SAK Comedy Lab will be able to continue performing in its Orange Avenue theater through February after reaching a deal that allows the organization to remain there until its new space is ready for a March 1 grand opening.
The improv-comedy company on Tuesday afternoon announced it had been able to negotiate a lease extension at its current location, 29 S. Orange Ave. That building is being renovated as a future home for the Parliament House nightclub, although the last public update on construction progress from Parliament House — the storied gay resort formerly located on Orange Blossom Trail — was made more than a year ago.
SAK’s lease was set to expire in November, well before its future home could be turned into a theater. That location is right around the corner, less than a quarter-mile away, in the 55 West complex on Church Street. The second-floor theater will face Orlando Fringe’s ArtSpace.
The preliminary work to renovate the new space is in progress, said SAK executive director Chris Dinger in a message to the Orlando Sentinel.
“We have received permits back to begin construction and are well under way with Adirondack Studios in designing a really cool, refreshed SAK experience,” he wrote.
Previously, the company had anticipated it might have to temporarily go dark during a transition from the old space to the new, but the lease extension means “no down time,” Dinger said.
The move to 55 West will increase parking options for patrons and provide a less rowdy atmosphere than the main drag of Orange Avenue, Dinger had previously told the Sentinel.
SAK Comedy Lab is going back to Church Street: Here’s when, how and why
“We believe the minimal distance will make a world of difference in vibe, accessibility and a brand new start for our beloved brand,” he reiterated to SAK fans on Wednesday in an electronic newsletter.
The relocation is estimated to cost about $1 million, but Dinger said SAK had been saving for years in anticipation of an eventual move.
Founded in 1991, SAK not only presents a variety of public improv shows but also teaches classes in the art form and entertains at corporate and other special events. Its most famous alumnus is Wayne Brady, who currently hosts CBS’s “Let’s Make a Deal” game show.
For more information, go to sakcomedylab.com.
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