Time Slip Theatre targets May opening for renovated Old Louisville church as arts hub
A historic building, a new use
A former church at 100 W. Ormsby Ave. in Old Louisville is poised for a new chapter as a community arts hub and small theater after being acquired by Time Slip Theatre, a Louisville-based company known for horror-themed productions. The group has begun work inside the building’s sanctuary with plans to create a functional stage while maintaining key architectural features.
The building, constructed in the late 1800s, has faced significant deterioration in recent years, including a leaking roof and structural issues that previously required extensive stabilization and repair. The current renovation effort is intended to convert the former worship space into a performance venue and expand the property’s use for neighborhood events.
From foreclosure property to redevelopment project
Before Time Slip’s purchase, the church underwent years of incremental renovation by previous owners Annie and Jeff McMichael, a Bardstown couple who have worked on property rehabilitation projects since 2008. The McMichaels bought the church in 2017, when it was in foreclosure and in poor condition, including water damage and concerns about the stability of its towers.
Work completed during their ownership included major repairs handled by licensed tradespeople, restoration of the building’s stained-glass windows, and interior updates such as renovated bathrooms and refreshed smaller rooms. A former gym space was also reconfigured for events, and the backyard was converted into a usable outdoor gathering area.
Renovations slowed and then stopped after Annie McMichael was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in October 2024. She later entered remission, but the couple concluded they could not complete the project as envisioned and ultimately sold the property.
What Time Slip Theatre plans to build
Time Slip Theatre founder Remy Sisk said the company intends to rework the sanctuary to support productions and community programming. Plans include expanding the area around the former altar into a stage, repurposing smaller rooms into dressing rooms, and maintaining the backyard as pre- and post-show gathering space.
The goal is to keep as much of the existing character as possible while making the space viable for live theater and public use.
In a separate update about the project, the company has described plans for a venue seating roughly 150 people, using existing pews initially with potential future replacement by traditional theater seating. Renovation concepts also include backstage and support areas needed for full productions.
Timeline and funding plans
Time Slip has said construction is already underway and is aiming to complete major work in time for spring programming. The company has also identified fundraising as central to the project’s completion, with a stated goal of raising $175,000. The group has projected a May completion target tied to a planned production of “The Masque of the Red Death,” based on the Edgar Allan Poe story.
How the space could be used beyond theater
Beyond staged productions, the renovation plan positions the building as a rentable community venue. Proposed uses include meetings and neighborhood events, along with arts-related programming that could range from readings to cabarets and small markets.
- Theater rehearsals and performances in the former sanctuary
- Community events and private rentals in remodeled interior spaces
- Outdoor gatherings in the existing backyard area
If completed as planned, the project would add another small-to-mid-sized performance and gathering space to Old Louisville while extending the life of a late-19th-century structure through adaptive reuse.