For those who have attended or participated in Near West Theatre’s intense, emotional performances in their current rented space in a third-floor, walk-up ballroom at St. Patrick’s Church in Ohio City, nothing could be more intense or emotional than breaking ground on their first permanent home in 34 years.
The site at W. 67th & Detroit Avenue, in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District, is just a plot of dirt now, but by the Fall of 2014, NWT plans to premiere their life-changing theatrical process in a new $6.8 million 25,550 square foot theatre space that includes so much more.
Besides seating for 275 patrons, the new building will offer theatrical facilities they have never enjoyed: a stage with fly space and wings, room for rehearsals and access for larger and more diverse audiences of all physical abilities. The building was designed by Richard Fleischman + Partners Architects of Cleveland.
The extra space will come in handy every day, as Near West Theatre’s process includes producing musicals with casts of up to 100 non-professional actors of all ages, and engaging them in life-changing exercises and training while strengthening their sense of identity, passion and purpose.
Since 1978, Near West Theatre has been literally changing the world, hundreds of people at a time, through singing, dancing, and acting. At the same time, they are transforming their neighborhood through presentations and performances created by, and accessible to, the surrounding community.
Above, Near West Theatre Artistic Director Bob Navis Jr. and Executive Director Stephanie Morrison-Hrbek (at microphones) celebrate the planting of one of eight colorful stakes representing Near West Theatre’s values, which include truth, beauty, freedom, love, barrier- breaking, diversity, art for social change, financial support, inclusion, integrity, creativity, activism, continuity and thinking big.
Dawon Owens and Amy Karliak Kazanowski, actors in Near West Theatre’s current production of Children of Eden, plant the eighth stake, symbolizing “love.”
Founding Executive Director Stephanie Morrison-Hrbek greets a crowd of over 250 during Near West Theatre’s indoor groundbreaking celebration at the Capitol Theatre.
Members of the Near West Theatre cast of Children of Eden perform “In the Beginning” during the indoor celebration at the Capitol Theatre.
During a litany at the outdoor ceremony, Artistic Director Bob Navis Jr. leads the crowd in their responsive chant: “Ho ho, hey hey, Near West Theatre breaks ground today!”
Artistic Director Bob Navis Jr. and Executive Director Stephanie Morrison-Hrbek (at microphones) lead a Nov. 27 “litany of naming and claiming” at the site of Near West Theatre’s future home on West 67th Street near Detroit Avenue, in Cleveland’s Gordon Square Arts District.
Photos by John Stuehr of the Gordon Square Arts District.
http://www.NearWestTheatre.org