The theatre like most in Florida contained a curved balcony-mezzanine, a fly loft, acoustics,  an orchestra pit, and a large seating area for visibility. The theatre in 1975 was leased and repairs, renovations, and restoration took place.  Hello Dolly opened up and the air conditioning broke down but still over 2,000 people came to see it. Then after the first season in 1976 the first awards banquet was held here called the Horace Awards.

In 1977 a program was started called the Young People's Theatre directed by Deborah Carpenter where students could perform. The first performance was 60 children in the musical called the Wizard of OZ. The theatre became one of the most successful children theatre programs in Lake County Florida. What went to 17 students grew to over 70 in the late 1970s. Some children that performed here gone onto careers like Tzimon Barto a well renown concert pianist. Caroline Barringer singer in NYC, Shannon Roche a Broadway Actress, Sabrina Lloyd a movie and TV actress who starred in the movie called Father Hood with Patrick Swayze. She was also in Sliders and Sports Night. So as you can see we are quite lucky to have investigated this place as it has history.

In 1977 the lease for the theatre came up and the owners told the Bay Street Players either they come up with the money to buy it or they leave. They needed $40,000 dollars so they applied for grants at foundations and hosted a benefit performance. Unfortunately they players were outbid by several thousand dollars the day of the performance.  A couple loaned them a down payment which was needed to make the purchase they kept anonymous. The players bought the building for $34,000 which included the land nearby and two small stores.  The next year that same couple picked up the first and second mortgages held on the State Theatre. 

In 1985 the theatre began a new renovation. Like most theatres in Florida they had to be modernized over time and that renovation cost $200,000. 125 volunteers did the work for the theatre except carpet and tile installation. In the lobby a new box office and restrooms were constructed. The auditorium had the floor, ceiling, stage and seats painted. The rear wall was moved back several yards to improve the acoustics. The seas were covered in velvet material. The air condition system was moved to the roof by Lake Plumbing where the owners are now named life founder patrons. The theatre had a new plum curtain installed, a green room for actors, and installed at least $20,000 in stage lights. Less then a year later it was complete and the musical called Brigadoon was held. 

For many years all the way to 1990 Dale Carpenter suffered a stroke and was unable to direct shows. But he was named the Director Emeritus and sat on the board of directors. The board of directors decides on who directs each show. In 2000 the 25th anniversary of the theater took place with a show called Hello Dolly once again. Carpenter directed this even nine years after his stroke. The theatre invited people from its past to sit on stage during a seen in act 2 to celebrate. 

**Important**

I been doing research and it seems perhaps we did not investigate the Bay Street Theatre but rather something else. Let me give you reasons as to why. First off the building we investigated was red brick yet the Bay Street Theatre was Brown Brick. The Bay Street Theatre has a building next to it on one side yet the building we investigated did not. The building we investigated downstairs had an upholstery and appliance business their was no high ceilings or any sign a theatre was their. Also upstairs was apartments that were very old had signs that they always existed here if this was the case that would mean their was no auditorium therefore even though the two buildings have similar architecture on the outside in fact this building would be called in the Electic Lane Apartments. I will keep the story on the theatre up and when we find it we will move this page and fix the banners. But until I know for sure this will remain the Baystreet Theatre. It is very possible that one of the buildings connected to this building with porter written on the back door was the auditorium and its possible that a new theatre was build and this building is the right one. But I do not know at this point since the Baystreet Theatre site shows it being a block away from where this building we investigated is so something is not matching up. When eventually we find out more we will fix it. 

Now whether we investigated the theatre or an abandoned apartment building the fact remains it is haunted. When we roamed various hallways upstairs their was a very strong male presence. We heard noises, felt watched, and perhaps could feel a few areas that were extremely cold.  Of course a century of old apartments is going to have its share of deaths, murder, and even life so its beyond a doubt some energy would be their. But you could feel that the entity here was not accustomed to us and probably was very curious. Their were signs upstairs that renovation was going on as opposed to the downstairs their was a well kept furniture store. 

Here is the story about the theatre and its Hauntings. They say screams are heard in the upstairs costume and prop rooms, people have seen moving orbs and felt watched here. A man was once seen hanging by his neck from a hole in the balcony ceiling. During rehearsals the switch board on that same balcony operates itself where lights turn on and off. Sometimes the spotlight blinks or runs dimly as if its being drained of power. People feel cold spots under the stage known as the hole a place where actors can go. People who work here can often sense or have experienced something strange. 

Now whether we investigated a theatre, an apartment building, or an building that was the theatre we may not know. But whether we did or not it does seem the supernatural is very alive. 

© By

AngelOfThyNight-Rick