THEATER
THINKING INSIDE
THE BOX
The Sunrise Theatre’s black box theater is a flexible and intimate space that can seat 210 people. ED DRONDOSKI
BY GREG GARDNER
There are three under-the-radar black boxes on the
20
Treasure Coast, but the Federal Aviation Administration
has no interest in locating them.
“Black box” is not just a term for data recorders
on airplanes. In the theater industry it is a big,
open room that can be converted to a variety of uses.
The Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce in October premiered its
black box, the third such venue on the Treasure Coast. Indian
River State College also has the Wynne Black Box Theatre in
Fort Pierce and Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach opened the
Waxlax Stage black box theater in 2007.
The Sunrise effort has converted 4,800 square feet of adjacent
storefront into a flexible space with a 210-seat capacity
and unlimited possible configurations. The $490,000 renovation
is complete, and events are now being held and scheduled.
The project is funded by the city of Fort Pierce, includ-
>>
The concept of black box theater – an
intimate space for performances – has taken
the Treasure Coast by storm