It’s a sad day for the Little Rock stage scene. After a year of uncertainty and a decade on West Seventh Street, The Studio Theatre is officially closing its doors.
The downtown community theater’s board of directors announced the decision on Facebook on Oct. 8, stating its search for a new location coupled with leadership changes and restructuring complications led to the closure.
“This announcement does not come lightly,” the post says. “Over the past several months, we’ve explored every avenue to continue our work, from visiting and negotiating new spaces to reimagining what the future of The Studio Theatre could look like. Our intention was never to go away quietly or quickly, and we’ve remained hopeful until the very end.
“But despite our best efforts, this is simply not the right time to embark on a new chapter. The financial realities of securing and outfitting a new space, maintaining staff and producing quality theater in today’s economic climate are immense. These challenges, combined with an already stretched creative community, have made it clear that continuing at this time would not be sustainable or responsible.”
The board did, however, leave open the possibility for a future revival, noting that “if and when the time is right, we are open to what may come next.”
Click here to read the full statement from The Studio Theatre.