In 1971, Thomas P. Johnson and nine theatre colleagues realized a dream and formed a professional theatre company.
Recognizing that a vast majority of Iowans were living in rural communities, with little opportunity to experience the arts, they set out to create a tradition of live professional theatre among the people of Iowa and the Midwest. With this as their mission, they found a vacant building that had once served the community of Garrison, Iowa as a co-op dairy. Thus was created The Old Creamery Theatre Company.
For over 20 years, The Creamery's main performance venue was the Garrison facility. In 1988, in an effort to attract a larger audience base, The Company began performing in the Amana Colonies during the summer months. Over the next nine years, the seasons in Amana grew in length. The Company performed its last repertory season in Garrison in 1996 and is now based in Amana.
Since founding, The Company is dedicated to performing high-quality live professional theatre for audiences of all ages and interests and offers a wide variety of plays each season. The company constantly strives to represent the experimental and repertory presentation of both approved and untried dramatic works.
Within the reality of continuing change, the dream has lived on and inspired a very unique and successful professional theatre company.
The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit company. Today, The Creamery is dedicated to those same founding goals in Amana and on its tour to schools and communities throughout Iowa.
Help Us Keep the Dream Alive...
A CHRONOLOGY
Significant events in the history of The Old Creamery Theatre Company.
1970 - An article appeared in the Des Moines Register describing the growing arts community in Garrison, Iowa, and the hope of the artists that there would soon be a live theatre there.
1971 - The founding members moved to Garrison to start The Old Creamery as a non-profit arts organization. The company’s very first show, SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY, was presented at the Garrison Brick and Tile Works, and the first production was offered on tour to citizens of Iowa.
1972 - The Company’s first performing space was opened in a abandoned creamery building with a production of TWO FRENCH FARCES. Renovation of the building went on for the next 23 years. Martha-Ellen Tye of Marshalltown provided funds to purchase a touring bus. This was the first of a series of significant annual contributions that helped to sustain The Company through its entire history.
1973 - The Company opened its first season on the Clinton Showboat, where The Company performed for a total of 6 seasons.
1975 - The annual operating budget surpassed the $100,000 mark.
1976 - The company performed to over 200 communities in Iowa and the Midwest with a grant from the Iowa Bicentennial Commission. Meg Merckens joined the company
1977 - The Company’s first season was first offered at Dubuque’s Five Flags Theatre.
1979 - The Company opened its first studio theatre, then located at the former Garrison Elementary School building.
1980 - The Company received The Governor's Distinguished Service Award for service to the state of Iowa and a $70,000 two-year grant from The Joyce Foundation of Chicago.
1981 - The Company holds its 10th birthday party.
1983 - The Company, dependent on the farm economy, was adversely effected by the "farm crisis" in Iowa.
1985 - The Company narrowly avoided bankruptcy and began a recovery from a debt of over $300,000.
1986 - The Company received an $85,000 Advancement Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for artistic excellence.
1988 - At the invitation of The Amana Society, The Company opened its first season at the welcome center in Amana. The first season was underwritten by The Society and by many Amana Merchants who were members of The Amana Colonies Convention and Visitors Bureau.
1991 - The Company holds its 20th birthday party.
1992 - First "Cowchip Jamboree" performed in Garrison Courtyard. Sean McCall joined the company.
1996 - The company celebrated its 25th anniversary. The Garrison performance space closed.
1998 - The Company celebrated its 10th year in Amana.
2000 - The Company performed its 30th Anniversary children's tour, GRAB 'EM BY THE TALE! throughout the state of Iowa. The Company’s recovery from the financial crisis of 1985 was finally complete.
2001 - The Company holds its 30th birthday party.
2002 - Studio stage opens at old Amana train depot
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