After eight years of making sure the shows went on at temporary locations, the non-profit theater group Company OnStage has found a new long-term home.
With a three-year lease and an option for two additional years, the new space is located at 5720 Bellaire Blvd., Suite G, in the Gulfton Area Management District.
The location is convenient to theatergoers throughout southwest Houston; Company OnStage’s previous long-term home was at Westbury Square into 2015, when the shopping center closed.
Afterward, subscribers and other supporters followed the company’s popular productions to temporary venues such as a church, a park in the city of Bellaire for a holiday performance, and a theater venue near downtown Houston.
Since its founding in 1978, the company has fulfilled its mission of keeping theater arts accessible and affordable to everyone providing community members opportunities to perform or work in other theater production capacities.
Auditions are always announced on the company’s social media platforms and website with the invitation for anyone and everyone to participate as actors, directors, prop managers, stagehands, and any number of other volunteer positions.
Kathryn Noser is president of the 11-member board. Jennifer Brown, vice president, and Emily Living detailed the exciting plans for the “build-out” of the new space. Scott Sivley is the volunteer contractor.
Kathryn Noser, left, Scott Sivley, Stephanie Kelso
They explained that the organization has remained fiscally responsible, with anonymous supporters and donors defraying some of the expenses of turning the strip center space into an entertainment facility. Volunteers are outfitting the interior the way the board envisions it, and Company OnStage boasts 100-plus volunteers.
Theater seats saved from the Westbury location will be installed on two sides of the stage, a slight change from the original layout. It will remain fully accessible for audience members with physical impairments.
With the build-out taking a bit longer than expected, the board has “pivoted the season timeline” to eight shows, with “something for everyone”; starting in December, according to Brown and Living.
Highlights include:
— The “Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular” from Dec. 1 to 16. This humorous “whodunit” has charitable church ladies looking for the thief who stole a baby Jesus from the church’s display.
— A Young Audiences Series performance of Andy Huggins’ “A Tale of Two Santas,” Dec. 2-16. It’s a humorous tale of an ambitious elf who wants to take over Santa’s job of delivering presents.
— The season continues with other Young Audiences performances of classics Charlotte’s Web, (Jan. 27 – Feb. 17, 2024), The Little Mermaid, (March 23-April 13) and Treasure Island. (May 18-June 15).
— For all audiences, the Complete Work of William Shakespeare Abridged is a humorous look at all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays and will be presented Jan. 26 to Feb. 17, 2024.
— Next up is an Agatha Christie mystery, The Stranger, scheduled for March 22 to April 13.
— Meteor Shower, written by comedian/actor Steve Martin, closes out the season May 17 to June 8, 2024.
In the meantime, the company is seeking additional volunteers, donors and/or season ticket buyers.
— by Arlene Nisson Lassin
