Go Ice Fishing tonight!

Riverside - It’s back and colder than ever! Guys on Ice: An Ice Fishing Musical Comedy returns to Riverside Theatre, tonight through February 22. This delightful story about two ice fishing buddies from Wisconsin, with book and lyrics by Fred Alley and music by James Kaplan, is directed by Riverside Theatre Artistic Director Jody Hovland.

Set in an ice shanty in Northern Wisconsin, Lloyd and Marvin keep warm with a mutual appreciation for good bait, cold beer and the Green Bay Packers. As Marvin anxiously awaits his opportunity to appear on a cable TV fishing show, both pals scramble to protect their cold ones from fellow angler, Ernie the Moocher. They pass the time by swapping jokes and talking about their lives – and sometimes breaking into song and dance.

John Watkins and Ron Clark, playing Lloyd and Marvin respectively, were last seen together at Riverside Theatre during Clark’s Coffee and Hope. Their musical talents fit well with the upbeat musical numbers in Guys on Ice like “Ode to a Snowmobile Suit” and “Fish is de Miracle Food”. Kris Hartsgrove rounds out the cast as pain-in-the-neck Ernie the Moocher.

According to Jody Hovland, “Guys on Ice is just pure joy to direct. Ice fishermen singing and dancing? That’s great silly fun. But it’s also a play with real heart, finding plenty of truth in the simplicity of spending a day doing nothing but waiting for the fish to bite.”

Guys on Ice also features scenic design by Tony Zabka, lighting design by Brandin VerSteegh and Steven Hunt, and choreography by Erika Christiansen. Ernie the Moocher’s popular “Half-Time Show” will features audience quiz prizes from Fin and Feather.

In conjunction with Guys on Ice, Riverside Theatre is encouraging community members to bring in a new set of gloves/mittens, a hat or scarf (youth or adult sizes) to the box office. All donations will benefit Shelter House. As a thank you, all donors will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win a pair of tickets to a future Gilbert Street production. Donations will be accepted through February 22.

Tickets for Guys on Ice, January 23 – February 22, are $26 with discounts available for seniors and youth. Tickets are available by phone at (319) 338-7672, online here or in person at the Riverside Theatre box office, located at 213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City, IA.