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Tag: the Ren

  • Amid closure, Renaissance Theatre faces near $488K in losses, founder says

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    Credit: Renaissance Theatre Company/Facebook

    Two months after the City of Orlando condemned the Renaissance Theatre Co.’s venue, the troupe this week released an update, citing 34 canceled performances and roughly $488,000 in revenue lost so far. 

    Donald Rupe, Ren founder and artistic director, said in a social media post the shutdown has lasted longer than he expected. His team is now awaiting approval for what they hope to be the final permit that would allow them back into the building.

    The Ren was officially closed on Sept. 19 due to safety code violations just ahead of the theater’s signature Halloween show, Nosferatu. Both Nosferatu and the V-Bar after-show, as well as resident drag night Off the Record, have been staged in modified versions during late September and October at venues like the Plaza Live, the Beacham and the Social.

    Since the closure, Ren employees have collectively lost about $218,000 in wages, while also losing material and labor costs, having to remove the set of Nosferatu, Rupe said.

    But the team still has hope. They are preparing annual comedy The Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza Show and after-party in hopes it can open on Dec. 5 as planned. Tickets will not be sold until there is a guaranteed place to perform.

    However, it is unlikely they will go on the road again soon, as sales from roving dates at venues like the Plaza Live have not covered production costs, Rupe said. 

    “If we find that we need to continue to host events outside of our own venue, we will need to revisit the kinds of shows we produce and look at a budget model that is meant for that kind of production,” Rupe wrote.

    City-mandated requirements have also proven costly. The required upgraded fire-alarm system alone costs around $40,000.

    Rupe credited co-founder Chris Kampmeier and more than 350 donors for helping keep The Ren afloat. Supporters can continue to donate directly at rentheatre.com .

    “We don’t believe that our city can afford to risk losing another theatre, especially one that is so essential to our LGBT+ community, and we cannot wait to get back to creating unique world-class artistic experiences,” Rupe said. 

    Rupe clarified that he does not believe the closure is politically motivated and praised city officials for their support in helping get the building back on its feet.

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  • The Ren Theatre announces final nomadic ‘Nosferatu’ shows amid shutdown

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    Credit: Renaissance Theatre Company/Facebook

    ​​It’s been over a month since the Renaissance Theatre was condemned by the city due to fire safety code violations. The shutdown forced the theater to pause operations and relocate its annual production of Nosferatu, its annual Halloween immersive show. 

    Despite the setback, the Renaissance Theatre has found temporary homes for its performances. Nosferatu, VBar and the company’s weekly OTR drag show have been hosted by local venues like The Plaza Live and The Social, allowing productions to continue while the theater works toward compliance with city safety regulations.

    And now, Ren co-founder and artistic director Donald Rupe has announced three final Nosferatu shows amid the closure. 

    The final Nosferatu and VBar performances of the season take place Saturday, Oct. 25 at The Plaza Live, Oct. 29 at The Beacham, and Nov. 1 back at The Plaza Live. All other show dates have been removed from the theater’s website.

    “On the bright side, we’ve discovered that Nosferatu and VBar look pretty great on a larger stage; maybe we’ll do a tour someday,” Rupe said in a statement. 

    Rupe said the closure has resulted in significant financial losses. The company estimates a loss of more than $300,000 in revenue, including $125,000 in wages for performers and staff.

    “Most non-profits and businesses would have closed by now,” Rupe said. “We’re surviving so far thanks to the generosity of one man, co-founder Chris Kampmeier, who is supplementing our income to keep our staff paid and the lights on. Additionally, we’ve raised $33,178 from 292 incredible donors.”

    Rupe said the best way to support the company is to buy tickets to see the current shows (and to continue to do so once The Ren is back in business in its Orlando building).

    While the future of the Renaissance Theatre’s home remains uncertain, Rupe remains optimistic.

    “At the end of this, I know I will certainly have a deeper appreciation for what we have at the Ren, even more than I did before,” he said. “We’ve learned a lot of things, and we look forward to getting home.”

    Tickets for Nosferatu are available online now.

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  • The Ren Theatre condemned by fire department – Orlando Weekly

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    Credit: Photo via Ashleigh Ann Gardner

    The Ivanhoe village home of Orlando’s Renaissance Theatre Co. is condemned as of Friday afternoon, after an annual inspection by department officials, co-founder Donald Rupe says.

    The department placed neon-hued “condemned” stickers on the building’s doors late Friday. A notice to vacate was also placed on the building located at 2201 McRae Ave.

    The closure comes as the theater presents its annual Halloween immersive show Nosferatu. Rupe says the changes they request be made are “totally surmountable,” and the company will work with the city to address the issues, although the future remains uncertain.

    The City of Orlando has not yet responded to a request for more information. 

    “Rest assured, the building itself is okay, and the Ren is okay,” Rupe said in a statement Saturday. However, “a temporary closing like this is a threat to Renaissance Theatre Company.”

    “We don’t think building codes really address the kind of theater that we make; we think the immersive nature of our shows requires a different kind of inspection than traditional theatre shows, and we look forward to working with the city on permitting future productions and making sure everything is approved and safe—as it has been every year since we opened.”

    Nosferatu has been presenting an “immersive vampire experience” in Orlando for the past five years, combining macabre performance art and a LGBTQ+-friendly environment with a vampire-themed nightclub employing live performers, drag artists and dancers. The after-hours “V Bar” show features local drag performers doing their vampiric best after the main show ends. This year V Bar started on Aug. 29, and Nosferatu kicked off its run Sept 5.  

    Rupe says the event is by far the theater’s biggest annual money-maker and biggest expense. This year, The Ren spent about $500,000 making the show. 

    “To lose another queer-friendly venue, in a moment where we need them so desperately, would be devastating,” Rupe says. 

    Supporters can help out, Rupe says, by making donations online or buying tickets when the space reopens. There is not yet a reopening timeline available, and the theater says more information will be shared, hopefully, this week, when they meet with city officials. Advocates in city and state government are also working with the Ren to help resolve these issues quickly.

    The current plan is to pay performers this week, and as of late Sunday, over $9,000 has been raised from more than 100 individual donors.

    This is a developing story. 

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