MetroStage, Alexandria’s only professional theater, is inching closer to reopening in a new, exciting space, but funding is still needed. The new theater sits on the waterfront in the Old Town North neighborhood as part of the residential 13-story condominium the Venue, converted from an old hotel across from Montgomery Park.
“It’s a beautiful space in a highly visible location with three-sided glass, two stories high, so it’s really exquisite in terms of being a central piece in the Old Town North Arts and Cultural District, where MetroStage is considered one of the arts anchors,” said Carolyn Griffin, producing artistic director of MetroStage.
However, right now, the theater is simply a cold-dark shell, with nothing but walls, concrete on the floors, electrical outlets, and pipes where the bathrooms will go, so a lot needs to be done.
You see, in 2019, the estimate to complete the new theater was $1.5 million, but after COVID hit, the price of steel and other materials went up considerably, and now the theater needs approximately $3 million to finish the renovation.
“Over time, we have raised $1 million in what I call our ‘grassroots effort,’ with checks from $25 to $100,000,” Griffin said. “The next million included a pledge of $500,000 and $250,000 in federal money. This past holiday season, I’ve gotten pledges or checks that added up to more than $400,000, which is a huge boost.”
So, MetroStage has raised more than $2 million in fundraising so far but needs more to begin construction.
“The design is there, the blueprints are ready, and when we get close to $3 million, we can start the buildout,” Griffin said. “It is going to happen this year, and we are very excited. We have miraculously been able to stay in the forefront and visible over time with our MetroStage at the Lyceum series. People are really interested in helping us and having a theater in their neighborhood.”
Originally founded in 1984, MetroStage has enjoyed many homes throughout the last four decades. Its first two locations were on Duke Street; in 1987, it operated out of spaces owned by Carr Companies (then The Oliver Carr Company); then it moved into a converted lumber warehouse in Old Town North at 1201 North Royal, which was shuttered in 2019 and is now a condominium. The upcoming space will be at 915 North Fairfax Street.
The new theater will be special and offer a look like no other. For instance, earlier this year, the theater was gifted a stunning stainless-steel bar out of the popular Alexandria neighborhood trattoria, A La Lucia, which closed on New Year’s Eve as part of the redevelopment plan that is seeing an entire block of buildings (next to MetroStage’s future home) torn down.
“A La Lucia opened in 2003 and was a real fixture in the neighborhood, and just beloved,” Griffin said. “A while back, when I was sitting at that bar, I knew I wanted to honor and remember the restaurant and Michael, its owner, and adding the bar to our venue would be really cool.”
Additionally, MetroStage has procured three marble-top high-tops and 15 decorative wooden barstools.
“We will incorporate a design around the bar, and the whole idea is we are keeping a neighborhood fixture like A La Lucia alive in our new building, honoring them,” Griffin said. “That’s really important to me. I’ve lived in Alexandria for 56 years and run the theater for 40, and I’m really committed to the arts in Alexandria.”
Falls Church artist Barbara Januszkiewicz will also have her work included in the theater design around the concourse, with a large public art piece expected to be a very visible talking point of the neighborhood.
The venue recently installed five 9-foot-high panels at the front of the building, identifying the space as the future home of MetroStage.
The panels say, “Imagine,” “Theatre,” “Music,” “Art” and “Film,” and serve as a reminder to the neighborhood of the incredible venue that’s on its way.
“We are honored to have been chosen by the developer from the beginning; we were the logical choice because we were already there and being displaced, but it’s still really fabulous to have the opportunity to be in this central space,” Griffin said.
In addition to offering a show season, there will be afternoons and evenings where MetroStage will also offer other things, whether play readings, cabarets, or displaying the work of visual artists on its walls.
“We have a big donor giving us money for state-of-the-art film equipment, which means we will also be outfitted for films, so there’s an opportunity for a lot of things for whatever the community wants beyond our four to five plays and musicals; there will be days and nights available to serve other art forms,” Griffin said. “From Day 1, I have always wanted to bring in the highest artistic talent and share it with the community and beyond.”
MetroStage and George Mason University present Broadway’s Prince: The Musicals of Hal Prince on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St, Alexandria, VA. Conceived and co-directed by Erin and James Gardiner with music direction by Joseph Walsh, this cabaret features GMU student performers and celebrates the work of legendary Broadway producer Hal Prince. Tickets are $30 and available here.
And Monday, March 10, 2025, brings soul and gospel singer Robert E. Person to perform in the MetroStage at the Lyceum. For more information, go to metrostage.org.
SEE ALSO:
MetroStage gets a new venue called Venue (news story, April 19, 2022, by Grace Arnold, The Zebra)
