WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — It has all the curb appeal of a warehouse but to the Tallgrass Theatre Company it was love at first sight.

“It was magnificent,” says Jessie Phillips, of the large, gray building on Grand Avenue, “just because it was a big old open space.”

It’s been four years now since the old Skateland West went from empty to full of something West Des Moines was lacking.

“We are a community theater,” says Bob Baskerville, who serves on Tallgrass’ board of directors, “and we value both of those terms equally as much.”

“People would be welcome to come in and audition or volunteer even if they said ‘I’ve never done this before, I just want to try it,’” says Phillips, who co-founded Tallgrass with her good friend James Stephenson back in 2002.

Run by volunteers and serving all ages, it’s a place where some get started and others double back around for a rush they haven’t felt in decades.

“We do it because when they walk out they’re smiling,” says Baskerville, “and they’ve changed for the better.”

And it’s a place to learn that the stage is only one side of the theater. Those who work behind it have their space as well.

“For a lot of people,” Phillips says, “it’s a nice to be able to get off work, eat some food really fast and then come over to the theater where it’s your theater family and you get to be creative and accepted.”

Tallgrass celebrates its 20th season with E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web” this weekend — a production by the company’s “Seedlings” program for children.

The hope is they’ll find a new home here, too.

“We’re doing really well, here,” Baskerville smiles, ”yeah the space works really well for us.”

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