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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