In 1902, the brick building at 2700 Swiss at Cantegral housed the saddles and supplies of the U.S. Cavalry. Today it is the home of Swiss Avenue Theatre, an intimate, well-appointed performance space utilized by several of the City’s theater and dance companies.
Owner James Pavey says the theater project began in September 1991 as the studio and stage of Deep Ellum Dance Theatre, an entity that lasted less than a year.
“I designed and built every square inch of this theater with my own two hands. I had a 735-foot stage, dressing room space for 20, permanent seating for 70, a new air-conditioning system and the best bathrooms of any theater in town,” Pavey says.
All he needed was a show.
“I knew smaller theater and dance companies in the City needed more places to perform, so I put out the word. Last season, we were booked for extended runs by Rising Moon Theater and New Theater Company, and for shorter runs by Decca Dance and other independent dance companies,” Pavey says.
On Halloween, versatile cast members from user companies got together and created a delightfully horrifying Haunted House – which also earned them a high press profile.
Pavey says rental fees vary with the needs and ability to pay of the performers. Rehearsal and performance rent is $12 to $25 per hour. Longer runs receive lower rates, and Pavey welcomes all offers.
“My interest in keeping Swiss Avenue Theatre open is to provide space for artists who need it. I look at a budget for the show, and ask the company to offer me a reasonable rate. Nine times out of 10, we can work it out,” he says.
On April Fool’s Day, Rising Moon Theater opens Len Jenkin’s “Dark Ride”, “a strange and hilarious story with a carnival atmosphere about 10 people who collide while tracking down a mysterious blue jewel,” in the words of artistic director David Middleman.
Middleman says his company has found a near-perfect home at Swiss Avenue Theatre.
“The space is first-rate for us, and for companies offering alternative theater that normally draws smaller audiences,” he says.
Middleman says he is talking with several other companies in an attempt to pull together “a full theater complement” to keep the lights on continuously at Swiss Avenue Theatre.
You can see “Dark Ride” April 1-May 1. Performances are 8:15 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday, April 18 and 25.
Ask East Dallas merchants in the Greenville Avenue area and at Mockingbird shopping centers about the two-for-one ticket deal. Tickets are $8-$10. Call 824-9859 for information.
Calendar
The Advocate publishes at no charge information about events of cultural interest to neighborhood residents on a space-available basis. Information must be received by the 10th of the month preceding publication. Include location, date, time, prices and a phone number.
April 1-May 7 – D-Art Visual Arts Center, 2917 Swiss, hosts “Mosaics: Paintings by Sami Bentil” weekdays from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays from noon-4 p.m.
April 1-May 1 – Cleo Productions presents the comedy troupe Guava Bomblets Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. in the Lakewood Arcade, 1825 Abrams in the Lakewood Theatre. Tickets are $10; call 392-2536 for reservations.
April 3-10 – The comedy troupe Rubber Chicken performs Saturday, April 3 & 10, at 10:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Arcade, 1825 Abrams in the Lakewood Theatre. Tickets are $8; call 823-LAFF for reservations.
April 2-May 6 – “Sherlock Holmes: The Last Adventure”, is presented by the Pocket Sandwich Theatre, 5400 E. Mockingbird, Suite 119, near Bookstop. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $6 Thursday and Sunday, $8 Friday and $12 Saturday. Call 821-1860.
April 4-30 – “Celebrating the Stitch”, an exhibition of needle arts by U.S. and Canadian stitchers, is presented by a coalition of fibre arts guilds at the Trammell Crow Center Pavilion, Ross and Pearl. Call 351-0608 for viewing hours.
April 7-May 15 – “Bluebeard”, Charles Ludlum’s compic spoof of mad scientist movies appear at Pegasus Theatre, 3916 Main at Washington. Showtimes are 8:15 p.m. Saturdays and 5 p.m. Sundays (7 p.m. April 18). Tickets are $8-$14; call 821-6005.
April 18 – Teddy Bear Picnic Day at Old City Park – a 14-acre park filled with restored Victorian homes and shops south of I-30 between Harwood and St. Paul – celebrates the world’s favorite toy. The event runs from 2-5 p.m. Admission is $15 for family of four; group rates with box lunch are also available. Call 421-5141.
April 23-May 15 – “The Wall of Water”, the Southwest premiere presented by New Horizons Theatre at the Bath House Cultural Center at White Rock Lake, is presented at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Tickets are $10; call 824-3183.
