Criterion’s Next Act: Beloved Bar Harbor Theatre Officially Reopens Under New Foundation

Saturday's celebration highlighted history, community, and music

Jul 09, 2025

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Paradis Ace Hardware.

BAR HARBOR—The Criterion Theatre officially reopened this weekend with a concert by the Mother Hips and Leslie Mendelson.

But it was more than a concert.

It was a celebration of continuity and of hope after it looked like the beloved theater and community gathering place could potentially close for good this past winter.

That didn’t happen.

Instead, it was reborn.

This past April, the Criterion’s current board unanimously voted to transfer the theater’s assets to the Harper House Music Foundation (HHMF), a non-profit public charity focused on supporting music communities and arts education.

Longtime Bar Harbor summer residents Stephen and Allison Sullens founded the Foundation, which has pledged $1 million in operational, programming, and preservation support.

“Attending Criterion shows and events has been one of our favorite things about our time on MDI over the years,” Stephen Sullens said at the time. “The theater is a true gem, and we deeply appreciate its role as a cultural cornerstone for Down East communities. Allison and I are thrilled to contribute to the Criterion’s preservation and in leading it in this next chapter.”

The rebirth of the Criterion means a lot to people: people who grew up on the island, people from away who have made it there home, and even visitors.

One local man said that when he stopped in to talk to the Sullenses about settling up his account for work done, he began to cry.

The theater means something.

Another man said that his mom was born on the same exact day as the theater first opened its doors in 1932. That’s special, he said. It’s a synchronicity that means something to him.

Maybe, he hoped, there could be some secret, out-of-the-way place in the theater where he could put a small photo of her and she could continue here, in a tiny way, as part of the theater he loves in the community he loves.

The event was a salute to the past, including cars from the Seal Cove Auto Museum outside, and the present, a gift to the community.

“The Seal Cove Auto Museum was excited to support the opening of the Criterion with period automobiles under the marque,” said Seal Cove Auto Museum Executive Director Mike Staggs.

Staggs and others drove over automobiles from the collection and parked them under the marquee. Guests and passersby mingled and learned about the cars and the museum, which is located at 1414 Tremont Road in Seal Cove.

More shows and events, as well as ticket information, is at www.criteriontheatre.org.

ABOUT HARPER HOUSE MUSIC FOUNDATION (“HHMF”):

HHMF is centered around grant-making to organizations serving musicians and investments that address “need gaps” where infrastructure and funding are lacking. HHMF has collaborated with and contributed to such vital charitable and educational organizations as the Americana Music Foundation, the Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie Centers, Berklee College of Music, Backline, Music Will, the Neal Casal Music Foundation, and Newport Festivals Foundation, while also working with such notable artists as Natalie Merchant, T-Bone Burnett, Rosanne Cash, and Rhiannon Giddens. For more information, visit harperhousemusicfoundation.org.