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THEATER
says Doris Tillman, executive director of Fort Pierce Mainstreet.
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“You lose a lot when it’s not a full house.”
In 2007, as part of a huge renovation, Riverside Theatre
built its own freestanding black box theater, the largest on the
Treasure Coast with a 250-seat capacity. “It has broadened
what we offer the community in terms of live entertainment,”
says Oscar Sales, marketing director for the Riverside
Theatre. “We now have space for cabaret, comedy and rock
concerts. From a marketing standpoint we now have two
different audiences and we very often have two shows at the
same time.”
Riverside has used the
black box as a teaching tool
for children, who can learn
about lighting, set building
and costumes, Sales says.
The black box is also great
for off-Broadway-style
plays, according to Sales.
“The people are right
there next to the action,”
Sales says. “The audience
can be on three sides so the
actors have to play to the
whole crowd. It is more
challenging for the actors.
The power of the play is
what really shines.”
The black box is a
concept that’s growing.
The Maltz Jupiter Theatre
in Jupiter is considering
building a black box theater,
but so far there are no
firm plans. SUNRISE THEATRE
A crowd fills the black box space at the Sunrise Theatre during the space’s grand opening in October.