Rock Valley College Studio Theatre

The Rock Valley College Studio Theatre was an indoor community theater located on the Rock Valley College campus in Rockford, Illinois; its operational status has been put on hold indefinitely,[1] a casualty of the Illinois Budget crisis (see: Bruce Rauner#Governor of Illinois). It is often conflated with the Rock Valley College Starlight Theatre, which operates in the nearby Bengt Sjostrom Theatre,[2] an award-winning[3] outdoor complex known as Starlight Theatre by local residents. Confusion exists as both theatres are operated by the RVC Theatre Department and stand in close proximity to one another.[4][5]

Rock Valley College Studio Theatre
Studio Theatre
LocationRockford, Illinois
OwnerRock Valley College
Capacity172
Opened1985

Theatre History

The 172-seat, three-quarter thrust theatre is housed in a converted barn, along with the RVC Theatre Department offices and costume storage facilities. The building and its accompanying 217 acres were purchased by the college in 1965 from Dr. J.J. Rogers.[6] The structure has undergone several renovations and served multiple purposes since its initial purchase, at certain times housing the college cafeteria, library and admissions offices. As the campus grew, new buildings were assigned to serve these purposes. By 1985, an unnamed student theatre group had taken up residence in the building. This group would eventually be folded into the existing RVC Theatre Department.[7] Plans to move from "the barn" to a new Arts Instructional Center with modern amenities has been tabled by the college's board of Trustees.[8]

Production History

According to local newspaper records,[9] more than 130 productions have taken place in Studio Theatre.[10]

  • 1985: Ah! Wilderness
  • 1985: Christmas with the Conroys
  • 1986: Ladyhouse Blues
  • 1986: Wings
  • 1986: End of the World
  • 1986: Christmas with the Conroys
  • 1987: Same Time Next Year
  • 1987: Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
  • 1987: Prometheus Bound
  • 1987: Hoosier Lore
  • 1988: Two Gentlemen of Verona
  • 1988: Dr. Franken's Consuming Obsession
  • 1988: Death of a 2nd Husband
  • 1988: Christmas with the Conroys
  • 1989: The Tempest
  • 1989: Smile of the Buddha
  • 1989: Your Plays or Mine
  • 1989: Christmas at Wits End
  • 1990: Measure for Measure
  • 1990: Danger:Memory
  • 1990: King Lear
  • 1990: Godspell
  • 1991: Midsummer Nights Dream
  • 1991: Verdict
  • 1991: Richard III
  • 1991: Fantasticks
  • 1992: Wild Oats
  • 1992: Runner Stumbles
  • 1992: Macbeth
  • 1992: Cotton Patch Gospel
  • 1993: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead
  • 1993: Ten Little Indians
  • 1993: Henry IV I
  • 1993: She Loves Me
  • 1994: Lend Me a Tenor
  • 1994: Witness for the Prosecution
  • 1994: Romeo & Juliet
  • 1994: American Rock
  • 1995: Kites Book
  • 1995: The Hollow
  • 1995: Hamlet
  • 1995: 1940's Radio Hour
  • 1996: Bad Manners
  • 1996: Black Coffee
  • 1996: Winter's Tale
  • 1996: They're Playing Our Song
  • 1997: Star Rover
  • 1997: Towards Zero
  • 1997: Much Ado About Nothing
  • 1997: Nunsense
  • 1998: Three Women Embracing
  • 1998: Spider's Web
  • 1998: Twelfth Night
  • 1998: Dames at Sea
  • 1999: Royal Hunt of the Sun
  • 1999: The Mousetrap
  • 1999: Julius Caesar
  • 1999: Company
  • 2000: Confused in Blimey
  • 2000: Unexpected Guest
  • 2000: As You Like It
  • 2000: King Henry V
  • 2000: Midsummer Nights Dream
  • 2000: Titus Andronicus
  • 2000: Nunsense
  • 2001: The Lake
  • 2001: Murder at the Vicarage
  • 2001: Comedy of Errors
  • 2001: Macbeth
  • 2001: Richard II
  • 2001: The Christmas Schooner
  • 2002: Crossing Bridges
  • 2002: Murder on the Nile
  • 2002: Henry IV, Part II
  • 2002: Taming of the Shrew
  • 2002: Troilus & Cressida
  • 2002: Cabaret
  • 2003: Emily's Shadow
  • 2003: Cards on the Table
  • 2003: Othello
  • 2003: Loves Labours Lost
  • 2003: Into the Woods
  • 2004: Pearl's Jam
  • 2004: Alibi
  • 2004: Merchant of Venice
  • 2004: Timon of Athens
  • 2004: Queen Margaret
  • 2004: Victor/Victoria
  • 2005: Scapino!
  • 2005: Love From a Stranger
  • 2005: Romeo & Juliet (also performed at the Bengt Sjostrom Theatre)
  • 2005: The Christmas Schooner
  • 2006: The Mayor of West Belvidere
  • 2006: Appointment with Death
  • 2006: Antony & Cleopatra
  • 2006: All's Well that Ends Well
  • 2006: Lent
  • 2007: You Can't Take it With You
  • 2007: A Murder is Announced
  • 2007: Merry Wives of Windsor
  • 2007: Pericles
  • 2007: Faculty Lounge
  • 2008: Last Easter
  • 2008: A Daughter's A Daughter
  • 2008: King John
  • 2008: Cymbeline
  • 2008: Caroline or Change
  • 2009: American Buffalo
  • 2009: Peril at End House
  • 2009: Hamlet
  • 2009: Coriolanus
  • 2009: Christmas with the Conroys
  • 2010: Cotton Patch Gospel
  • 2010: And Then There Were None
  • 2010: The Tempest
  • 2010: King Henry VIII
  • 2010: Hoosier Lore
  • 2011: Grey Gardens[11]
  • 2011: Go Back for Murder
  • 2011: King Lear
  • 2011: A Christmas Carol
  • 2012: Rocky Horror Show
  • 2012: Murder is Easy
  • 2012: A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • 2012: Rocky Horror Show (Reprise)
  • 2013: Avenue Q
  • 2013: Fiddler's Three
  • 2013: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
  • 2013: The Wizard of Oz

