The Vero Beach Theatre Guild and Indian River County Chamber of Commerce held a joint event on March 27 at Theatre Guild headquarters, 2020 San Juan Avenue. The occasion was a groundbreaking ceremony for the Guild’s East Wing expansion and the Chamber’s monthly Business After Hours get-together.

This expansion project that will give the 56-year old Vero Beach Theatre Guild almost 5,000 square feet of added space in a three-story building attached to the existing theater. It will enable the VBTG to rehearse shows in a state-of-the-art rehearsal hall while another production is taking place onstage. The addition will also give volunteer actors first-rate dressing rooms to prepare for their performances, and set aside additional storage space for costumes and props. More importantly, this new facility will allow the VBTG to expand their educational goals by providing the space to conduct workshops and seminars for both adults and children in all aspects of the performing arts.

The Chamber’s monthly Business After Hours also provided an opportunity to introduce its new Tourism iPhone app, which went online that day. The app will enable users to see what activities are scheduled in Vero Beach and Indian River County, make reservations at hotels and restaurants along with many other features. Following the Business After Hours the Theatre Guild provided a sneak peek at its current production of the legendary musical, Kiss Me Kate.

Attendees included Vero Beach and county officials, Chamber members, Guild directors including president and emcee for the groundbreaking, Mark Wygonik.