I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing the ground breaking and grand opening performance at the new Hattiloo Theatre!
The venue is not only used for Hattiloo's custom-made plays and children's theatre, it's also a prime spot for receptions and community forums.
The 11,041 square foot space is centrally located in midtown Memphis' Overton Square.
It has an open, wall-to-wall-window reception area.
According to the building engineering firm's website, the main stage setup can be reconfigured depending on need and can seat up to 180 people.
The other black box theatre stage, that can seat as many as 58 people, is a cool setup where the seats circle the stage. It gives you an incredibly intimate feel that I haven't experienced in other theatre venues.
The actual plays can range from the Anansi the Spider children's play to Hattiloo's own rendition of A Christmas Carol: If Scrooge was a Brother.
Parking is usually not a problem, as three of the theatre's walls are surrounded by a parking lot and nearby paid parking garage.
The theatre founder, Ekundayo Bandele, is a transplant from Brooklyn, New York who established Memphis' first black repertory company years back, but the theatre relocated to Overton Square in 2013 and opened in 2014, after a $4.3 million capital campaign. Locals feel very strongly about the success of the theatre and put a lot of private money into it.
The theatre recently unveiled its H.Y.P.E. (Hattiloo Young Professionals Experience) program to encourage young people to become stakeholders in the theatre.
The original theatre had an educational component: Classes for young playwrites, actors, and directors.
Fun tidbit: The theatre's name is a combination of the founder's two daughters' nicknames: Hatshepsut Bandele (Hatti) and Oluremi Bandele (Loo.)
The theatre's original mission statement:
"Our mission is to develop a Black theatre that is accessible to, relevant to, and reflective of a multicultural community."
Your Memphis experience wouldn't be complete without a visit to Hattiloo. read more