http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com RSS feeds for Brave New Workshop 60 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/TheatreNews/tabid/168/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/55/City-Pages--Brave-New-Workshop-seals-deal-on-new-downtown-digs.aspx#Comments 0 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=168&ModuleID=648&ArticleID=55 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=55&PortalID=3&TabID=168 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/TheatreNews/tabid/168/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/55/City-Pages--Brave-New-Workshop-seals-deal-on-new-downtown-digs.aspx By Jessica Armbruster, Fri., Apr. 29 2011 @ 3:02PM Photo by taylor dahlin For the past couple months theater folks have been buzzing about Brave New Workshop's plans to set up a second space in downtown Minneapolis. Today the theater and improv company finalized plans to move into the old Hennepin Stages theater space. Located at 824 Hennepin Avenue, the business expansion is part of recent efforts to revitalize the downtown area. Once in its new space the BNW hopes to attract Twins fans and regular theater-goers who are used to attending shows at the nearby State, Pantages, and Orpheum theaters. Mayor R.T. Rybak also approves: "Fifty years after Dudley Riggs founded the Brave New Workshop, this groundbreaking theater is making yet another contribution to Minneapolis with an exciting move to a revitalizing Hennepin Avenue," he says. "Their move adds to the growing excitement on Hennepin and will bring 30,000 more theatergoers downtown to appreciate the wide variety of arts and entertainment available there." While all of the theater productions will be moving to the new space, the old Uptown digs will continue to host the improv school. The new space is set to open this fall. Stephanie Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:15:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:55 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/TheatreNews/tabid/168/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/54/Brave-New-Workshop-closes-on-deal-to-buy-Hennepin-Stages.aspx#Comments 0 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=168&ModuleID=648&ArticleID=54 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=54&PortalID=3&TabID=168 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/TheatreNews/tabid/168/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/54/Brave-New-Workshop-closes-on-deal-to-buy-Hennepin-Stages.aspx As expected, the Brave New Workshop closed its deal Friday to buy the former Hennepin Stages Theater. The property at 824 Hennepin Avenue went for $725,000, according to the city of Minneapolis, which owned the building. News first broke in early January that Brave New Workshop had put in a bid and the City Council approved the deal on Feb. 25. Things went smoothly after that and the comedy theater plans a grand opening this fall. John Sweeney, one of the co-owners of the Workshop, has big plans for the space, which once housed Hey City Theater. The place has two potential theaters — upstairs and downstairs. The downstairs room is more flexible and Sweeney sees a number of things going in there — banquets, meetings, workshops, training. Acquiring the downtown building is a big move for the Workshop. Shortly after purchasing the business from founder Dudley Riggs in 1997, Sweeney moved his cheese to Calhoun Square. He came back, limping a little, to 2605 Hennepin Ave., which has remained BNW headquarters since Riggs settled in the mid 1960s. He said in January that he feels the time is right now for expansion. The company will still use 2605 Hennepin for improvisation classes but shows will move downtown. "We could not be more exicted to add 824 Hennepin to the Brave New Workshop brand," Sweeney said in a press release. Mayor R.T. Rybak and Lisa Goodman, who chairs the city’s community development committee, both applauded the move. Rybak noted that Brave new Workshop has the potential of bringing 30,000 theatergoers downtown throughout the year. BNW’s current show, "Sarah Palin’s Minnesota; or Hindsight is 2011" runs through June 24 at 2605 Hennepin. And for that matter, the Hennepin Theater Trust will continue with its current show in Hennepin Stages, "Girls Only: The Secret Comedy of Women," through June 26. By Graydon Royce, Star Tribune Artcettera Stephanie Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:17:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:54 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/TheatreNews/tabid/168/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/53/Brave-New-Workshop-buys-Hennepin-Stages-building.aspx#Comments 0 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=168&ModuleID=648&ArticleID=53 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=53&PortalID=3&TabID=168 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/TheatreNews/tabid/168/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/53/Brave-New-Workshop-buys-Hennepin-Stages-building.aspx Brave New Workshop buys Hennepin Stages building Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal - by Ed Stych, Web Producer Date: Friday, April 29, 2011, 12:21pm CDT Read more: Brave New Workshop buys Hennepin Stages building | Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal The Brave New Workshop has bought the Hennepin Stages Theater from the City of Minneapolis for $725,000, the city said Friday. The Brave New Workshop will continue to operate its improv classes at its long-time home at 2605 Hennepin Ave. in Uptown, but will use its new downtown