So, you have great actors a wonderful script, beautiful costumes and scenery but no place to perform! Never fear, help is here. We are expert in this field having run a theatre company in other people’s spaces for over seven years. Here are three suggestions that may help you find a stage.
1. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and community theatre associations. (you should consider membership in these fine organizations) They may have a list of available spaces. The chamber of commerce in our town had a list of spaces, seating capacity, base rental price, contact information and a basic list of use restrictions, in short everything you need to find a space. Places with theatres usually include: colleges, high schools, churches and community theatre. Some businesses have theatres in them geared toward large group meetings. The chamber of commerce probably has contact information for these people
2. Ah, the great outdoors! Consider starting your theatre in the out of doors. This could range from your backyard to a park amphitheatre. Usually these spaces are available cheap or free. Here we have one of the oldest Shakespeare companies Oklahoma Shakespeare in the park. They are currently having a new home built for them by the city.
Contact your local parks service or library to see if they have anything available.
3. Do it yourself! My company Family Theatre Warehouse did. We bought a store front at auction and turned it into a 140 seat proscenium theatre. (as seen above) When taking this approach, find the largest open space (no center supports if possible) you can afford! Our Theatre room is about 25’x75’. We bought our seats at auction from a defunct movie theatre. You will definitely have your work cut out for you, so make sure you are planning to stay for awhile be fore investing that much time and energy.
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