About Riverwalk Theatre
Once Upon a Time
When a small group of Lansing Theatre lovers organized the Community Circle Players (CCP) in 1958 in a little 140-seat theatre on Sheridan Street (now Oakland Avenue), they didn’t realize they were setting the stage for a respected community theatre that, over 50 years later, would play an important role in the revitalization of downtown Lansing.
CCP was dedicated to quality in an all-volunteer theatrical organization and grew in community support and stature. In 1962 we established our bylaws and in 1964 received our 501 © 3 tax-exempt status.
The Okemos Barn
In 1964 CCP moved into the facility that was part of our identity for 22 years – The Okemos Barn Theatre. The renovation project was formidable, but the faith and hard work of Bee and Karl Vary, Ron Grow, Evelyn Machtel, Wes and Winifred Olds, Wayman Underwood, Adrian Robinson, Bill Montgomery and others, along with community support, made that dream a reality.
Delta Dental Company owns the property on which the Okemos Barn stood. Due to Delta’s plans to develop the surrounding land, the Barn’s lease was not renewed. Soon after the lease expired in September of 1986, the barn was torn down. Delta remains a good friend of CCP, however, and donated $25,000 in matching money to help the relocation project.
Riverwalk Begins
With the same spirit that turned a cow barn into a theatre, we renovated an old warehouse in the downtown area by the river. Through community and local business support, we raised over $500,000 to turn part of that warehouse into a beautiful, viable and productive theatre. Riverwalk Theatre opened its first show on October 19, 1989 and continues to produce some of the most outstanding live theatre productions in the area today. Our facility not only provides a forum for local actors and entertainment for Lansing residents, visitors and conventioneers, but also a performing space that is used by other groups for both artistic and educational presentations.
In August of 1999, Riverwalk purchased its building from Impression Five Science Center thanks to generous donations by our members (membership info on page 6) as well as local, state, and foundation grants. We raised $252,000 to purchase the entire 15,750 square-foot former warehouse.
Riverwalk Renovates
With the entire building now at our disposal, expansion plans were developed. In January of 2001, our Capital Development Campaign reached its goal of $355,000. However, cost of the plan exceeded available funds, so expansion was divided into two phases. In December of 2001, construction began on phase I: A new scene shop, props loft, green room and rehearsal hall. The construction was completed in February, of 2002.
Black box productions were initiated at the Creole Gallery in Old Town in December, 2003, to explore the feasibility of a black box space inside Riverwalk. Phase II began on September 23, 2008, and included construction of the “black box” performing space, expanded lobby, new concessions area, expanded rest-room facilities, a new rehearsal hall, and a second floor area for light booths serving both auditoriums, furniture storage, and light equipment storage and repair. The capital campaign begun in January of 2007, and by December of 2008, we achieved our goal of $330,000.00 a year early!
Our new Black Box Auditorium opened Saturday, October 17, 2009, when Tom Heideman and Mary Koenigschnecht hosted one of their “Riverwalk Saturday Night” benefit concerts to raise money for Riverwalk operating expenses. It was a wonderful, exciting night of music including folk, jazz, show tunes, and poetry.
Riverwalk Today
Today we have children's shows, black box shows, original play readings, major musicals, dramas, comedies, and special events entertaining audiences on both our Rotary Main Stage and our Dart Black Box Studio Stage throughout the year..
As you can see, CCP/Riverwalk has grown by leaps and bounds, invested nearly two million dollars in our facility, with no mortgages to boot! Future expenses for a new roof and furnace and electrical upgrades continue to challenge us, but we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished over the years, and humbled by the generosity shown by our members and local business partners to achieve what we have achieved.
When a small group of Lansing Theatre lovers organized the Community Circle Players (CCP) in 1958 in a little 140-seat theatre on Sheridan Street (now Oakland Avenue), they didn’t realize they were setting the stage for a respected community theatre that, over 50 years later, would play an important role in the revitalization of downtown Lansing.
CCP was dedicated to quality in an all-volunteer theatrical organization and grew in community support and stature. In 1962 we established our bylaws and in 1964 received our 501 © 3 tax-exempt status.
The Okemos Barn
In 1964 CCP moved into the facility that was part of our identity for 22 years – The Okemos Barn Theatre. The renovation project was formidable, but the faith and hard work of Bee and Karl Vary, Ron Grow, Evelyn Machtel, Wes and Winifred Olds, Wayman Underwood, Adrian Robinson, Bill Montgomery and others, along with community support, made that dream a reality.
Delta Dental Company owns the property on which the Okemos Barn stood. Due to Delta’s plans to develop the surrounding land, the Barn’s lease was not renewed. Soon after the lease expired in September of 1986, the barn was torn down. Delta remains a good friend of CCP, however, and donated $25,000 in matching money to help the relocation project.
Riverwalk Begins
With the same spirit that turned a cow barn into a theatre, we renovated an old warehouse in the downtown area by the river. Through community and local business support, we raised over $500,000 to turn part of that warehouse into a beautiful, viable and productive theatre. Riverwalk Theatre opened its first show on October 19, 1989 and continues to produce some of the most outstanding live theatre productions in the area today. Our facility not only provides a forum for local actors and entertainment for Lansing residents, visitors and conventioneers, but also a performing space that is used by other groups for both artistic and educational presentations.
In August of 1999, Riverwalk purchased its building from Impression Five Science Center thanks to generous donations by our members (membership info on page 6) as well as local, state, and foundation grants. We raised $252,000 to purchase the entire 15,750 square-foot former warehouse.
Riverwalk Renovates
With the entire building now at our disposal, expansion plans were developed. In January of 2001, our Capital Development Campaign reached its goal of $355,000. However, cost of the plan exceeded available funds, so expansion was divided into two phases. In December of 2001, construction began on phase I: A new scene shop, props loft, green room and rehearsal hall. The construction was completed in February, of 2002.
Black box productions were initiated at the Creole Gallery in Old Town in December, 2003, to explore the feasibility of a black box space inside Riverwalk. Phase II began on September 23, 2008, and included construction of the “black box” performing space, expanded lobby, new concessions area, expanded rest-room facilities, a new rehearsal hall, and a second floor area for light booths serving both auditoriums, furniture storage, and light equipment storage and repair. The capital campaign begun in January of 2007, and by December of 2008, we achieved our goal of $330,000.00 a year early!
Our new Black Box Auditorium opened Saturday, October 17, 2009, when Tom Heideman and Mary Koenigschnecht hosted one of their “Riverwalk Saturday Night” benefit concerts to raise money for Riverwalk operating expenses. It was a wonderful, exciting night of music including folk, jazz, show tunes, and poetry.
Riverwalk Today
Today we have children's shows, black box shows, original play readings, major musicals, dramas, comedies, and special events entertaining audiences on both our Rotary Main Stage and our Dart Black Box Studio Stage throughout the year..
As you can see, CCP/Riverwalk has grown by leaps and bounds, invested nearly two million dollars in our facility, with no mortgages to boot! Future expenses for a new roof and furnace and electrical upgrades continue to challenge us, but we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished over the years, and humbled by the generosity shown by our members and local business partners to achieve what we have achieved.
For the inquisitive minds, here is a list of shows CCP has performed since moving to Riverwalk in 1989 to today.
| show_achieve.pdf |
