For years, the Iowa City Community Theatre (ICCT) has charmed its audience from its venue in Building A (commonly known as “The Barn”) on the Johnson County fairgrounds. With ICCT’s recent land purchase on the south side of Iowa City, bigger and better things are on the horizon for the theater. Elinor Levin, a member […]
For years, the
Iowa City Community Theatre (ICCT) has charmed its audience from its venue in Building A (commonly known as “The Barn”) on the Johnson County fairgrounds. With ICCT’s recent land purchase on the south side of Iowa City, bigger and better things are on the horizon for the theater.
Elinor Levin, a member of ICCT’s Development Committee Board and past president of the Executive Board, said the theater began looking for new venues when the Johnson County Fairground announced plans for expansion by tearing down The Barn and making way for new developments.
“The fairgrounds have been a really great opportunity for us,” said Ms. Levin, noting that ICCT has operated there since 1962. “We are very appreciative of the fact that we've been able to be sustained there for so long. But the building that we have existed in is not ideal,” she said, noting that the lack of insulation and amenities make it challenging to have comfortable accommodations.
For years, the ICCT troupe acted its way through extreme temperatures and annual flooding from melting snow, and having a decently climate-controlled environment safe from the elements is something they are looking forward to.
ICCT purchased a lot from SouthGate Companies on Pepperwood Lane in the South of 6 Business District July 2023, with plans to construct a new theater by the end of 2025. “It doesn’t look like a large lot when you drive past it,” said Ms. Levin, although there is ample space for both parking and a venue. A big draw to Pepperwood Lane was the neighborhood.
“The
South of 6 business districts, the momentum of this side of town, the fact that there are now places to eat, places to shop, public art is coming in…things are happening in this area,” said Ms. Levin. “It really felt like a good fit for our new home.”
The new location is also easily accessible, with a bus stop across the street and safer passage for those commuting on foot or by bike.
The future venue is currently in the infant stage of design, and ideas include a two-story, barn-style building with a formal lobby, plenty of storage and meeting space, and a build shop on site for constructing props.
“(It’s) such a feeling of accomplishment to have a set goal that we're working towards now,” said Ms. Levin. “This has been a sort of nebulous, goal-dream-plan ideal for literally decades for members of our community. And to now say ‘this is it, this is what we're gonna do, this is where it's going to be, this is our new home,’ it's incredible.”
ICCT will vacate the fairgrounds in May 2024 and will be temporarily transient until the new venue is constructed. Productions will continue in different spaces, and the theater will update its Facebook page regularly to keep patrons in the loop on whereabouts.
“This is our opportunity. We're taking it. We're pretty excited,” said Ms. Levin.
Those who are interested in learning more about upcoming plays or donating toward the project can visit
https://iowacitycommunitytheatre.org/.
