Urbanite Theatre: A new face for Sarasota's performing arts

Standing inside the future home of Urbanite Theatre, located at 1487 Second St., co-artistic directors Brendan Ragan and Summer Wallace survey the construction site and give a virtual tour of the soon-to-be-completed black box theater.

"This will be the lobby," says Ragan, pointing to one of the building's unfinished walls. "Depending on the performance, we can arrange the seats in different ways. We wanted to be really flexible and intimate with our seating."

Urbanite Theatre, scheduled to open this April, represents Ragan and Wallace's desire to fill a need they saw in the local performing arts scene. The industry veterans and FSU/ ASOLO Conservatory grads realized they shared a vision for Sarasota's potential, and they decided to make it a reality.

"There's a terrific arts scene here," says Ragan. "Both the performers and the support from the patrons are amazing, but there really was no small-scale, black-box venue with edgy, contemporary material that was accessible to a modern audience. We saw an opportunity to appeal to that demographic."

After developing the idea, the co-artistic directors hit the web, where they sought assistance from likeminded supporters via a successful Kickstarter campaign, and they broke ground on their chosen site — a former parking lot in the heart of downtown Sarasota. As an added show of support, a benefactor will allow the 50-seat theatre to operate under a five-year lease, rent-free.

With the opening date rapidly approaching, the two say they've been overwhelmed with the show of support, and they can't wait to show their work to a new, younger theater audience.

"As a young theater-goer, not feeling like you fit in can be a huge deterrent," says Ragan. "Urbanite is going to be the opposite of that. There's no pressure; we're not stuffy — we're just a place to see great theater."

With downtown continuing to flourish with new nightlife options, Wallace says she hopes Urbanite will be among the options young people consider when planning a night out.

"We want people to be able to decide, even on the same night, to go see live theater and be able to show up in jeans," she says. "It's a very different viewing experience than what a lot of people are used to."

Tonight, Ragan and Wallace will host The Black Party: a sold-out, black-attire event at State Street Eating House, a venue they felt jived with their image and mission. Guests will enjoy upscale cocktails, a complimentary portrait by Matthew Holler, a silent auction and more — all to help continue raising funds for the theater, which has met its opening budget but still needs operating funds for its first season.

Between the funds they've raised online and the sold-out party, the two say they're encouraged by the community's support of their vision for a new theater option.

"People in their 20s have purchased tickets, and so have people in their 80s," says Ragan. "It's for everyone. It's not about age; it's about a taste for culture."