ROGERS PARK — After six years of live entertainment, Col. Jennifer Pritzker's Mayne Stage in Rogers Park is now running the historic former Morse Theatre as a rentable private event venue.
Tawani Enterprises, the development company that oversees the theater and is also owned by Pritzker, announced in January Mayne Stage's Act One Pub would close on March 31.
When asked if the attached concert hall would turnover its staff and re-brand as well, a spokeswoman for Tawani said at the time nothing at Mayne Stage would change and it would continue to serve as an entertainment venue.
But a new message posted to Mayne Stage's homepage said the theater space, too, was undergoing a transition.
Theater owners will "keep our doors open," but not as a public music and performance venue.
"Although the doors to Act One Pub have closed, the party still continues at Mayne Stage," the website says. "We will continue to keep our doors open as a private event venue."
Mayne Stage's website says it now specializes in weddings, corporate events, private parties, receptions, bat mitzvahs, and more.
The site says Pat and Toni Hanrahan of Joseph Leigh Designs will run the space.
"We have partnered with an Event Management and Design firm to continue to provide our clients with a one-of-a-kind event space," the site says.
Tawani earlier had said it was closing Act One Pub to focus on developing and managing real estate, "Its core competancy."
The historic theater at 1330 W. Morse Ave. was formerly the Morse Theatre, built in 1912, and Co-Ed Theatre, before getting a multi-million dollar rehab by Pritzker and opening as Mayne Stage with Act One Pub in 2010.
Pritzker is also behind the construction of a 45-unit condo building with three floors of dedicated parking across the street at 1313 W. Morse Ave.
Parking is said to be shared between residents of the new building and Mayne Stage customers by Tawani Developers.
Tawani did not immediately provide comment.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
