Last year, the Southside Theater was simply a second stage for the storied Magic Theater. But the Magic’s efforts to regain their financial footing (under the direction of Loretta Greco) turned out to be a good thing for Pat Kilduff and the Southside Theater, a rental venue located in Building A at Fort Mason Center. It seats 162.

Kilduff runs the house with her manager, Pat Olson.

“Things are really picking up for us,” says Kilduff. “We’ve added new lighting and a new sound system. I think we found a nice niche here.”

The acclaimed Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, which lost its downtown venue, now makes the Southside its home. A new production, Fabulation, runs from March 3 through March 27.

The Hansberry troupe appeared in Joyful Noise this past Christmas.

“They wondered what kind of reception this African-American company might get in this neighborhood,” says Kilduff. “But they sure got an audience.”

The Presidio’s Bay School recently booked the house for three nights for its Bye Bye Birdie production. Rocket Dog Rescue held its Paws for Laughter benefit there in January. The San Francisco Arts Festival has booked the theater for this spring. The Opera Academy is coming in July.

“It’s going to be an exciting year at the Southside,” says Kilduff.