In planning for a new venue, the local, fringe-like
Bedlam Theatre wants to create "a hub of wild performance and community creativity," its website says.
Its previous home in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, where it was located from 2006 to 2010, had a mainstage with many shows turning over daily, plus a bar and restaurant.
John Bueche, an artistic director for the company, says, "We're looking to build on the social atmosphere of the last space," adding, "Hanging out is the aesthetic."
Bedlam also wants to bring back the studio quality of the space on Cedar Avenue where it started out 15 years ago. In that venue installations could be done so that "The whole space becomes the world of the play."
"We're looking at a place where we can do both," in Minneapolis and St. Paul, he says, adding, "It's quite possible we won't limit ourselves to one space."
Depending on what route the theater takes, its new digs could run anywhere from several hundred thousand dollars to $5 million.
The theater is using the Nov. 16 Give to the Max Day, which aims to build support for charitable causes, as an opportunity to talk about the plans that are taking shape.
The day's related activities include a study hour, a bike parade, lunch with the
Minnesota Theatre Alliance, an art talk, performance art, parties, and live streaming of the events online.
Bueche says that the theater will make some major decisions about where it's headed within nine months. "It's different than what we've done before," he says. "We're excited to get a chance to put some of these visions into practice."
Source: John Bueche, artistic director, Bedlam Theatre
Writer: Anna Pratt