The Brave New Workshop is getting closer to staking a claim in downtown Minneapolis. The City Council voted 12-0 on Friday to approve the comedy troupe's planned purchase of the Hennepin Stages theater (formerly Hey City Stage). The proposal goes to Mayor R.T. Rybak for signature (which is expected). Closing on the deal is projected for late April, said Ann Calvert, a project manager with the department of Community Planning and Economic Development.
"We're excited what this means for Hennepin Avenue," Calvert said Friday.
Workshop owner John Sweeney had said previously that he envisions using both levels of the theater, and continuing operations at BNW's signature space at 2605 Hennepin Av. S. Sweeney indicated that if everything falls in place with an ambitious makeover, the new space could be ready for business next fall.
