Up coming month the Penobscot Theatre Co. will premiere 1 of its most bold productions however: a total-provider cocktail bar next door to the theater’s longtime home at the Bangor Opera Dwelling.
The Stage Door, established for a smooth opening someday in May forward of a grand opening in June all-around the theater’s creation of “Mary Poppins,” will provide cocktails, beer, wine and gentle bites in the course of both equally runs of the theater’s demonstrates and for frequent several hours. It’s housed in the former spot of Valentine Footwear, a shoe store at 115 Primary St. that shut in January after 11 a long time in small business.
Jen Shepard, executive director of Penobscot Theatre, mentioned that the theater-owned bar was 1 of many concepts she and her staff and board of administrators experienced been thinking about as a way to diversify the organization’s offerings.
When Valentine Footwear owner Summertime Allen let them know very last drop that she prepared to shut her enterprise, which is instantly adjacent to the appropriate side of the opera household, they jumped at the prospect.
“I was severely unfortunate about the shoes, but when Louie [Morrison], the building proprietor, approached us about likely employing that space, we imagined ‘Hey, this is an strategy that could certainly do the job,’” Shepard reported.
Very last 7 days, contractors tore a hole in the wall that separates the opera household and 115 Key St., and this week a established of double doorways will be mounted allowing for for comprehensive access amongst the theater and the bar. The inside, intended by longtime Penobscot Theatre set designer Chez Cherry, will be in preserving with the opera house’s art deco aesthetic.
The Stage Door will be open up at the very least two several hours prior to all Penobscot Theatre reveals and following, and will have weekend hrs when there are not reveals as well, although Shepard explained they have not decided what these hours and days will be. Bar manager Frank Bachman, a veteran of the Mount Desert Island cafe and bar scene, will develop handcrafted cocktails named for theatrical references, and a little kitchen will provide up treats and light bites.
“We’re absolutely going to be testing plenty of menu merchandise and hrs to see what people today want, but there is lots of place to try out new points,” Shepard said.
Mainly because the theater will have a entire-service bar, just one of the concession stands now within the theater will near. Shepard mentioned they also strategy to offer you programming and party rentals inside of the new 50-man or woman capability room, such as a collection of engage in readings prepared for the theater’s 50th-anniversary time, which begins this tumble.
Shepard mentioned she’s energized to integrate The Stage Doorway into the downtown restaurant and bar scene, and to acquire on a new challenge.
“We have to broaden the techniques that we interact with our audiences and local community, and this is an amazing possibility to do that,” she explained. “And I believe it’s also going to be a ton of enjoyable. I feel it’s likely to be seriously complementary to what we are by now inside the theater.”
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