Penfold Theatre Company will have its first permanent venue in Round Rock

The Penfold Theatre Company, a staple of arts in Round Rock, will soon have its first permanent venue.

The City Council on Thursday night approved an arts grant of $326,300 to help the company cover the cost of rent for 18 months. The grant money will be allocated from the city's hotel occupancy tax.

The venue will be in a current assembly hall in the Rock Creek Plaza, at 2120 N. Mays St., and is expected to open in the fall, with its first performance in October.

“With a permanent home, Penfold can build deeper, more focused relationships with area audiences, artists and supporters,” said Ryan Crowder, the theater's producing artistic director, in a news release.

Penfold will serve as the venue’s manager and primary tenant, producing an annual season of plays and musicals. The 2024-2025 season will be announced at a later date, officials said.

Penfold will be able to make changes to the space with the help of Danly Properties, a real estate agency, according to the release. According to the agency's website, the plaza is listed as one of its properties. The 6,400-square-foot venue will have a seating capacity of up to 150 people. The existing layout, lobby and backstage area will allow the company to avoid significant reconstruction.

The venue also will be made available for other local art groups that do not have their own performance space, Crowder said.

The city's 2023 art and culture plan showed 86% of residents supported any efforts to expand art and cultural opportunities. The surveys showed that residents were concerned about the lack of spaces to "create, present and experience arts."

"These agreements are in line with the city's objective to nurture creative enterprises and expand entertainment choices for our residents — a mission that Penfold has consistently supported through the years,” Mayor Craig Morgain said in the release. “I believe this project is the right fit for Round Rock and I look forward to this new chapter in Penfold's efforts to enrich our cultural landscape.”

The company has performed over 50 productions in the Round Rock and North Austin area for the past 16 years. Since 2010, it has partnered with the city to present its annual "Penfold in the Park" at the Centennial Plaza Amphitheater.

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Penfold Theatre Company to have permanent venue in Round Rock