Politics & Government
Oswego Playhouse Theater Looking for a Permanent Home
The group, active since 2002, has never had a set location and are interested in one at Village Hall.
Have you heard of the Oswego Playhouse?
They’re a community theater group that has been performing shows of all genres since 2002.
But they don’t have an official stage.
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“They’re looking for a permanent space,” said community relations manager Michele Brown. “They’ve been moving around for 11 years and it’s not really conducive.”
Venues have included the Little White School Museum, Tap House and now they are working out of the lobby at Village Hall.
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“The productions we can do are very limited,” said Jacquie Weirich of Oswego Playhouse, due to the fact they have to work within a given, temporary space. “Having a dedicated black box theater… would really help.”
“It’s hard for people to follow us when they don’t know where we are,” she added.
The Playhouse has proposed moving permanent to Oswego Village Hall by turning the annex into a black box theater with seating for about 65 with moveable platforms and walls.
Trustee Scott Volpe said he thought it was a great idea for the group to have permanent space, but would like to see the Playhouse collaborate with the park district or schools. The space behind the Village Hall, said Volpe, had earlier been discussed for renting out to bring in a little revenue, and having a theater there would not make that possible.
Trustee Pam Parr said it was “awkward to be arguing against” the theater coming to the Village Hall, but she felt there should be a policy regarding the use of that space.
“I think we need to find some space we won’t eventually have to evict someone from,” suggested Trustee Tony Giles. He suggested the idea of the collaboration with the school and park district and using the school’s theater set up, but Weirch said they do not want that large of an auditorium, as it would diminish the community theater experience.
Karl Ottosen, the Village’s attorney, suggested they could always draft up a proposal for the space with an advance notice clause.
“We just want to have our own dedicated space,” said Weirch.
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