A Theatre is Reborn

Ushers Ferry - Let's see a show of hands. How many readers out there have seen a show by the Parlour Theatre Company at Ushers Ferry Historic Village? Hopefully, your hand went up, but I have to admit, mine cannot. We haven't been covering them because they've flown below our radar in the sense that they haven't been a "traditional" theatre company, but a part of a "venue for family friendly activities, events and programs that build community from the historical perspective of a small Iowa Town at the turn of the 20th century" (see website).

However, the fact is they have been doing theatre out there for the past ten years "very quietly" according to Darrin Crow, Education Coordinator. Their first show was Morbid Curiosities: An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe in 1999. Since then they have produced short story and poetry compilations on a number of themes. The idea behind the Company has been to help people experience popular literature and entertainment from the turn of the century.

About four or five years ago they began producing an annual melodrama using authentic settings and acting techniques. According to Crow, "They've been a lot of fun as they are so very silly and really involve the audience." Parlour Theatre became an even more important part of Ushers Ferry when 95% of their site was flooded in summer of 2008. They kept their programming going by taking shows on the road, such as Charlotte's Web at the Bever Park Zoo and The Count of Monte Cristo and Poe at Brucemore.

A few months ago Jim Stewart, a nationally known director and actor who has worked in Chicago, Philadelphia, and with the Houston Shakespeare Company, approached Crow with the desire to expand the company and its offerings. Stewart's leadership as Artistic Director lead to a new mission and a new name. The renamed Ushers Ferry Theatre Company's purpose is to explore community by producing American works from the "pre-televsion" era of 1850-1950, European works that were popular during the era, and modern works that are about or comment on the era. This kind of theatrical endeavor is unique in the Midwest as no other companies are focused on the presentation of historic theater.

This new company's season will explore this literature through both a "Mainstage Series" and its traditional "Parlour Theatre Series." The first Mainstage Series production will be Dangerous Women: Three Plays by Early American Women on January 8, 9, 15, and 16 at the historic Ambroz Recreation Center. These three one-act plays, Aria de Capo, Overtones, and the riveting mystery by Iowa native Susan Glaspell, Trifles, are each unique and were groundbreaking when they opened at the turn of the 20th century.

Other Mainstage Series performances include a family favorite, the Old Fashioned Melodrama, returning to the Mainstage at Ambroz in March. This hilarious show full of inspired silliness and bad jokes will run March 18-20 and 25-27. On May 13-15 and 20-22, the Ushers Ferry Theatre Company will inaugurate its Pulitzer Prize segment at Ambroz by presenting Why Marry?, the first play to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The first Mainstage Shakespeare Series production will open on September 9-11 and 16-18 with A Comedy of Errors outside at Ushers Ferry's Gazebo. The Mainstage Series closes in December with the heartwarming tale of love on the prairie, A Change in the Wind presented December 2-4 and 9-11.

Parlour Theatre Series shows include a valentine piece called Love Ballads: Tragic Songs, Poems, and Stories at Ushers Ferry on February 5, 6, 12, and 13; Jack Tales - Beyond the Beanstalk, a children's theater original presentation at the Ushers Ferry Gazebo June 3-5 and 10-12; and Old Fashioned Radio Theatre at the Ushers Ferry stage on August 12-14 and 19-21. On October 14-16 and 21-23, the Parlour Theatre Series will welcome back that very show, the audience favorite, Morbid Curiosities: An Evening With Edgar Alan Poe.

The Iowa Theatre Blog will be covering these shows, so be sure to check back for previews and reviews. It seems our culturally rich community has become a little richer. As Crow noted, Ushers Ferry Theatre Company "offers one more outlet to showcase the talented actors and actresses in the Corridor."

Tickets for Mainstage Series performances are $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 14 and under. Parlour Theatre Series shows are $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 14 and under. Season tickets for the Mainstage Series are $54 and Parlour Theatre Series season tickets are $29, a ten percent discount off the individual ticket price. Patrons purchasing both Mainstage Series and Parlour Theatre Series season tickets will receive an additional $5 off and will get nine great shows for only $78. Groups are welcome at Ushers Ferry Theatre Company shows. Groups of ten or more receive ten percent off their ticket order. To order season tickets or group tickets, call Ushers Ferry at 319-286-5763. To order individual tickets, call the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department at 319-286-5731.