CINCINNATI—October 11, 2011—The Drama Workshop, a local award winning community theater production company today announced the acquisition of Glenmore Bowl building located at 3716 Glenmore Ave, Cheviot. Building upon its original heritage, the theater group plans to turn the facility into a community performing arts center. Built in 1928, the bowling building was originally designed to serve as a motion picture theater. By virtue of its unique design and 22 ft. ceilings, it provides a near-perfect venue for the performing arts. The theater group eagerly anticipates opening its new performance space in September 2012.
The Drama Workshop has been in existence since 1954, and this is the first time it’s been able to have a permanent home.
“This is monumental for our group in terms of awareness and building an audience and membership base,” said Mary Stone, President of The Drama Workshop. “Now that we have a dedicated venue, we can increase the number of productions and shows in our season as well as secure permanent signage and have a constant presence in the West Side community.”
Local business owners have been very supportive of the idea of having a performing arts center. This building would have been demolished and turned into a parking lot, had it not been for this purchase. However, by brokering three separate real estate deals with local property owners including Rebold Rosenacker & Sexton Funeral Home and a private home owner, The Drama Workshop was able to buy the building from Cheviot Savings Bank. Key to the process has been funeral home owners Jerry Rosenacker and Mike Sexton who went to great lengths to make this exciting development for Cheviot a reality, explained Stone.
“Jerry and Mike believed that having an entertainment option at the Glenmore Bowl was a positive asset to the community and the local businesses; bringing patrons and revenue to the city versus just having the historic building torn down and turned into a parking lot,” said Stone. “They sacrificed one of their own buildings to be torn down in order to make the required parking lot. They also gave up some of their own existing parking spots in their private parking lot so the parking areas could be connected,” said Stone.
Being in the heart of the Cheviot Entertainment District, the performance arts center will be in walking distance from about ten restaurants and bars, providing ample opportunity for patrons to have a complete evening out in Cheviot. The building will also be available to other groups and individuals needing performance space at reasonable rental rates.
Next steps for The Drama Workshop include teaming up with interested individuals, businesses, and organizations to defray the expenses of bringing this exciting concept to life. In the long term, The Drama Workshop is working to identify and apply for operating and capital improvement grants with hopes to open its doors in September 2012. For anyone interested in making a donation or assisting in any way, please contact Mary Stone at mary.stone@possibleworldwide.com or send your tax deductible donation to The Drama Workshop c/o The Glenmore Bowl Building Fund P.O. Box 712 West Chester, OH 45071.
About The Drama Workshop
The Drama Workshop is widely recognized as producing high quality entertainment, having been nominated three of the last five years for Best Community Theater Production by Cincinnati Entertainment Awards. Additionally the workshop has received 84 awards for excellence by the Cincinnati Association of Community Theaters over the last three years. The Drama Workshop is heavily involved in the West Side community, providing discount tickets to its performances for local civic and church groups as well as sponsoring the Ginny Chizer Memorial Scholarship for a deserving Oak Hills student who has participated in the theatrical arts during high school.
The Drama Workshop is holding auditions for one role for its upcoming production of TALLEY AND SON. opening March 2 and closing March 10, Rehearsals will be held 4 times a week during January and February, with blocking in December. All rehearsals to be held at Mercy Hospital Western Hills Fitness Center and the Hospital.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 