Theatre Cedar Rapids Makes Grand Comeback

By Bruce Aune, Anchor

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By KCRG Intern

Story Created: Feb 26, 2010 at 9:11 PM CST

Story Updated: Mar 2, 2010 at 2:20 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - Downtown Cedar Rapids is celebrating a milestone in flood recovery tonight. It's the grand re-opening of Theatre Cedar Rapids.

It is a night for celebration because 20 months ago this flood-ravaged theatre was in terrible condition. Some people might have given up... but not the ones involved with this long-time community theatre. And tonight Theatre Cedar Rapids came home.

The marquee outside the Iowa Theatre Building boldly tells the city that TCR is back. But the crowd inside at tonight's grand re-opening could hardly believe what they were seeing.

"Oh I am loving this. After the flood when we thought... people were saying we'll come back better than ever, I was so sad. I didn't believe it. But tonight, I believe it," said Barbara Green.

"It is such a happy event for Cedar Rapids tonight. It's something to celebrate--like life has started again," said Stan Wiederspan.

The renovated theatre offers so much, an expanded lobby, more restroom facilities, more comfortable seating in the house, a new concession area, and the new Linge Lounge, right off the lobby.

Zins Restaurant provides a full-service bar and hors-d'oeuvres for theatre goers before and after each show. And we can't forget the show itself... the zany musical, "The Producers."

Tonight's sellout brought 550 people to downtown Cedar Rapids... plus many more for this run and other shows to come. That's a boost for downtown businesses still struggling after the flood.

"You know the number one problem for the ones that are open down here is a lack of foot traffic. So this will help. Every little bit helps... and this is a big one tonight," said Gary Ficken, Cedar Rapids Small Business Recovery Group.

And this big step is especially impressive to people who were so familiar with Theatre Cedar Rapids in the past.

"I am so impressed with the willpower and determination it took to get this amazing feat accomplished. And having spent many hours in here before, what a wonderful venue for Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa," said Susan Streit.

"It just is a tangible sense that we have started. That things are moving. Everyone should come down and celebrate this. It's wonderful.”

There's so much else the audience doesn't even see. The new green room, the make-up and dressing rooms, the tech areas, and a new studio theatre.

It's all the result of the $7.8 million dollar renovation that's brought an important entertainment venue back to life in downtown Cedar Rapids.

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