The Knoxville Children's Theatre has acquired the Foundry at the Fair Site, a historic Knoxville landmark, for $4 million. According to WVLT News, the building, originally constructed in 1865 for casting railroad spikes and cannonballs, will now become a new space for the theatre.
A $12 million renovation is underway to turn the Foundry into a modern educational and performance venue. The renovation will include two performance halls, five classrooms, rehearsal space, and areas for scene creation, costumes, and technical operations. Executive Director Sien Moon told WATE that the expansion is needed to provide more space for young actors and the theatre's operations.
Former owner Marianne Greene praised the new venture, saying, "It's been an amazing event space for our community for so many years, and now it's going to have a new life as a center for the arts and learning," according to Knox News. The theatre’s "Next Stage" fundraising campaign will help fund the renovation, and donations can be made on their website.
At an event celebrating the relocation, local officials and partners looked forward to the theatre’s inaugural show at the Foundry this spring. Despite updates like new bathrooms, KCT plans to preserve the building’s historical exterior, as Moon told WATE.
