Cabaret production group to take over Ballard Underground

The Ballard Underground (2220 NW Market St) will soon be reopened as a cabaret called Copious.

Copious Love Productions is taking over the lease of the venue from Ghost Light Theatricals, which has operated in the space for the past 10 years. Copious Love is no stranger to the venue — the group has produced many shows at Ballard Underground in the past decade. They’ll assume the lease from Ghost Light and plan to reopen in February.

“We are building out this space to be a living room for Ballard and the arts community, a place where people of all backgrounds can experience imaginative work every night of the week, and also imagine using our flexible space to create art that reflects their own passions,” Copious co-founder Lacy Gavilanes said in a statement announcing the news.

Gavilanes describes Copious as being a blend of “theatre kids who love to dress up and play” and “gamers and techies who love to explore new worlds”. It seems an apt description of the brains behind one of their most successful productions, CODENAME: KANSAS, which is Wizard of Oz, but with the feel of being inside a video game, she says. 

They’ll be renovating the space to make it feel more like a cabaret lounge, that will be fit for drag performances, burlesque, and interactive performances that don’t require a stage. They say they plan to make the space available for rentals during the day and operate on a profit-sharing model with producers who book the space. Copious will keep booking costs low, and split proceeds with performers.

“Artists in Seattle tend not to get paid for their work and we want to change that,” Copious managing director, Tony Gavilanes said. “…we are literally making space in Seattle for more inventive art, by a more diverse range of artists. That’s the heart of what we do and why we are excited to partner with the community to transform the Underground.”

They plan to have a grand opening party on February 1, and will host a “Copious Month” where they’ll have shows every night of the week. Tickets will be $15, with discounts for Ballard residents (an all-access month-long pass will be available for $180). Stay updated through their newsletter by clicking here.

Photo from Copious Love’s Journey West production earlier this year