Lampost Theatre raises the curtain on a summer theater season in Clear Lake

by Michelle Watson

 It has been awhile since Clear Lake has had a professional theater group in town. Think back to the days of Chautauqua and Cobblestone Players. Now, thanks to The Lampost Theater, those days are returning.
Lampost Theater, whose home location is Cedar Falls, Iowa, will be bringing its actors and productions to Clear Lake for the summer, under the direction of co-directors and writers of the productions, Jeff and Marsha Hanson.

 “We are so excited to be in Clear Lake,” said Jeff. “We see ourselves as partners with other art organizations in town and hope to fill an entertainment niche here.”
Lampost has partnered with Zion Lutheran Church to make this all happen. Zion will be providing the location, which is in The Hub building, 106 N. 5th St.
“We were looking for a summer location to expand our audience,” said Jeff. “Marsha and I had stopped in Clear Lake and were sitting on a park bench overlooking the lake and we knew Clear Lake would be ideal, but it just seemed like such a daunting undertaking.”
When the couple returned to Cedar Falls, they were telling their staff about Clear Lake. Dana (Loos) Klein, a staff member at the time and a Clear Lake native, suggested calling her home church, Zion Lutheran, because they had purchased a big building and may be interested in a partnership. Hanson contacted Pastor Dean Hess and everything clicked.
“The space was ideal and within a few months, the renovation had begun,” said Hanson. “With the help of men’s small groups and parishioners from Zion, the project moved quickly.”
Zion will use the renovated space in the off season as an alternative worship area or small group meeting area. The space will be able to be divided into smaller rooms and also offers a full coffee/smoothie bar. The theater needed a kitchen and coffee bar for its unique “Dessert Theater” atmosphere, where performances are complimented by coffee and delicious, gourmet desserts.
For the first production of the season, “Modern Anxieties” the Hansons brought six of their own actors and will use three community actors, Rachelle Moeller, Kate Christensen and Pastor Dean Hess.
“This has been a riot, a real kick in the pants,” said Christensen. “I didn’t know what to expect, but being a part of the play is way more fun than I ever imagined.”
The Hansons hope to use members of the community for future productions from everything from acting, to serving, to - Read More Via e-Edition