Theater Space Project to Purchase & Renovate St. Paul Building

Theater Space Project has just announced the acquisition of a building at 644 Selby Avenue, one half block west of Dale Street. The building will serve as the new home for Theater Space Project and a number of guest theater companies and performers.

The building, which has been vacant for 5 years, will be completely renovated. It will serve as a neighborhood resource; a gathering place for the performing arts, and will provide rental space for many Twin Cities theater companies. The theater will be used for performances, concerts, poetry readings, parties, and neighborhood gatherings. Theater Space Project hopes to have the building open for regular rental and performances by June 2014, with intermittent performances and events during the reconstruction period.

The building will need to be renovated completely. Carol Schweickhardt, Executive Director of TSP will be overseeing the project and the renovation planning, with assistance from the staff, board and input from the rental companies. Rob Clapp of Summit Realty has been so helpful assisting with the project.

Carol says, ³Really, everything will be new. The building is gutted. We will be building restrooms, lobby, dressing rooms, risers, new entrances, etc. And we plan to have an infinite performance area with no raised stage area.²

³This building is a great opportunity for Theater Space Project as an organization. We have built two previous theaters from empty gutted spaces so that is nothing new for us. What is new is the magnitude of the project with renovations and building purchase. We are excited to be in such a vibrant area with so much going on. We are also thrilled to be able to meet our neighbors instead of have them all locked up in high rises like it was in our previous space in downtown St. Paul.²

She goes on to say, ³Theater companies and theater goers from all over the Twin Cities will love this space and this neighborhood. We think this new building will be a great opportunity and resource, not only for this neighborhood, but for St. Paul and the entire Twin Cities!²

Theater Space Project founding board member and St. Paul Public School administrator Patrick Romey says, ³This space will be a resource to serve, reflect and enrich the neighborhood.² The mission of Theater Space project is to support live theater by providing affordable performance space. Theater Space Project has helped theater companies and individuals from all over the Twin Cities produce plays, performances and concerts. Some of the better-known productions include some of the Twin Cities¹ best small theater companies, such as Theatre Unbound, Table Salt, Gadfly, Theater Coup d¹ Etat, and many more. One-night productions have included stand-up comedy, drag and burlesque shows, CD release parties, etc.

For updates and more information, visit www.theaterpaceproject.org