Original Works Program

Since before its official formation, Studio Theatre has performed original plays by local playwrights.

  • The Northwest Suburban Penny Ante Poker Club & Suicide League by T. Zack, 1983
  • Lazaretti or the Saber-Toothed Tiger by F. Hockwalder, 1984–85
  • Christmas with the Conroys by T. Zack, 1985–86
  • Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda by M. Swan, 1986–87
  • Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound (translated by the cast), 1987–88
  • Hoosier Lore by T. Zack, 1987–88
  • Dr. Franken's Consuming Obsession by G. Freek, 1987–88
  • Death of a Second Husband by R. Cline, 1988–89
  • The Smile of the Buddha by G. Freek, 1988–89
  • Your Plays or Mine by B. Wine, 1989–90
  • Christmas at Wits End by T. Zack, 1989–90
  • American Rock by J.E. Murray & R. Pauly, 1994–95
  • Kite's Book by R. Caisley, 1994–95
  • Bad Manners by R. Caisley, 1994–95
  • The Star Rover by M.P. Webb, 1996–97
  • Three Women Embracing by R. Caisley, 1997–98
  • Confused in Blimey by T. Hunter, 1999–2000
  • World Premiere of The Lake by R. Caisley, 2000–01
  • Crossing Bridges by C. Blatcher-Martin, 2001–02
  • Emily's Shadow by G. Quirk, 2002–03
  • Pearl's Jam by Tom Hunter, 2003–04
  • Shakespeare's Queen Margaret (adapted by R. Potter - Midwest Premiere), 2004–05
  • The Mayor of West Belvidere by T. Hunter, 2005–06

References
  1. http://www.rrstar.com/article/20160506/NEWS/160509588
  2. "AIA Illinois". Illinoisgreatplaces.com. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  3. Studio Gang Architects. "Studio Gang Architects | Bengt Sjostrom Starlight Theatre". Studiogang.net. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  4. "RVC Theatre Department website". Rockvalleycollege.edu. 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  5. "Starlight Theatre at Rock Valley College | Rockford, IL 61114 | Rockford Area Arts, Culture & Theatre". Gorockford.com. 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  6. "Rockford History: 1965". Rockfordillinois.com. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  7. "Rockford History website". Rockfordillinois.com. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  8. "Rock Valley might abandon star architect's arts center designs - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL". Rrstar.com. 2012-11-18. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  9. "Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL". Rrstar.com. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  10. "RVC Theatre website". Rockvalleycollege.edu. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  11. "Studio Theatre kicks off season with 'Grey Gardens' - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL". Rrstar.com. 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2014-01-25.

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