The local theatre schedule will be a little less crowded this fall, as the Zachary Scott Theatre Center won’t be mounting anything on either its main stage, the Kleberg Theatre, or in its second space, the Whisenhunt Arena Stage, for the next three months. There’s no crisis precipitating the lack of performances. The theatres will be dark so Zach can undertake some long-desired renovations to both venues, and it makes more sense financially for the theatre to do them all at once than one stage at a time. Some of the home improvements are technical in nature – the Kleberg is getting a new lighting grid, thanks to funding from the Lola Wright Foundation – but what’s probably of more interest to patrons (the ones frustrated by long lines during intermission, anyway) is that the men’s restrooms for the Kleberg are being relocated to the south side of the building, so the women’s restrooms on the north side can be substantially expanded and improved (and that includes upgrading accessibility for patrons with disabilities). In addition, box office and concession areas are getting face lifts, as are the interiors of both the Kleberg and the Whisenhunt Arena, with new carpet and fresh coats of paint. The lobby and patron areas will also be outfitted with new furnishings donated by IKEA. The renovations are set to be complete by Thanksgiving, when Zach opens its signature holiday productions, The Santaland Diaries and Rockin’ Christmas Party. Then it’s on to the theatre’s 75th anniversary in 2008. (As for the proposed third theatre Zach is planning, see “Austin’s Cultural Makeover: The Next Stage“) For more information, call 476-0541 or visit www.zachscott.com.
This article appears in September 7 • 2007.