Corning Opera House

February 2012
Drywall on Balcony & Auditorium; Windows trimmed out

January 2012
Drywall on stage & 2nd floor lobby; painting the dressing rooms; wiring for sound/lights; scaffolding taken down

December 2011
Stage Curtains being hand painted; drywall installed & mudded; fire suppression finished
Twas the Night Before Murder Dinner Theater

November 2011
Fire Sprinkler system installed; urn added to turret; Geothermal finished; flooring decisions being made

October 2011
Geothermal loops began; painting outside windows & turret; International Food Fest Fundraiser

September 2011
Hosted our annual Baked Potato Bar for Homecoming. Restoration of the roof began with tearing off the old & shingling & adding dormers. Work began on cleaning the tin ceiling.

August 2011
5 colors were chosen for the tin ceiling restoration. Flooring samples are being discussed. Dressing rooms under the stage were gutted and reframed. Work began on the hose tower, making an access from the opera house to the annex. The original stage curtain was unrolled with the idea of trying to recreate it.

July 2011
Framing of the dressing rooms continued in the annex. Gusset plates have been designed for the roof repairs. A FINISHES committee was formed to decide paint colors, carpet, etc.

June 2011
Signing of contracts, wiring continues, and scaffolding arrived.
Demolition of the annex walls was started.

May 2011
Installation of plumbing & electrical has begun. Plans are in the works for fire suppression, geothermal heating/cooling, and roof repairs. The board served a free will donation “Beer Breakfast” at the American Legion. Samplers of home brewed beer were available for sampling.

April 2011
Monday (11) SETTING THE STAGE, kick off event was held. Finger foods & punch were served while people arrived and mingled. Speakers for the evening were Board President, Capital Campaign Chairperson, and Project Manager.

March 2011
The board hosted a bake sale at the hospital that netted over $450.
The construction bid opening was held.

February 2011
Capital campaign is in its final days. The bid letting for the construction manager is out, with a deadline of March 3, 2011. Work is being done on capturing Federal & State Historic Tax Credit dollars.

January 2011
The chili cook-off had 8 teams prepare chili and raised over $500! A pampered chef fundraiser is through friends and facebook. The capital campaign team is working hard with industries, individuals, agriculturalists, alumni, etc. Only $254,000 remains to be captured this month!

December 2010
Opera House BALL served Rocky Mountain Oysters. For work, the Helifix screws have anchored the outer brick to the inside walls for stabilization.

November 2010
Soup sampler: 7 varieties of soup & 5 flavorful breads. Started our Capital Campaign.

October 2010
Public hearing & meeting to inform & approve easement on Central Park to use the park for geothermal heating & cooling

September 2010
Chamber of Commerce Coffee, baked potato bar, Opera-toberfest & gave tours. Meetings with the architect & city council about geothermal

August 2010
Governor Culver Announces $13 Million in I-JOBS Main Street Iowa Grants….Corning Opera House receives $1.5 million & plans to open February 2012! Estimated Project Cost: $3,946,000

July 2010
Served wine & cheese to the Icarian Descendants

June 2010 
International Flavor Fest Fundraiser

May 2010
Beer Breakfast Fundraiser

April  2010
Successful bake sale March 2010
Walls framed in

December 2009
Elevator installed