Theatre Cedar Rapids Returns While Other Arts Venues Struggle

By Claire Kellett, Reporter/Anchor

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By KCRG Intern

Story Created: Feb 25, 2010 at 9:24 PM CST

Story Updated: Feb 25, 2010 at 10:36 PM CST

Theatre Cedar Rapids was far from the only arts venue damaged in the historic 2008 flood. Many others are still struggling to return from the devastating damage.

When most people think about Theatre Cedar Rapids, the Paramount Theatre also comes to mind. With TCR's grand re-opening tomorrow, Paramount's executive director says questions about its return have really picked up recently.

But the Paramount has a few more hoops to jump through before it welcomes back an audience.

With Theatre Cedar Rapids' return to downtown, the Paramount Theatre has also been in the spotlight. Eager theatre goers are curious when they'll have a pick at performances.

"The timeline is always one of the first questions out there is how fast? The most aggressive one we have heard right now is the fall of 2012," said Scott Schoenike.

There's a reason Paramount’s reopening is more than two years away. Unlike TCR, Paramount is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning it has to cut through more red tape before cutting any ribbon.

"With FEMA rules and policies, it will be brought back as a historic landmark. A lot of it will be the way it looked before the flood."

For now, though, the theatre still sits as an empty shell. The executive director of the Iowa Culture Corridor Alliance says 30 of its 150 members were affected by the flood. But he points out arts and entertainment can continue without a permanent home.

"Arts and culture did not go away. That's something I still hear quite often. I'm sorry Arts and Culture is gone. Well, Arts and Culture never left," said Joe Jennison of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance.

Places like the Cedar Rapids Public Library and the Science Station have relocated. Others including the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art have reopened in the same spot.

"Slowly over the next few years have openings at the National Czech and Slovak Museum, a few years later an opening at Paramount, and a few years later, a huge reopening at Hancher."

We talked with a representative from Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City this afternoon. He says it's still too soon to say when Hancher will re-open. The next step in its flood-recovery process is to hire an architect.

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