A legion of fans set to rewrite Davenport Junior Theatre’s story

As Davenport plans a major Annie Wittenmyer campus transformation, the Davenport Junior Theatre program headquartered there faces the daunting task of finding a new home in a short time. Chief among the challenges for the program that serves more than 2,000 young thespians a year is that by December 2025 it will no longer have […]

As Davenport plans a major Annie Wittenmyer campus transformation, the Davenport Junior Theatre program headquartered there faces the daunting task of finding a new home in a short time. Chief among the challenges for the program that serves more than 2,000 young thespians a year is that by December 2025 it will no longer have available the cottages it uses, its scene shop and additional space on the campus. Those buildings are set for remodeling into senior and family housing. 

“For our Davenport Junior Theatre program the challenge is timing,” Daniel Sheridan, performing arts supervisor, Davenport Parks and Recreation – Junior Theatre, told the QCBJ last week. “Vacating the facility in the next year or two is a challenge for a program as vast as ours. It is going to take a city, department and community effort to make sure this program carries forward at full strength. Our hope is to find a new facility that allows us to continue our growth and serve kids. DJT has always been more than a facility.” Perhaps not surprisingly then, initial reaction to a move was swift and negative among supporters of the 72-year-old program that has served thousands and thousands of Quad Cities youth. City leaders were quick to reassure them that the $40 million redevelopment would not jeopardize the Davenport Parks and Recreation program. At its Jan. 24 meeting when the Davenport City Council voted to sell the land conditionally to AW Holdings LLC, Mayor Mike Matson and aldermen pledged that the city will work with program leaders to ensure its future. “I understand the Junior Theatre’s concerns, even share them as my granddaughters went through their program and are better for it,” the project manager, Chris Ales, told the QCBJ last month. “That said, the city has made it clear they will not abandon the junior theater, and we have provided as long a transitional use for them as we dare without jeopardizing our project,” he added.  “Change is usually hard, but I believe they can and will embrace this as an opportunity to improve their facility in the long term,” he predicted.

Theater supporters quickly proved him right. Nicole Savatski is a member of the group’s active and effective nonprofit board. She said leaders hosted a well-attended Jan. 27 meeting to explore the program’s future. “It was really nice to see that we have so many members of the community that are stakeholders in our organization and care enough about it to come on Saturday afternoon to spend a couple of hours helping us determine the future,” she said. The theater group also is conducting an online survey to gather more input. “I think the biggest thing I’m hoping that everyone is aware of is that our nonprofit is not in opposition to this decision,” Ms. Savatski said. “We want to work with the city and we want to be included in conversations that the elected (officials) and city staff have,” she added. “We are encouraged by the support from the council and the city about our organization. It’s such a short timeline because we’re so big there’s not a lot of time to find a new home, a place that provides as much.” The city is ready to help, said Bruce Berger, Davenport’s director of community & economic development. “It’s our program, we’re going to continue to fund it and we’re likely going to have to put more money into it facilities-wise.” Still relocating such a major operation won’t be easy. In addition to the historic remodeled theater, the group relies on the campus cottages it uses as classrooms to serve roughly 450 students each week. An additional large cottage holds 10,000-plus costumes. Another is filled floor to ceiling with props and an extra-large building holds years worth sets. In an ideal world, what is the junior theater seeking? “Speaking personally as a junior theater kid, as a board member, and as a parent, if there was a way that we could finagle our own space that would be amazing. But we’re open to investigating all possible options,” Ms. Savatski said. She added, however, “I understand that because of the timeline we will have to have some kind of temporary location and hopefully then a permanent location.”

Tapestry Farms backs change

Another campus tenant looking for a new home is Tapestry Farms, a nonprofit urban farm system that invests in refugees who live in the Quad Cities. Executive Director Ann McGlynn is eager for the property’s transformation. “We happen to think our building, a stone and brick cottage built as a preschool for the orphanage about 90 years ago, is one of the most beautiful on campus,” she said. “We also grow food on campus, and have our produce wash station and walk-in cooler there.” She added, “However, with all of that said, we 100% support the proposed project for the campus even though it means us moving.” The proposed development also aligns closely with Tapestry Farms’s mission. “Our organization spends a considerable amount of time and resources ensuring that the families we serve have access to safe, affordable, and livable housing that they can call home for the long-term. We see again and again how vital it is for children and adults to put down roots and grow their lives in one place,” Ms. McGlynn said. “This project will expand the opportunities for families and senior citizens to have access to affordable housing in a place that is ideal in many ways. It is close to good public schools, a grocery store, bus lines, recreation, and health care,” she added. “It’s a campus with green spaces and lovely architecture — every human deserves a peaceful and inviting place to live.” Ms. McGlynn also is well familiar with the people working to make the project happen. “The developer who is proposing the project has the experience and passion necessary to complete a significant transformation such as this,” Ms. McGlynn said. “With all of that said, we will be sad to leave our place on campus. But we will find another place to center our work, and this proposal is the absolute best case scenario for this campus and for our community."