Audition for MVLCT's summer show this weekend

Lisbon - Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Theatre announces their summer production of You Can't Take It With You by George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart. Auditions will be Sunday, June 5 & Monday, June 6 at 7pm at Lisbon Library's Heritage Hall. The show will run July 21, 22 & 23 in the Lisbon gym/auditorium. There are large & small roles for all ages and abilities.

Click here for details on the cast list and the plot summary. MVLCT's website is here.

Cast for Guys and Dolls chosen

Cedar Rapids - Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, Guys and Dolls soars with the spirit of Broadway as it introduces us to a cast of vivid characters: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight “mission doll”; Sky Masterson, the slick, high‑rolling gambler who woos her on a bet and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, the chronically ill nightclub performer who’s been engaged to the same man for 14 years; and Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiancé, desperate as always to find a spot for a game. The final show of Theatre Cedar Rapids' 2010-11 season opens July 8.

Cast (in alphabetical order):

Heather Akers – Miss Adelaide
Jennifer Anderson – Hot Box Girls
Angela Billman – Hot Box Girls
Matt Brandt – Mission Band
Stephen Brandt – Benny
Cameron Byrd – Crapshooters
Aaron Canterbury – Crapshooters
Brian Cohen – Guys
Barney Conroy – Guys
Trevor Debth – Sky Masterson
Pat Deignan – Guys
Lesa Dencklau – Hot Box Girls
Emma Drtina – Mission Band
Kaleb Forseen – Mission Band
Nick George – Harry the Horse
Lovar Davis Kidd – Crapshooters
Justin Mangrich – Guys
Stephanie Shaffer Martinez – Gen. Cartwright
Nicole Matejka – Hot Box Girls
Emily Nelson – Mission Band
Nathan Nelson – Lt. Brannigan
Zach Parker – Nicely Nicely
Jeff Parry – Guys
Madelyn Pilcher – Hot Box Girls
Sam Pritchard – Guys
Katy Richter – Hot Box Girls
Mary Rinderspacher – Sarah Brown
Matt Russell – Crapshooters
John Ryal – Big Jule
Conor Schulz – Crapshooters
Courtney Smith – Hot Box Girls
Nikki Stewart – Hot Box Girls
Jonathan Swenson – Nathan Detroit
Billy Vogl – Crapshooters
Gene Whiteman – Arvide

G.I. Jukebox opens June 2

Amana – The Red, White & Blue takes center stage as The Old Creamery Theatre presents G.I. Jukebox, a musical tribute to our troops, past and present. The show opens on the Main Stage Thursday, June 2 at 3 p.m.

Come and enjoy an evening or afternoon of entertainment done delightfully in WW II USO tour style with songs from the 1940s like “Moonlight Serenade,” “In The Mood,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and of course “God Bless America.”

Written and arranged by Rick Lewis, G.I. Jukebox is directed by Tom Milligan of East Amana and features Sean McCall of Marengo, T.J. Besler of Manchester, Deborah Kennedy of East Amana and Kamille Zbanek of Ely.

G. I. Jukebox runs through July 3 and is rated Theatre G. Tickets are $27 for adults and $17.50 for students. Show times are Wednesday, Thursdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Call the box office at 800-35-AMANA or visit the website at www.oldcreamery.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

In conjunction with the show, a letter writing station will be set up in the lobby of the theatre. Everything needed will be available for patrons to write a note expressing appreciation to our troops. The letter writing station is also open to the general public during our regular business hours. Letters and cards collected will be sent to members of the Iowa National Guard 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry “ Red Bull” Division, serving since August of 2010 in Afghanistan. They are part of the largest deployment of Iowa National Guard since World War II and are scheduled to return home in late summer.

“Our audience will see a wonderfully patriotic production and they can then send a letter to a service man or woman,” Milligan said. “It’ s a real win-win that will brighten everyone’s day.”

Cast chosen for Dreamwell's Soldier's Daughter

Iowa City - Dreamwell's final 'War and Consequences' show has been cast. Soldier's Daughter, written by members of the Black Doggers playwriting group, will be presented at Country Camp, a farm a short ways outside of Iowa City in July. The play will be performed promenade-style, moving from location-to-location around the delightful spaces on the farm. Dreamwell founder Matthew Falduto directs.

