New Theatre Company and Performance Venue, The Ground Floor Theatre, to Open 12/1

Ground Floor Theatre (GFT), www.groundfloortheatre.org, a new 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre organization will launch a new theatre company and community performance complex located at 979 Springdale (Springdale and Airport) in East Austin. Opening December 1, 2014, the new space will not only host GFT productions, but will also be available to arts groups, business and community groups in the Capital Metro Area.

GFT will concentrate on new works by, and for, underrepresented communities. GFT will also serve as a creative 'home' for the Austin theatre community for collaboration and artistic development. The goal is to position and highlight Austin's thriving arts community as a leading force in the national theatre landscape.

"GROUND FLOOR THEATRE was born out of the desire to serve the community that I love, produce ground-breaking works, and shine a light on those communities that seldom bask in its glow." says Lisa Scheps, founder of GFT. "By situatingGFT in the rapidly growing East Side community, we hope to bring a fresh new experience to this vibrant neighborhood."

With Austin's rapidly burgeoning theatre community, performance space has become scarce. GFT will help alleviate this need as well as hosting community events and educational outreach programs. The space will also feature work by designers Quitin Rae Art along with other Capital Area artists.

Boasting an incredible 4,500 square foot space, GFT's will house a 140 seat blackbox theatre offering a full service, professionally-managed venue for theatrical productions. Services include ticketing, house management, concessions, lighting, sound, video production and limited public relations. Seating configuration is flexible and the space also features two dressing rooms, a green room, private bathroom, and ample parking.

In addition to housing Ground Floor Theatre's theatre company, the venue is already booked to host two major Austin theatre events. Fusebox 60-IN-SIXTY will be the inaugural event hosted in this space on December 9th. Austin's legendaryFronteraFest Long Fringe follows, running January 19th - February 1st, 2015.

GROUND FLOOR THEATRE

Ground Floor Theatre will concentrate on new works by and for underrepresented communities, and be an incubator to foster and grow new and groundbreaking works that shine a light on groups that seldom bask in light. They will also be a home for the Austin Theatre Community to come together and learn from one another in order to help Austin to continue to excel as a leader in the national theatre community. Ground Floor's well-equipped 140 seat black box theatre will be made available to the theatre community at reasonable rates.

LISA SCHEPS

Lisa Scheps is Founder and Director of Ground Floor Theatre. She brings her multiple talents to Austin from a long career in New York and Chicago. As a stage manager and director she toured all over the world with such groups as The Joffrey Ballet, The Skitch Henderson Orchestra, and various pre-Broadway and pre-Broadway productions. In 1981 she made her Broadway debut as a stage manager and chorus member in the flop, Oh Brother at the Anta Theatre on 52nd Street. In 1984 Lisa transitioned to the industry known as business theatre as a creative director and producer. In 1994 she moved to Chicago and opened her own business theatre production company, Concentrix Corp. Through Scheps' leadership Concentrix quickly became one of the top companies in the industry and remains so today. In 2001 Scheps moved back to Texas and re-invested her time, money and interest in the theatre community here. She purchased a building and opened play! Theatre group in 2004 which closed after three years due to circumstance beyond her control. Lisa lives in Southeast Austin with her dog, Sofi and spends her time doing theatre, her radio show, and supports myriad of political and social justice causes.