Newburyport Screening Room

The Newburyport Screening Room, commonly known as The Screening Room, is an independent movie theater on State Street in Newburyport, Massachusetts. It was founded by Andrew Mungo and Nancy Ransom, who met in 1977 and shared the goal of opening an art house cinema. Over five years they organized film festivals and regular screenings at local venues such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall and the YMCA, and in 1982 they opened The Screening Room at its current location. The theater became a local institution, known for showing independent, foreign, and art films. In the spring of 2019, after 38 years of operation, Mungo and Ransom decided to look for new operators. Their plans were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the statewide lockdown in 2020. In June 2020, Becca and Ben Fundis learned the theater was for sale, visited Newburyport, and fell in love with the space. In July 2020 they purchased the theater in partnership with the founders and reopened on October 9, 2020, with Miranda July's Kajillionaire. Rising community COVID-19 risk forced the theater to close again three months later, and it reopened on June 18, 2021, with In the Heights. The Screening Room continues to operate as a single-screen art house theater, with general admission at $12 and discounts for seniors and teens. The box office accepts cash and major credit cards and generally does not offer online ticket sales except for special events. The theater also sells discount ticket books and gift certificates. It is supported in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Screening Room remains a beloved cultural venue in the Greater Newburyport area, committed to bringing diverse films to the community.

The Screening Room was founded by Andrew Mungo and Nancy Langsam, who met in 1977 and discovered a shared ambition to open an arts cinema. They began by organizing a film festival at the Disabled American Veterans hall in Newburyport, which evolved into a regular series at the YMCA. After five years of persistent effort, they opened The Screening Room at its current location on State Street in 1982. The cinema quickly became a local cultural staple, and in the founders' words, it brought "glory and fame." Over the next decades, The Screening Room navigated the transition to digital projection and remained a thriving independent theater. By spring 2019, after 38 years of operation, Mungo and Langsam decided it was time to find new operators. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and statewide shutdowns in 2020 put their plans on hold. In June 2020, Becca and Ben Fundis learned from a friend that the cinema was for sale. They visited Newburyport, fell in love with the theater's charm, and in July 2020 collaborated with the founders to purchase it. By September, the couple had moved to Massachusetts. They reopened The Screening Room on October 9, 2020, with Miranda July's "Kajillionaire," but remained open for only three months before closing again due to rising COVID-19 risks in the community. With the rollout of vaccines and the reversal of state restrictions, they reopened on June 18, 2021, with "In the Heights." The theater continues to operate under their ownership, maintaining its tradition of independent and arthouse programming.

• 2021

  Theater reopens on June 18 with 'In the Heights' after COVID-19 closure.

• 2020

  COVID-19 pandemic delays transition plans.

• 2020

  Becca and Ben Fundis purchase the theater in July.

• 2020

  The Screening Room reopens on October 9 with 'Kajillionaire'.

• 2019

  Founders decide to find new operators after 38 years.

• 1982

  The Screening Room opens at its current location on State Street.

• 1977

  Andrew Mungo and Nancy Langsam meet and decide to open an arts cinema.

• 1977

  They begin a film festival at the Disabled American Veterans hall in Newburyport.

Independent arthouse cinema offering curated film programming in a historic single-screen venue.

• General Admission Ticket

• Senior Ticket (62+)

• Youth Ticket (under 16)

• General Admission Discount Ticket Book

• Senior Discount Ticket Book

1. 1The Screening Room Official Websitenewburyportmovies.com
2. 2History — The Screening Roomnewburyportmovies.com
3. 3Your Visit — The Screening Roomnewburyportmovies.com
4. 4Wikidata: Newburyport Screening Roomwikidata.org