Historic Ironwood Theatre to reopen in June

IRONWOOD — The Historic Ironwood Theatre will soon emerge from 16 months of dormancy due to the coronavirus distancing guidelines that required a complete shutdown.

The HIT board and management announced Monday the theatre will reopen Friday, June 4, and continue where they left off with offering regular live dance, music and other entertainment.

“We are just so excited to reopen – and with a full program in June and July,” said Zona Wick, theatre board president.

When the state allows venues to seat at full capacity, HIT will be scheduling larger touring shows by regional and national performers. For now, she said HIT is abiding by state orders and health guidelines that permit theatres to open at 50% of capacity, to a maximum of 300 persons, so long as social distancing and other standard precautions are observed.

Seating will be managed for social distancing and face masks must be worn, she said. Admission will stop once the maximum allowable attendance is reached.

“We want you back, and we’d like you to be vaccinated,” said Wick, a former head of the Iron County Department of Health who encourages patrons to get vaccinated.

To help manage social distancing there will be no online ticket sales until further notice. Tickets must be purchased in-person or by phone at events or during regular box office hours from noon to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Bruce Greenhill, HIT operations manager said he is excited with the prospect of reopening and for the return of live shows that will again bring the community back into the building.

“We are so grateful to the community for their support while we were dark,” Greenhill said.

The past year of closing has not been unproductive, he said. The staff and volunteers improved the theatre’s ability to provide live-streamed events online. The weekly Ten Minute Tuesday virtual mini concerts have nearly 60,000 views since starting in May 2020, he said.

“We were thrilled to offer a way to stay connected to our audience during the pandemic, but there is nothing like sitting with friends in the auditorium of our beautiful theatre to share the experience and joy that is live performance,” Greenhill said.

In addition, the year has provided the opportunity to visit long-term maintenance work that just wasn’t possible with daily and weekly events going on. The performer dressing rooms and other sublevel areas have had some renovations and on Tuesday the marquee was repaired, repainted and fitted with 430 LED bulbs for brighter and more energy efficient lighting.

For the past several months the sign has just lit up the “wood” on one side and left “Iron” in the dark, he said.

The front of the building is now the focus of the next capital improvement project for HIT, Greenhill said. While the roof, furnace, sound system and performer restrooms were not the most visible projects to the public, the work going forward will be more noticeable, he said.

A full slate of performances are scheduled throughout June and July. The performances start on June 4-5 with the Season 9 Dance Showcase by Bethany Ann Hellen Studios; Ironwood Dance Company Dance Recital on June 11-12; Platinum Dance 2021 Recital on June 18-20; Garland City Chamber Players on June 27; Ten Minute Tuesday Live on July 10, and Tim Mesun’s Barton Organ benefit concert on July 31.

“It will be great to see our local young dancers back on stage as we know those kids can’t wait to perform,” Wick said. “I am also delighted to re-launch our Music in the Mezzanine chamber music series on the last Sunday of the month.”

The show could be called “Mezzanine Music on the Big Stage!” Wick said. The concerts will not be held in the more intimate space of the mezzanine lounge due to social distancing requirements, but will be performed on the main stage in the auditorium.

For more information visit ironwoodtheatre.net or call 906-932-0618.

—Tom LaVenture