Annapolis Shakespeare Company Announces Upcoming Move to New Facility

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Oct. 31, 2016 - PRLog -- Sally Boyett, founding Artistic Director of Annapolis Shakespeare Company, announced today that the Company has secured a ten year lease on a new facility at 1804 West Street in Annapolis, Maryland.  The new 8,102 square foot space will include a 99-seat Main Stage theatre, an educational wing with classroom and office space, a large rehearsal hall, ample lobby space, and support facilities including dressing rooms and an administrative suite.  The new space affords ample free parking immediately in front and adjacent to the theatre.

The move is in response to the success of the previous two seasons of productions at the Company's current location at 111 Chinquapin Round Road in Annapolis.  Artistic Director Sally Boyett explained the move: "Our new artistic home is significant to the growth of the company as it will afford us the facility necessary to expand our production values and Broadway aesthetic and gain valuable space for expanding our educational programming.  The larger stage area and higher ceiling will offer our designers the opportunity to enhance our visual production values with dramatically improved lighting positions, vertical and horizontal space for scenery and improved special effects.  Audiences will appreciate the new seating - risers and upholstered theatre chairs with arms - without sacrificing the intimate relationship between actor and audience which has been the hallmark of ASC's success in its current theatre."

The educational wing will afford the Company the opportunity to greatly expand its educational programming.  Under the leadership of ASC's new Education Director, John Bellomo, the Company will grow its educational offerings to include weekly classes and workshops, summer camps, Young Company classes and the ability to offer in-house pre-show workshops in conjunction with all student matinees.  Already the largest arts provider in Anne Arundel County Public Schools, ASC plans to expand that relationship to include more county schools and additional programming throughout the region over the next few months.

The Company plans to open the new space with its production of OUR TOWN in January 2017.  Upon arrival at the new theatre at 1804 West Street, audiences will be treated to a traditional box office and a spacious lobby with convenient restrooms.  Multimedia presentations of the Company's work will be shown in all pre-performance spaces and the lobby will feature a bar with concessions as well as the Annapolis Shakespeare Company gift shop.  ASC plans to finish it's 2016 programming in its current facility at 111 Chinquapin Round Road including its ongoing production of TWELFTH NIGHT (the official performance programming in conjunction with the First Folio! national tour) and it's holiday favorite IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE:  A LIVE RADIO PLAY.

Another aspect of the Company's move to a new space will be the expansion of service to the community including the ability to rent spaces to community groups including smaller arts organizations for meetings, rehearsals, and informal gatherings.  Interested organizations may contact ASC at their convenience.

Annapolis Shakespeare Company (ASC) is a not-for-profit, professional theatrecompany engaging the community with bold, re-imagined, entertaining and accessible interpretations of Shakespeare and the classics.  ASC is a proud member of Theatre Washington/Helen Hayes awards and the Shakespeare Theatre Association, an international association of theatres dedicated to producing Shakespeare's work.  ASC is the only professional classical theatre in the region dedicated to a resident company model.  Responding to these new initiatives and this major step forward for Annapolis Shakespeare Company, Sally Boyett further explains:  "The new theatre will provide us the facility to suit our Broadway aesthetic and allow us the opportunity to move our work and our company to the next level and beyond in order to realize our vision to become the regional destination for Shakespeare and the classics."

For further information, please contact:

Rob McQuay, Managing Director

Annapolis Shakespeare Company

1804 West Street, Suite 200

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

410-280-1773 - Administrative Offices

410-415-3513 - Box Office

PR@annapolisshakespeare.org

ASC_Info@annapolisshakespeare.org

Learn more at www.annapolisshakespeare.org.