Some people might call it the end of an era, but Kevin Gillese sees it as a new beginning.
After 18 years of performing in the same Inman Park space, the improvisational theater company Dad’s Garage has been forced to pick up stakes and set up shop in another venue.
Developers plan to renovate Dad’s old Elizabeth Street property as part of a mixed-use complex. For the time being, at least, the offbeat troupe will work primarily from 7 Stages, the well-known Little Five Points theater.
“We’ve been talking about it for a few years now, anyway, buying and building our very own place,” said Gillese, who joined the Dad’s family as artistic director in 2010.
“Being able to afford that is a long way off for us, but something like this (move) is probably just the push we needed,” he said. “Sometimes, it takes that kind of kick in the face to finally figure out it’s time to get real. We’re ready for it.”
Gillese said members of the company’s facility committee and board of directors have looked at 30 or 40 sites over the past year. “We still haven’t come across just the right spot,” he said, “but until we find a permanent home, 7 Stages is the most logical interim solution for us.”
For one thing, 7 Stages is a mere half-mile from Dad’s former “garage.” For another, it includes a larger 200-seat main theater in addition to a more intimate 75-seat studio space — perfect for Dad’s, which is long accustomed to producing shows on both a bigger and smaller scale (140 seats and 50 seats, respectively, in its previous location).
“It’s in close enough proximity that it’s no sweat for our existing audience to follow us a few blocks away, and there’s the added advantage of attracting new traffic, exposing or introducing ourselves to a whole new Little Five Points crowd,” Gillese said.
The group is already up and running in its new digs, currently performing some of its popular improv shows (“Theatre Sports,” “Extreme Elimination Improv Challenge”) in 7 Stages’ back space. Opening on the main stage Sept. 6 (and continuing through Sept. 28) is a remounted version of Dad’s successful 2008 zombie musical “Song of the Living Dead.”
On occasion, the company will be branching out into other neighborhoods, as well. Later in the 2013-14 season, Dad’s will present its annual holiday send-up, “Invasion: A Christmas Carol,” at Fabrefaction Theatre (and, for a couple of shows, on the actual set of the Alliance Theatre’s own version of the Dickens classic).
“This all represents exactly the sort of jump we were hoping to make,” Gillese said. “It will be an interesting test run for us. I’m sure there are going to be a few growing pains along the way, but for the most part, it’s a pretty cool and exciting time for us.”
