Deficit not spelling doom for Iowa City theater troupe

By Diana Nollen

The Iowa City Community Theatre is chipping away at its deficit, vowing to finish out the season with a bang and begin planning its 55th season.

Board president Patti Mott isn't ready to hit the panic button, saying fundraising efforts already are helping the volunteer troupe lower its $22,000 deficit.

 “I've belonged to the community theater all 54 of its years, so I've been through bad times before,” says Mott, 74, of Iowa City. “Yes, we've had bad times and good times. In the past several years - with the flood, the economy, many of our patrons and members being senior citizens now and with other theaters in Iowa City now - it's not terribly surprising that we find ourselves not where we'd like to be, where we usually are or where we strive to be.”

Mott, who has been president and past president several times before, recalls a time when the debt was even larger.

 “I remember way back, when after one season we ended up $40,000 in debt. In one year we made that up, brought (the theater) back and kept it going.”

Factors leading up to a deficit range from economic downturns to the cost of producing plays. Musicals are more expensive to stage, Mott says, as are shows requiring period costumes or larger sets and different venues. And when times are tough, she knows budgets need to be tightened and donations tend to go elsewhere.

 “Right now the starving artist is at the bottom of the list,” she says. “We need to take care of people who need jobs, homes and medicine. ... That's why we've not launched a big panic or gone begging for money.”

The volunteer troupe is turning to area financial, legal and business experts for advice, as well as securing financial sponsorships for upcoming shows and planning some special events. The board also held a meeting Nov. 23 to make the theater's members aware of the situation and enlist their help.

“We're trying to do everything we can to charge on,” Mott says. “The show must go on.”

And on they're going. Auditions were held this week for the musical “Wonderful Town,” to be presented Feb. 18 to 21 at the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City.

“We don't want people to think we're going to close down,” Mott says. “We have directors for the next show and two more shows to follow. We're planning to finish our year and hopefully go into our 55th year with all flags flying.”

For more information or to support the Iowa City Community Theatre, call (319) 338-0443 or go to

www.iowacitycommunitytheatre.com