Relocation

SPOTLIGHTERS' Relocation Plans -

Following a long process of submitting and being awarded the initial bid from the Baltimore Development Corporation and the Mayor’s Office for the old Read’s Drugstore (in the west-side Howard-Lexington Streets Superblock); Spotlighters Theatre has decided to not pursue acquisition and renovation of this property.

The theatre completed a Feasibility Study with the help of Arts Consulting Group of Washington, DC to determine the depth of public, corporate and private support of this specific project. These results greatly informed the decision of the Spotlighters’ Board of Directors to pursue other options.

While many of the philanthropic individuals and organizations that were interviewed for the study supported the project, there were concerns about the large cost of the venture for an organization of Spotlighters’ size. Many of the individuals interviewed responded with suggestions to meet the theatre’s imminent need of a new facility.
These included:
- Alternate Property, with a more reasonable price-tag and that would be useable as is, with only renovation for a performance space.
- Corporate infrastructure building and staffing to provide for the needed growth to manage a larger facility and operation.
- Development and Marketing Staff, to expand the theatre’s reach for audience members, as well as to establish a more complete and secure giving program for the theatre.

These concerns, as well as the issue that Spotlighters would be the only new venture on the corner of Lexington and North Howard; the theatre board decided to not continue with the Read Building Project as of February 2017.

The Theatre has hired a group to assist in the preparation of the growth of our infrastructure to preapre the theatre to hire a Full-Time Director of Development to assist the theatre to become sustainable and start to grow our funding base to prepare for a major capital campaign in the near future. The board of the theatre continues to investigate various properties in and around the city, in hopes of finding one that meets all the needs of the theatre and our patrons.

For the present, we will be focusing on securing our financial status and developing a strong fund raising program that will enable the theatre to grow and move forward with a secure future. Spotlighters is also excited announce that we have successfully negotiated a new lease with our current Property owner that will allow the theatre to remain in our current location through October of 2022. This new lease will allow the theatre the needed time to develop our Infrastructure to position the organization to successfully mount a major capital campaign, acquire a property that meets our needs, and have the staff and organization structure to sustain and successfully operate a larger theatre and community arts complex.

Thank you for your interest, and please continue to donate to the theatre to support the Exceptional & Diverse productions and educational programs.

DONATE NOW to help us achieve our short and long term goals!

PRESS ABOUT the Proposal to Acquire and Renovate the READ'S DRUG STORE

We had a rush of news articles and press about our Proposal to Renovate the former Read's Drug Store (at Howard & Lexington Streets) -- check it out!

WJZ TV - segment on the relocation project!
http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/12/28/local-theatre-looking-to-purchase-old-reads-drug-store/
CHECK OUT the Baltimore Sun article (and video) on Spotlighters relocation project: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/artsmash/bs-ae-spotlighters-reads-drug-store-20151229-story.html
CHECK OUT the Baltimore Business Journal article on Spotlighters relocation project:
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/blog/real-estate/2015/12/spotlighters-theatre-sets-its-sights-on-the-old.html
CHECK OUT the Baltimore Magazine blog article on Spotlighters relocation project:
http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2015/12/29/spotlighters-theatre-hopes-to-relocate-to-historic-reads-drug-store-building
CHECK OUT Jacques Kelly's article on Spotlighters relocation project:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/columnists/bs-md-ci-kelly-column-reads-20160101-column.html
CHECK OUT Ryan Clark's OutLoud article on Spotlighters relocation project:
http://www.baltimoreoutloud.com/lively-arts/out-on-stage/item/3762-custodian-of-a-dream