The Acrosstown Repertory Theatre was founded in 1980 as an African-American theatre by Ajamu Mutima, along with Paula Barco, Janet Middleton, Jerry James, and Stacey Bell. The first production, Wine in the Wilderness, was performed in the summer of 1980 in an abandoned space provided by the City of Gainesville in the downtown Star Garage. Shortly afterward, this small group was joined by others seeking to establish a place for experimental theatre in Gainesville.
In 1986, anticipating eviction, Acrosstown members reorganized their management structure, obtained non-profit status, and searched for a new home. The last play produced at the Star Garage, Fact Wino Meets the Phantom of the Star Garage, was an original political spoof which dramatized the plight of the theatre's eviction during a downtown urban renewal effort. Eventually, the theatre moved to its present home, the Baird Center, with the help of the City of Gainesville.
From our inception, we have been committed to grassroots, multicultural, non-profit, Community Theatre. Using the skills and talents of the local community, we have served as a creative center for playwrights, poets, and performance artists; we strive to include all members of the community.
We are proud of our record of producing fine African-American theatre over the years: A Raisin in the Sun, Lovers and Other Strangers, Paul Robeson, Sizwe Bansi Is Dead, Yesterday and Today, A History of Black Gospel Music, Dedan Kimathe is Dead, The Honorable MP, Homeland, Fences, Blues for an Alabama Sky, For Colored Girls, and Two Trains Running--to name just a few.
The Acrosstown Repertory Theatre has offered more than 100 plays, from original drama by local playwrights to Shakespeare (in recent years, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado about Nothing, Twelfth Night, and Hamlet), poetry readings to musical dramas. We have been a home for disparate groups, and over the years have produced ethnic, minority-focused, multicultural, classical, socially and politically significant, and experimental plays including: The Dybbuk, The Normal Heart, Safe Sex, Bent, Tidy Endings, Marat Sade, Galileo, Waiting for Godot, No Exit, Zoo Story, Fact Wino Meets The Moral Majority, True West, and the rock opera Isaac.
Today, the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre continues as a venue for multicultural, alternative, and contemporary theatre. At times when the theatre is dark, high school drama groups, musicians, poets, and other community groups use our stage. We seek to include diverse groups of our area; the only requirement is a desire to learn, and to work for love of theatre.
The main building that now comprises most of the Baird Center Association's Complex was opened in 1912. And, according to local historian Melanie Barr, it was the largest industrial structure in the city at that time and to this day is the largest early industrial structure still in use in the city.
The building is a good example of multi-use as it houses Akira Wood's main offices and wood-working shop, Mirror Image Recording Studios, the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, and vintage guitar retailer ProFrets.
The most recent improvements to the building were begun in the winter of 1998 with a new tin roof to replace what was probably only the second application of tin since the building's inception.
Then in the spring of 1999, the owners replaced the old dilapidated farm-type fencing with the decorative aluminum fence that now adorns the over 600 running feet facing both Depot Avenue and Main Street.
At the same time, the decking (actually the old rail spur loading dock) that runs the entire length of the building facing Depot and Main was totally replaced and Akira Wood added a large deck for employee breaks.
The exterior of the building facing Depot and Main was also painted using a historic color of the period.
The owners and tenants are proud of our most unique and historic building and look forward to making even more improvements over the next few years.