Hawkeye Community Theatre has been bringing live entertainment to the Fort Dodge stage since 1957. They have 8 shows each year, including a dessert and dinner theatre.
I've had the opportunity to cover Hawkeye for the local entertainment magazine for a number of years. The one thing I hear before every show is, "This isn't a greenhorn cast." Young or old, the actors and actresses of Hawkeye have experience being on stage. They also form amazing friendships throughout the practices which add to the plays while they perform.
I've sat in on some hilarious, heart-pounding, depressing, maddening, and ridiculous scenes ... and that's just during practice. Casts are serious artists and work together on everything from remembering lines and developing accents to building sets and running the lights.
The current spot for Hawkeye Theatre has come a long way. One time a Church of Scientology, the building's owners lost funding and put the eyesore up for sale. Hawkeye transformed it into a beautiful brick establishment with original stained glass windows. The effect isn't lost on the inside either, where dark wooden pews await an eager audience. (Thankfully the board invested in rich red velvet cushions!)
The one downfall is price of the season pass. Shows are generally $8 or $10 a piece, $20 to $25 for the dinner theatre. Many Fort Dodge arts groups give members free entrance to performances. Not so for Hawkeye. With each level of membership you get more tickets for more shows, but investor beware. Make sure you check out the differences between membership levels before making a final decision.
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