Cast:

DAD – Brian Tanner
TIGERLILY – Makayla Phillips
3 BIRDS – Thalia Heinrich, Grace Heller, Lizzie Carrell
GOATSINGER – Mike Moran
ARIA – Lindsay Eaves
CORAL – Nika Tipsword
EROS – Brad Quinn
PYSCHE – Elizabeth Breed
MOOSE 1 – Mark Nidey
MOOSE 2 – James Anderson
SARAH – Jessica Murillo
HOPE – Mary Vander Weg
COUSIN – Chad Keitel
GYPSY– Ellen Stevenson
GRANDPA – Mark Nidey
TIGER – John Crosheck
BOY – Jakob McLaughlin
2 PIRATES – Brad Quinn, Chad Keitel
3 SAILORS – Mark Nidey, James Anderson, Nika Tipsword
MOTHER – Lindsay Eaves

Combined Efforts Needs Actors/Singers/Musicians

Iowa City - Combined Efforts Theatre is looking for actors, singers and musicians for their summer show. Following in the tradition of last years' successful show, Love at the County Fair, Combined Efforts will present Mystery at the County Fair August 4-6. We had high praise for last year's show, so may want to consider checking this out if you're looking for a unique theatre experience.

Rehearsals begin June 20 and will have flexible scheduling for busy actors. If you're interested, contact Janet Schlapkohl at 319-321-7926.

Dreamwell seeks directors

Iowa City - Dreamwell Theatre is seeking directors for two of its 2011-12 season shows: Sans Merci by Johnna Adams and Bent by Martin Sherman. The artistic committee will meet with potential directors on June 20 and June 25. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss your vision for the show. Interested directors should sign up for a slot through the Dreamwell website.

Dreamwell’s shows tend to focus more on character than setting. Directors should come prepared to explain how they will bring out these stories without relying on large sets or special effects and the like. Sans Merci is tentatively scheduled for February 10-18, 2012 and Bent is tentatively scheduled for June 1-9, 2012. The exact dates may change, but they should be in that general time period. Definite dates will be determined as soon as we can arrange that with the space. The shows are tentatively scheduled to be performed at the Unitarian space at 10 S. Gilbert.

Sans Merci is about a conservative woman who reaches out to the lover of her daughter, Tracy, who died in a vicious attack. The meeting between these two very strong and different woman is intense, as they dance through their mutual grief. Each learns more about Tracy, and about her violent death. Sans Merci is about the effect one person’s definition of self can have on another human being, and what we can teach each other.

Bent is the story of a man faced with the decision to live in his truth, even if it means sacrificing his own life. Max is a gay man in Nazi Germany who is sent to a concentration camp, where he finds a companion and lover, Horst. Horst demonstrates the dignity of a man who embraces who he is, even at the risk of his life. Through his example, Max must the strength to embrace his identity no matter the consequences.

Rage Seeks Plays for Combat Show

Iowa City - Local action theatre company Rage Theatrics is now accepting submissions for their next showcase of action theatre scenes. Playwrights and directors are invited to submit scripts and/or scene proposals by July 15, 2011 for consideration. Scenes should be no longer than 20 minutes in length, and feature stage combat/action. Submissions should be emailed (preferred) to jkbeadle@gmail.com or mailed to Submissions, 1310 Yewell Street, Iowa City, IA 52240.

Directors who are interested in this production but who do not have a proposal may request to be paired with an existing project. This is an excellent opportunity for directors to work closely with experienced fight choreographers. Contact Producer Josh Beadle at 319-621-0024 or jkbeadle@gmail.com for more information.

This production will be similar in format to past Rage Theatrics shows - including Love and Rage in 2007 and Hero Stories in 2008 - featuring scenes coordinated by several directors from throughout the Iowa City/Coralville area. The show will be presented October, 2011.

SCENE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

1. Proposals should be submitted by July 15 and include the proposed script, or a detailed proposal of an action-based theatrical piece.

2. Scenes should last no more than twenty minutes in performance.

3. Scenes should contain elements of ACTION THEATRE. (This can be defined as fighting or violence, chase scenes, stunt work, slapstick, or any combination of similar elements.)

4. Proposed projects should be original OR fall within the public domain.

5. Preference will be given to projects with few or minimal technical requirements (set pieces, props, costumes, lighting, etc.)

6. Submissions should be appropriate for a show taking place near Halloween. Themes may include horror, suspense, monsters, etc. Both humorous and dramatic submissions are welcome.

Although submissions that diverge from these guidelines will be considered, preference will be given to projects that meet these requirements.

