'He's gonna be there with us.' Group working to reopen The Bard's Town. Here's what to know

The death of entertainer, teacher and businessman Doug Schutte in February threw into question the fate of his ongoing effort to reopen The Bard’s Town.

A group of Schutte's employees and colleagues are now answering that question with plans to keep alive the vision of a refreshed dining and entertainment venue.

“We need to make sure we follow Doug’s initial guidance because it has his spirit,” said Corey Music, one of the five co-owners picking up where Schutte left off. “And what’s the point of doing it without his spirit?”

Schutte co-founded The Bard’s Town in 2010 on Bardstown Road in the Highlands. Part restaurant and bar, part entertainment venue, the business grew into an artists’ haven in its nearly 13 years, supporting performers and serving up Shakespeare-themed foods.

Schutte was in the process of relocating the business to a former church building at 511 E. Burnett Ave. when he died suddenly last month at 47.

In memoriam: Doug Schutte, The Bard’s Town owner, remembered for fostering artist haven in Louisville

Other partners in the new venture are Daniel Riddlesmith, Rachel Allen, Sabrina Spalding and Dan Shoemaker, who were helping Schutte as he worked to reopen the business.

“Most of us have all been friends or met through other places, but The Bard’s Town is just one of those unifying things that brought us all together in different ways that made us more of this bonded group,” Riddlesmith said.

Music said Schutte envisioned getting the new space up and running before slowly giving his associates more responsibility. His death fast-tracked that plan.

They’ve formed a new company, Bard Louisville Entertainment, and are in the final stages of signing a lease for the space. They've launched a crowdfunding effort to help with rent and renovations ahead of a planned summer opening.

“This is a moment that you can’t sleep on,” Music said. “We can do something really special here. We have this team … who wants to make it happen and a community that wants to see it happen.”

'The space I kind of wanted all along': The Bard's Town to move from home in the Highlands

They plan to keep much of the original vision for the Bard 2.0 in place, with the converted church space holding stages for live theater, comedy shows and live music as well as a bar and restaurant.

There’s still much physical work yet to be done, though Schutte left a roadmap of journals, drawings and blueprints.

“We’re going to try and piece those together and use as much as we can,” Riddlesmith said.

A refreshed menu is in the works, though fans can still expect to see some Shakespeare puns, and the beloved macaroni and cheese isn’t going anywhere. The new ownership group is planning a slight name change, perhaps to Bard Theatre, though the final name is still in flux.

Not changing is Schutte’s policy of no upfront fees for acts, Music said, lowering the barrier for creatives to experiment and perform.

“That’s the true heartbeat of this place,” Music said. “When you walk in, something magical is happening or is going to happen. You’re going to see a friend you haven’t seen in a while. You’re going to see a hilarious show … That’s the kind of thing we want to keep going.”

You may like:'I'm a treasure hunter': Expansion turns Old Louisville antique shop into Dreamlight Gallery

A mural planned for the theater space as well as artwork backstage for the actors will feature images of Schutte.

“We're definitely planning on having him be a part of the space in whatever way we can,” Riddlesmith said. “Because you know he's gonna be there with us.”

For Music, who first started working for Schutte as a server in 2013, carrying on the business is a way to take his lifelong love of theater to the next level and to thank his former boss.

“I really want to put my heart and soul into this,” he said. “I love this place so much. I love Doug so much. I owe this to him.”

Business reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at mglowicki@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4000 or on Twitter @mattglo. 

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: The Bard's Town to live on after founder's death