To the best of my knowledge, after the Orpheum was razed a Kress department store was built on the site. In 1985 the Kress building was renamed the “New American Theater” (NAT) and was converted to a 280 seat main-stage thrust theater on the main level and a 100 seat black-box theater in the basement. The building also housed a scene shop, costume shop and storage, administrative offices and rehearsal halls. NAT closed it’s doors in December 2006. The building was purchased by a local businessman who donated a majority of the contents of the building to Rock Valley College’s Drama Department. The building is currently owned by the Rockford Public Library and is rented to area theater groups needing performance space.
To the best of my knowledge, after the Orpheum was razed a Kress department store was built on the site. In 1985 the Kress building was renamed the “New American Theater” (NAT) and was converted to a 280 seat main-stage thrust theater on the main level and a 100 seat black-box theater in the basement. The building also housed a scene shop, costume shop and storage, administrative offices and rehearsal halls. NAT closed it’s doors in December 2006. The building was purchased by a local businessman who donated a majority of the contents of the building to Rock Valley College’s Drama Department. The building is currently owned by the Rockford Public Library and is rented to area theater groups needing performance space.