By Noelle Edwards
nedwards@salisburypost.com
The Piedmont Players plan a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday on the downtown Fisher Street Theater, on its way to becoming a children’s theater for Salisbury.
The theater, which used to be the Friendly Cue pool hall, will house a 250-seat theater, rehearsal space and dressing rooms for child actors.
Reid Leonard, Piedmont Players’ resident director, said as many as 114 children have tried out for one of two children’s shows that play each year.
Renovating a theater specifically for children’s programs will allow the drama group to eventually produce four or five shows a year, which would make room for more students to participate.
Leonard said he hopes to expand the age range to middle and high school students and to add evening and weekend performances for some shows.
He said the renovated Fisher Street Theater will include space for classes and training programs, too.
The final price tag for the theater is about $3 million, Leonard said.
The groundbreaking will take place at 2:15 at the theater, on the corner of Lee and Fisher streets. Members of the Piedmont Players board, members of city council and some major donors will be present, Leonard said.