It’s true, and the saddest thing I’ve heard in a while:

“With deep regret, The Empty Space Board of Directors announced today that The Empty Space Theatre will cease operations effective immediately.”

They appear to have a cash flow problem, regardless of their rent-free space at Seattle University. Started in 1971 on Capitol Hill, the Empty Space has grown to fill the middle ground between larger theatres like the Rep and all of the little bitty fringe theatres. I loved their old Fremont space, and I hoped desperately that the move up to Seattle University wasn’t as last-ditch as it sounded.

I’m sad, friends. I had fully intended to make “Forbidden X-mas” a new holiday tradition after I had so much fun on the last night of it last year. I was looking forward to seeing Nick Garrison as a German spy. I like theatre in this town because it’s so hopeful–because each time I go see a play all of the actors seem committed to pulling it off. And this commitment to giving it a shot has resulted in some great times out of the Empty Space–Sarah Rudinoff in “Ming the Rude”, anyone? Or Peter Crook in “Frozen”?

But I guess I shouldn’t be too upset, since after all there will always be the 5th to produce such groundbreaking productions of…. uh…. well, anyway, there will still be a lot of singing.