Burlington's Capitol Theater is preparing to launch a $2.5 million fundraising campaign that seeks to make southeast Iowa a performing arts destination that will give rise to the next generations of thespians, musicians, singers, comedians and podcasters. 

Money raised through the Dream Behind the Curtain campaign will go toward educational programming, renovations to the building's second floor, equipment, a listening lounge and other upgrades. 

"We're taking the 'theater' off the Capitol and it's going to be the Capitol Performing Arts Center, where we would like to offer performing arts education to not just our community, but the surrounding area," Capitol Theater Director Tammy McCoy told the Burlington City Council on Monday before asking the city to contribute $75,000 to the effort. "Our campaign currently is called the Dream Behind the Curtain because we are really focusing on encouraging creativity and encouraging being able to pursue those careers that are in the performing arts."

The request was well-received by most council members and will be up for a decision during their next meeting. 

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The council could distribute that money over five years, as McCoy initially suggested, potentially taking the place of the $5,000 contribution the theater now gets from the city. Or the city could contribute through a one-time payment from Burlington's American Rescue Plan Act funds while maintaining the city's existing annual contribution, as was suggested by councilman Matt Rinker.

"I really love the education piece," Rinker said. "I look back at other projects we've supported, with the RecPlex bubble being one where we gave kind of a large contribution to help get that project over (the finish line). I would definitely say that project's been a major success. The city's been supportive of the art center, which Tammy used to run, and I look at the education that facility provides today, not just to young people, but to people of all ages. If we can replicate that on the Capitol Theater side, I think that's money well-spent."

Councilman Robert Critser also expressed enthusiasm for the contribution, sharing that his daughters enjoyed programs at both the Art Center of Burlington and the Capitol Theater this summer. Mayor Jon Billups and mayor pro-tem Lynda Murray also spoke favorably of the plans.

"People win with theater," Murray said. "When that curtain goes up, everybody wins, so I'm in."

Councilman Bill Maupin said he was still on the fence. 

Zach James, president of the Capitol Theater Board, said the city's contribution could be used as a match for a community attraction and tourism grant the Capitol will apply for in January and that other grants have been and will be pursued. 

McCoy said the campaign has a three-pronged focus consisting of entertainment, social connection and education. 

Entertainment and social connection have been the primary targets of the Capitol's offerings since it reopened in 2012 after sitting dormant for 35 years, but it wasn't until more recently that education was added to the mix.

The Capitol recently partnered with Southeastern Community College to give SCC's performing arts students a place to practice, perform and collaborate.

"We have college students who are working with us as well, and the fun thing about that is they will be utilizing the theater once we get it renovated for their classes. But it will go full circle because some of those students will be using some of the classes they're offering, but then they will turn around and once they have their degree, they'll come back and be some of our instructors. So I feel like it's a good thing to be adding to our community," McCoy said.

Other proposed programming for SCC includes music club and formal performance groups, but McCoy said money raised through the campaign will allow programming for people of all ages. 

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"With this campaign, I'm looking to really broaden the impact of the Capitol Theater in Burlington and the surrounding area and really draw in young people as young as 2 and 3 years old because we really want to start doing kindermusic. We want to do a school of rock," McCoy said. 

Other youth programming McCoy hopes to provide includes age-appropriate summer camps and weekly classes through eighth grade, Theatrical Teens, music programs, youth clubs and weekly workshops for youths with special needs.

Billups was particularly excited about the youth clubs.

"I'm thankful that you're offering something for the teens, because we need to give them something to do," he said.

There also will be plenty for adults to do, with business workshops, an art deco listening lounge complete with an 1800s bar, and a speakeasy and comedy club. 

"This will be a cocktail lounge, so we're looking for a full liquor license so we can have a place where people can come for entertainment, they can connect socially," McCoy said. "I'm also planning on offering some type of performing arts classes for an hour-and-a-half for kids to be able to attend upstairs so that it's a place for kids to go learn on Friday and Saturday nights as well while the parents maybe want to go out to dinner or do something."

McCoy noted that entertainment won't go by the wayside. 

The Capitol Theater, recently inducted into the Iowa Music Association's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will be working to showcase more local talent. 

Nick Geinosky with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, a consultant for the Capitol Theater, said modest estimates put the expected economic impact of the improvements to the facility at $500,000 per year. 

He also said the theater could see an about 40% increase in attendance and participation within five years of the work being completed, and that this number is expected to grow over time and as more programs become available. 

"It's really hard to estimate how many people it's going to impact," McCoy said. "I'm already talking with several different groups and seeing what kind of resources we have out there as far as instructors go, and once we see what kind of things they can offer, then we'll know what kinds of classes we're going to offer. But we're going to offer as much as we possibly can."

Of the $2.5 million the campaign seeks to raise, $1.5 million will go toward second-floor renovations and facade restoration. 

That work will include a 122-seat adaptable black box theater, recording studios for students, musicians and podcasters, a moveable stage and chairs for the second-floor annex, a working elevator, soundproof practice space for students and lessons, study space for local students and educators, classroom space for SCC, and rental space for events.

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Another $350,000 will go toward improving the catering kitchen for camps, concessions and rentals; improved lighting and insulation; and updated sound equipment for the main theater and listening lounge. 

The remaining $650,000 will go toward the theater's financial sustainability, with $350,00 being used to pay off the remaining building loans, and the rest used to increase cash flow for hiring staff, more programming and future facility upgrades, as well as ensuring affordable access of programming to the community.

Michaele Niehaus covers business, development, environment and agriculture for The Hawk Eye. She can be reached at mniehaus@thehawkeye.com.