News

Playhouse consummates sale of log house

The Flat Rock Playhouse sold the Cleveland Log House to Flat Rock Playhouse board members Dennis and Victoria Flanagan

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 16, 2015

The Flat Rock Playhouse announced today that the sale of the property known as the Cleveland Log House has been finalized.

Flat Rock Playhouse Board of Directors members Dennis and Victoria Flanagan have purchased the building, which will undergo a renovation which will ready the Cleveland Log House for increased educational programming for the Playhouse in the future. The completed building will welcome the 2015 Apprentice company, the Playhouse said in a news release.
The Hendersonville Lightning reported in December that the corporate parent of the Playhouse, the Vagabond School of the Drama, had subdivided the property with the intention of selling it. The corporation in 2000 purchased the tract of land to the west of the Playhouse property that included the Log House and the land where The Robin R. Farquhar YouTheatre Education Center now sits. The facility was designed to increase the Playhouse community outreach and to provide classes for the local community in all aspects of theater arts.
In 2014, the Flat Rock Playhouse Board of Directors approved a new educational plan – created to expand and enhance not only the local aspect of theater education, but to expand this educational effort nationally. The Cleveland Log House, listed on the state historical registry, has been used as a dormitory for summer apprentices. In order to be able to comfortably house an increased student population — with potentially year round interns, apprentices, and guests for workshops – Dennis and Victoria Flanagan enthusiastically stepped up to the plate to tackle this project, armed with the recent experience of restoring historic Flat Rock properties.
"We believe that the Vagabond School of the Drama can increase its impact and role in providing educational opportunities for all age students who have a love of the theater and a desire to be a part of the world of theater," said Dennis Flanagan. "After establishing our Hopewood Apprentice Academic Scholarship, we saw first hand what the apprentice summer program could offer college students who were selected to participate in the program."
"The Flanagans are dedicated advocates of education, and were historical contributors to educational initiatives and students long before connecting with Flat Rock Playhouse," says Flat Rock Playhouse Artistic Director Lisa K. Bryant. "Their recent investment in the future of Flat Rock Playhouse and its evolving education mission is reflective of not only the values that drive them, but to the staff and Board of Directors is an affirmation of the choices we are making as an institution. We feel extremely fortunate to be the beneficiaries of their confidence. The Flanagans recognize and believe in our future and we are profoundly grateful for and inspired by their encouraging nod."
Victoria Flanagan continues, "We know in our hearts that our involvement – and the involvement of other community members – can make a difference in the lives of students. There is no other working professional theater in the US that can compare to the Flat Rock Playhouse. We are excited to be able to be a part of the educational mission of the playhouse and appreciate the opportunity to do so. Introducing and teaching students, regardless of age, all aspects of the theater is a mission we totally and fully support."
Dennis Flanagan is CEO of MBS Direct and Victoria is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for 25 years.
The Flat Rock Village Planning Board last month authorized the subdivision of 1.94-acre from the 6-acre tract, one of several owned by the Vagabond School of the Drama, the corporate name of the Flat Rock Playhouse. The tract was assessed for tax purposes at $1.4 million but $1.3 million was the value of the YouTheatre, which the Playhouse retains.