In the past 30 days, lots and lots has happened. Short version is that we have begun negotiations to lease a 7000+ square foot street level portion of an old dress factory. This will more than double what we had before at the old mill. Concrete floor, no pillars and the three metal trusses (10 feet off the floor) do not interfere with any sight lines or clearances for either audience or stage. Once the owner moves his stuff downstairs (he has been using it for cold storage), we can construct areas to our specifications. It has verbally been agreed upon that both we and he want a minimum 5 year lease and the rental price he has quoted to begin with is more than reasonable. The ad hoc building committee has stated that the actual negotiaters can go up to his price if we need to . The owner has told several board members that he wants us in there because he knows we have staying power. Probably will have a 700 - 800 sq ft workshop in addition to prop, wardrobe and bulk storage areas. Separate dressing rooms and a green room are planned. 110 or so audience seating capacity depending upon final configuration. 32 ft wide x 21 ft deep stage plus 8 foot wings on either side. We are planning to construct modular audience seating risers with the concept of arranging theater in the round seating. Lots of sweat equity in this project but it will breathe new life into our group, plus be a huge shot in the arm for the community. I forgot to mention that this is in a highly traveled part of downtown and there is a 125-150 car municipal parking lot directly across the street. OOOO LA LA!!! Our ad hoc building committee met several times in January and February to discuss our options, reviewing various sites and made a recommendation that the complete board make an on site inspection. We did that on the 15th, committee met on the 18th to make a final recommendation, went back in on the 19th to take exact measurements, presented a detailed sketch proposal at an emergency board meeting on the 22nd and received approval to begin serious negotiations. Committee met again last night (24th) and developed a negotiation plan. Two of us will meet with the owner on either the 26th or 28th and hopefully we will be able to present a tentative agreement for adoption by the board on March 8th. What a roller coaster ride. We are going to initiate a "patron" level membership to generate the additional funds needed for rent, electricity, etc. and will be hitting up the local lumber yards for donations of lumber, sheet rock, etc. We are shooting for an operational theater for our fall presentation of Nunscracker. Nunsense was one of our more successful musicals and we anticipate that this will be a great introduction to the new theater - no matter what shape it is in. Ah Community Theater - isn't it grand?

We have met with the owner twice and our board once to explain everything. I think our board is now understanding that this project is hard to undertake but not impossible. The owner is trying to get some hard facts for us regarding building code. He has met with the code enforcement officer once and will be receiving a preliminary report in about 10 days. Won't be easy. The owner has stated that he is going to put in a new furnace ($3000+) but has been told by code that this furnace must be contained within a fireproof room (that means cinder block). He has also been told that the two exits from our area might not be enough. Plus I know that the whole topic of sprinkler system will come up. Mega bucks to do these renovations. I hope the owner will still be willing to make a committment once he finds out how much he will need to comply with.
I have called for a general membership meeting for 3/22 to review and discuss our options. The word has started to hit the streets by means of rumor so the time has come to supply our members some information and elicit their help.