CASEY PRINCE TO LEAVE THEATRE CEDAR RAPIDS (TCR)
Named by the Economic Alliance and Downtown SSMID Commission as the new Executive Director of Downtown District
CEDAR RAPIDS – Casey Prince, Executive Director of Theatre Cedar Rapids, has announced his resignation in order to accept the position of Downtown District Executive Director. The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and the Downtown Self-Supporting Municipal Improvement District (Downtown SSMID) Commission cooperatively made the hiring announcement today.
Prince, at the helm of TCR for the past 10 years, will continue with the theatre through the end of this month. During his tenure, TCR endured and returned from the flood of 2008, completed an $8 million renovation of the Iowa Theater building, seeded a $2 million endowment, and more than tripled annual attendance. “Theatre Cedar Rapids is one of the most successful community theatres in the country due in large part to the commitment and leadership of Casey,” said Todd Bergen, President of the TCR Board of Directors. “While the board is sad to see him leave we are grateful for all of his contributions to TCR and we are happy he will be staying in Cedar Rapids and bringing his drive and energy to the Downtown District.”
The Economic Alliance and Downtown SSMID will work closely with Theatre Cedar Rapids in the transition. “TCR is one of the best attractions in the region, and its success is so important to downtown,” said Doug Neumann with the Economic Alliance. “We want to make sure TCR remains the strong partner it has always been.”
In addition to his professional role leading Theatre Cedar Rapids for the past decade, Prince has served on the Economic Alliance’s Community Development Innovation Council and led a task force devoted to improvements along Third Street SE as downtown’s “Signature Street.” Prince also helped the City of Cedar Rapids secure its “All America City” designation in 2014. “I’ve had a passion for downtown for many years,” said Prince, “So the opportunity to be an even bigger part of the momentum of this great city was something I just couldn’t pass up.”
“My time with Theatre Cedar Rapids contains virtually all of the greatest highlights of my professional career to date. This has been more than a job. I have lived and breathed TCR and that love will extend far and long beyond my time as Executive Director. My excitement for the challenges that will mark the next chapter of my professional career are and will be tempered by the emotions of moving on from a place I hold so very dear to my heart. I have great confidence in the theatre’s staff and board and truly believe the future looks bright at TCR. “On with the show!”
For more info, contact Julie Coppock at 319-366-8591 or at julie.coppock@theatrecr.org.