After months of zoning hassles, Playhouse 211 to host first shows this week

ST. JAMES—The Cape Fear Repertory Theatre members waited a few more months than they originally planned, but at 8 p.m. Thursday, the company’s production of “The Sensuous Senator” will debut at the now-open-and-legal Playhouse 211 near Southport.

SARAH SHEW WILSON

Ron Lee, director of the Cape Fear Repertory Theatre, poses with Playhouse 211 owner Piet Sundman on the facility’s stage, where Lee’s theater group is preparing for its first performance in the new venue this weekend.

Buy this photo

Playhouse 211 is Brunswick County’s newest entertainment venue and was supposed to open for the repertory company and other interested groups to rent in January, but the owners encountered some unexpected zoning issues, resulting in a change of plans.

Owners Piet and Linda Sundman bought the facility in an office park across from St. James Plantation and converted it into a theater, with the understanding the Town of St. James had annexed the property. Under the town’s zoning, theaters are allowed with a special use permit.

Less than a week after a well-attended open house in January, the Sundmans learned their venue was still under Brunswick County’s zoning ordinance until October, and the county’s commercial intensive zoning district does not allow theaters.

Under state annexation rules, it takes a year for involuntary annexations to go into effect.

St. James Town Clerk Josann Campanello stepped in to assist the Sundmans, Piet Sundman said.

“In our UDO [unified development ordinance], theaters, veterinary clinics, dance schools and several others are permitted—that’s our schedule of uses for a commercial-intensive zones,” Campanello said recently.

She suggested the Sundmans request voluntary annexation, which would go into effect sooner. Owners of the other offices in the park also signed on to the petition, and the theater became legal this spring.

“We think it will be a very nice addition to the area. He’s doing a great job,” Campanello said.

June 10-13, and June 17-20, Cape Fear Repertory Theatre’s “The Sensuous Senator” will finally be staged at Playhouse 211. Director Lee is ready for the crowds.

“The show itself is what they would expect from the Cape Fear Repertory Theatre,” Lee said. “There’s not a foul word, but there’s a lot of innuendo. It’s a comedy for grown-ups.”

Lee says tickets for the two-act play are going fast. To order tickets, visit the box office from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Playhouse 211, 4320-100 Southport-Supply Road, or go online to

playhouse211.com or capefearrep.com.

Cape Fear Repertory Theatre is planning five shows each year. This year’s line up also includes “Doubt,” “Orphans,” “Forever Plaid” and the return of “Sylvia,” the show that launched the group two years ago. The season runs June-May of each year.

In addition to serving as the permanent home for the theater company, Piet Sundman said he is planning to host independent and foreign films at Playhouse 211, and a number of agencies have contacted him about staging their fundraising events there.

For more information on this new venue, visit www.playhouse211.com.