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‘The Acorn Grows’ gives sneak peek at improvements to The Acorn

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts in Three Oaks is growing.

Now, to match its growing popularity among the greater Harbor Country community and beyond, The Acorn will also be growing physically within the next couple of years.

“The Acorn is stronger than we’ve ever been and our commitment to mission driven programming, community engagement and having a positive economic impact on our community is at our core… Indeed, it’s the mission of the Acorn Center for the Performing Arts, our dedicated board, the talented staff we have, our amazing volunteers - we all have a burning passion for this place, as we know you all do too, and we are committed to steering the Acorn forward to ensure there is magic and enjoyment for everyone in the future and for everyone who walks through The Acorn’s doors and has a nice time under our stars,” said Laura Jolly, board chair of The Acorn Board of Directors, during an Acorn Grows event Sunday, Oct. 2.

The event was held at Spring Creek Farm, which is owned by Lynn and Allen Turner (for which the Turner Stage at The Acorn is named after).

Jolly said that visitors may have noticed subtle changes to The Acorn, which have included “increases in the variety of our programming we feature on The Turner Stage and a strong commitment to further engagement with our neighbors and our community.”

Visitors to the farm that day were invited to view renderings provided by Kil Architecture & Planning of ideas under consideration.

Phase 1 was set to begin Oct. 4 Noting that the building is over a century year old, Jolly said that, in the coming weeks, tuckpointing and roof projects will begin, which will allow for the necessary “TLC” to “seal the envelope” of the building.

She added that these endeavors are expected to take the next six to eight weeks.

Greg Kil, principal architect at Kil Architecture & Planning, said that after the completion of the fall masonry and roofing projects in Phase One, the next phase will involve an upgrade to the electrical system, HVAC (“With

an emphasis on the AC,” he said), creating backyard performance space and utilizing upstairs space previously unavailable as theater space.

He added that there will also be a “higher level of accessibility to the building.” Now that the pipe organ has been removed, more space is available to “take advantage and to apply the programming.”

Adding that this “hasn’t been finalized,” Kil said that they’re seeking input and “funding is critical.”

Plans for an outdoor theater space on the far west side of the building is also part of the improvements.

Amid all the vast improvements, Kil said that the “retaining all those special things that really is The Acorn” remains a goal.

“We’re not going to be tripling the seating, we’re not going to be putting in a bunch of fixed seats - we want that flexibility in order to make sure you can accommodate school groups, theater groups, also dinner theater – all the other different things you do, from comedy to music performance, potentially drama and dance,” he said, adding that the back of house, such as the green room, needs upgrades.

“Our team is humbled and honored to be allowing to see The Acorn grow and to take that vision further,” Kil said.

Bob Murphy, a member of the board of directors and marketing committee chair , said that The Acorn received some grant money to help get going on the backyard project, which will start in 2023.

“As we move into 2023, we’ll start looking at a lot of the other renovations in terms of a new bar location, a new green room…There’s a whole area about 10,000 square feet on the second floor that is not being used so it’s just storage – we want to turn that into some sort of space for the community, maybe educational space,” he said, adding that this will begin toward the end of 2023 and into 2024.

In May, The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts became owner of The Acorn Theater with the sale of the building from founder and previous owner, David Fink. Fink said that in 1998, he and Kim Clark had a bed and breakfast in Union Pier and did sold-out live show at The Vicker’s Theater and more shows the following year at what’s now Staymakers in Journeyman Distillery.

Soon, they decided to sell the bed and breakfast and use the money to start a theater, with John Vicker telling them that, if they do it in Three Oaks “I’ve got the movie theater, I’ll help you build an audience.”

“Kim saw the place that is now The Acorn, it had a hole in the roof, the wood was rotting, there was no paved street in front of The Acorn it was just dirt, there were rusted cars,” he said.

Nonetheless, after two years of construction, they bought the building in 2001 and had their first show Memorial Day Weekend 2003.

“That was the beginning – it’s been going on since 2003 of lots and lots of shows, so thank you for supporting,” he said.

Kil Architecture & Planning rendering of The Acorn outdoor space