“Boots” closes out at the evening after 10pm on a Friday night at Orlando’s Renaissance Theatre. Blake Avern was decorated with cowboy boots and Dolly Parton said, “Why come here and look like that?”
Before the night came out, the patrons learned line dancing, watched Orlando drug icon Darcel Stevens play, eating fire, dealing with Lasso rope displays, experiencing roaring group dance numbers, and “The Devil Goes to Georgia.”
“Boots” are not concerts or bar shows, they are theatrical experiences. And it’s a big part of the theater’s success as it is known.
“This is not a bar,” said Donald Rupe, co-founder of the venue near Rock Haven Park, north of downtown. “We never open like a bar. Art is always the best job.”
In just four years, Ren has become an integral part of the Orlando theatre scene. This has become part of the process by increasing the definition of what “theater” is. Ren is currently an important part of Orlando’s drug culture, with weekly shows and special appearances by the “Rupaul’s Drag Race” star. Broadway performers have brought concerts, hosting weekly themed singers, and their latest venture has launched a YouTube series called “The Gig.”
“Since we opened, I think we’ve been experimenting with what immersive theatres are,” Lupe said. “We don’t have to tell people what we should feel or who the characters are, they don’t think about it.
And they come. The “boots” country feel, with an audience slightly older than the usual audience, said Lupe.
“It’s a lot of new people,” he said of the show.
Rober Traurita, senior executive assistant at Disney, is one of those who have been won with the unique theatre products.
“It’s a place full of creativity,” he said. “You never know what you’re getting, but every time you go there, I think you’re going to see something spectacular.”
Acclaimed actor David Lowe is grateful for the artistic shock the theatre has provided to performers in the region.
“It gives you new electricity,” he said. “It’s a great addition to our community.”
Theatres create scripted dramas, comedies and musicals with more traditional, step-by-step presentations, but generally push the envelope in other ways. Rupe will focus on programming new works or perform on atypical subjects. His original musical “Gorgeous” will open on April 11th about comic shenanigans at a small town beauty contest.
However, these stage plays are followed by an after-hours event such as “boots.”
“Some of our ‘secret sauce’ brings people in for the show and leaves them here for another three hours,” Lupe said. “It expands our reach and brings us recognition of our name there.”
April Shower Central Florida, Theatre, Concerts, Art
There are no skips for the second show of the evening. “Boots” employs 12 dancers and performs a choreographed solo and group number, five professional activities and a full band with multiple singers.
“It’s not cheap for us,” said Lupe.
This bar is open for “boots”. There are specialized cocktails named after country hits such as “This Kiss” and “Stand by Your Man,” and the product stand sells branded T-shirts and cowboy hats.
Still, despite the additional revenue streams, Lupe admits that without the financial support of co-founder Chris Kampmeyer, this level of success would not have been possible. But as the offerings spread, the theatre is improving its financial situation.
“His contributions are becoming a little more frequent,” Lupe said. “Our ticket sales are faster and more shows are sold out.”
Ren received a $10,000 grant from United Arts in Central Florida and a $175,000 cultural tourism grant from Orange County. Halloween brings “nosferatu” as this has become a holiday tradition and is woven into the arts community. The “Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza Show” follows, with audiences becoming part of a complete corporate celebration with singing, dancing and comical workplace entanglements.
The theatre is also a partner venue for the annual Orlando Fringe Festival. Over the course of four years, he has won 25 appearances on the Orlando Sentinel’s annual Best Sighter of the Year list, with six critics being chosen for their names.
And there’s a weekly drug show. This is a unique theatrical experience.
“We don’t want to reduce what gay bars do for the drug community, but I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that what we’re doing here is different to anyone else,” said Lupe. “We put production value behind drugs in ways we’ve never seen in Orlando.”
Various programming are part of a deliberate strategy to build a larger audience.
“You came to Ren every night each week and you got a different experience,” said Lupe.
That’s what Laurita discovered.
“They create a unique and very welcoming atmosphere,” he said. “It’s the way you know they’re making art.”
“Unique” is also used by the actor Wardlow to describe the organization.
“It’s definitely different from any other theatre I worked for,” Lowe said. “I’m using a different skill set.”
That’s because of the nature of collaboration required to set up an immersive show.
“As an actor, you are contributing to inspiration,” he said. “It’s a great atmosphere.”
The idea for “gig” was inspired by staff who joked about filming the behind-the-scenes process of a theatre drug competition. More than eight films are available on Youtube.com/@thegigorlando, and contestants share stories in the “confession” format familiar to Reality-TV Watchers, taking part in theater assignments in front of live audiences.
Therefore, the show serves as additional unique content for the theatrical audience. They also sell theatres to those who find shows online. The finale will appear on April 16th.
“It’s really cool,” said Lupe. “We’re taking us where it wants to go.”
Laurita, who became a donor to the theater, was not surprised to find the theater doing television-like works.
“They are redefine theatre,” he said. “They created a brand that you know is persuasive and exciting, seeing what you want to talk about.”
For Magpie, “gigs” and “boots” are just the latest steps in Len’s artistic journey.
“My goal was to always do my best with what we have,” he said.
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