Arrow Street Arts in Cambridge will include a large theater in the space formerly used by Oberon, and a smaller performance space at 2 Arrow Street.
The plan, helmed by Charles Rose Architects, is to transform the warehouse-like room into a black box theater — a simple, flexible space that can be converted into various staging configurations. In addition to the black box, Altshuler is converting an empty storefront next door into a studio that will double as a small venue — 1,100 square feet with a capacity of approximately 100. A row of picture windows at the street level will allow passers-by to see inside.Altshuler expects to invest $2.5 million, much of it his own, into the renovations. He describes it as kind of a “blank canvas” that producers can set up in every configuration imaginable.
“For years, I've sort of fantasized about the idea of, ‘Wouldn't it be great to have, you know, your own space.’ And it was always like, 'forget it,'” Altshuler says. “Financially, it just doesn’t make sense to have a physical plant as a small theater organization.Arrow Street Arts in Cambridge will include a small performance space at 2 Arrow St.
Harvard declined a request for an interview, but said in a statement, “Harvard ultimately chose Moonbox because we were confident they could be a long-term partner, because of their team’s track record and financial, operational and creative capacity to succeed in such a project, and because of their goals for activation, community involvement and a diversity of projects.”