Rage Theatrics will provide a fight choreographer and training for approved projects.

Selections will be announced in early August. Auditions will take place later that month. Rehearsals will take place throughout September and October.

TCR accepting submissions for Underground Festival

Cedar Rapids - This year, TCR will be hosting its first annual New Play Festival in November. Playwrights may submit plays of any length — 10-minute, one act, full length, epic — for consideration, but they must be previously unproduced and unpublished. The deadline for submission is June 30 at 5 pm.

The festival will be held in Theatre Cedar Rapids’ Grandon Studio, their new 80-seat black box theatre. They're looking for scripts for staged readings and minimally produced productions. While no ‘winner’ will be selected, some scripts may be considered for further development after the festival closes.

Additionally, they will need directors for each script selected. The deadline for directors to submit an application is June 30 at 5 pm. Playwrights may choose their own director, but her or his name must be included with the play submission. Otherwise, a director from the pool of applicants will be assigned to each selected play.

As a part of the play festival, TCR wants to encourage young writers and will be including a youth playwrighting segment, for which playwrights in grades 6 through 12 can submit ten-minute plays. Young playwrights may submit longer plays but they will be considered with the rest of the festival submissions, regardless of age.

Selected plays and their directors will be announced on August 13 at Ovations.

Questions about the festival may be submitted to erica at theatrecr.org. The applications are located here.

Wooing Wed Widinghood Auditions for Grades K-6

Iowa City - The Young Footliters will hold auditions for Wooing Wed Widinghood on Saturday, May 21st from 10 to 11:30 and Sunday, May 22nd from 2 to 3:30 at the Robert A. Lee Rec Center (located at the corner of Gilbert and Burlington Streets.) The auditions will be held in Meeting room A.

This show, aimed at Kindergarten through 6th graders, will be performed at the Riverside Shakespeare Theatre in Lower City Park in Iowa City. Show dates are July 29th through July 31st.

A Merry May at ITAC

Amana - Even as Iowa Theatre Artists Company wraps up their production of Sister Robert Anne's Cabaret Class this weekend, they have two more productions in the pipe for the month of May.

Remain True is a "memory play of communal Amana" that invites theatergoers to experience some fascinating local history onstage. Adapted by Thomas P. Johnson, Meg Merckens, and the ITAC Acting Ensemble, it features Meg Merckens, Marshall Neilsen, Eddie Skaggs and Kaitlyn Davids. It takes its name from the word "Amana" itself which means "remain true." The show runs May 18th - July 2nd, 1:30 on Wednesdays, 1:30 and 5:30 on Thursdays, and 1:30 on Saturdays. Tickets are $10; there is also a special package that combines the show with a historical tour; call the Amana Heritage Society Museum at 319.622.3567 for information.

On Memorial Day weekend, ITAC welcomes the touring company Dairy-Aire Theatrics to the ITAC stage to perform Heroes, a Tom Stoppard translation of a Gerald Sibleyras play about three aging WWI veterans. Heroes will be performed May 27-29, Friday at 1:30 and 7:30, Saturday at 7:30, and Sunday at 1:30. Tickets are $20 ($10 for students).

For more information on any of these shows, call 319.622.322 or visit ITAC's website.

Your Kids will Love Narnia

by Matthew Falduto

Cedar Rapids - Well, my kids loved it.

Friday night, my wife and I took our three daughters, ages 10, 7 and nearly 4 to see Theatre Cedar Rapids' production of the C.S. Lewis classic novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Quick synopsis: four children, two brothers and two sisters, travel through a magic wardrobe into the land of Narnia. There Peter, Susan, Edmund and little Lucy discover they are part of a prophecy that may end the terrible Narnian winter and the reign of the White Witch. They race to find Aslan, the great lion who leads all of the good creatures against the Witch. It's a story of magic, of sacrifice, and most importantly a story of good versus evil.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a book that has had a profound impact on generations of children worldwide. I read the book when I was in 5th grade and it was one that set me on a path of imagination and creativity that sustains me to this day. So perhaps no stage version of this story could ever live up to the memories of such a book. And that's probably okay. Because, hey, my kids loved it.

Rachel, my oldest, quickly noted the cool set that appeared to have a trap door, multiple levels, and pieces of scenery attached to the fly system. As the show progressed, we saw the impressive set in action, as parts of it revolved and the iconic lamppost, which was very cleverly updated for modern times with a geometric design, was lowered and raised to tell us when we were in Narnia and when we were in our world.

