ICCT presents concert of Sound of Music to raise funds

Iowa City — The hills are alive with The Iowa City Community Theatre (ICCT) as they announce a benefit performance of Rogers & Hammerstein’s classic musical The Sound of Music at the Englert Theatre. On Friday, August 12th at 7:30pm an exclusive opening night red carpet event will give a limited number of guests the chance to support ICCT. Additional shows will be at 2pm and 7:30pm on Saturday, August 13th.

This fundraiser is a staged reading, in which the songs from The Sound of Music will be sung choral-style, with connecting dialogue in between. The unique format was chosen because it maximizes the amount of the ticket proceeds and donations that will go directly toward preserving Iowa City’s historic theater group.

Just as Julie Andrews performed for audiences 45 years ago on-screen and made a historic mark, ICCT intends to do the same. However, like many non-profit organizations in these difficult economic times, ICCT is in the process of combating a financial crisis, even as its members eagerly look forward to producing its 56th season. The board of directors has initiated an ambitious campaign to overcome ICCT’s troubled finances and launch it into the 2011-12 season, including this August’s Sound of Music.

Holding the event at the Englert Theatre also celebrates the long-standing relationship between ICCT and that historic venue. Many of ICCT’s great productions over the last half-century have been performed at the Englert, including Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, and The King and I.

Tickets are available through the Englert Box Office at (319) 688-2653 ext. 1, or their website, www.englert.org.