Minding Your Business- Bill Hanney’s Entertainment Experience

“It is just incredible! We went all out,” said Bill Hanney, owner of the brand new entertainment mecca on Cape Cod: Bill Hanney’s Entertainment Experience. “We are really doing this up. It’s going to be first-class all the way.”

Formerly a Regal Cinema at the Cape Cod Mall, this new destination hotspot will feature state-of-the-art cinemas, Broadway-style theaters and lounge facilities all under one roof by the time it is completed. Now with phase one finished, there are nine luxury cinemas currently open. 

“We’re calling the new cinemas 'Hollywood Boulevard,’” Hanney said. “They are all down one corridor and it's amazing, with new sconces, new painting, new carpet — everything! Phase one also included renovating the bathrooms. I am telling you, these bathrooms have marble walls — it is just incredible. These bathrooms are better than the Ritz!”

Phase one’s multi-screen movie theater component offers a premium guest experience showing the latest blockbuster hits, independent films, and family-friendly features. Moviegoers enjoy luxury recliner-style chairs, reserved seating, cutting-edge sound and visuals, and a wide selection of refreshments. Of the nine movie screens, one is considered a PLF — premium large format, which features immersive surround-sound, wall-to-wall screens and laser projection capabilities. 

In addition to movie cinemas, Bill Hanney's Entertainment Experience, when completed, will feature two primary performance auditoriums: a 700-seat live performance theater and a 200-seat cabaret and live music space. This grand facility will have multi-purpose use when all is said and done. On any given day guests could enjoy seeing a movie with friends or family, a live music act, comedy show, cabaret show and even a grand scale, high production-value musical on the main stage.  An on-site kitchen and bar will offer pub-style food and drinks, enhancing the overall experience.

In addition to owning and operating multiple regional cinemas in New England, Hanney also owns the North Shore Music Theater in Beverley and the Theater by the Sea in Rhode Island. His love and passion for Cape Cod drew him to this new, big venture.

“I live in Brewster every weekend throughout the year,” he said. “I know what it's like to live here in the off-season and I know what it's like to live on the Cape in-season, as we are right now. I produce Broadway-type musicals at two other theaters and I’ve wanted to do this on Cape Cod for the longest time. I thought unless you like to go 2.5 hours to go see a bigger show on a Saturday, which I don't want to do, then build it on the Cape. Then the whole idea evolved into I needed to find the location, where we were going to build it or find the land, that kind of stuff. Then the Regal theater at the mall became available.”

Hanney said there are plans to build a 200-seat space above the lobby in the back of the concessions area which will showcase lounge singers and other acts with a Las Vegas-style vibe. Other areas in the building will include dressing rooms for the entertainers and costume shops. There are also plans to carve out outdoor space and an ample amount of parking spaces at the Cape Cod Mall to the tune of a few thousand spots!

Keeping this hub central on Cape Cod is important to Hanney and fueling the local economy with more opportunity and more jobs. He envisions the local economy getting a great boost with patrons visiting local restaurants before a show and driving interest in visiting the Cape any month of the year. Hanney also predicts employing as many as 200 to 300 people in the busiest months. 

“I could see a great Christmas show put on the stage here and cabaret events happening and people going to the movies here all the time,” Hanney said. “And in the summertime we will put on the big productions because we’ll have the population here to support that.”

He added, “We are not here to compete with the local community theaters in any way. I go to all of them and they’re terrific. I don’t mess around when it comes to high-end productions or talent. Most of our talent once came from community theaters so we have to keep supporting them, because that is our future. I always say, you play a little flower in a kindergarten show and then you work your way up to Broadway!”

Bill Hanney’s Entertainment Experience is truly going to be a one-of-a-kind multi-venue complex when it is completed, with nothing quite coming close to comparison in the area. 

“It is so unique, so cool,” Hanney proudly said. “It will really be something else when it is finished.”

Live Theater * Live Music * Comedy Club * Luxury Cinemas

793 Iyannough Rd., Route 132, Hyannis

508-974-3456

entertainmentcinemas.com