By Shauna Stuart
Encore Theatre & Gallery, the popular community theater and art gallery known for showcasing and uplifting Black art, is moving to a new home.
Encore will move from its location in Roebuck to 1604 Second Avenue North in downtown Birmingham. The move will bring Encore blocks away from Birmingham’s theatre district and closer to the historic Carver, Alabama, and Lyric Theaters.
The new location is currently being renovated. Marc Raby, Encore’s founder and artistic director, says he intends for the venue to house two distinct areas, a mainstage and cabaret. Both spaces will be designed to accommodate up to 99 people. Raby is aiming to reopen the new Encore venue before the end of the first quarter of this year.
The Encore Theatre team started the transition to downtown Birmingham late last year, christening the move with “A Chocolate Affair,” a grand celebration, cocktail party, and exclusive performance of “A Chocolate Covered Christmas Carol,” Encore’s modern interpretation of the Charles Dickens classic.
During the past few months, Raby has had the opportunity to explore the downtown area more closely and find some “hidden gems,” including unique spots for food and entertainment.
“Whether it’s before or after catching a show at Encore, I think it’s a great addition for our showgoers,” said Raby.
Encore’s relocation comes during a small burst of revitalization for Birmingham’s Theatre District and the downtown area’s well-known theater venues. The historic Carver Theatre, which closed for renovations in 2017, reopened its performance hall and lobby in 2022. In August, the Carver reopened the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame museum and jazz hall radio station. On Aug. 3, the music hall hosted a grand reopening celebration. Dubbed “A Cool Jazz Afternoon,” the party also marked a commemorative occasion – iconic bassist Ron Carter’s induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. In October, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame restarted Saturday Jazz Greats, its longtime tuition-free music education program.
In November, Terrific New Theatre reopened in a historic building at 2112 Fifth Ave. North after a $2.3 million renovation.
While Raby says leaving Encore’s home in Birmingham’s east side is “definitely bittersweet,” the move marks an exciting new chapter for the theater company.
“Being so close to the theatre district feels like such an honor, and it’s hard to put into words the mix of emotions I feel—gratitude, excitement, and a touch of nervousness. After six amazing years in our previous area, I’m truly looking forward to being more centrally located and accessible to the whole city,” said Raby. “I can’t wait to see new faces and more showgoers in our audience, and I’m hopeful this move will allow us to share the beauty and uniqueness of Encore Theatre with even more of the Magic City.”
Raby opened Encore Theatre and Gallery in 2018 and swiftly started garnering praise from his peers in the theater community. In 2019, Carlton Bell, the founder of Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre Company, commended Raby and called Encore “one of the best venues in town.”
“It’s specifically doing work and exposing people to theater in an area where you wouldn’t even think it would go. And he sells out every show,” Bell told AL.com in 2019. “I look up to him so much.”
In 2022, Ebony Magazine named Encore to its list of 18 Black Theater Companies to support.
In addition to the new venue, Encore is also gearing up to present a new body of work. Encore’s new season, writes veteran arts journalist Alec Harvey, will include a new interpretation of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “Me Against the World,” a Raby-written piece that pays homage to Tupac Shakur and addresses the issue of gun violence.
“We’re thrilled to bring new works and fresh experiences to the stage this year while also remounting some beloved Encore favorites,” said Raby. “ It’s an exciting time as we continue to push creative boundaries and offer something for everyone in our audience.”
