complete full renovations.

In addition to local activity, a global presence has already been established. Operating in the 3D virtual world of Second Life for three years, TheMMAC in SL presents real time live music & comedy performers streamed from around the world, in addition to providing on demand media and activities to a global audience. www.TheMMACsl.com

Stay tuned for updates....