One of the best parts of the production was the way in which director Jason Alberty incorporated dance into the show. He cast five girls to portray wood nymphs who danced prettily during the scene changes, adding to the magic feel of the show. Samantha and Piper, my two younger daughters, absolutely loved the dancing nymphs. There is also an extended dance toward the end of the show involving the White Stag. All of the dances were very well choreographed by Carol Maxwell Rezabek.

A few of the performers really stood out. The character of Lucy, played by fifth grader Gracie Shulte, really captured the stage every time we were fortunate enough to see her. She was particularly good in the most heart wrenching scene of the show when Susan (Autumn Arnold) and Lucy react to the death of Aslan. This scene was staged very well. As a parent, I appreciated that the murder of Aslan took place out of view of the audience. And through the excellent acting of Schulte and Arnold, we felt the full impact of his death without having to see Aslan's body.

Speaking of the lion, Nicholas Lane Walters is excellent in this crucial role, making it clear "he is not a tame lion." Walters glides onto stage with the mesmerizing mix of confidence, power and benevolence necessary for that character. Aslan's opposite number, the White Witch, is ably played by Marty Norton. She is simply delightfully evil.

I must mention the costume design by Joni Sackett. Behind me I heard a fellow patron opine that the White Witch's costume seemed a little "Lady Gaga"; I enjoyed the cold starkness of the ensemble. Aslan's costume was just perfectly designed to create the lion without losing the actor. I enjoyed Fenris Ulf's military costume, though my daughters had no idea he was supposed to be a wolf. All of the costumes, from the Beavers to the Fox to the Leopard, were wonderfully creative and added much to the magic of the evening.

There are a few elements that I felt didn't work well. First, the land of Narnia is supposed to be winter all of the time. The set did not portray that well at all. As the story progresses, the snow melts and the green of spring appears. None of that was evident in this story aside from one throwaway line about how the children left their winter coats behind and never noticed.

There were also moments of humor that, while much enjoyed by the audience, seemed to undermine the evilness of the White Witch. Some of the humor worked really well (who saw the Zac Efron reference coming?) and Director Alberty certainly knows how to extract the humor from any moment of a show. However, the White Witch scenes were moments to pull back the humorous reins and allow the utter evil of the witch shine through.

Lastly, in the final battle, I think the actors needed stronger direction or more practice for this scene. (I am fairly certain I saw the White Witch hand Edmund her magic staff.) The battle could have been staged so we knew what action we were supposed to be following at any particular time. There are important moments during the fight, but we never knew what we were supposed to be focused on and consequently could not follow the drama of the battle. No one is credited with fight choreography in the program; the next time they produce a show with stage combat I hope TCR doesn't overlook this very important design element.

Still, do not let those criticisms dissuade you from experiencing this show. While I admit to enjoying the book a whole lot more, this production is a wonderful magical romp through a land of good and evil, and of course, good triumphs in the end. Your kids will love it. Mine certainly did.

Your journey to Narnia begins tonight...

Cedar Rapids - Jason Alberty says the Chronicles of Narnia books are about one thing in particular: The unbounded human imagination.

So he hopes the audience is ready to unleash that imagination when they see The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe come to life onstage at Theatre Cedar Rapids.

“I want this show to be magical,” says the director, who’s helming the massive production that performs May 13-28.

The movie versions of The Narnia books have been a box-office force in recent years, with the third installment, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, earning more than $400 million at the box office. Computer-generated animals like the ones in the movies are something the stage can’t do.

Some directors might think that’s a limitation. But Alberty feels exactly the opposite. By taking away the special effects, he says, TCR’s production can focus more on imagination.

“Joni Sackett has designed some wonderful costumes for this show,” Alberty says. “When we were in pre-production I wanted to make sure that we weren’t simply going to put animal costumes on stage, and she had beat me to that idea. She’s created these great human clothes that hint at their animal characters. That, along with our actors’ attention to animal-like movement, will make it easy for the audience’s imagination to fill in the rest.”

If you aren’t familiar with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, here’s the story in a nutshell: Four children wander through the door of an old wardrobe, and discover a world of magic and talking animals on the other side. They discover new friends like Tumnus the Faun and Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, but quickly find themselves in the middle of a war between Aslan the noble lion, and the evil White Witch.

