Illusion Theater moving to a new home in Minneapolis – TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

Illusion Theater announced late last week it will be moving from its current downtown Minneapolis theater and office space in the Cowles Center at 528 Hennepin Ave. to become an anchor partner with the Center for the Performing Arts new multi-use neighborhood arts development project at 3754 Pleasant Ave. near 38th and Lyndale in South Minneapolis.

According to an Illusion news release, the Center for Performing Arts is an arts center in the Kingfield Neighborhood. Once a former convent connected to the Incarnation Catholic Church, it was renovated in 1995 to house artist studios, classes and dance and performance spaces. The expansion will be a new four-story performing arts building adjacent to the current building. Included in the new building will be two flexible 100-seat performance spaces.

In 1977, Illusion was the first theater to open studio space in Minneapolis Warehouse District. As the area grew in popularity, so did the rent, so Illusion moved to a building on Washington Avenue and stayed there until a lightning strike set of the sprinkler system and damaged the space in 1985. Illusion moved to Hennepin Center for the Arts and raised money in 1999 to renovate the 7th and 8th floors. The building was moved to Hennepin Avenue in 2011 and is part of the Cowles Center.

Illusion will continue to do virtual production, as it has since the start of the pandemic. The move is expected to take place in spring of 2021.

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Illusion Theater moving to a new home in Minneapolis - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press