Theatre in the Rough
SETTING THE STAGE
Theatre people don’t need a Broadway stage to create art. They are doing it on Broad Street in Johnstown in this former church building. The space’s rough edges all go away when the house lights dim, the stage lights come on and dramatic magic begins to happen on this 32 – by – 24 – foot stage.
We celebrated the public launch of the Columba Theatre Project with a “Waking Columba” performing arts celebration, conceived and hosted by the Band of Brothers Shakespeare Theatre Company. (Thank you, BoB!) This was the first public event in this building in more than 12 years! Waking Columba with bagpipes and tea lights, the audience christened this space to its new life as a performing-arts venue with an emphasis on dramatic arts.
The Columba Theatre Project invites theatre companies, playwrights, producers and directors to use this rough theatre space for rehearsals, playwriting workshops, acting workshops, classes and performances. While Columba is serving as a “theatre in the rough,” we will not charge for activities that don’t generate revenue. An equitable revenue-split can be worked out for fee-based workshops, classes and ticketed performances.
Here is what is currently on the calendar:
For more information on how to arrange for usage of Columba, contact Executive Director Dave Hurst at (814) 421-2372 or [email protected].
Maintaining even a rough theatre space gets expensive. Gas, electric, water and sewage bills, insurances and administrative fees exceed $10,000 annually. Community support enables us to provide Columba free of charge to theatre companies. If you believe in the value of live theatre – and the importance of having a dedicated theatre for dramatic arts in Johnstown – please consider a one-time or monthly gift to the Columba Theatre Project.