Renaissance Theatre Co. players Credit: Courtesy

Ivanhoe performing-arts hub the Renaissance Theatre Co. has passed final inspections with the city and is poised to reopen.

The nomadic theater company was shuttered last autumn due to permitting issues with the city. The Ren soldiered on, putting on their Halloween event Nosferatu and drag night OTR on venues around the city. In late November, they found a temporary home on Church Street downtown in the former Fringe Artspace, with the city granting them a temporary lease on the space running through March. The Ren has been hosting shows like Mean Girls and RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing parties since. But all the while, Ren staff were working with the city to resolve those permitting issues.

At the end of January, the Ren announced that building upgrades and permitting applications were almost done and they hoped to reopen their Princeton Street headquarters in the near future. Now, given the green light by the city, the Ren is back open in Ivanhoe Village as of tonight (lucky Friday the 13th, indeed).

To mark this occasion, the Ren has announced a “Homecoming” slate of activities kicking off this very evening — and running through next weekend — featuring parties, drag shows and a big reception.

“It’s a chance to come back home and be with one another while we work toward what’s next artistically. We’re starting our sixth year with a newfound appreciation of what we have, and we’re looking forward to a ‘re-Renaissance’ of sorts,” says creative director Donald Rupe in a press statement.

Homecoming events kick off Friday, March 13, with the “Un-Condemned” party. Other events include Myki on Myki RuPaul’s Drag Race watch parties on March 15 & 21; A Taste of La Mami featuring Orusha San Miguel on March 17; Off the Record: Hannah’s Version on March 18; a Homecoming Reception on March 20; and the promisingly titled Re-Renaissance on March 20 & 21.

Tickets for Homecoming events can be purchased directly from the Ren’s website. Mean Girls will continue at the Church Street location through March 15. More events will likely be scheduled in the coming days.

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