When the current Marshalltown High School building opened at 1602 S. 2nd Ave. in 1965, it did not have an auditorium or theatre accompanying it. Thus, as is often the case, a group of motivated citizens banded together to change that, though what is now known as the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center did not officially open until 20 years later.

It was the Assistance League that first conducted a feasibility study to see if the community would share in the cost of constructing such an auditorium in 1982, and the following year, the Marshalltown Auditorium Foundation was formed to raise money toward that cause.

With an original cost of over $2.8 million ($62.53 per square foot), community pledges in the amount of 52 percent of that total were collected, and the Marshalltown High School/Community Auditorium was dedicated on Oct. 27, 1985. The design committee was comprised of John W. Norris, James H. Boyd, Suzanne Brown, Joan Culberson and Dennis Dunn along with ex-officio members Dr. Robert McCormack, Dr. Robert A. McFarland, Dr. Gerald Trullinger and Del Weber.

Additionally, the Marshalltown Auditorium Foundation Partnership Fund was led by directors William A. Lane (chairman), Thomas R. Thompson (vice chair), Culberson (secretary), Lois Bendixen, William J. Bestmann, Boyd, Greg M. Brown, Frances P. Hermanson, Dr. Carl O. Lester, McFarland, David U. Norris, John W. Norris and Rex Ryden, and the Partnership Fund Campaign Organization includes Honorary Chairs Richard W. Booth, Irma Cooper, J.W. Fisher and Martha-Ellen Tye along with Co-Chairs Brown, W.K. Ervin, William A. Lane, Lester and John W. Norris and campaign cabinet Dorothy B. Apgar, James R. Bagnell, Bendixen, Eleanor J. Chandler, Madelyn M. Irvine, Dr. Michael W. Hill, Thomas E. Mack, Dianne R. McComber, Michael A. McCoy, Marki E. McKibben, Loras J. Neuroth, Richard A. Rathke, Sanford Schlesinger, Virgil J. Schmidt and Thomas R. Smith.

Now known as the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center after a rebranding in 2022, it will celebrate its 40th anniversary next month. The Auditorium Board is still active in maintaining the facility’s “world class” appeal, as all additions and improvements within the auditorium house are shared between the foundation and the Marshalltown Community School District (MCSD) — conversely, those outside of the house are 100 percent funded by the foundation.

Funds for such improvements are typically raised through an annual fundraising campaign of about $16,000 per year, and recent projects include the replacement of the stage floor, lobby and auditorium runway carpeting, the public art piece Scherzo in collaboration with the Arts + Culture Alliance, acoustical panels, an audio monitor, automated lobby restroom doors and a new projector.

The Performing Arts Center is now utilized for a wide variety of events such as youth dance recitals, regional show choir, state jazz band, district orchestra, Live On Stage, guest public speakers, school plays, concerts, assemblies, scholarship awards and, last November, an Iowa Supreme Court oral argument. All in all, the center brings in between 25,000 and 30,000 people every year, and it has hosted more than 1,100 community events and over 2,900 school events throughout its 40-year history as well as community rehearsals, drama and music department rehearsals, class and student group meetings. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it served as a classroom for several MCSD music ensembles.

“The Marshalltown Performing Arts Center is a well-utilized asset in this community,” MHS Vocal Music Director Amy Ose said.

Currently, Jose Ramirez serves as the auditorium manager, and Daniel Abens is the auditorium assistant. The Performing Arts Center includes 36,555 square feet of total space and 1,247 seats. The current Auditorium Board Foundation is comprised of Chairman Gary Schaudt, Vice Chair Bonnie Lowry, Secretary Deb Borton, Treasurer Larry Pfantz, Hector Campos, Margaret Gervich, Abigail Hillers, Valerie King, Kyley Leger, Betsy Macke, Ose, Paul Seberger, Bob Stahlin, Brent Thiessen and ex-officio members, MCSD Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, School Board President Sean Heitmann, Director of Communications Abby Koch and Ramirez.

A 40th anniversary celebration is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. featuring The Brothers Doobie, a tribute to the popular 1970s rock n’ roll band, with $25 advance tickets available at Lowe’s Flowers, Tannin and Hellberg Jewelers. Tickets will be $30 at the door with all general seating.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.