Fans of the books may notice a change in TCR’s version, however. Alberty has chosen to update the story and remove all British references from the script (the original books took place in WWII-era London).

“We’ve set the ‘real’ world in America, today’s America,” Alberty says. “No phony British accents, no British cultural allusions. It’s all updated.

“I want this show to be as accessible to our kids as possible,” Alberty continues. “I want each boy and girl in the audience to be able to imagine themselves as Lucy and Susan or Edmund and Peter. I think bringing the setting home will help with that. I don’t think losing the War diminishes anything from this telling of the story.”

Theatre Cedar Rapids will stage the show with as much visual splendor as possible, thanks in part to Derek Easton’s lighting design and a set created by Richie Akers.

“Richie Akers has designed a really fun set, riffing on my Americanization of the story,” Alberty says. “The set is an abstract nod to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. I think it should be a lot of fun to act on.”

While this is a family show, the creative team is quick to point out that there are scary moments.

“Remember, in this show, the books, the movie, there is death,” Alberty says. "There are really scary characters doing horrible things to each other. That is what makes the redemption, the good side winning in the end, so powerful.

“We have a dance in the show that is, quite frankly, kind of scary,” Alberty adds. “But it needs to be. The world is scary. But we need to know that we can conquer those scary things. So, use your parental judgment.”

In the end, Alberty hopes that more people — young and old alike — discover the magc of the stage by giving The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe a try.

“Broadway has been working really hard to blur the lines between stage and screen lately, but I think that’s a mistake,” he says. “Actors performances change because each audience is different. That makes stage much more alive and interesting to me. ... I want people to leave this show forgetting the movie.”

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe will be performed May 13-28. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, as well as a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday, May 22. Tickets are $20 or $25 ($15 for students), with $12 rush tickets available at the door. For tickets or more information, call 366-8591 or visit www.theatrecr.org.

Guys and Dolls Auditions May 15-16

Cedar Rapids – Theatre Cedar Rapids will hold auditions for its summer musical Guys and Dolls Sunday and Monday, May 15 and 16, at 7 p.m. each night.

Auditions will be held in TCR’s home in the Iowa Theater, 102 Third St. SE. Auditioners will be asked to sing, dance and read from the script. Casey Prince is directing the show, with music direction by Damon Cole and choreography by Michael Harrington.

Performing July 8-30, Guys and Dolls is a classic Broadway musical about gamblers and the women who love them. Performers ages 16 and over are encouraged to audition for the wide variety of roles. Though “Guys and Dolls” is a musical, there are many opportunities for unique character actors regardless of singing and dance ability. Dancers with tap experience are preferred for the Hot Box Girls.

For specific information on available roles or general audition requirements, call (319) 366-8591 or visit www.theatrecr.org. Scripts are available for three-day checkout on a first-come, first-serve basis from the Theatre Cedar Rapids box office, 102 Third St. SE.

Performers who’d like the chance to ask questions and brush up on their dance skills can attend a special workshop with the choreographer of Guys and Dolls, Michael Harrington, at 3 p.m. for women and 4:30 p.m. for men. Attendance is free, but by reservation only and is limited to the first 20 for each workshop. To reserve a space, email Erica Hoye at Erica@theatrecr.org.

Auditions for Soldier's Daughter May 22-23

Iowa City - Dreamwell's auditions for the final show of their War and Consequences season, Soldier's Daughter, will be May 22 and 23. Dreamwell founder Matt Falduto will direct. Performances will take place July 15-23 at Country Camp, a farm located a little ways outside of Iowa City.

AUDITION WHEN and WHERE:

Sunday, May 22, 1 p.m. Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A
Monday, May 23, 6:30 p.m. Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room D

ABOUT THE SHOW:

13-year old Tigerlily is waiting for her Dad to return from the latest of many deployments to Afghanistan. She's eagerly awaiting his homecoming, which will hopefully be for good this time. Asleep on the porch of her farmhouse, she is awakened by her dream come true - her father is there in front of her. He wants to take her on a 'story walk' of their farm, an old tradition that they'd done many times in the past. At each location on their farm, her dad tells her a different story. But something is different this time and as the walk progresses, Tigerlily realizes her future may never be the same.

