One of Atlanta's many itinerant theater troupes for its entire 16-year existence, Synchronicity Theatre is taking over the former Ansley Park Playhouse space in the Peachtree Pointe building in Midtown in time to open its 2014-15 season.
The nonprofit troupe, which recently lost its rental home at 14th Street Playhouse when it was sold to SCAD, is launching a $475,000 campaign to pay for renovations and related setup costs at the 140-seat facility.
It will open its season in what is being renamed Synchronicity Theatre on Sept. 26 with a world premiere, "Lasso of Truth."
Peachtree Pointe owner Dewberry Capital, aware that Synchronicity patrons will frequent the complex’s two restaurants, among other benefits, are extending what’s described as a “below-market” lease with support of its nonprofit Dewberry Foundation.
Rachel May, producing artistic director of the troupe that specializes in theatrical experiences that encourage social change, called the new theater “a dream come true” and said it would also become an affordable home for small metro arts companies.
“We will have a space that is uniquely Synchronicity,” May said in a statement, “and can use our years of experience to create a vibrant center for innovative arts experiences from across the entire arts community.”
The shortage of rehearsal, workshop and performing spaces inside the city has become a growing concern for many groups, especially after the Woodruff Arts Center sold the largest one, 14th Street Playhouse, earlier this year. Compounding the issue, Dad’s Garage lost its longtime home on the edge of Inman Park to redevelopment and has become a temporary resident company at 7 Stages, locking up space that had been available for rent for smaller troupes. And the Academy Theatre, which rented its Avondale Estates facilities to small groups and independent artists, moved to Stockbridge last year.
Though no tenant contracts for the new Synchronicity Theatre have been signed, the troupe’s announcement included an enthusiastic endorsement from Théâtre du Rêve Artistic Director Park Krausen.
The for-profit Ansley Park Playhouse was home to “Peachtree Battle,” which enjoyed a 12-year run until it quietly closed last year while playwrights-producers John Gibson and Anthony Morris worked on developing the comedy into a film.
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