"We were trying to figure out what to name it." A friend asked about McLendon's favorite mythological beasts, hence the Siren. Any feminine qualities attached, McLendon says, are purely intentional.
April Baer / OPB
Shelley McLendon is an improv comedian with a killer deadpan and a flair for team work. She's just signed a lease on the Siren Theatre, and is exploring its capability as a venue for her own productions and others.
We love McLendon's work. If you've seen her musical adaptations of "Roadhouse," "The Lost Boys" or "Rudolph," you won't soon forget them. McLendon showed us around and sat down for a few words about her hopes for the space.
Q&A with Bad Reputation's Shelley McLendon
"I'm hoping not just to break even. I want to keep ticket prices low. I want this to be a place where we can afford to come, and it's awesome."
April Baer / OPB
April Baer: When did you first see this building?
Shelley McLendon: I saw this building last spring, and loved it. I was across the parking lot at what used to be the Someday Lounge, and thought, that building is cool. Cause it's four stories and looks like a straight up Chinatown Building like you see in San Francisco. And no other building around looks like it. I said, "That's an awesome building, what's going on in there?"
April Baer: So who owns it?
Shelley McLendon: The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association owns this building. And they are wonderful. I got lucky. I came in when the space was first available, I said I wanted it, I met with their board. They were a little intimidated by my "Bad Reputation" name. I had to explain it's supposed to be funny. I don't know if it is but it's supposed to be.
April Baer: What's your experience trying to book a space for your improv groups and others? How many good spaces are available?
Shelley McLendon: Bad Reputation started five years ago, in 2010. It's really challenging to find an available space. [Beyond Someday Lounge's closure] three mid sized theaters are no longer: Theatre! Theatre! had two stages. The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center — the website says they're not taking any rental inquiries. I've been lucky to get into some midsize theaters — Coho and Milagro — but they've got their own productions going on. I was getting to the point where I was going to put a show in my front yard, or, if we were going to do Roadhouse again, or the Aces, we were going to stage 50 shows in my living room for ten people a night.
April Baer: How are you bankrolling this?
Shelley McLendon: I have some savings, and I have some very good friends who are angel investors.
April Baer: Assuming you can open the building as a venue, what would have to happen to let you break even?
Shelley McLendon: That is a good question. Shows every weekend. And shows most nights. I've already had [inquiries about renting] it, and I don't even have a website yet. Which is fantastic.