Coralville - City Circle Acting Company of Coralville is proud to announce that the smash hit musical Hairspray will be the first full production performed at the new Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.
Hairspray is a musical-comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Based on the cult classic John Waters film, with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, the musical celebrates community, friendship and tolerance. Hairspray celebrates the music of the sixties, from pop dance hits to rhythm and blues, and rocks with energetic choreography. This story of one pleasantly plump girl’s quest for success will leave audiences cheering.
Prior to Hairspray and the official opening of the new theatre, City Circle will begin their fourteenth season with two summertime productions.
In keeping with their educational mission, the Company will produce a youth musical version of West Side Story in June. City Circle’s recent summer youth musicals have included Rent and Godspell and have provided opportunities for area junior and senior high students to perform in fully produced, high-quality musicals.
The Coralville community will then be treated to a “sneak peek” of the new venue when the Company presents a concert version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in August. This special presentation will feature a local star in the title role and provide an opportunity for area actors and singers to be the first to perform in the exciting new venue.
Monday, January 31, 2011
City Circles announces 1st show in new space
Fine performances dominate Crimes of the Heart
by Brad Quinn
Cedar Rapids - A few notes to begin this review. I was in a production of Crimes of the Heart when ICCT did the show several years ago, playing the role of Doc. In fact I believe if you look far enough back in this blog, you’ll find an article about it (though oddly enough, not a review of that show). I had a great experience with that show, and I will try not to let it color my review.
Also, this was the first time I had visited TCR since they moved back into their old home. What I found was a state of the art theater facility that kind of made me turn green with envy. If some our local Iowa City theaters had half the resources that TCR enjoys, we would consider ourselves truly blessed. So I will also try not to let my jealousy of their fantastic home color my review.
As with most productions, the first thing you see when you walk in the theater is the set. And without a doubt, this was a very well done set. The entire play is contained within this one set, a kitchen in an old house. This is a fine choice by the author, because this play is about family and their relationship to each other more than anything else. The kitchen always seems to be the heart of a family, the place where people tend to gather and talk. This kitchen was done in such a way that it really suggested the kind of old family home you would imagine you’d find in a small southern town. Glass cupboards, knickknacks, vinyl floor tiling, and a sink that actually worked! You could really imagine what the rest of the house looked like; it'd be the same sort of home your grandparents lived in when you where a kid.
I did think the set was actually a bit too large. This is not an action packed play, and there was too much area for the actors to use. I thought a slightly smaller set would have given the play a more intimate feeling. And I am not quite sure about the choice of having a small flight of stairs down from the “back door” which presumably led out onto a porch…I’ve never seen a house with a sunken kitchen before. It seemed strange, but otherwise the set was ideal for the show.
The play itself is two days in the life of the Magrath sisters, three 20-something women who are each dealing with some major life issues. As the play opens we meet Lenny, the oldest sister and the glue which holds the family together, played by Angie Toomsen. She is having a birthday, and she is by herself. The director chose to use some opening music for this scene which I found a bit unnecessary. Rather than let the audience slowly clue in to the fact that Lenny is lonely and sad and having a birthday, the lyrics sort of hammer that home to you right away.
Ms. Toomsen delivers a strong performance as Lenny, possibly the best out of the ensemble, although that would be hard to say for sure as the entire cast was very good. TCR veteran Sarah Jarmon played the middle sister Meg and even though she was actually quite ill that night, still managed to inject Meg with the right amount of energy and vivaciousness. The youngest sister, Babe, was played by Katy Slaven, the only one of three which I had not had the pleasure of seeing perform before. Babe is a tough role, because she has to be able to maintain a sort of youthful innocence and keep the audience’s sympathy even while revealing the dirtiest of laundry. Ms. Slaven does an admirable job at this, easily allowing the audience to believe that Babe was the beautiful, beloved, and sheltered baby of the family.
