{"id":109684,"date":"2025-08-01T07:39:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T07:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/109684\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T07:39:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T07:39:09","slug":"san-antonio-theatre-hit-hard-by-construction-seeks-help-to-recover-300000-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/109684\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio theatre hit hard by construction, seeks help to recover $300,000 loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 The sounds of construction aren\u2019t ones you\u2019d expect at a theatre. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just constant jackhammering, clangs and beeps,\u201d Magik Theatre managing director Mel Zarb-Cousin said. <\/p>\n

Magik Theatre sits on South Alamo Street<\/a>, a road that\u2019s been closed for months due to construction. The closure has caused a decline in ticket sales, totaling a revenue loss of roughly $300 thousand. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s \u201cearned revenue that we\u2019ll never see as a result of the construction outside our doors,\u201d Zarb-Cousin said. <\/p>\n

Zarb-Cousin said the lost revenue would have provided some sustainability to the nonprofit.<\/p>\n

Its mission is to create a place of belonging through family-friendly performances<\/a>. The city of San Antonio owns the building and leases it to Magik, foregoing rent, according to a spokesperson with Public Works.<\/p>\n

Overarching construction on South Alamo Street started back in 2022. According to a graph sent to KSAT by Magik, ticket sales for the theatre started to drop in 2023.<\/p>\n

Zarb-Cousin said the theatre budgeted for some financial disruption before the construction started, but delays to the project changed Magik\u2019s plans. <\/p>\n

\u201cI do not believe that we knew then what we know now of really the great loss,\u201d she said. \u201cIt makes it very difficult to plan for the future whenever we know that there\u2019s another 12 months of this.\u201d <\/p>\n

In a statement emailed to KSAT, District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur said she\u2019s \u201ccommitted to consistent updates.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m actively pushing Public Works and the contractor to speed up the South Alamo project,\u201d her statement said in part. \u201cThese delays are unacceptable and have deeply hurt local businesses.\u201d <\/p>\n

Her office is working with Magik to improve signage. It\u2019s also giving away 30 tickets to Magik shows at the Back-to-School Bash this upcoming Saturday at Edison High School. <\/p>\n

Public Works said it \u201cregularly\u201d meets with theatre staff to discuss access and school bus drop-off accommodations. A spokesperson said routes for pedestrian traffic near the theatre are now being prioritized and could open as soon as September. <\/p>\n

Also scheduled for September is the start of Magik\u2019s 2025-2026 season. The first show scheduled to be performed on stage and tour across San Antonio is \u201cRed Riding Hood.\u201d <\/p>\n

The closest and easiest way to park near Magik Theatre is to use the Hemisfair Garage<\/a>. It\u2019s less than a five-minute walk. There are also a few surface lots open near Hemisfair. <\/p>\n

The upcoming season for Magik will be abbreviated. Starting in January, the theatre\u2019s building will close for planned renovations. They\u2019ll get the following: <\/p>\n