Des Moines Community Playhouse Green Room Renovated to Honor Actress

The family of actress Susan M. Grozier led a $40,000 campaign to renovate the Des Moines Community Playhouse's Green Room in her honor. Nearly 200 individuals and corporations from throughout the United States contributed to the campaign, including Dan Aykroyd & Donna Dixon, Jim Belushi, Better Than Ezra Foundation, and Live Nation Worldwide. Grozier's family, project donors, and volunteers will be in attendance at a dedication of the new space, 5:00-7:00 PM, Thursday, Mar. 9.

The Green Room is the space in the theatre where actors gather prior to a performance and where they wait when not involved in a scene on stage. The Playhouse Green Room transformation includes:

• Four refurbished dressing rooms with new counters, sinks, and lighting, plus rods and shelves for costumes and wigs
• Two refurbished restrooms
• A refurbished make-up counter, mirrors, and lights and the addition of a second make-up counter, mirrors, and lights
• Two new flat screen televisions that allow actors to see and hear what is happening on stage
• Reupholstering of couches and chairs
• A new Call Board (a bulletin board with production information including check-in sheets and rehearsal schedules)

Susan M. Grozier was a graduate of Ankeny High School and the University of Iowa. After working in New York City, she and her husband, Mike, and daughters, Gina and Margot, settled in New Orleans. The family moved to Greater Des Moines following Hurricane Katrina. Grozier performed on The Playhouse stage in 2005-08, playing lead roles in Footloose, Cats, The Graduate, The Full Monty, and The Pajama Game. She passed away in July 2016.

"Susan's greatest joy was being on stage," said her husband, Mike Grozier. "Susan loved the theatre and all the people in it: actors, directors, designers, crew members, and musicians. Our family knew renovations to The Playhouse's Green Room would be the best way to honor her memory."

John Viars, Playhouse executive director, agreed. "Susan was a great talent. She lit up the dressing room with her boundless energy and humorous pranks. It is fitting to remember her with a new Green Room."

The Playhouse is Iowa's oldest and largest producing theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage.

For more information on the Des Moines Community Playhouse, contact the theatre at 515-277-6261.