Now that the latest renovation is nearly complete, what the Strand needs next is a savvy management company that knows how to market a magnificent and cheap (because city-owned and in a modest neighborhood) venue to the right niche/edgy/ambitious/upstart acts, and to combine that with expansive use of local talent. (Dorchester alone is home to 100,000+, lots of ethnicities and lots of artistic endeavors.)
Those who mention parking as an issue are correct. People want to drive. The Strand is an easy 1 mile from the Expressway, much more accessible than, say, the Somverville Theatre, which might be the kind of place to which to aspire. There are many parking lots in Uphams Corner, belonging to banks and the city. They are nearby, but seldom obvious as they tend to be behind buildings. The proper management group would arrange with businesses and the city to allow parking, and to mark and staff the parking to make people feel comfortable.
Now that the latest renovation is nearly complete, what the Strand needs next is a savvy management company that knows how to market a magnificent and cheap (because city-owned and in a modest neighborhood) venue to the right niche/edgy/ambitious/upstart acts, and to combine that with expansive use of local talent. (Dorchester alone is home to 100,000+, lots of ethnicities and lots of artistic endeavors.)
Those who mention parking as an issue are correct. People want to drive. The Strand is an easy 1 mile from the Expressway, much more accessible than, say, the Somverville Theatre, which might be the kind of place to which to aspire. There are many parking lots in Uphams Corner, belonging to banks and the city. They are nearby, but seldom obvious as they tend to be behind buildings. The proper management group would arrange with businesses and the city to allow parking, and to mark and staff the parking to make people feel comfortable.