New Gompertz Theatre Construction Progressing

Walk inside The Gompertz Theatre and it looks like some sort of ancient ruin of long ago, gutted with a sand floor exposed and angled flooring from a past renovation that houses Sarasota's oldest arts organization. 

Theatre donors gathered Monday evening at an intermission of sorts to celebrate the coming of a double feature thanks to the cornerstone being laid on the New Gompertz Theatre that will not only feature a renovated Gompertz, but the Hegner Theatre Wing. 

"It is important that what we build here continues to be the legacy of what people feel when they come to FST at our older part of our campus," said Dennis McGillicuddy, president of the Florida Studio Theatre board of trustees.

To McGillicuddy, that's a warm and intimate setting to enjoy theater, and it will certainly be warm when the theater opens in July save for the air conditioning inside.

County Commissioner and arts supporter Jon Thaxton recalled how cornerstones have long been ceremonial occasions, being documented in the Bible, and some even with sacrificed animals. 

Well, there wasn't sheep blood, but Thaxton had his own modern-day ritual brought viles of grain, oil and  wine to place at the base of the cornerstone. 

"I took a little nip out of that one," Thaxton joked about the wine bottle. 

By the winter, folks looking for a lunch option could have a nip of wine themselves or a sandwich at the new cafe. It's just one of the many features the new building will have.  

Construction is moving along as the ground breaking just happened on Jan. 5. The renovation will be completed in phases, according to the theater's Web site:

• July: Soft opening of renovated Gompertz Theatre during summer season

• Nov. 30: Grand opening of new Gompertz Theatre, cafe, and lobby space during winter mainstay season

• January 2014: Grand opening of new cabaret theater

• January 2015: Grand opening of new lab theater

That final expansion will increase seating from 160,000 a year to 250,000 a year.

That bodes well for the theater, which has the strongest subscriber base in the country for theatre of its size, said Richard Hopkins, artistic director for the theater.

"Who knows what the next 10 years will bring with this opportunity we now have — building two more stages adding to our campus," he said. "We have the potential for a glorious and strong future."

Fundraising continues for the space, and those funds put forward by the community touches Kate Alexander, associate director of Florida Studio Theatre.

"We're here because this is an act of faith. All of you without knowing the future gave this theater an act of faith," she said.