MadLab Theatre and Gallery Announces The Purchase Of Their New Space

MadLab Theatre and Gallery has purchased a property located at 227 North Third Street, in downtown Columbus making it one of the few theatre companies in Columbus, Ohio to own its venue.

The new property increases the company's available square footage from 2450 to 3750, which allows Gallery, Theatre house, Scene Shop and storage to moved under the same roof.

Goodbye: MadLab will say goodbye to its current leased property at 105 N. Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215 in February 13, 2010 with 12 Hour Theatre Production. 12 Hour Theatre will be a production where MadLab writers, directors and actors produce six 15 minute plays from start to finish in the course of only 12 hours (similar to our 24 and 48 hour style productions).

Hello: MadLab will take possession of the property immediately. Renovations begin January 1, 2010 and are scheduled to be completed March 1, 2010. MadLab plans to open the doors to the new venue mid-March, 2010.
Raise the Roof -Help MadLab "Raise the Roof" of the new space by providing donations of money, materials or your time. The total budget for renovations of the new facility is projected to be $70,000. Currently MadLab has raised $50,000. The Raise the Roof campaign provides opportunities to contribute towards the creation of this new downtown venue. Donations can be made by visiting MadLab's website.

Andy Batt, Managing Director of MadLab, on the significance of this move: The mere fact that MadLab will be owning its own space is a titanic step in our development. No longer will MadLab be beholden to anyone else. The doors have opened for us to do what we want, when we want with our own space. But, beyond the obvious advantages of owning our own space, there are so many things about this new space that will become so advantageous. For too long, MadLab has only had one restroom for the public to use during intermissions and before and after productions. Now, not only will there be multiple fixtures in the rest room, but there will be public male and female restrooms that will not only make patrons feel more comfortable, but also help ease the flow of traffic during these time periods. Almost as important to the people within the organization itself, is the practicality of having its scene shop in the same building as the theatre. This makes all our lives so much easier by not having to haul set pieces and such from one location to another. Just moving it from one room to another will make load ins and set building so much more convenient. All these things, combined with the renewed excitement within our organization, are just more reasons why MadLab is here to stay for decades to come.

Before we Go:
MadLab will close out it's current space with the following slate of shows:

Heroine by Michael Milligan
Presented by On the Verge Productions
Fridays-Saturdays at 8pm, December 18th and 19th at 8pm
Tickets are $10

January 16-17, 2010 - 48 Hour Theatre Production

In November of 2008, Madlab brought you 48 in ‘08. Now, it does the trick again and shows Columbus how you do 2 one act shows, each conceived, written, rehearsed, and performed within 24 hours. Two days in a row.

January 21-30, 2010 - OG Productions presents Cow Tipping and other Love Stories

The directing team behind Stripped Away and many other MadLab mega-hits, Amanda Bauer and Stephen Woosley, go off the reservation to bring you 5 one act shows. Chaos is guaranteed.

February 13, 2010 - 12 Hour Theatre Production

MadLab has done 24s. 48s. Now, they're gonna put it all together in 12 hours. Why? Because it's there. Also, they're moving out. So, come to the final show in the history of MadLab. Well, at 105 N. Grant anyway.

When We Get There:
March/April 2010: The Kill "em With Kindness Comedy Festival:

May 2010: The 11th Annual Theatre Roulette

June 2010: FFN's Roll the Dice

August 2010: The Jinn by Kirk Lynn

October 2010: Cabfare for The Common Man by Mark Harvey Levine

History - - MadLab Theatre and Gallery provides an artistic haven for the creation and experience of original works. It is a laboratory where individuals and ensembles are free to experiment without censor. Each year the organization produces approximately eight full-length, original productions, including "Theatre Roulette," Columbus's longest-running annual shorts festival. In addition, the organization leverages its space to serve emerging artists by providing an affordable, quality venue to small arts organizations.

Two reports, State of the Arts and Culture in Columbus, Ohio, a report created for The Columbus Partnership, and State of the Arts Report, created by The Ohio Arts Council, state that one of the most pressing issues for small arts organizations in the central Ohio area is the lack of available and affordable rental spaces. While MadLab is a producing entity, it is also an affordable community space available to artists, theatre companies, and small nonprofits that lack a venue. Located in downtown Columbus since 1999, MadLab has leased and successful operated a black box venue for over ten years.

Start-up troupes such as Carrickmacross Productions, Theatre Deadalus, Raconteur Theatre Co., and Evolution Theatre Co. have all used MadLab to stage their productions. According to Paul Lockwood, Artistic Director of Evolution Theatre Company, "Both of the shows we presented at MadLab this past year, Stone Cold Dead Serious and The Hopper Collection, were a success financially due in large part to MadLab's nurturing, and affordable, artistic environment." The fact that MadLab saw only 10 dark weekends with no performances in 2008, and only four such weekends in 2009, speaks to the need that small arts organizations and ensembles have for such venues and havens.

In order to provide opportunities for artists, MadLab accepts submittals from both visual artists and playwrights. Annually, high numbers of both full-length plays (470 in 2007) and shorts (999 in 2008) are submitted for the theatre's consideration from American and international playwrights. The high number of submissions speaks to the tremendous need that developing playwrights have for creative outlets and learning labs. To further serve playwrights, MadLab developed "3 in 30" as a part of its late night series. This project keeps writers (both new and old) writing and honing their work. The company also supports visual artists through juried gallery shows. In 2009 alone over 100 artists were shown in the MadLab gallery. Gallery shows vary in theme and medium, allowing opportunities for as many different styles and aesthetics as possible.

To support both its own season and rentals by other companies, MadLab utilizes an Ensemble of actors who share a level of dedication that is unrivaled. The Ensemble works on all aspects of the creative process, continuing to grow and learn as artists and individuals. Currently, there are 29 Ensemble members who, in addition to their creative duties, assist in the day-to-day operations of MadLab, doing everything from writing press releases to building sets. This level of commitment is significant and illustrates how meaningful the MadLab experience is for those involved.
In 2008, MadLab performances were cited by The Columbus Dispatch and The Other Paper as outstanding works. In addition, the company was nominated for the Greater Columbus Arts Council's Artistic Excellence Award, the fourth time it has received the honor of nomination. Organizations that have used the venue are also gaining notoriety. "Stones in His Pockets," produced by Carrickmacross Productions, was called "one of the year's best productions" by theatre critic Michael Grossberg of The Columbus Dispatch. And since staging their first works at MadLab Theatre and Gallery, Evolution Theatre has become the newest resident arts group of the Columbus Association of the Performing Arts.

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