Main Street Theater Launches Public Phase of Capital Campaign for Renovation of Rice Village Location

Main Street Theater announces the launch of the public phase of its capital campaign to purchase and renovate its Rice Village facility where the theater has been creating nationally recognized productions for more than 30 years. There will be a kickoff event on Monday, May 13 from 6 - 7:30pm at 2540 Times; free and open to the public. RSVP to CapitalCampaign@MainStreetTheater.com.

Main Street Theater's Times Boulevard building is the primary venue for its Equity MainStage productions for adults as well as an important location for classes, productions and camps for the theater's Education Department. Re-purposed by the company over thirty years ago from a former laundry and dry cleaners, the facility on Times Blvd. has numerous drawbacks which the theater was never able to address, since it did not own the building. Three years ago the property was put on the market, and after looking at other options the Main Street Theater Board of Directors made the decision to purchase the building and renovate it, bringing the physical theater up to the quality of the work onstage. "For years, we've managed to create an incredible theater experience for our Houston audiences despite the limitations of our facilities," says Executive Artistic Director ReBecca Greene Udden, who founded Main Street Theater in 1975. "We are so excited about this opportunity to create a stronger, better future for Main Street Theater by acquiring a permanent home and bringing it up to the standards of the work we are producing on stage." The capital campaign is being led by Campaign Co-Chairs Justin O'Brien and Dean O'Kelley. To fund its quest for a permanent home, Main Street Theater is seeking the support of foundations, corporations and individuals.

At 4,500 square feet, the new facility will retain the intimate 99-seat size that audiences love, but with improved sight lines. MST has completed the project design and the façade renovation and has closed on the larger portion of the property. This next phase of the campaign is the major renovation, including public restrooms, dressing rooms, a mezzanine rehearsal/classroom space, and a new, higher roof over the entire property, enabling us to eliminate the poles in the middle of the stage and liberate our scenic and lighting designers. Most importantly, the location will remain easily accessible to patrons of all ages.

To Udden, the reasons for supporting Main Street Theater's future are clear. "Houston is fortunate to have many exciting theaters that deserve our support," she says. "But Main Street Theater is distinctive, in that we offer a uniquely eclectic and challenging selection of plays and musicals to Houston theater-goers in an intimate setting. We also offer a wonderful array of programs to inspire and educate children and youth. And we provide a great venue for training, employment, and exposure for our city's professional theater artists. With our own home, we'll be far better able to do what we do best."

Currently its 38th season, Main Street Theater has earned acclaim both locally and nationally. The theater currently serves more than 130,000 community members annually through a year-round repertoire of top-quality productions for adults on its MainStage, live productions and dynamic learning experiences in its Theater for Youth program, and training and outreach opportunities through its Education Department.

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