Balagan takes last bow on Capitol Hill as community college experiments with theater

The Egyptian Theater isn’t the only Seattle Central Community College property seeing change on Capitol Hill. The Balagan Theatre troupe has used the SCCC owned Erickson Theater on E Harvard since October 2011 but the curtains have now closed on the group’s Capitol Hill performances. A return to the neighborhood is uncertain. Seattle Central, however, plans to return the space for its original use: student theatre.

“We plan to use the space to establish additional theater studies classes at Central, part of our effort to increase our drama course offerings based on student demand,” said SCCC spokesperson David Sandler. He adds film and performing arts classes are also planned to run in the space.

CHS reported on the Erickson’s transition to more collegiate uses in March. These offerings are slated to increase.

“With classroom space across our campus in short supply, we will use the theater as a venue for a variety of classes starting winter quarter,” said Sandler. Winter quarter starts in January but we haven’t heard specifically which lucky classes will use the space. SCCC has no plans to rent out the space for private use in the immediate future, Sandler tells CHS.

Balagan concluding their two year run on the Hill will now take their art under the shade of the Space Needle.

Balagan’s lease finished September 30, and though the group planned to run two holiday performances in November and December on Capitol Hill they will now do one instead, ThanksKilling The Musical, in the Cornish College of the Arts Seattle Center Playhouse

“We wanted to stay in the Erickson, but Seattle Central really wants to prioritize the space as a classroom environment, so they don’t want any artists putting anything on stage that can’t be removed/hidden during school hours,” said Balagan’s Christine Bateman, but she remains optimistic of the group’s future.

“At this point, we’re looking at a wide range of options. If we’ve learned anything at Balagan these past seven years, [it is] that anything is possible!” Bateman says the group “loves Capitol Hill” and is excited for the 12th Avenue arts companies. “Capitol Hill is lucky to have them in residence in what looks to be a beautiful space.” Soon their college student neighbors will take to the stage.