STUFF TO NOTE:

This show was written collaboratively by Falduto and other members of the Black Doggers playwrighting group of Eastern Iowa, including Barbara Lau, Mike Moran, Brian Tanner, James Trainor and Amy White. It will be performed outdoors, promenade style, as the audience will move to different locations on the farm as the show progresses. There are roles for actors who can play a ten year old girl, a thirteen year old girl, and older teens as well as roles for actors who can play characters in their 60 or 70s. If you can't make the audition times, contact the director at falduto@dreamwell.com and he will see if they can work out another time.

HOW TO PREPARE:

Sides will be provided. No preparation necessary. Beginning May 10, copies of the play will be on reserve at the Iowa City Public Library or you can download a .pdf from the Dreamwell website.

AVAILABLE ROLES:

DAD – 30s or 40s, a soldier
TIGERLILY – 13 years old
3 BIRDS
ARIA – young woman
CORAL – young woman
EROS – God of Love
PYSCHE – Bride of Eros
MOOSE 1 – older
MOOSE 2 – younger
SARAH – 18 to early 20s
HOPE – a fairy, played by a girl who looks to be about 10 years old
COUSIN – teenager
GYPSY– grandmother age
GRANDPA
TIGER - played by a male actor at least 35, could be older
BOY – late teens
2 PIRATES
6 SAILORS
MOTHER – 30s or 40s

Contact falduto@dreamwell.com with questions.

Shakespeare Cabaret for Mother's Day!

Iowa City – Mother’s Day Weekend, Iowa City’s Riverside Theatre will be filled with Shakespeare inspired songs as Riverside Theatre presents Shakespeare Cabaret.

Shakespeare Cabaret is a performance of live music inspired by the Bard himself, featuring recognizable songs from a range of popular musicals and movies---from The Lion King to Kiss Me Kate.

Featuring performances by Kristen Behrendt DeGrazia, Ron Clark, Patrick DuLaney, Carrie Houchins-Witt, Colin Niles, Jane Pini, David Rust, and John Watkins.

Proceeds from the event benefit Riverside Theatre’s Janet G. Altman Music Fund, which was established in 2008 to enhance collaborations in music and sound at Riverside Theatre, including music for Gilbert Street shows and composers for the Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival. The fund celebrates the memory of Janet Altman, a longtime Riverside friend.

Performances are Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 8 at 2 p.m. at Riverside Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert St, Iowa City.

Tickets are $30 for adults; $25 for seniors/students, $15 for youth.

To order tickets, call the Riverside Theatre Box Office at 319-338-7672, noon-4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Tour the CCPA

Coralville - The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts will be opening soon and if you'd like to get a sneak peek, you'll want to be at the Coralville Public Library on May 12.

You can find out more about the amenities and opportunities the CCPA will offer artists, businesses, and other organizations, and get a look at the ongoing construction progress.

Tours begin at the Coralville Library’s Schwab Auditorium, located on the library’s lower level. Please be sure to wear closed-toe shoes!

• Find out more about facility rental
• Get information about volunteer opportunities
• Sign up to receive updates on CCPA news and performance schedule

For more information, contact Megan Flanagan at 319.248.1868 or mflanagan@ci.coralville.ia.us

Take an old friend to see The Old Creamery’s very funny “The Dixie Swim Club”

By Joe Jennison

Amana - I have my 30th high school reunion coming up this summer.

And quite by chance, I sat next to one of my very dear high school friends last Friday at The Old Creamery Theatre Company’s production of The Dixie Swim Club. Arriving at the theater late, I sat right down and didn’t look up until intermission. When I finally looked up after a wonderful and funny Act One…

“Mary?”

“Joe?”

The years fell away and we were giggling and laughing and reminiscing together as only old, old friends could do. We both realized during this performance how very important these relationships are, and we seemed to make that observation right along with the five characters that make up The Dixie Swim Club’s fictional Pemberton College champion swim team.

Written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, The Dixie Swim Club traces five members of a former champion female swim team as they age from 44 to 77 over the course of four very quick scenes. At play’s open, the ladies are well past their college prime and have been meeting regularly at the same rented beach cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for 22 years.

Their annual getaway has only three rules: No business, no men and no children. That leaves plenty of time for martinis, skinny dipping, catching up and plenty of heart-to-hearts.

Sheree (Krista Neumann) is the organized team captain who regularly sets up the annual weekend getaway. Lexie (Gwendolyn Schwinke) is a lovable but self-centered woman who works hard to stay young and thin and perpetually remarried. Jeri Neal (Kristy Hartsgrove) is a naïve and cloistered nun, who starts the play with a very funny and poignant reveal. Vernadette (Marquetta Senters) is a wise-cracking, upfront wife and mother, who is described early on as someone who has had a “black cloud following her since the day she was born.” And Dinah (Licia Watson) is the successful hard-working lawyer, an over-achiever who still manages to never disappoint her four dearest friends.

