Theatre Cedar Rapids
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| Address | 102 3rd St SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
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| http://www.theatrecr.org | |
Theatre Cedar Rapids (TCR) is a community theatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The theatre performs several stage shows every year, and offers acting classes. Each year TCR is seen by more than 50,000 patrons, who view the work of over 35,000 volunteer hours.
In 1925 as part of the Little Theatre Movement, Grant Wood and other local community members staged small performances in Wood's apartment at 5 Turner Alley. Wood created sets for the theatre, as well as writing, directing, and acting in plays. Wood also used the space as his artist studio, and painted the famous American Gothic at this location. Additional scenery was also built and painted by Marvin Cone. The onset of World War II put the theatre group on hiatus.
In 1948, after the war ended, the group reorganized calling themselves "The Footlighters". They generally performed at the local YMCA and at Coe College. In 1955 the group moved to the Old Strand Theatre, a building that had been a movie palace since 1912, and had also been known as The Olympic. The group renamed themselves to 'The Cedar Rapids Community Theatre (CRCT)'
In June 1928, the 'RKO Iowa Theatre' opened and served as a cinema, as well as offering vaudeville stage shows. In 1940, Katharine Hepburn played at the theatre in the stage version of The Philadelphia Story. In April, 1983 the theater was shut down. Four months after the closing of the theater, the space was donated to the CRCT by Audrey Linge. When they occupied the Iowa Theatre building, the group renamed itself Theatre Cedar Rapids.
During the Iowa flood of 2008, the theatre was significantly damaged, and was shut down until February 2010. While the building was being repaired the group performed at local malls and churches. Stars Michael Emerson and Ron Livingston both natives of the Cedar Rapids area, recorded videos to help fundraising efforts for repairs. Livingston had previously performed at TCR. The Federal Emergency Management Agency contributed over $4 million to the repair, and produced a short documentary about the renovations. The theatre is home to the only remaining 'Rhinestone' Barton Organ, which has been restored since it was significantly damaged in the 2008 floods.
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Wikipedia