The Big Picture

The Hideout Theatre has moved performances into its annex on North Lamar after leaving its longtime Congress Avenue location and a planned South Austin lease fell through. The company converted an office with a kitchenette and two large rooms into a front "Stargazer Lounge" and a 40-seat theater to keep classes and shows running while it searches for a permanent home. Artistic director and co-owner Roy Janik described the annex as an "outpost" as the group works toward a larger future.

We say outpost because the hallway is literally decorated like a forest, and the mural from the old space now hangs in the lounge — continuity designed by Hideout designer Kaci Beeler and installed with volunteer help.

What Changed

The Hideout lost its longtime Congress Avenue venue after the building’s new owner repurposed the space into a bar, forcing a 26-year home to close. A signed lease for South Austin later fell through, prompting the company to repurpose its North Lamar annex that previously hosted classes and workshops. The new performance room holds 40 seats compared with the former location's 89-seat and 49-seat theaters, and the smaller scale has created a different performer-audience connection, the co-owners say.

Also different: the company is now participating in Artspace’s Immersion program, a Moody Foundation-funded cohort that runs through December to help arts groups plan real estate and space strategies.

What's Next

The Hideout will continue classes and shows from the North Lamar annex while leaders develop plans through the Immersion program, which runs monthly through December. Co-owner Roy Janik says the company is laying foundations for a future venue that could include a 200-seat theater, a second stage, classrooms and a coffeehouse, though no formal site or timeline is announced in the reporting. The KUT story does not list the annex's exact address, ticket prices, or performance schedule; for those details check the Hideout’s official channels.

If you want to see where Austin improv is improvising right now, this is where the Hideout is staging its weird middle act.