Millvale's Mr. Smalls entertainment complex has opened The Funhouse @ Mr. Smalls, a 175-person-capacity club located upstairs from the main theater.

“I love playing both rooms, but, as a solo performer, I don't draw nearly what Rusted Root draws, obviously,” said Liz Berlin, a member of that band who also co-owns Mr. Smalls with her husband, Mike Speranzo.

“If I'm in Mr. Smalls Theatre, and I draw 100 people, it feels empty and sad. But, 100 people at The Funhouse feels like a huge party. … I just know that I really appreciate being able to have a more intimate environment.”

Since the April 15 launch, the pair unofficially has mentored up-and-coming regional and national artists, according to Speranzo.

“The idea is to help develop these acts into where they are doing ticketed shows, to where they are getting attendance, to where they could actually move into the theater. It's kind of like a growth trajectory that we have set up,” Berlin said.

Many shows are free, such as the AcoustiCafe open stage event showcasing singer-songwriters, 7 p.m. Mondays.

Similarly, Joseph Carringer of Table Syndicate curates the Centrifuge open stage electronic-dance-music (EDM) party, at 8 p.m. Thursdays.

“We just kind of want people to get into the habit of going to see a band on Friday night and realizing that it is an amazing option to do rather than going to a movie or a dance club,” said Berlin. “It's right in Millvale, in your backyard.”

“They do create a lot of business for our community. They're innovative, and they have a vision. They see where our community is going,” said Tina Walker, Millvale Community Development Corp. president, regarding The Funhouse's entrepreneurs.

The 21-and-over club includes a full bar and seating. The stage features an LED starry curtain and padded walls that Berlin said resemble those found in recording studios.

“We've gone to concert venues our whole lives, and we've been watching and thinking about what ours would be like. So, you know, we took those dreams and tried to fit them in the available space,” said Speranzo, a former competitive skateboarder and Out of the Blue bassist.

In 2002, Berlin and Speranzo opened Mr. Smalls inside the desanctified St. Ann's Catholic Church. In addition to containing a theater and club, the venue houses a restaurant and bar. The couple also own a North Side recording studio.

Erica Cebzanov is a contributing writer for the Tribune-Review.

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