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Penfold Theatre Company Plans to Establish Permanent Home in Round Rock

By Rob Faubion

Austin's Penfold Theatre Company - currently represented on stage at the Hideout Theatre with the critically acclaimed production of the chamber musical John and Jen - plans a bold move later this year: creating a professional theatre home in the city of Round Rock, ready for productions by the 2011-12 season. The troupe plans to construct a new theatre facility in the revitalized downtown area, where they will produce their upcoming season of

stage productions.

Although the troupe has found success in Austin - garnering numerous awards from their previous three productions: Art, The Last Five Years, and Three Days of Rain - the driving forces behind the theatre company feel a need to take their work further North.

"There are over 350,000 people in Williamson County alone, to say nothing of those in north Austin proper," said Ryan Crowder, Producing Artistic Director for Penfold Theatre Company, and one of its three co-founders. "Even so, the northern-most professional theatre I know of is Hyde Park Theatre - and the "big houses" are all in downtown Austin or South. We feel there is a need for us in the North."

With the assistance of the Round Rock officials, the troupe has explored the possibility of a professional theatre in the growing city. Penfold Theatre's Board of Directors - including Round Rock City Council member Kris Whitfield, Round Rock Area Arts Council president and Impact Newspaper executive editor Cathy Kincaid, Lisa Roebuck of the RRISD, and long-time community activist Judy McLeod - worked with the City Council and the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce to include Penfold Theatre Company in the current city initiative to redevelop the downtown area into a more attractive destination.

"Overseen by city staff member Will Hampton, the project aims to create a vibrant and walkable urban core that boosts Round Rock's economy, quality of life, and sense of place," Crowder said. "Groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the Round Rock Area Arts Council have been very supportive, as has Will Hampton's team on the city staff. And most recently, BLGY Architects has stepped up and donated services to help us test the feasibility of our venue plans."

The troupe plans to launch their 2011-12 season in their new Round Rock theatre facility. In the meantime, their upcoming season will see productions of David Mamet's two-character drama Oleanna performed next door to the Round Rock Library, and an outdoor production of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) at the recently-completed downtown amphitheatre during the summer of 2011. A third production - the classic drama The Lion in Winter - will play in Austin at the Rollins Theatre at The Long Center.

Crowder said that Penfold currently has two options on where to locate their new Round

Rock theatre home.

"The first would be a newly constructed building; this facility is drawn into the current draft of the Round Rock downtown master plan," he said. "It would stand at the western end of Main Street and greet drivers as they entered downtown from the I-35 access road."

"The second property is an existing building more centrally located in downtown," he said. "The fact that it is already standing and requires only renovation makes this option less financially challenging."

However, he points out that they have a long way to go before plans are finalized.

"No contracts have been signed. No money put down. Nothing is final. We are still in the discussion and planning phases."

He also notes that the Penfold advocates have met with the well-established Sam Bass Community Theatre (SBCT), which has been producing theatre in Round Rock for more than two decades. Crowder said that the two entities plan to work together to bring a better arts environment to their city.

"Last year, we sat down with leaders from SBCT, who were both gracious and supportive, offering to share items from their stock or to help as they could," he said. "We agreed to work together to advocate better support for all Round Rock arts organizations."

Crowder said that - despite opening shop less than two years ago - Penfold believes that the time is right for their move to Round Rock, and the time to establish a permanent facility

for their productions.

"The arts in Williamson County are starting to reach critical mass," he said. "In 2008, Round Rock established an arts endowment, formed the Round Rock Area Arts Council, and saw the birth of its own professional symphony. In 2009, Cedar Park opened a new events center. We feel we have come to the table at an exciting time in the area's cultural development."

Penfold Theatre's production of the chamber musical John and Jen continues through February 21st at the Hideout Theatre. For more information on the organization and their objectives, call (512) 850-4849 or visit www.PenfoldTheatre.com.

(Photos courtesy Penfold Theatre Company - from top:

- Penfold co-founder Ryan Crowder;

- Drawing of the new Round Rock downtown - Penfold’s new theatre would be

the building on the far right.)