Time Slip Theatre opens new arts hub in Old Louisville

Time Slip Theatre has moved into a 200-year-old former church in Old Louisville.
The company’s first production in the new space is an immersive adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death.”
The new venue will also serve as a community arts hub for various events and organizations.
Time Slip Theatre is a nonprofit organization focused on enhancing Louisville’s cultural landscape and arts education.

Seated on a wooden pew inside a 200‑year‑old former First Presbyterian Church in Louisville, you could almost believe you’re inside a time slip.

Over the past six months, Time Slip Theatre, a nonprofit community theater company, known for productions like “The Rocky Horror Show,” has meticulously transformed the historic building at 100 W. Ormsby Ave. in Old Louisville into its new home for theater productions, community events, and gatherings, all while preserving the historic character of the building.

The bones of the church remain, but the energy is unmistakably new. Time Slip founder and director Remy Sisk tells The Courier Journal the company’s first main stage production in its new home will be an immersive adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death.”

The story trails Prince Prospero as he attempts to outrun a deadly plague by hiding inside his abbey’s seven color‑drenched chambers. Time Slip’s version runs May 29 to June 7.

“This interactive experience is unlike anything Time Slip has ever done,” Sisk said. “The audience will move through the show, joining Prince Prospero at his castellated abbey while exploring his secluded seven chambers — and hopefully outlasting the Red Death.”

This is not a sit‑down‑and-watch kind of evening. Guests will move through the building, slipping from room to room as scenes unfold around them. Ultimately you’ll be invited to Prospero’s masquerade ball, a safe haven from the plague, or so says the prince.

Directed by Charlie Meredith and adapted by Time Slip Theatre, the show offers two nightly experiences. “Twilight,” which beings at 7 p.m. is brighter, gentler, a little less nightmare feel while “Moonlight” at 9 p.m. is a darker, moodier production leaning fully into the horror of the production. Each version runs 1 hour, 10 minutes and tickets are $28 at timesliptheatre.org.

Beyond “The Masque of the Red Death,” Sisk says the new space is posed to become a community-focused arts hub in the heart of Old Louisville.

“The space is so versatile and so large that we’re able to welcome nonprofits, arts organizations, neighborhood groups — anyone,” he said. “We’d love for it to be busy every day with book clubs, rehearsals, dance lessons, wedding receptions, small concerts, community meetings, really anything.”

The main stage area, which is located in what was once the church sanctuary, can accommodate an audience of about 150 people. Time Slip debuted the space with an after-school kids’ production earlier this year of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.”

Time Slip Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to enhance the cultural landscape of Louisville while increasing arts education accessibility to students.

“Time Slip was founded in 2021 and for the first several years, we had a home in Butchertown on Story Avenue but we very quickly outgrew it,” Sisk said. “We are so grateful to now have this home in Old Louisville, not only for Time Slip Theater but also for the arts community and nonprofit community-at-large here in Louisville.”

Additional rooms and outdoor spaces are available. For more information visit timesliptheatre.org.