I have an opportunity.

[ChazInAz]

Theater person, here. The stage has been my home for some sixty years.
For decades, I've fantasized about purchasing an old church and converting it into a theater. Now, I've helped build several venues in warehouses, huge garages, etc., and have performed in many churches converted to that purpose. For a whole summer I toured in "Murder In The Cathedral" throughout central Illinois, performing in consecrated, working churches. So...this isn't my first rodeo.
A 120 year old church has come up for sale in Atchison KS. I was in that town in October, as one of the main ghouls in the Halloween festivities. It's a wonderful little place, surprisingly cosmopolitan and sophisticated for its size and location. At one time, it was the refuge of the Great and Good from Kansas City and Leavenworth, and is packed with industrial baron's mansions. It's Amelia Earhart's home town.
By selling out my Tucson home, I can readily afford the place. (I can actually afford it without selling out...but who needs two homes?) It looks as if my old dream is coming to fruition, live theater on the weekends, classic films during the dark periods.
Pandaemonium Shadowshows will finally have a home.
Probably open this coming October with either Michael Chesden's "Lugosi" or Clive Barker's "Crazyface"

[soothsayer]

1. Sounds amazing!

[MLAA]

2. Break a leg!

I live in Tucson and send you best wishes!

[SheltieLover]

3. Congrats!

Please keep us posted!!!

[Buzz cook]

4. You wouldn't be the first.

Maybe you might reach out to other converted church/theaters. iirc St. Louis has one.

Good luck to you and yours.

[MelissaB]

5. Awesome! What an adventure!!

Congratulations on living your dream!

[blm]

6. Wow.

Success is not based on perfection, it’s based on opportunity.
This opportunity sounds like the one you’ve planned for years.

[Bayard]

7. Congratulations!

VERY exciting!

[fierywoman]

8. I have a very, very strong intuitive feeling that activities that bring communities together

in joyful activities will be wildly successful -- in bocca al'lupo!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. Oh, my.

I hope this works for you.

[mopinko]

10. go for it.

money is for making dreams come true.

[ChazInAz]

11. UPDATE!

As of March 15, I have made an offer on the church and been accepted. My house in Tucson is sold, and I am moving to Atchison on March 31!
I am still gobsmacked at how fast it all went.
The Green Man Theater is now a thing!

[MuseRider]

12. I have somehow missed

this group and just now ran into it. I am thrilled to see this. I live South of Topeka. Welcome to Kansas. My brother and I had hopes of doing something like this before he died. Enjoy. I would love you to let me know when things are running. I am not that far away that I could not run up and see a show and support your project.

[ChazInAz]

13. It shall be done!

Right now, I'm living a few blocks from the church in a friend's historical mansion while we work on the remodel. Hoping to be up and running in October.

[MuseRider]

14. Oddly, I have lived in Topeka or close in the country

all my life and NEVER been to Atchison! I think a trip would be a good thing, especially to see a newly renovated space for a theater.

[ChazInAz]

15. Living here is a bit strange.

I like Atchison very much, but it feels odd to be in the Midwest, again.
I was born in Budapest, and have some memories of the city, though we hurriedly emigrated in 1956. I grew up in Springfield, Illinois, which has a large Hungarian community. The grim winters finally drove me and my own growing family to Arizona in 1979. That was my home until this past March!
Now, I have to get used to seasons, rain, snow and other peculiarities that I've not really missed while living in the desert.
Balancing that is what's referred to as "Kansas Nice". Everybody knew about me within days of my arrival, and made me welcome!
And you are welcome to hunt me up when you visit Atchison.

[MuseRider]

16. Kansas can be many things.

If you look at the politics you want to run screaming but still, for the most part I always am left wondering how there are so many who vote like this. I read things that make my skin crawl yet I almost never encounter any of it. My county is blue but not always. I think there were 5 blue counties, all here in the NE.

I will hunt you up! I love theater, occasionally get a job in a small orchestra for local theaters and once in a while a real job playing for money!!! I think you are in a good place to be supported. I will want to see what all is going on there. It is only an hour away with a few minutes added on, less that it takes me to visit my son's in KC. It would be nice to meet you.

Let me know when you get set up and are ready for doing shows, whatever kind you do. I would love to follow a website about what is going on there and attend when possible. I had a friend who taught music up there and really liked the community. We all have to support the arts here because if a Brownback person gets back in they will try to take that away again.

This is really exciting. My brother and I had such fun thoughts about doing something like this together. I miss him but thinking about those rudimentary plans makes me smile, as this does.