Temple Terrace theater group on the hunt for new venue

Representatives from Masque Community Theatre are scrambling to find new digs within about a five-week timeframe before the group must depart its current quarters.

Beginning in early August, the building that the group has occupied in Terrace Plaza for close to six years is slated to undergo major renovations in what is being called the largest municipal-improvement project in the city's history.

The building's makeover will include a 17,630-square-foot post office, which will replace a neighboring post office within the complex.

The group must vacate the building at 8825 N. 56th St. on Aug. 8, the same day the final curtain falls on the all-youth performance of "Alice in Wonderland," which begins July 23.

Ruth Kegel, Masque's president, said the search that began several months ago has brought with it the challenge of finding an affordable 2,500- to 3,000-square-foot space with an 11- or 12-foot ceiling to accommodate its stage and production equipment.

"It's like finding a needle in a haystack because most of the places we've looked at are cost prohibitive," said Kegel, who, although she gave no particular dollar amount, hopes someone will offer to underwrite the added rental expense.

"By doing so you're helping the arts and you're helping the kids," she said.

Vince Kegel, Ruth's husband and Masque's development director, remains optimistic.

"There are three pieces to the puzzle," he said. "We're looking for a place to rehearse, a place to perform and a place for storage."

But he and his team are willing to be flexible in accepting a facility that may not provide all of those needs.

"We will make this happen, but we need the help and support of the people in the Temple Terrace area," Vince Kegel said. "We welcome any kind of help we can get. It will be a win-win situation for everyone involved."

The group has put in a bid for a year's lease at an undisclosed location and is waiting for an answer.

Anyone who can offer a suggestion about other possible sites or wants to help financially, can call Ruth Kegel at (813) 382-9915.

Choral group also must move

On the other hand, the internationally acclaimed Toast of Tampa, a local chapter of the all-woman a cappella Sweet Adelines chorus, has met with success in finding a place to relocate from its longtime rehearsal site in the Masque building.

Nancy Hansel, a member of the 115-person group since 1993, said the chorus will occupy space within the Tampa Woman's Club on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa.

Although it lacks room for some the group's costumes and equipment, she said they were told they could add a storage unit.

"They have plenty of parking for us, they met our price and they've bent over backwards to accommodate us," said Hansel, who noted the chorus plans to be moved in by Aug. 1.