By Barry Wise Smith
Homewood Theatre founder and Executive Director Kyle Bass couldn’t have predicted the path his life would take. Always involved in music and theater as a hobby, Kyle earned a computer science degree from Birmingham-Southern and spent 30 years in the insurance industry with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. But in 2015, Bass started thinking about the possibility of opening a community theater in Homewood. “Some of us from the Homewood area who were doing shows would get together and wonder why Homewood didn’t have a community theater,” Bass says. Encouraged by friends like Bill Bugg and Jack Mann, Bass started working to create a 501© (3), and in 2016, a group did some test performances to see if the idea would work. With successful test runs, in 2017 the Homewood Theatre had its first official season, kicked off by what Bass calls, “our lucky charm”—Bill Bugg and Friends, a group of talented local performers including perennial Birmingham standouts Kristi Tingle-Higginbotham and Jan Hunter. Without a dedicated space, Bass and friends rented the theater inside The Dance Foundation. “We rehearsed shows in my garage,” Bass recalls. “Then we would rent the theater in The Dance Foundation. It was the only way we could make the money work. They were very gracious to let us rent their space.” They stayed for three years and then moved to an empty space at Brookwood Mall. In 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the theatre was unable to have shows. “Brookwood was fantastic during the pandemic so that we were able to hold on and get through it without having to shut down,” Bass says. In early 2022, Homewood Theatre moved to its current location in the middle of downtown Homewood at SoHo Square. “SoHo Square has been great, and our neighbors around here are great,” he continues. “We love being near all the restaurants. It’s really fun.”
In 2023, Bass brought Lexi Bresnan, a Homewood native who graduated with her BFA in Theatre Performance from Belmont University, on as the Theatre’s Director of Education. Bresnan has taken the job and run with it. In addition to popular summer camps for children of all ages, Bresnan introduced acting classes for both children and adults throughout the year. Adult classes are held during the lunch hour to accommodate participants with busy work and family schedules. “The camps and classes have been a huge success,” Bass says.
From a mommy and me class called Magic Makers for zero- to two-year olds all the way up to improv, acting, and musical theater classes for adults—and everything in between—Homewood Theatre stays busy all year. The youth acting classes culminate with a free musical performance at the amphitheater at Homewood Central Park in the spring—this past Spring was Disney Descendants, and the 2024 show was The Little Mermaid Jr.
The Homewood Theatre enjoys good relationships with the city and schools. In October, The Butler Did It, a classic murder mystery will be on stage at the theater but will also enjoy a one-night run at the Homewood Public Library. “We want to give back to the community,” Bass says. “We love working with the library and the schools. It benefits us as well.”
Bass continues, “We’re fortunate to have a large group of faithful season ticket holders, and we’re always looking for new and interesting shows to bring to the stage. Our audience trusts us to bring them new shows that they may not know the name of but that they know will be good.”
The 2025-2026 season is a mix of genres, and several new directors will be leading shows at the Theatre. UAB Theater veteran Dennis McClernon will be directing Steel Magnolias in December, and Carl Dean, the Director of the Jefferson County Academy of Theatre and Dance at the Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School, will direct a new musical Working next May. There are open auditions for some shows. “We want to encourage new people to be involved,” Bass says.
While more space, multiple stages and classroom space are on the wish list, Bass loves that his dream of creating a community theater has come true. “We like the idea of it being a true community theater,” he says. “A place where you have people from the local area who want to come together to do shows and the community can come out and enjoy.”
For the complete 2025-2026 season schedule, to register for classes or for tickets to any upcoming performances, visit homewoodtheatre.com.
