Southeastern Community College and the Capitol Theater entered into a one-year lease agreement beginning July 1, 2021.
The agreement will allow the college increased access and use of the building, as well as opportunities for student learning in the business of running an event facility. This agreement coincides with the college's initiative to broaden performing arts programming.
The college is expanding its music offerings in the upcoming fall semester, introducing digital music production courses to coincide with its traditional offerings. Music instructor Dr. Daniel Pappas looks forward to the opportunities that the space will lend to the program.
“I am excited about the real-world experiences our students will get by performing at the Capitol,” he says. “The opportunity for students to take what they learn in a studio environment and use it for a large performance space will be invaluable.”
As COVID restrictions are lifted, the Capitol Theater will continue to host its popular events, including the annual Snake Alley Festival of Film, regular showings of classic films, and live music by touring artists.
The 355-seat venue was built in 1937 and closed in 1977. After the creation of the Capitol Theater Foundation in 2005, the building was renovated and re-opened to the public nearly 10 years ago.
The one-year timeframe is intended to give both organizations an opportunity to refine their offerings. In 2022, the agreement will be revisited for discussions on how to best move forward.
“We have students from all over the region with incredible talent,” says SCC President Dr. Michael Ash. “We are eager to expand our opportunities to meet their needs beyond the classroom with practical experiences. What they learn here will open doors for their goals beyond SCC.”
SCC's music program has held performances at the Capitol Theater each spring for several years, and the college looks forward to presenting more events.
“Our goal is to continue to provide meaningful cultural contributions to the area in a central location,” Pappas adds. “We hope the community will support the events we stage at the theater and enjoy our talented students.”
For more news or to learn about Southeastern Community College, visit scciowa.edu