As Clear Space Theater Company looks toward the future of our new performing arts center, we're taking an important first step: learning from the experiences of fellow theater makers.
Over the past several weeks, members of Clear Space's staff and board travelled alongside with our architects from Marvel and theater planners from Charcoalblue to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City to tour a variety of performing arts venues and meet with leadership. The visits gave our team a firsthand look at how peers in our region have approached the challenges and opportunities of designing spaces for performers, audiences, and the communities they serve.
These theater tours are a critical part of the preliminary research and discovery process, providing a strong footing for our team before the designs for our new facility are created. Our next step in that pre-design process is listening to you, our community. November 17 (in person) and November 20 (online), community members are invited to meet with our architects both to learn about the overall project vision, site impacts, and intended community benefits, and to share valuable feedback about how our new facility should fit into the fabric of our community. There are details to RSVP at the end of this blog.
During the tour, our team explored more than a dozen stages, examining everything from stage and seating configurations and backstage functionality to lobby spaces, audience experiences, and other practical considerations that make a theater work. In the Washington, D.C. area, we visited Round House Theater, Studio Theater, Shakespeare Theater Company, and Woolly Mammoth Theater Company. In Philadelphia and New York City included Arden Theater Company, Philadelphia Theater Company, Signature Theater, the Helen Hayes Theater, MCC Theater, Roundabout Theater Company, New World Stages, and more.
Perhaps the most valuable part of these visits was the opportunity to speak directly with the people who operate these spaces every day. Theater leaders generously shared what has worked well, what they might approach differently, and the lessons they've learned through their own building and renovation projects. The willingness of fellow theater professionals to offer their time, knowledge, and perspective is a wonderful reminder of the collaborative spirit that connects the theater community across our region.
We look forward to everything we'll learn from you during next week's community conversations. Community members, audience members, and anyone interested in the future of Clear Space are encouraged to participate. The events are free to attend, but RSVP is required to ensure our hosting venue has adequate space:
November 17: Two in-person community listening sessions
Community & Neighborhood Session | 1:00 PM at The Bellmoor Inn & Spa – Kent Room
Family & Education Session | 7:30 PM at Clear Space on the Mainstage (directly following Arts Institute Showcase and Season Announcement)
November 20: Virtual community listening session
Community & Neighborhood Session | 1:00 PM on Zoom (for those who cannot attend in-person on November 17)
These conversations are an opportunity to share your ideas, priorities, and hopes for a performing arts center that will serve southern Delaware for years to come. We're excited to continue this journey together, learning from theatre professionals, listening to our community, and exploring what's possible for Clear Space's next chapter.
