A place to shine

Artistic director Richard Hitchler ran into a buzz saw in 2002 when he announced intentions to move SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development into the Highland Theater in St. Paul. City and neighborhood forces argued that the Highland should remain a movie house, and a wounded Hitchler retreated to SteppingStone's cramped headquarters in the Landmark Center.

But file this one under "Funny How Things Work Out For The Best." On Friday, Hitchler opens a lovely 430-seat theater in the former Grace Community Church on Victoria Street.

The $4.8 million project carved out classrooms, rehearsal halls, offices and meeting spaces that make SteppingStone a neighborhood institution as well as a newly important player in the performing-arts community.

"I think people will be clamoring for it," said Mixed Blood artistic director Jack Reuler, who will rent the auditorium for his theater's bilingual production in April. If Reuler hadn't taken that slot, Theatre Latté Da's Peter Rothstein would have.

"We're definitely in conversation with Richard about how to be there," said Rothstein. "The outside of the building is so fantastic and stately; it feels like a landmark, a destination."

SteppingStone opens its new digs with a CD release concert by singer Prudence Johnson. She and several other singers and musicians will perform "No Picnic Being Cheese," a disc featuring songs that composer Gary Rue wrote for past SteppingStone productions.

"I'd do a show here if I thought I could fill half the seats," said Rue. "The acoustics are great -- it's a tight house -- and the location is nice, kind of between both cities."

As much as Hitchler might have wanted to lash out at those who blocked the Highland deal in 2002, he should be kissing them today.

"Yes, exactly. I suspect he didn't feel like that at the time, but absolutely," said St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, a big fan of the project. "This is such a better fit and such a grander space."

Neighborhood asset

Two years after the Highland disappointment, then-City Council Member Jerry Blakey tipped Hitchler off that the city had denied a demolition permit for the 99-year-old church, just blocks from Victoria and Grand. The building had been vacant since 2002 and neighbors had opposed plans to build condominiums on the site.

Developer Richard Zehring financed a deal that got the building in SteppingStone's hands for $625,000 and then Hitchler went to work with his board to raise $5.3 million for rehabilitation with architect Frank Duan and Flannery Construction, and a $500,000 capital reserve. Construction started last February.

Nary a day goes by, Hitchler said, that he doesn't walk into the auditorium and marvel that "We have this beautiful space. I can't believe it's ours." He'll be a believer when the bills come in. He anticipates SteppingStone's annual budget will rise from $650,000 to $855,000. But the organization has new flexibility to expand its program -- through rentals and in the immediate neighborhood.

"Anything that makes the arts more accessible to people is great," said neighborhood resident Mary Cardinal Peterson, whose daughter has been involved in several SteppingStone productions.

"It's so nice to be able to say, 'See you later' to her and not have to fight downtown traffic and parking."

De facto community center

Hitchler understands that his theater has become a de facto community center and he's fine with that -- just as he's ready to make it available to other arts groups. After the CD release gala this Friday, SteppingStone will open its holiday chestnut, "The Worst Christmas Pageant Ever," on Dec. 1.

Hitchler has staged the show for 16 years and demand has routinely exceeded capacity in the Landmark's Weyerhauser Auditorium. Nearly 200 extra seats per show will help this year. Beyond the show's popularity, though, Hitchler believes it has a deeper resonance as SteppingStone, which serves about 60,000 people a year, begins this new chapter.

"It parallels what happens at the theater here," he said. "The show takes a group of kids who volunteer to be in this Christmas pageant, everyone thinks it's going to be awful, it turns out to be terrific. And I think that echoes what we do. How many kids have been up on our stage and when we give them the right tools, they shine. That's really what it is, give people the opportunity."

Graydon Royce • 612-673-7299

Graydon Royce • groyce@startribune.com