Times Plain Dealer’s Hall of Fame Organization of the Year winner

CRESCO - The Cresco Theatre & Opera House is an unrivaled jewel in the crown of both Cresco and Howard County. Named to the Registry of Historic Places in 1981, the theatre hosts nearly nightly movies, serves as a special event venue, showcases Cresco Community Theatre productions and presents community and school concerts and other events. 

But such a grande dame of entertainment and community service does not run by herself. Behind the curtains are the many people whose tireless volunteer work keep the theatre running. Primary amongst them is the Cresco Theatre Commission.

The Cresco Theatre Commission, which oversees the operations and use of the theatre, has been named 2022 Organization of the Year by the Times Plain Dealer for its extensive good works on behalf of the Cresco Theatre & Opera House and the community it serves. “They really embrace the theatre and what it means to this community,” Spiff Slifka of Howard County Business & Tourism said. “They are innovative and inclusive. They work with the city council to make the theatre more energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing.”

“This honor is well deserved,” Wendy Lickteig, theatre and opera house manager, said. “They are so dedicated. It’s always about what’s best for the theatre, what’s best for the community.

“A lot of what they do, people don’t realize,” Lickteig added. “They are the unsung heroes, making things happen whether you see them or not.”

The commission is a wholly volunteer committee of six individuals – Jon Hayek (President), David Gosch (Vice President), Ronda Hughes (Secretary) and Kari Waterbeck, Julie Wilson and Tara Henry – with room for one more. Their mission statement includes “To preserve, maintain, and operate the Cresco Theatre as a historic landmark which benefits the people of Cresco, Howard County, Iowa and tri-state area by providing an accessible, unique facility and valuable cultural asset.” 

But President Hayek has a more pragmatic take on the commission’s role. “What can we do to make the place better?” he said. “How do we do fund-raising? How do we get new seats here? That’s more what we’re into. Keeping it up and running and looking the way it is.”

Making the place better, at the current time, includes a project to replace theatre seating. “Right now, we’re looking at seats.” Hayek said. 

“Trying to do the best arrangement and the best comfort. It’s a slow process. Trying to figure out what the best thing is to get new seats and how we are going to go about making the money to buy that. That’s kind of our new challenge right now. That and the scene shop.”

Rebuilding the scene shop, which was demolished in 2020 for being structurally unsound, is a major undertaking for the Cresco Theatre Commission. With a design for construction submitted, the next step is to schedule initial meetings with the commission and Cresco Community Theatre to go through the plans and establish what is needed and what isn’t. Once there’s a consensus, the commission will meet with the city and work to get things moving forward.

Another big project was the remodel of Champlin Hall, which is a part of the Cresco Theatre and Opera House building and is a community space with a very reasonable rental rate. In addition to providing individuals in the community with a low-cost venue option, the rental fees help fund other projects and the day-to-day costs of running the theatre. 

During the remodel, the kitchen area was overhauled, the floor was stripped and refinished, the walls were painted and new tables and chairs were purchased. The bathrooms and a storage/snack area for the theatre were also renovated at the same time.

Recent years have seen many changes, including the addition of two new HVAC units to the theatre and restoration of the marquee, but it isn’t all big projects. The Cresco Theatre Commission is also active in the presentation of special events and community productions. From running concessions for a children’s concert to showing patrons to their seats for a touring magic show, members of the commission are always around to help in whatever way they are needed.

“When something needs to be done, it’s all hands on deck,” Lickteig said. “Everybody shows up to help. It’s not about recognition. It’s about love of what we’re doing.” 

“The mission is to serve the community,” Hayek said. “That’s really what we’re here to do . . . to serve the community and bring people enjoyment and a place to gather.”

The Cresco Theatre Commission will receive it’s Organization of the Year award at the Howard County Business and Tourism Banquet on May 5 at the Heritage Event Center. Tickets are available at the Cresco Chamber of Commerce.