West Sacramento to host two theater companies

Two community theater groups are preparing new venues in West Sacramento. Runaway Stage Productions and Green Valley Theatre Company are both in the process of building bigger venues that promise significant artistic growth.

Runaway Stage Productions, a nonprofit that’s fond of musicals, is converting a 22,000-square-foot building on the River Road into a 250-seat theater with a proscenium stage, scene shop, costume shop, dressing rooms and lobby space.

Runaway Stage has raised $300,000 toward building improvements, and is now raising money for lighting and sound gear.

“Finally we will have all our operations under one roof,” said Bob Baxter, president and producing director of Runaway Stage.

Founded 20 years ago, Runaway Stage will not mount any new shows until the West Sac venue is finished in order to focus on the move.

Meanwhile, the decade-old Green Valley Theater Company is converting a 5,000-square-foot building on West Capitol Avenue into a black box theater with approximately 100 seats, according to artistic director Christopher Cook. Fundraising is ongoing, and the theater will continue mounting shows this summer at its current V Street venue in Sacramento. The company plans to open its new theater in time for its signature Halloween production, The Rocky Horror Show.