Coralville Center for the Performing Arts opens

CORALVILLE - Since she started her job in March, Megan Flanagan has been a theater manager without a theater.

But that changed Friday as the 482-seat Coralville Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors after nearly two years of construction.

“It feels right,” said Flanagan, who is the center's managing director. “I'm thrilled about finally getting out of the construction phase and getting into the operational phase.”

A weekend worth of events was planned at the $11.2 million performing arts center, located at 1301 Fifth Ave. next to the Coralville Public Library.

That included the grand opening Friday night for people who contributed to the center's capital campaign. There was an open house from 1-4 p.m. Saturday and another celebration last night for people and organizations that sponsored seats in the theater.

Tonight is the “All in a Day Play Festival,” in which seven 10-minute plays that were created in the previous 24 hours will be performed. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased by calling (319) 248-9370 or visiting www.coralvillearts.org.

The idea of a community theater in Coralville was first discussed at least a decade ago.

Ellen Habel, Coralville's assistant city administrator, said it's hard to believe the theater is finally opening and hopes it will serve as a place for the community to gather and to be involved. It will primarily host community and regional acts, school activities and educational events.

“When you have something like this, you have both an opportunity for people to be more involved in the arts as well as additional opportunities for them to enjoy the arts,” she said.

Flanagan said some of her favorite features are the center's orchestra pit, which opens the facility up to additional uses, and a fly system that can hold 27,000 pounds above the stage and keep set pieces out of the audience's view. There's also a modular trap system that allows actors to enter and exit through the stage floor, she said.

Eric Burchett, who was recently hired as the center's technical supervisor, said the equipment is first-rate.

“It's a lot of gear; it's a big theater,” he said.

The Center for the Performing Arts is housed in a six-story building being privately developed called Plaza on 5th, which also will include retail and office space and 25 residential condominiums.

The commercial and residential aspects of the project are still being finished. Most of the residential condominiums will be ready by Oct. 1. Teresa Morrow of Blank & McCune real estate company, the leasing agent for the private portion of the building, said in an email that 10 are reserved and purchases will start soon. The condos range from 825 to 2,050 square feet and are being sold for between $209,000 and $475,000.

Morrow said there is about 11,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space at street level, plus 10,000 square feet and 15,000 square feet on the second and third floors, respectively, geared toward office space. She added there are “many prospects at different levels of commitment,” but the only tenant who has announced it is moving in is furniture and interior design store The Luxe Zone, which is opening Oct. 1.

On Aug. 15, the city of Coralville purchased the Center for the Performing Arts for $11.2 million.

The city received $1.6 million from the state's Vision Iowa Board. It was announced Friday night that a fundraising campaign had met its goal of $1.4 million. Seat sponsorships remain available.

The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts' first official production will be “Hairspray,” presented by City Circle Acting Company of Coralville from Sept. 9-18.