Historic Coronado Theatre

RCCA’s world-class concerts are presented at the beautifully renovated Coronado Theatre in downtown Rockford. Known as Rockford’s Crown Jewel, the theater was built in 1927 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Map and Driving Directions

Key Renovation Dates

• 1995 Rockford Area Arts Council investigates possibility of renovating the theater into a state-of-the-art performance and entertainment center. The theater had ceased to be a movie theater, its original function, and had fallen into disrepair and underutilization.
• 1997 Kerasotes Corporation, owners of the theater, donates the theater to the City of Rockford. Friends of the Coronado formed.
• 1998 Friends of the Coronado launches a fundraising campaign to expand, renovate and restore “Rockford’s Wonder Theatre.”
• January 2001 The Coronado Theatre re-opens after an $18.5 million renovation made possible through a partnership between the Friends of the Coronado and the City of Rockford, and the support of more than 5,000 individuals and businesses.
• 2002 The theater wins the prestigious National Preservation Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the first of many awards.

The Coronado Theatre is operated by the Coronado Performing Arts Center (CPAC) and owned by the City of Rockford. In the fall of 2005, the City of Rockford created CPAC as part of a re-organization plan. The former operator, Centre Events, provides certain services during a transition period.

The Friends of the Coronado continue to serve as advocates for the historic theater. Its mission is to “Preserve and Promote the Coronado Theatre for All to Use & Share.”

Resident Companies

The resident companies of the Coronado Theatre are:

• Land of Lincoln Theatre Organ Society
• Rockford Coronado Concert Association
• Rockford Dance Company
• Rockford Symphony Orchestra
• Friends of the Coronado