Work on Cap Rep’s new home delayed

“Sister Act” pushed back as $13.5M renovation may run into September

After more than three years of planning for a move to the very first home of its own, Capital Repertory Theatre had hoped to unveil the new venue in July with a production of the joyful musical “Sister Act.”

Now, because of the economic shutdown related to the coronavirus pandemic, construction delays have pushed the completion of the theater until at least September, and uncertainty about the resumption of arts performances before live audiences means “Sister Act” won’t be seen until an undetermined future date, The Rep announced Monday.

In other news from the company, The Rep’s producing artistic director, Maggie Mancinelli-cahill — who has wanted a new theater almost since she arrived 25 years ago — said that the company’s production of Frank Mccourt’s play “The Irish and How They Got That Way” will be returning at a later date. After opening in mid-march, the show had just three official performances before it was shut down by the pandemic, which forced the closure of performance venues from Broadway to Buffalo.

“We’ll announce the new dates as soon as we can, as we better understand the criteria for reopening, along with the new safety standards soon to be forthcoming from our actors union,” Mancinelli-cahill wrote in an email to subscribers and friends of The Rep.

Tickets purchased for canceled performances of “The Irish and

How They Got That Way” or for the postponed “Sister Act” will be honored for the to-be-determined new dates and do not need to be exchanged, Mancinelli-cahill said. Refunds are also available, she said, though the company is requesting audience members who do not wish to attend to transfer the price of the ticket into a donation to The Rep or to accept a credit from Proctors in Schenectady, The Rep’s parent organization.

“The Irish ...” was the last production at The Rep’s home of 39 years, at 111 North Pearl St. The theater’s new facility, about four blocks north at 251 North Pearl, will be in the former warehouse headquarters of an electrical contractor. When finished, the $13.5 million transformation of the 30,000-square-foot brick building will include a main theater with just more than 300 seats, a black-box theater with a capacity of up to 100, workshop spaces for sets, props and costumes, offices, dressing and rehearsal rooms, and a patron lounge and cafe.

The Rep considered a $4.5 million renovation of 111 North Pearl, its home since 1980, but it could not come to purchase terms with the longtime owner, developer Herb Ellis, to separate the former market space under a parking garage from other downtown properties Ellis wanted to sell. The portfolio has since been sold to Redburn Development for what is described as $78 million effort to create 350 mixedincome apartments and commercial and retail space in prominent structures including the Kenmore Hotel and the Steuben Athletic Club, both on North Pearl and long vacant, as well as the former Times Union headquarters on Sheridan Avenue, also formerly vacant, and 111 North Pearl.