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Theater Schmeater planning to leave 21-year Capitol Hill home

(Image: CHS)

(Image: CHS)

One of the longest running theater experiences on Capitol Hill could end this summer. Theater Schmeater is looking for a new home after more than 20 years on Summit Ave.

Slog reports that our news from earlier this year that the former home of Brocklind’s Costume Shop above the theater will transform into a bar and restaurant space is behind the change — noise from the in-the-works restaurant business above won’t jibe with performances below.

The theater’s announcement represents a shift in plans from what developer Hunters Capital told CHS about the basement space when it announced it was acquiring the auto row-era building from Brocklind’s  Jim DeAmbrosio.

“We have no plans to move the theater in the basement, we love the use and look forward to a long relationship,” a Hunters rep told CHS.

It also comes at a time when city officials are looking at the creation of a Capitol Hill arts district to preserve and create cultural facilities on the Hill.

Hunters Capital is in the midst of an overhaul of the Greenus Building that will include a full restoration of its exterior and many internal improvements in addition to the build-out of the new food and drink spaces. We’ve asked Hunters for more details about the apparent change around the plans for the theater. We reported earlier this week on the Hunters Capital for another property it acquired across the street where the developer will build an eight-story mixed-use and preservation-friendly apartment building.

CHS visited Theater Schmeater in 2012 as its 20th anniversary on the Hill was celebrated.

Here’s the announcement from Theater Schmeater:

Theater Schmeater looking for new home

After a residency of 21 years Theater Schmeater will be saying good bye to it’s cozy 48 seat basement space at 1500 Summit. Theater Schmeater is beginning a search for a new home. Dedicated to presenting great plays simply, The Schmee has been a constant springboard for emerging theater artists, a practicing advocate of the power of “small” stage theater, and a continued presence in the lively [Capitol] Hill arts scene.
Theater Schmeater will be open at 1500 Summit through August, finishing its current run of The Twilight Zone:Live! through June 15, and offering  the audience participation  summer crowd pleaser Game Show, by Jeffrey Finn & Bob Walton, July 19 through August 17. In addition Theater Schmeater will offer its traditional Free for the Family Summer Park show, The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsey, Saturdays and Sundays at 5pm June 29 through July 27.

The staff and board of Theater Schmeater are determined to find and create a new home for the Schmee. We are committed to continuing to offer our audience an eclectic, compelling and fun array of high quality theater. In the meantime we beg our audiences patience as we make this transition to the next phase of our evolution. Our mission to produce great plays simply and foster a love of theater as an art form has never been stronger. For more information about Theater Schmeater go to our website at www.schmeater.org

For our Friends and Family, this is not the end. Just the intermission!

Last month, CHS reported that the former Brocklind’s space — opened up after the retirement earlier this year of the couple who owned the business and sold the building to developer Hunters Capital — will also soon be home to longtime Capitol Hill retailer Edie’s Shoes.

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