Months after a very public management shakeup, Roseville’s Magic Circle Theatre is embarking on its most ambitious production yet.

Waiting in the wings: a full arts academy, a massive new headquarters building and a renewed emphasis on generating revenue.

They’re all big steps for the 23-year-old community theater group, which has faithfully drawn audiences to its musicals and children’s productions at two downtown theaters but still suffers from low name recognition and lackluster funding, officials said.

Adding to boldness is the timing, in one of the most challenging environments for arts nonprofits in years.

“Everybody’s response to a downturn is just to cut back,” said Susan Trapnell, the group’s interim executive director. “But you cannot do more with less.”

Magic Circle’s response is to try and do more, more efficiently.

At the center of the effort is the new building, a 16,000-square-foot former tile showroom and warehouse across from the Roseville Cemetery on Berry Street. The facility centralizes six locations across Roseville and Citrus Heights, from cramped offices to prop and costume storage.

Magic Circle officials said they aren’t spending any more money on it than they did on the far-flung rentals.

“Before, the guys would have to plan another two hours to their day if they wanted to go over to Citrus Heights and pick up a prop,” said Brent Null, the theater’s board president and its artistic director.

OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES

But what staffers are most excited about are the programs it makes possible.

Magic Circle’s children’s acting workshops and summer programs are already hugely popular, serving up to 225 students at a time. But they don’t offer the depth that many students would like.

The planned academy, to be housed in an 8,000-square-foot wing of the new building alongside the workshops, will generate substantial funding for the group, officials said. It will focus more intensively on small groups of 12-15 students in dance, music, acting and improvisation, said Michelle Raskey, director of education. A dance studio complete with mirrored walls and a barre is under construction.

“This is meant to be more educational,” Raskey said.

Actors are already rehearsing in a separate performance space at the building. That frees up Magic Circle’s two theaters – Vernon Street’s historic Roseville Theatre and Tower Theatre – for other uses, both money-making and creative. For instance, audiences at Magic Circle’s 10 main stage productions might see more elaborate sets at show time.

“By taking rehearsal time off the stage, it gives the guys more time to build the sets,” Null said.

Then there’s the revenue angle. With actors working out scenes off-stage, film festivals, improv nights, weddings and other events can also better share the Vernon Street theaters. And that brings in rental fees.

INTERNAL CHANGES ONGOING

Magic Circle underwent wrenching change earlier this year, when the management contracts of its founders, Bob and Rosemarie Gerould, were cancelled; though they were offered new roles, they declined, Null said.

At the time, the Null said the theater was losing $10,000 a month and was headed toward insolvency.

With a grant from the Irvine Foundation, the board has brought on board Trapnell, a 30-year veteran theater manager and consultant who is charged with helping streamline operations and develop effective business plans.

Some new initiatives are already in place. A phone solicitor was recently hired to drum up funding.

On the job for less than a week, Trapnell said Monday she’s delighted with the theater’s end products.

“The scope of their work and the breadth of it, especially with young people’s programming, it’s pretty broad,” she said. “So I’m impressed with the breadth of the community service even beyond the plays.”

A sign the show will go on: season tickets are selling better this year than last year.