BROADWAY FOR KIDS

Dad’s Garage Announces Grand Opening for Completed Building Addition

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Old Fourth Ward comedy mainstay invites the public to experience building improvements on October 11, 2025

Standout southeastern comedy theatre Dad’s Garage will host a grand opening of the facility’s new exterior entryway and patio in conjunction with the Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood Association (O4WNA) on October 11 from 5:30—7 p.m. This over 3000-square-foot addition to the original 12,000-square-foot theatre is the first major renovation completed at Dad’s Garage since renovations in 2015.

“Dad’s Garage is in a unique position to connect the past and present through social bonds, programming, and its physical space,” said Dad’s Garage Managing Director Katie Pelkey. “Dad’s Garage has a storied history, but is also a touchpoint for arts lovers past and present—and we’re endeavoring to take it into the future with robust programming and initiatives for all ages.” 

“This patio is a physical manifestation of the positive change we want to continue to provide as we enact our mission to transform people, communities, and perspectives through laughter,” Pelkey continued.

While Dad’s Garage was founded in 1995, it moved into a former church building in the Old Fourth Ward in 2013 after its original location in nearby Inman Park on Elizabeth Street was repurposed to accommodate a mixed-use development. This project is the most dramatic of the multiple improvements to the Atlanta theatre’s current home completed in 2024-2025, and part of the ongoing reactivation of Edgewood Avenue.

“We’re excited to use this space as a way to interface with the community as more than a comedy theatre and hangout space before and after our shows,” according to Artistic Director Jon Carr. “We plan to use the new patio as a space for community activations, social gatherings, wellness initiatives, and a place for Old Fourth Ward to prosper and flourish.”

The theatre’s new exterior includes a raised patio, exterior stage, seating, bike racks, new walking trails and stairs, and refreshed landscaping as well as electrical improvements to the theatre’s exterior.

The new exterior improvements were partially funded by the Improving Neighborhood Outcomes in Disproportionately Impacted Communities grant awarded by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget as part of a program to invest in neighborhood features, including parks, recreation facilities, sidewalks, and healthy food access.

“Post-Covid, I learned that the State of Georgia identified areas of the state which lacked outdoor space. [Former Dad’s Garage Managing Director] Stacey Sharer and I collaborated on identifying how the small portion of area in the Old Fourth Ward where Dad’s Garage is located could participate in the program,” said O4WNA President Tom Boyle. “We envisioned a community outdoor space which would also build on the amazing benefits which Dad’s Garage brings to the neighborhood and all of Atlanta. We are very excited to help open up the new patio and build on the amazing legacy of Dad‘s Garage and the Old Fourth Ward.”

CORE Landscape designed the improved entry space and performed the majority of the work on the project, including grading, concrete pouring, landscaping, tree planting, water management, and installing electrical outlets with support from Wiring Solutions. 

CORE released in a statement, “It’s been such a fun journey exploring the possibilities and delivering an amenity for the neighborhood, which provides a public space to an organization that gives so much to others. We’re proud to support the Dad’s Garage legacy by contributing to a transformed and welcoming patio where the community can come together before and after performances.”

 “As a nonprofit that’s been making Atlanta laugh for over 30 years, Dad’s Garage is a vital part of the local arts and culture scene,” says Jessica Toal, CORE architect and former board member for Dad’s Garage. “From my first summer in Atlanta and seeing Dad’s Garage perform in Piedmont Park to my recent tenure on the board, I’ve gotten to truly understand the magic of Dad’s Garage and how this patio will play such an important role in connecting community and laughter.” 
 

VITALS:

October 11, 2025

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. - reception and heavy appetizers

6 p.m. - Grand Opening

Once the ceremony concludes, Dad’s Garage and the O4WNA invite guests to remain for cocktails preceding the 7 p.m. TheatreSports improv comedy performance.

Please RSVP by Friday, October 3 here: 

https://dadsgarage.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a0FTN000003KKqT2AW

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About Dad’s Garage

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Dad’s Garage is a nonprofit theater building community through comedy in Atlanta and beyond. Since its founding in 1995,  Dad’s Garage produces improv comedy shows year-round, educates improvisers of all ages, and facilitates workshops that build critical communication skills across industries and communities. Dad’s Garage entertains more than 33,000 theatergoers a year as part of its mission to transform people, communities and perspectives through laughter.