SOUTH BEND – When the Downtown South Bend third annual Holiday Pop-Up shop program drew to a close, pop-up shop participant South Bend Brew Werks announced it would stay in its location in front of the State Theater.

Another participant, Studio 217 by the Acting Ensemble Stage Company had been working in the background to turn their temporary home into a permanent one.

The pop-up location was met with great enthusiasm by their clientele. They played to packed houses. “One thing that caught me a little by surprised was the overwhelming enthusiasm our patrons who came to see us at the Studio had for the space. They all spoke about how great the space could be for us and grasped the vision of what it could become,” said Artistic Director James Geisel.

The Acting Ensemble originally was in residence at the Colfax Cultural Center when it was formed in 1984. After a period of dormancy, the company reemerged in 2010 to bring new and innovative theatre to the area, renting space by the day from Century Center and St. Mary’s College. Now with Studio 217, the theatre company has a permanent space allowing it to expand its programming and extending the number of performances.