After months of searching for a new home, The Actors' Group (TAG), perhaps Honolulu's littlest theater, is vacating its Yellow Brick Studio digs in Kaka'ako to relocate to a new Chinatown site in the historic Joseph P. Mendoca building at 1116 Smith St.

"We will be tenants of JoDee and Ernie Hunt, who are trying to establish an artist's community in Chinatown," said Eric Nemoto, TAG president, about the impending move. "It's a big step for us and we know it will be a great challenge to take on the new site and keep TAG going as the unique theater it is.

"We're excited and looking forward to a new chapter in TAG's history. For years TAG has managed to produce compelling theater in the most intimate but challenging of spaces. Now at our new location we'll have a terrific new look that we feel will only make us better as a venue that provides outstanding theater."

TAG has 45 days to move house, set up its new stage, and launch the six plays of its 2008-2009 season. Coincidentally, the first show will be "The Clean House" in the Mendoca complex, as TAG begins to make its house a home.

The theater's entrance will be a walkway through a Chinatown courtyard, opposite from the Little Village Chinese restaurant. Thus, it will be in the heart of the downtown arts community.

Brad Powell, artistic director of TAG, is doubly thrilled because of two first-time productions in the new space. "We're so excited because we have two Hawai'i premieres, 'The Clean House' and 'The History Boys,' the latter won six Tony awards in 2007, as well as three world premieres based on original plays from Nancy Moss, Richard Tillotson, Susan Shirwen. We will have about the same amount of seats, 36, perhaps a little more, enabling us to keep the intimate setting that we've become known for."

Frankie Enos, vice president of TAG, said: "Our space will still be intimate and our commitment to excellence will continue to define us. But what will change is that beginning with our new season's six plays, The Actors' Group will offer up exciting, memorable theater ... close to shops, restaurants, galleries, and ample city parking."

Because of the hasty relocation, the theater is seeking volunteers with handtrucks and manpower. If interested, call Carlynn Wolfe at 753-2651.