CHAPIN, S.C. — The green building at 830 Columbia Avenue in Chapin is about to be a hotspot for the local community.
The Chapin Theatre Company is moving in and setting up shop right now.
"If my dream comes true, they'll be done in January or the first week in February," said Jim DeFelice, president of the Chapin Theatre Company. "Then, I'll have three weeks to get this ready -- hang lights, build a set, get the chairs in place."
DeFelice explains they plan to have inspections of electrical, plumbing and the HVAC system very soon.
"We bought this 6.25 acres with help from sale of that property that we were given by our patron and then donations and a little bit of a loan," DeFelice said.
This plan has been in the works since 2010, from the old auditorium of Chapin High School to Harbison Theatre, to the Firehouse Theatre, this group now has a place to call home.
"The nice thing about having our own building that we own, first time we've ever owned a building in our 44 years, is that we control the calendar," DeFelice said. "So, we can juggle things around. Maybe we push the May show back a week."
Almost $850,000 is what it cost for this huge undertaking, all funded through Midlands Gives, their 10 minute play festival, their summer musical and other patron donations.
DeFelice tells News 19 he hopes their first show of the season can run in March at least 11 times. It's called Death by Design, with a cast of about a dozen people.
The Chapin Theatre Company has open registration for classes right now. If you'd like to learn more or sign up, click here.
According to DeFelice, the company plans to upgrade parking, curtains, lighting and sound, and add headsets for those who are hearing impaired at a later date. The company also has another four acres for future use or expansion.