Warren Cultural Center ‘excited but cautious’ as events ramp up after a tough year because of pandemic

GREENFIELD — Save for one event in September that featured a Teddy Roosevelt impersonator, two concerts this weekend featuring Elvis Presley impersonator Joseph Hall will be the first concerts that have happened at the Warren Cultural Center since before the pandemic began.

Hall, who got his start on America’s Got Talent in 2008, will his Elvis Rock ‘n Remember Show to Greenfield 7:30 p.m. Saturday and again 2 p.m. Sunday.

Nancy Queck, a WCC board member, said leaders of the venue, which originally opened in 1896 and was extensively refurbished ending in 2012, are excited but cautious about this weekend’s shows. They feel they’ll give a look into how future events at the venue might be able to go.

Though Governor Kim Reynolds has relaxed some social distancing and masking restrictions, the WCC board feels they should still enforce her “strong suggestion” to keep taking such precautions, and are requiring masks and social distancing in the auditorium.

“I’m more curious than anything to see how our audience is and what the attendance is like,” Queck said. “Are people not ready to come out yet or are they chomping at the bit to find something to do? We just don’t know.”

The past year has been a tough one for many sectors, including the entertainment industry. Examples of these include independent venues such as the WCC or movie theaters and bowling alleys.

The Department of Cultural Affairs rolled out funding that the WCC was able to take advantage of twice, $4,500 early on in the pandemic and another $27,000 they received in December, however Queck describes capacity as only about 10% in the last year, leaving a big hit in revenue for the WCC.

“Our big expenses didn’t stop because we were closed and $27,000 doesn’t go very far, but we are grateful for what we got,” Queck said.

Queck said she hopes people continue to realize how important the Warren Cultural Center is to the community. She hopes that people will remember the venue when they plan meetings, receptions, conferences, weddings and more.

“We can accommodate all sorts of meetings, conferences, and all kinds of things,” Queck said. “People can check back on our website to see which events are happening or which ones are not. When people are comfortable and want to get out and about, don’t forget we’re the place to be.”

The Warren Cultural Center may be reached by email at director@warrenculturalcenter.com or by leaving a voicemail at 641-343-7337.