When these five characters come together for their annual reunion at their leased beach house, the martinis and the Southern one-liners begin to flow, and the Old Creamery audiences are the ultimate winners. Four scenes and some four decades of joy and drama later, all of us are reminded of how important those long-standing relationships have become in their life and ours.

Senters’ Vernadette is a beautiful piece of stage work, goofy and touching, as she goes from funny to sad, and from healthy to ill. A monologue in Act Two, when she is about 54, is well delivered as she confronts her health-conscious friend about the importance of Southern fried chicken and biscuits: “As long as there is music in Memphis, peanuts in Georgia, there will be Chicken and biscuits on my table!”

Schwinke’s Lexie takes over nearly every scene with her “it’s all about me” attitude (insert Southern accent here): “Just because I am vain and frivolous, does not mean I am shallow.” And Neumann’s Sheree very confidently plays that person that every group needs to stay together, an organized leader, who quietly insists on structure and schedules. As Jeri Neal, Hartsgrove has created a gentle soul, a nun in transition, who gets to make the biggest changes and growth throughout the evening. Watson’s Dinah is a career woman and a heavy drinker, a woman who sensitively watches over the rest as she mixes drinks and rattles off funny one-liners. “I got a martini shaker and I’m not afraid to use it,” she says in Act One.

Director Sean McCall has created a wonderful, fast-paced ensemble piece. He seems very adept at keeping the action and one-liners moving quickly. The beach house set designed by Tom Milligan is large and open and backed by a large scrim that seems to gently blow in the fictional breeze and allows for lightning and storms and bright summer North Carolina days. On this set, it is easy to imagine the beach just beyond the footlights, and, it seems very possible that, as the characters drawl from the front stage, the “afternoon sun is sparkling off the Atlantic ocean.”

Costumes are attributed to Deborah Kennedy, and the colors and styles reflect the eras and tastes of the various characters: muted oranges and turquoises and peaches – and yes, one clown suit, add to the soft feel of this comfortable beach house retreat.

I would be so curious to be backstage and watch as the hair and makeup and wigs are so quickly pulled together. Hair colors and styles and cosmetic surgeries seem to effortlessly change from scene to scene, as the women go from 44 to 49 to 54 to 77. Unfortunately, a hair or makeup credit is not listed in the program, but whoever is responsible can quietly smile as they read this. Good job.

I imagine that others with dear old friends will experience the same sense of comfort that I did from this story that follows these five diverse women through several life changes. The Dixie Swim Club is a wonderful reminder that no one is alone who has even one old friend who has known them since the days of their youth.

Mary and I can’t wait for our summer reunion.

Joe Jennison is a freelance writer and playwright living in Mount Vernon. Comments should be directed to joejennison@hotmail.com

Old Creamery Adds Charlotte's Web performance

Amana – To accommodate its growing fan base, The Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences will add a performance of Charlotte’s Web on Saturday, May 14 at 1 p.m. The show was originally scheduled to end May 7.

A true favorite for so many, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White was dramatized for the stage by Joseph Robinette and is directed by Sean McCall of Marengo. The cast consists of Laura Ambrose of Coon Rapids, Minn.; T.J. Besler of Manchester; Nicholas Hodge of South Amana; Jackie McCall of Marengo; Amber Snyder of Memphis, Tenn.; Ian Zahren of South Amana; and Kamille Zbanek of Ely, IA.

McCall said he doesn’t want to turn anyone away who would like to see the show. “There are many things to consider when we think about adding a performance,” he said. “But our audience has spoken loudly with two sold out show, one on opening day. They want to see this show and that is why we are providing them with another opportunity to do that.”

Seats are still available for May 7 and May 14 but going fast. Tickets are $8 per person and all seating is reserved.

Call the box office at 800-35-AMANA or visit the website at www.oldcreamery.com for information or to purchase your tickets.

Music lovers will love Cabaret Class

by Meghan D'Souza

Amana - Molly Hammer hit the nail on the head again.

As the star in the one-woman musical Sister Robert Anne's Cabaret Class, she carried the show beautifully. Anyone who had the treat of seeing her as Patsy Cline in Always, Patsy Cline will know this is an actress who can carry a whole show.

