Alabama Shakespeare Festival unveils $7 million renovation and expansion

Brad Harper, Montgomery Advertiser
·2 min read

Returning crowds probably won’t notice the $7 million in new theater expansions and upgrades at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, at least not at first. ASF Executive Director Todd Schmidt is fine with that.

It’s the first major renovation since the Montgomery theater opened in 1985 and includes an expansion of interior space and other substantial changes. But those changes mostly disappear, and that’s by design. ASF worked with original architect Tom Blount on the renovation and used a style of brick that was first created for the theater’s debut 37 years ago.

The changes turn what was an underused outdoor area into a more spacious lobby. Floor-to-ceiling windows now flood the space with natural light. Instead of a concession stand under a staircase, there’s now an open lounge flanked by two new bars. There’s now elbow room in the once-cramped gift shop.

“The amazing thing about this construction project for me is that it’s so seamless,” Schmidt said. “You can’t tell that this is all new.”

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival has finished an expansion which includes replacing two odd the wooden entrance doors with glass doors as seen at the ASF building in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday November 29, 2022.
The Alabama Shakespeare Festival has finished an expansion which includes replacing two odd the wooden entrance doors with glass doors as seen at the ASF building in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday November 29, 2022.

The most obvious upgrade is the addition of new, modern bathrooms on the entrance level. And Schmidt joked that people who are feeling nostalgic for the 1980s can still go to the downstairs restroom. All of those upgrades to the upper level were funded by private donations.

But the biggest change won’t be visible at all.

ASF is busy installing a new air handling system thanks to $3.6 million in funding from the state. Work was delayed by supply line issues, forcing the theater to push back the opening of its new season to December.

“This building is over 100,000 square feet, so the air handlers are big and expensive,” Schmidt said.

The new air system is now up and running in the Octagon theater, and “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” opened there Dec. 2. Workers are finishing HVAC installation in the neighboring festival theater now, and it will reopen Jan. 5 with “Jubilee,” the story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

The statue of William Shakespeare is decorated for Christmas at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday November 29, 2022.
The statue of William Shakespeare is decorated for Christmas at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday November 29, 2022.

Artistic Director Rick Dildine noted that the ASF’s mission is to help build community, and the upgrades will allow it more room and flexibility to host different kinds of functions. “When you think about this place, think about all the different ways you can build community,” Dildine said.

The theater has a longtime fan in Ron Simmons. As the head of destination and community development for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Simmons said he often brings visitors to ASF to see their astonished reactions.

Simmons came to the theater again Tuesday to help celebrate the new upgrades and talk about what it means for the region as a whole.

“When people come to Montgomery, they don’t expect this,” Simmons said.

Brad Harper covers business and local government for the Montgomery Advertiser. Contact him at bharper1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: ASF unveils $7M renovation and expansion