One of Memphis’s cultural anchors is growing. Hattiloo Theatre, the nonprofit Black theater in the heart of Midtown, is opening three new spaces on August 8 as part of a $400,000 redesign built entirely within its existing building.
The additions include the Second Stage, a 90-seat performance space; the Culture Box, a lounge featuring rotating game nights, music, spoken word, and comedy; and Café Loo, a casual concessions café that extends into the courtyard. Because the performance areas are soundproof, multiple events can run at the same time.
Founder and CEO Ekundayo Bandele reimagined the interior as a kind of cultural mall, where every space earns its keep and creates new opportunities for local performers. The Culture Box will even host weekly competitions with cash prizes for spoken word artists, musicians, and bands.
As Bandele describes it, the goal is to put new revenue directly into the Black creative ecosystem in Memphis.
An opening celebration is set for Saturday, August 8. Read the full story from the Memphis Business Journal.
