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Iowa Theater nears reopening

By Tim Kenyon

The Iowa Theater Building will see a flurry of action from construction crews and Theatre Cedar Rapids staff preparing for a Feb. 26 reopening celebration at 102 Third St. SE.

“We get the keys to start the move back in early February,” Managing Director Casey Prince said last week.

Because of continued construction in places, the cast won’t get on stage until two weeks before the opening performance of “The Producers” on Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

“That’s business as usual, but we’ll be learning the rearranged space and new lighting, sound and other systems that will add to the challenge of getting ready,” Prince says.

A reception will precede the play at 6 p.m. Organizers are encouraging black-tie attire.

A staff member joked awhile back that they should make the final weeks of transition easier by having everyone move to the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel across the street on the First Avenue side, he says.

That thought is being considered more seriously with about a month to go as the staff aims to make the reopening a successful splash.

TCR planned a capital campaign to remodel the 1928 building before the June 2008 flood.

After moving to a variety of sites the first few months post flood, the organization transformed the former Let’s Dance building at 4444 First Ave. NE near Lindale Mall into a temporary office and performance venue.

Pat Deignan, vice president of the TCR board of trustees, says he is proud of the project’s advancement and the staff’s performance.

“It’s been fantastic, as I can’t say enough about our staff,” he says.

Last year’s sold out “Annie” shows and a good recent run of “The Laramie Project,” are two productions that stand out, he says.

“Blessed” is how Mr. Prince describes TCR’s future in the rebuilt Iowa Theater.

New mechanical and electrical systems will result in less operating cost.

“Certainly, we’ve worked hard, but we also feel fortunate,” he says about the opportunities to enhance the building and expand community programs.

After the flood and rebuilding plan revisions, TCR moved forward on a $7.8 million capital campaign.
Federal Emergency Management Agency and Vision Iowa funds and more than $3 million of pledges cover the cleanup and rebuilding cost.

Longer-term planning coincided with the rebuilding process, Prince says.

“We are still seeking to seed an endowment fund for a combination of things,” he says.

One objective is building maintenance, he says.

“We want to take care of this lovely building,” he says.

Hidden gems found during reconstruction included original chandeliers that will be reinstalled and plaster moldings on walls, he says.

Changes that visitors will readily notice include a double-sized lobby and triple-sized entry space.
Other benefits from reconstruction make the theater more of an option for events or receptions and a better setting for theater and musical training programs.

“Before, we were creative on stage, now, we can be creative in front, too,” Prince says about the lobby changes.

The endowment fund also would help cover “rainy days” when sales may not be as high because TCR wants to take more risks on play selection, Prince says.

Primary rebuilding contractors are OPN Architects, Ryan Companies, Modern Piping and Paulsen Electric. Up to 75 crew members fill the building daily working on the remodeling.

“They’re working fast and furious and doing a lot of good work,” Deignan says. “Ryan is doing an excellent job. It’s hard to believe a curtain is going to go up soon, but they make immense progress every week.”

Exterior tuck pointing will need to be finished after the reopening, Prince says.

The renovated marquee reattachment might not be done for the reopening, he adds.

The few final touch ups required after the reopening don’t affect the enthused spirit of Deignan, executive vice president of Banker’s Trust in Cedar Rapids. 

“We’re very excited to get it open downtown for the public,” he says.

The Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is thrilled about TCR’s pending return to the Iowa Theater, says Jessica Palmer, marketing and communications director.

“We couldn’t be more excited. It’s significant for revitalization of downtown and is a milestone in the (flood) recovery process,” Palmer says. “It makes everyone optimistic for the recovery going forward.”

TCR’s return and the Iowa Theater’s reopening is a big piece to the CVB’s marketing package that helps bring events and visitors to Cedar Rapids, she says.

Rebuilding highlights include:

• More than 30 additional auditorium seats.

• A wider, more modern lobby accommodating more patrons that restores original architecture from the building’s construction in 1928

•  A lounge that extends to the windows along First Avenue

• Larger and more accessible restrooms

• Renovated dressing rooms, additional classroom space and better facilities for volunteers

• Relocated electrical and HVAC systems to higher levels as a protective measure against flooding

• Lighting that changes the color of lobby walls to match performance themes

This article originally appeared in the Corridor Business Journal.