Currently housed in South Austin’s Penn Field development, Austin Playhouse wants to build a permanent home that includes two theaters, classrooms, public spaces, restaurant/retail space and low-cost artist residences. The theater company estimates that the project would cost $3 million to $5 million, not including the artists’ residences. Plans call for a 200-seat main theater and a 99-seat theater with flexible space.
The location under discussion is in the Mueller development’s planned Town Center. One of the named anchors for the Town Center is the Austin Children’s Museum, which hopes to break ground in 2011.
A spokesperson for Catellus Development Corp., the company leading the Mueller redevelopment, stressed that there is no deal yet with Austin Playhouse, and they are just in discussions with the nonprofit.
The theater nonprofit hopes to relocate from Penn Field into a permanent home next year.
As part of its permanent home plan, Austin Playhouse plans to occupy and own the ground floor of a 10,000 to 15,000 square foot building. It plans to lease part of the ground floor to a bar or restaurant.
Austin Playhouse plans to partner with real estate developer, Artspace, which build and manages affordable housing for artists. If all goes as planned, Artspace would build four stories of artists’ lofts above Austin Playhouse.
Over the past ten years, Austin Playhouse, led by managing director Don Toner, has grown to a year-round operation with a subscription base of over 2,000 and a projected annual attendance of more than 25,000.