Sister Robert Anne approaches the audience as attendees of a class on how to put on a cabaret. Director Meg Merkens does help the show roll on as the whimsical principal Mrs. Doyle who hands out Catholic-related prizes to audience participants; these are gifts anyone who grew up attending Catholic school can especially appreciate. As Hammer explains the concepts of a set, pacing, and set-up for jokes, she does wonderfully with those very techniques. The stage is set as what Sister Robert Anne explains is a multipurpose room for the school. It is a classroom, gym, and stage, she says, explaining why there is a teacher's desk, basketball hoop, and a backdrop covered in windows for the middle school's performance of "Windows to Heaven."

Music lovers will truly enjoy this show. Hammer's beautiful voice is perfect for the role as she sings a wide variety of songs, from rock to religious to country. Accompanying Hammer on the keyboard is musical director Ian Zahren, camouflaged as a monk taking his vow of silence. Although he is generally to blend in with the background, he stays in character during the entire show. How one stays in character as a silent monk is difficult to explain until you actually witness this.

As stated, Hammer is given the task of encouraging audience participation. This involves improvisation on her part, along with handling the unexpected. While the audience can be shy about responding or joining her on stage, she knows how to roll with the punches while remaining in character, a feat I find impressive. The audience was also pleased with the results by the show's end.

The pacing, comedic timing, and Hammer's talented vocals keeps the musical moving fast. My date and I were surprised to see that an hour and a half had flown by when it felt like we had just gotten to the Iowa Theatre Artists Company. As the saying goes, "Time flies when you're having fun," and we should have known a pairing like director Merkens with Hammer would make time fly.

Acting opportunity

Cedar Rapids - We received word that ACT is writing writing script for an ACT Online training program. They expect to do video tryouts around mid-May in Cedar Rapids. They are looking for female actors, 18 to 26 year old, who have taken either the ACT or SAT for college entrance. Please email chuck717@mchsi.com for more information.

Drowsy is a Can't Miss Show

by Andrew Juhl

Iowa City - This review is going to be short and sweet: go see The Drowsy Chaperone. Go online, and get your tickets now if you can; don’t trust that there will be seats available if you just show up, because once word gets out about how good this show is, there very well might not be.

No, I’m not even going to bother with a summary of the premise. You don’t know what it’s about? You don’t need to. It’s funny, and it’s well done by ICCT. If you really care so much, look it up elsewhere, but I can guarantee you right here and now that if you like theatre, musicals, comedy, dancing, singing, laughing OR getting a good deal for your money, then you will like this show. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Of all local community theatre productions I’ve been to in the last few years, this production ranks as one my absolute favorites.

Literally everyone in the cast, from the major players to the ensemble, does a fantastic job. Actors CJ Jones and Adam Kopfman deserve resounding applause for their song “Cold Feets,” of which I wish not to discuss further for fear of ruining the surprise for first-timers. And a tip-of-the-hat to Rob Keech (“Adolpho”) is also warranted. Keech is an absolute scene-stealer, and the one character in the show where every audience member will perk up in their seats with delight the second he rejoins the stage.

I absolutely have to single out Dustin Sorrell, however, who does an amazing job as the narrator/main character of the show. Mr. Sorrell’s timing and delivery were impeccable, and if you’re anything like me, by the end of the show you’ll want nothing less than to take his swishy fop-top awesomeness home with you for leftovers in the morning.

This production also contains the single best lighting design and sound effects I have seen in any ICCT production I have ever attended. The set is also impressively designed—one of the most complex and sophisticated I have witnessed in a community theatre production. There will be times where you’ll see someone make an entrance and marvel at the ingenuity of the design.

The one low point of opening night was the numerous mic problems experienced by the cast and crew. The hot mics, feedback, and cut-off voices really took me out of the show. I have faith that ICCT and the cast and crew will be spending some extra time for the coming shows working on this singular problem with the production.

Director and Music Director Ben Bentler should be proud. Choreographer Jill Beardsley should be, as well. They have done a wonderful, stunning job with this show. I can only assume it was a labor of love, and that hard work definitely shows.

The Drowsy Chaperone runs through the 8th, with Thursday, Friday and Saturday night shows at 7:30, Sunday matinees at 2:00. Do yourself, your community theatre volunteers, and your diaphragm a good turn: go and see it.