Two of Winston-Salem's longest-running theater organizations have officially taken up residence in the city's downtown Theater District.
The North Carolina Black Repertory Company — 40 years young — and Winston-Salem Little Theatre, celebrating its 84th year, now have administrative offices and rehearsal spaces in the newly renovated Arts Council Extension Building downtown. On Thursday morning, the doors were officially opened following a short ribbon-cutting ceremony.
It's just blocks away from The Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts and Marriott hotel, which houses artists and tourists who attend the bi-annual National Black Theatre Festival.
Both the Black Repertory Company and Little Theatre had been long-time tenants of The Arts Council Theatre, far from the city's center. Arts Council President Randy Eaddy says the move is long overdue.
"It was significant that the extraordinary programming that they both provide were not perceived by the rest of the community as being a part of our primary arts and culture scene," says Eaddy. "Now they will be."
There are other big changes on the horizon for the Arts Council, as well. A 240-seat black-box theatre is currently under construction at The Milton Rhodes Center. Eaddy says it's part of a broader renovation effort.
"We are transforming the main level of the Milton Rhodes Center, creating a new black box theatre there," says Eaddy. "We're also elevating the acoustical standards in the old Mountcastle Forum, so that it will become a first-class black box style theatre space itself, and enable us to host simultaneous events."
Eaddy adds that the entire lobby area is being reconfigured, expanding the current art gallery there, adding a patrons' service, and community arts gift shop.
The main level stage will serve as the primary performance venue for both theater groups. It's slated for completion by mid-summer ahead of the 2019 National Black Theatre Festival, which begins July 29th.