location at 824 Hennepin Ave. for its comedy revenues and its business services division, Creative Outreach, according to a news release from the city. “Fifty years after Dudley Riggs founded the Brave New Workshop, this groundbreaking theater is making yet another contribution to Minneapolis with an exciting move to a revitalizing Hennepin Avenue,” Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said in a prepared statement. “Their move adds to the growing excitement on Hennepin and will bring 30,000 more theatergoers downtown to appreciate the wide variety of arts and entertainment available there.” The new location is close to the Orpheum, State and Pantages theaters, and its not far from Target Field and Target Center. The city started shopping Hennepin Stages in July 2010, and Brave New Workshop owner John Sweeney showed interest in the location early this year. The property previously had been home to Hey City Theater, and before that, Hirschfield’s Paint and Wallcoverings. Read more: Brave New Workshop buys Hennepin Stages building | Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal Stephanie Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:13:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:53 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/TheatreNews/tabid/168/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/52/City-Closes-on-Sale-of-Former-Hennepin-Stages-Theater-Brave-New-Workshop-Makes-New-Home-on-the-Avenue.aspx#Comments 0 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=168&ModuleID=648&ArticleID=52 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=52&PortalID=3&TabID=168 http://theatre.bravenewworkshop.com/TheatreNews/tabid/168/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/52/City-Closes-on-Sale-of-Former-Hennepin-Stages-Theater-Brave-New-Workshop-Makes-New-Home-on-the-Avenue.aspx Community Planning and Economic Development Department News Release Contact: Krista Bergert, Communications, (612) 673-5015; cell, (612) 360-8702 Ann Calvert, Business Development, (612) 673-5023 Stephanie Scott, Brave New Workshop, Director of Marketing, (612) 332-6620 Minneapolis City Goals: A Safe Place to Call Home ú Jobs & Economic Vitality ú Eco-Focused ú Livable Communities, Healthy Lives  ú Many People, One Minneapolis ú A City That Works     City Closes on Sale of Former Hennepin Stages Theater; Brave New Workshop Makes New Home on the Avenue   April 29, 2011 (MINNEAPOLIS) – The City of Minneapolis closed today on the sale of the former Hennepin Stages Theater, located at 824 Hennepin Avenue, to the Brave New Workshop.  The sale comes at a time when Hennepin Avenue is showing signs of revitalization, including a number of new restaurants that have opened, the ongoing work of Hennepin Theatre Trust, the expected September opening of the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts and a proposed housing redevelopment project at 8th and the avenue. “Fifty years after Dudley Riggs founded the Brave New Workshop, this groundbreaking theater is making yet another contribution to Minneapolis with an exciting move to a revitalizing Hennepin Avenue,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak. “Their move adds to the growing excitement on Hennepin and will bring 30,000 more theatergoers downtown to appreciate the wide variety of arts and entertainment available there.” “Turning Hennepin Stages into the new home of the Brave New Workshop adds to the energy in the Hennepin Avenue Theatre District,” said Lisa Goodman, Chair, City of Minneapolis Community Development Committee. “The avenue is seeing more pedestrian traffic as fans make their way to Target Field; go to productions at the Orpheum, State and Pantages Theatres; and the Burnet Gallery at the Chambers Hotel is celebrating its fifth anniversary.” The acquisition of the Hennepin Avenue theater represents a major expansion for the Brave New Workshop. The company will continue to operate the Student Union school of improvisation from its long-standing home at 2605 Hennepin and use the new downtown location for their trademark comedy revues and fast-growing business services division, Creative Outreach.  “We could not be more excited to add 824 Hennepin to the Brave New Workshop brand,” said John Sweeney, co-owner of the Brave New Workshop. “Because of 52 years of support from this community we have become a world class theater and now we will have a world class location to engage our audiences! We have been on Hennepin since 1958, here’s to fifty more years of laughter on the Ave.!,” he added. A request for proposals was issued by the City of Minneapolis in July 2010, and the sale of the property to Into the Mystic Inc. (dba the Brave New Workshop) for $725,000 was approved by the City Council on February 25. The property has been most recently programmed by Hennepin Theatre Trust, was previously known as Hey City Theater and before that, Hirschfield’s Paint and Wallcoverings. The property is located near the Trust’s three historic theaters—the State, Orpheum, and Pantages—and within a few blocks of Target Center (NBA Arena) and Target Field (MLB). The Brave New Workshop will christen the stage with a new show and grand opening this fall. Until then, Girls Only: The Secret Comedy of Women, presented by Hennepin Theater Trust, will continue to be onstage at the theater through June 26. The Brave New Workshop’s current production of Sarah Palin’s Minnesota; or Hindsight is 2011 will continue to run at the 2605 Hennepin space through June 24. # # # Stephanie Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:53:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:52