Terrific New Theatre launches capital campaign to renovate, open new theater

Birmingham’s Terrific New Theatre is launching a $1.9 million capital campaign in hopes of renovating its newly acquired building and opening its doors again in the fall of 2024.

The theater is dubbing the campaign R³, for Relocate, Renovate and Reopen.

  “This $1.9 million capital campaign will offer an opportunity for TNT’s loyal patrons, donors, sponsors and volunteers to invest in the theater’s long-term future, but it also provides the board of trustees an occasion to reach theater lovers and arts supporters throughout the Birmingham area who may not have previous history with TNT,” says board President Chuck Evans in a press release. “TNT has never before embarked on a fundraising drive of this magnitude, but we are confident that Birmingham’s philanthropic community will answer the call and help us reach our goal. This community always seems to rally when someone has a need, especially when a nonprofit organization is the beneficiary.”

TNT, a Birmingham arts institution founded by the late Carl Stewart and Steve Stella in 1986, closed its doors at Pepper Place in July 2020 as a result of the pandemic. The theater’s board and Executive Director Tam DeBolt then began looking for a permanent new home for the theater.

In May, longtime supporters John and Louise Beard purchased a building at 2112 Fifth Ave. North and donated it to TNT.

“The 7,500-square-foot structure provides more than twice the square footage of the leased space at Pepper Place that TNT had called home for nearly 30 years prior to the pandemic,” TNT said in the release. “The new space will accommodate such amenities as a load-in bay, separate workshop for set-building, larger and more inviting dressing rooms for the actors, a bar that is separate from the box office, and laundry and kitchenette facilities, plus a beautifully appointed lobby. The relocation will enable the theater to increase its impact on the local arts scene and attract even more diverse talent.”

Now, the theater is launching efforts to renovate the new space, and the hope is to reopen by fall 2024.

“The R³ Capital Campaign represents an incredible opportunity for Terrific New Theatre to embark on a transformative journey,” DeBolt said in the release. “We are committed to providing our audiences with an exceptional theater experience while fostering the talents of our local artists. With the community’s support, we can achieve our vision of a modern, accessible, and thriving cultural hub. We invite everyone to join us in this exciting endeavor.”

A digital version of the R³ Capital Campaign packet is available on TNT’s website. Printed versions of the packet are available by contacting DeBolt at 205-328-0868. Fundraising progress will also be documented on Facebook and Instagram.