Live theater is a communal experience – a work of art being performed by artists in a dark place packed with people you likely don’t know, sitting shoulder to shoulder and laughing, crying and experiencing a wide range of emotions shared in the moment.

For an hour or two, your heart, your mind and your entire being travel to another realm.

That is the magic of theater.

Terrific New Theatre’s Tamara DeBolt talks the future and upcoming Birmingham fundraiser from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

Terrific New Theatre (TNT) began in 1986 in Birmingham and had a solid run with an increasing audience base and production success. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, the theater’s leadership had to pause.

“We felt the results of the health crises in February of 2020,” said Tamara DeBolt, executive director of TNT. “We did a pop-up show but noticed reservations declining. People were canceling. Then March came and the world shut down.”

Theaters and music venues that depended on large audiences and ticket sales suffered from the pandemic.

“We were closed a couple of weeks. We figured we would come back and rehearse soon, but it just got worse and worse,” DeBolt said. “But things are coming back, although with this delta variant around the corner, businesses like ours are still in a precarious situation.”

TNT officially closed the doors to its physical space in Pepper Place last July. The spirit of TNT has since been in what DeBolt refers to as an extensive hibernation. That time has been spent looking for a new space to house TNT. The right conditions had to be met, so it was no easy search.

“Over the last year, I have looked nonstop for a new venue, and we finally found the right building and the right situation,” DeBolt said. “It’s a terrific historic location in town. We are not ready to unveil the details, but we will tease people with the architectural renderings at the upcoming art auction.”

TNT will hold a silent art auction featuring local artists on July 24 at Temple Emanu-El from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is free, and food and drinks will be available.

“We are so excited about the art auction coming up, and we have a few surprises,” DeBolt said. “There is no admission. Just come with an open heart and enjoy the return of Terrific New Theatre.”

For more information visit, www.terrificnewtheatre.com.

(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)