BY GRANT CRAWFORD
The demand for arts In a survey of around 2,500 Round Rock residents released in 2023:
Going forward
Zooming in
The new theater comes on the heels of recent development in Rock Creek, with Adam Lewis, director of business development for Danly Properties, helping bring in a variety of retail and restaurant o erings to the plaza. Lewis said Penfold’s presence will help attract more tenants to the growing plaza and also contribute to Round Rock’s overall quality of life. “I’m really happy to have found a home for an out t like Penfold in Round Rock to produce more art for the community, because art’s everything— culture is everything, and it all starts with these types of things,” Lewis said. Three more productions by Penfold will be held this 2024-25 season. Upcoming productions Dec. 13-28: “It’s a Wonderful Life” Feb. 7-March 1 : “Ordinary Days” June 6-28 : “Anton Chekhov is a Tasty Snack” Special events Dec. 20, 22: “Your Old Fashioned Die Hard Holiday Radiocast” Family Series April 5, 12: “La Maleta de Maebelle (Maebelle’s Suitcase)” For tickets to Penfold Theatre Company’s productions, visit www.penfoldtheatre.org.
Brooks Bennett, Round Rock city manager, said the city has looked for a place to establish a per- forming arts center over the years but could never nd the right t. “Danly came along and had the space, Penfold had the programming, and Round Rock’s role was to help incubate and launch that to get Penfold up on their feet,” Bennett said. Per the deal, the city of Round Rock commit- ted $326,000 in grant funding, paid for by hotel occupancy tax dollars, to help Penfold renovate the space formerly home to Mission Church. In return, the group will host performing arts events at least 180 days per year. Penfold will also use its ex space for kids programs, play readings, classes, improv groups and other performances. While meant to serve as
consider arts to be important to the community 90% 86% believe the city should invest in expanding arts and culture opportunities 63% rate adapting or building new facilities for the arts as a high or extremely high priority
SOURCE: TEXAS CULTURAL TRUST COMMUNITY IMPACT
a community theater, Crowder said Penfold’s per- formers aren’t “purely hobbyists,” but paid actors. “We’re really fortunate to be in a town where there’s people with a high level of training and experience that we get to pull from,” he said.
Economic impact The Texas arts and culture industry in 2021 generated: to Texas’ economy $6B
Measuring the impact
Bolstering the arts in a community can provide more than another entertainment option for locals; the industry can provide value to a city and its residents that corporations and enterprises nd attractive when looking for a new home, said Jordan Robinson, Round Rock Chamber president. Robinson said when CEOs make a decision to relocate or start a new business, they look for key factors in a city, such as the cost of doing business, infrastructure, schools and “hard assets” needed to run a business. “There’s a lot of boxes that they want to check, and that culture and quality of life is paramount,”
in state sales tax revenue $380M in gross domestic product $65.8B in employee compensation $33.6B
SOURCE: TEXAS CULTURAL TRUST COMMUNITY IMPACT
Robinson said. “It’s just another notch on our tool belt that continues to tell that story about what makes Round Rock a great place for corporate headquarters and for corporate executives to move their business and bring their families.”
Skip the Wait – Get Urgent Care Fast!
Scan the QR code to download the Next Level app and skip the wait! Get in line online or schedule your visit at one of our 45 clinic locations in just a few taps!
www.nextlevelurgentcare.com
31
ROUND ROCK EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook