Riverside Theatre (Iowa)

Riverside Theatre is a theatre located in Iowa City, Iowa. As one of few professional theatres in the area, Riverside allows a platform for artists to work professionally. The theatre is currently being led by Artistic Director Adam Knight as of 2018. Riverside Theatre is proudly affiliated with Actors' Equity Association and is a member of the Theatre Communications Group,[1] the National New Play Network, the Shakespeare Association of America, and the Institute of Outdoor Drama.

Riverside Theatre
Riverside Theatre Logo
LocationIowa City, Iowa
Capacity118
Website
https://www.riversidetheatre.org

Riverside Theatre produces a broad range of work from classics to contemporaries to regional or state premieres. The Gilbert Street season includes a large variety of genres to fit the theatre's intimate space and production style.

Mission
Inside of house

Riverside Theatre is a professional theatre that connects artists and audiences through intimate, engaging, and provocative productions from the classics to new works, and provides an artistic home for regional theatre professionals.[2]

History

It was founded by Ron Clark, Jody Hovland, and Bruce Wheaton in 1981 when they staged their first play "The Exercise" at the Old Armory, a building that housed many University of Iowa theatre MFA students before it became a communications building for the university.[3] The company then moved to a local landmark church, the Old Brick, in 1983. It was in 1990 when they had built a large enough audience to move into their current Gilbert Street address.

Riverside Theatre in the Park

The summer season for the theatre involves multiple Shakespeare productions in a 427-seat outdoor theatre in Iowa City's Lower City Park.[4] Originally known as The Shakespeare Festival, Riverside Theatre in the Park debuted its first season in 2000 with Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing. The location of the summer season has some risk due to its proximity to the Iowa River. In 2008, 2013, and 2014, the theatre's leaders were forced to make the decision to relocate due to flooding.

Front of building

Production History

To see the full production history, follow the link below:

https://www.riversidetheatre.org/assets/riversidetheatre/riverside%20theatre%20production%20history.pdf

Premieres
  • Pairings From Shakespeare, 1984
  • Il Magnifico, 1985 (world premiere)
  • Riverside Revival, 1985
  • Outward, 1987 (world premiere)
  • Driving the Body Back, 1988
  • First Lady Lou, 1988
  • Dear Iowa, 1991 (world premiere)
  • Chief, 1992 (world premiere)
  • Gunplay, 1993 (world premiere)
  • The Wooden O, 1994 (world premiere)
  • Wish Me Pretty, Wish Me Strong, 1994 (world premiere)
  • Harry's Way, 1997 (world premiere)
  • Kindred Hearts, 1997 (world premiere)
  • Marry me, 1998 (world premiere)
  • Small Miracles, 1998 (world premiere)
  • Grocery Stories, 2003 (world premiere)
  • The Imaginary Invalid, 2005 (original adaptation/premiere)
  • Prosperity, 2005 (world premiere)
  • Kinnick, 2006 (world premiere)
  • Coffee and Hope, 2008 (world premiere)
  • Megan Gogerty Loves You Very Much, 2008 (world premiere)
  • Raising Medusa, 2009 (world premiere)
  • Manning Up, 2012 (rolling world premiere)
  • The Exit Interview, 2013 (rolling world premiere)
  • Birth Witches, 2013
  • Lucky Me, 2015 (NNPN rolling world premiere)
  • Housebroken, 2015 (world premiere) by Megan Gogerty

References
  1. "Theatre Profiles - Details". www.tcg.org. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  2. "Riverside Theatre: Big Drama in a Small Place | About Riverside Theatre". www.riversidetheatre.org. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  3. "Riverside Theatre founders exit stage left". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 2016-05-10.
  4. "Riverside Theatre returning to outdoor stage in Lower City Park". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
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