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Two years after purchasing 15 North Fourth Street in Downtown Harrisburg, Gamut Theatre Group will open the doors to its new theatre. A Grand Opening Celebration will take place November 6, 2015 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. beginning with a ribbon cutting with Mayor Eric Papenfuse. Afterwards the theatre will be open for the community to tour and cake and refreshments will be served. Everyone is invited to attend.
Gamut Theatre Group will inaugurate the Select Medical Mainstage the following evening, November 7, with the opening of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. The box office will open at 6:30 p.m. and the play will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the performance are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors/military, and $15 for students and can be purchased in advance at www.GamutTheatre.org (http://www.gamuttheatre.org) . Following the performance, a reception will be held where guests can meet and mingle with the cast and crew while enjoying refreshments. Tickets to the reception are sold separately.
Twelfth Night will continue November 8-29 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Student matinees of the performance are also available for educational groups to book November 11, 12, 18, 19. For more information on student matinees, contact Michelle Kay Smith at Info@GamutTheatre.org (mailto:Info@GamutTheatre.org) or by calling 717-238-4111.
Twelfth Night, one of William Shakespeare's better known works, is an "intriguing comedy," said Artistic Director Clark Nicholson. The production will feature current and past Gamut Theatre Group core company actors. Gamut followers will have the chance to see past favorites on stage once more in the opening scene of this interpretation, in which the role of Sea Captain will be played by various past Gamut actors each night.
Clark Nicholson said he chose Twelfth Night as the opening production because of, "its underlying theme of new beginnings that grow from fertile ends," a theme which mirrors Gamut's future as they leave Strawberry Square after 22 years. Executive Director, Melissa Nicholson said, "After being 'tucked away' at Strawberry Square, we are excited to have a street presence and become a permanent fixture in Central PA."
The building, located in the former first location of the First Church of God, underwent major renovations over the past two years to transform the 120+ year old building into a professional theatre space. "We are so proud to preserve much of the original architecture and be caretakers for the rich history that accompanies it," said Melissa Nicholson, "It is, in my opinion, the perfect place to perform classic stories."
The 20,000 square-foot building has plenty of space for Gamut Theatre Group to grow in the future. When the second phase of renovations is completed, the building will boast two stages-the Select Medical Mainstage with seating for up to 250 people, and the Alexander Grass Second Stage which will primarily be used for Popcorn Hat Players Children's Theatre shows-as well as a reception lobby with a bar and small stage. The space will also include two classrooms for Gamut's popular Theatre Academy as well as all the support space a top-rate theatre requires.
