PHOTO VIA THE RENAISSANCE THEATRE COMPANY FACEBOOK PAGE
The Renaissance Theatre Company (Website) in Orlando was ordered by the City to vacate its Ivanhoe Village venue immediately on Friday, September 19, after inspectors flagged serious safety issues in the former warehouse building. Forcing the venue to cancel a number of scheduled shows last minute.
Neon green “Notice to Vacate” and “Condemned” signs were placed on the building’s doors, bringing all scheduled live performances to a halt, including the highly anticipated run of Nosferatu, described by the theatre co-founder Donald Rupe as its “biggest show of the year.”
The closure stems from a recent inspection that identified concerns around set safety, fire-treatment of materials, and structural stability of temporary installations inside the theatre. Though the building itself is reportedly sound, certain set pieces were not compliant with fire safety regulations. The show’s immersive format, which moves audiences through multiple spaces and involves elaborate staging, elevated the risk profile in the eyes of the fire marshal – though, why those concerns surfaced now, four years into their operations, has not been shared, though the Mayor’s Office did send us the following quote.
“The building was condemned on Friday due to life-safety concerns stemming from construction work that had been completed without required permits, including the unapproved addition of a second floor. The site has several life-safety hazards, such as electrical issues, lack of sprinklers or fire suppression in some areas, and obstructed exits due to a maze-like layout. These conditions create significant risks for patrons and hinder evacuation routes in the event of an emergency. The City is actively working with the business to address and correct these violations, but until all code and safety issues are resolved, the property will remain condemned.”
– ANDREA OTERO, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, CITY OF ORLANDO
The financial fallout is steep. The theatre has estimated losses of $40,000 to $50,000 per week while closed. Staff and performers are affected immediately: many shows are canceled, tickets refunded, and employees must pause work until the required remediation work is completed. The theatre’s leadership says it plans to meet with city officials promptly to understand exactly what fixes will bring the building up to code, but they are saying the needed changes are “very fixable, very surmountable.”
For now, patrons are advised to check with the theatre for updates on when it will reopen. The Ren is currently accepting donations HERE.
Read The Ren’s full statement, as posted on Instagram, below.
