Key City Public Theatre remodeling

PORT TOWNSEND — With a major grant and ongoing breaks from its landlord, Key City Public Theatre is remodeling for a post-pandemic re-emergence.

The First Federal Community Foundation has awarded $30,000 to the nonprofit theater company, to update its playhouse, box office and lobby at 419 Washington St. Foundation executive director Jan Simon noted KCPT is the only arts organization to receive one of the 2020 grants.

“We supported them because of the economic engine they provide,” she said. The historic districts, of which the theater is a part, “drive the whole heart of the community’s identity, not to mention so much of the economy.”

Denise Winter, KCPT’s executive artistic director, is orchestrating the sweeping remodel — possible now while the theater is closed to in-person audiences.

Improvements include:

• Installation of a UV bacterial and viral filtration system;

• Replacing all of the old theater seats with modern, easier-to-maintain seating;

• Remodeling the restrooms with touchless fixtures;

• Installation of glass around the box office;

• Relocating the control room to make the theater more spacious;

• Remodeling the dressing rooms, concessions and lobby.

“We’re opening up the space,” said Winter, adding the expanded seating will mean accessible theater in a few ways.

More seats afford more free and reduced-price tickets. The theater will be better able to accommodate school groups. Patrons with mobility or hearing challenges, she said, will find the reconfigured playhouse and lobby less noisy and easier to navigate.

Cleanliness is also key. The mission here, Winter said, is to provide a theater that meets or exceeds national public health guidelines.

“We want people to have no question about whether this building is safe to use,” she said, for performances, streaming events and, eventually, producing shows for live audiences.

Winter isn’t making estimates about when KCPT’s doors will open for a new season of plays and musicals, but she is moving forward with other grant applications and plans for a community fundraising effort in 2021.

Over the past nine months, the theater’s Lifeline Campaign, coupled with deeply discounted rent, kept the slim staff working on remodeling plans, online content, small-group youth theater camps and other projects.

“We made a conscious decision to invest in where we are — in the building and the surrounding community. We’ve developed a wonderful relationship with our building owner,” Winter said.

Dave Williams has reduced the rent by half and eliminated the water bill until the theater is fully operational, whenever that may be.

It’s this variety of support that keeps Port Townsend creative, Winter added.

“By shoring up our arts businesses,” she said, “we ensure a strong and resilient community.”

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Jefferson County senior reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3509 or durbanidelapaz@peninsuladailynews.com.