The rest of the cast is rounded out by three secondary characters: Barnette Lloyd, played by Justin Braden, Chick Boyle, played by Clare Duffy, and Doc Porter played by Alex Williams. Barnette is Babe’s lawyer and potential suitor. Mr. Braden was very enjoyable to watch, he has an infectious smile and made Barnette a very likeable character. I did, however, not really feel the chemistry that should have been there between him and Babe. Mr. Williams did a great job as Doc, Meg’s old lover, who has a small part but can be very challenging not to portray as a caricature. Ms. Duffy was wonderful as Chick, the cousin of the three sisters. Chick is sort of an antagonist figure in the play, and it would be easy to go overboard with that, but her performance made Chick seem like a real person.
Still, the play is really about the three sisters and their relationships with each other which, no matter how strained they get, are always held together by love. As I said before, this is not an action packed show. It mainly unfolds through simple conversation. In fact, especially at the beginning of the show, it can drag a bit. Which is not to say there are not some pretty comedic moments; however it sometimes seemed like they left some potential laughs on the table. I’m not sure if it was a choice not to accentuate the comedy in the script, but I did get the idea that maybe the actors hadn’t really considered the fact that the audience would be laughing at some points. At the very beginning of the show there is a scene where Chick struggles to put on a very small pair of pantyhose which is very silly and funny and had the audience laughing out loud. Unfortunately, rather than hold for the laughter, the actors kept talking and I heard many people complain about the fact they missed a lot of dialogue because of it.
Projection was occasionally an issue for some actors. I sat in the back of the house and had no trouble hearing, but I could see how some people, especially older people, might have had a hard time understanding the dialogue. I also thought that some of the staging could have been better. A lot of time was spent by the actors facing each other, rather than the audience. It was often very difficult to see their faces, especially since Ms. Slaven’s hair was practically a curtain which hid the side of her face when she wasn’t facing outwards. Ms. Jarmon also had an issue with her hair, with long bangs that hid and shadowed her eyes, losing some of her expression.
This was further exasperated by the lighting, which tended to be a bit too dim. There were a few areas, especially on the right side of the stage, which had some dark zones. When the actors stood there, it was very difficult to see their expressions.
Other than those issues, though, this was a very solid production. I don’t think anybody left the theater disappointed. As always, the main success of a show relies on the performances of the actors, and these were fine performances indeed. If you are in the mood for some plain old-fashioned character driven theater, then you’d be advised to check out Crimes of the Heart.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Stuff Happens auditions Sunday and Tuesday
Iowa City - Dreamwell Theatre announces auditions for David Hare’s Stuff Happens, a political (recent) history play exploring the often notorious events and decisions that led to the war in Iraq. Ryan Foizey directs. Performances will be April 8, 9, 15, 16 in Iowa City. Rehearsals will generally be during the weeknights.
Auditions will be held at the Iowa City Public Library:
Sunday, January 30, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m
Tuesday, February 1, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
No preparation is necessary. Sides will be provided. Scripts are on reserve at the ICPL.
Roles include:
Laura Bush, Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, and many more. George W. Bush will be played by Justin Braden. Eastern Iowa broadcast personality Scott Sandborn is tentatively slated to play Donald Rumsfeld, but auditionees are still welcome to read for the role.
Actors need not resemble the real political figures represented in this show. Our job is to tell a story through portrayal, not imitation. Most actors will be cast in double or multiple roles. Both men and women are encouraged to audition for major roles.
Note: This script calls for several ethnicities/races/nationalities. Thus, people of all ethnicities are encouraged to audition, as there are parts for you. Having said that, if a part is labeled as a specific race or ethnicity and you do not fit it, that does not mean you are not eligible for the part. This is a completely open minded show free of typecasting.
Contact ryan.foizey@yahoo.com with questions or to arrange an alternate audition time.
Crimes of the Heart opens Friday
Cedar Rapids - Theatre Cedar Rapids takes us to Hazlehurst, Mississippi, this weekend where the three Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital. One sister is unmarried at thirty and facing diminishing marital prospects; another is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast; while the youngest sister is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. Its characters escape the past to seize the future in a story that’s both touching and consistently hilarious. Beth Henley's Crimes of the Heart, the 1981 Pulitzer Prize winner, opens on Friday.
The cast of the show will be familiar to local theatregoers. 
Katy Slaven, who plays Babe, recently appeared in TCR's production of Six Characters in Search of an Author. Sarah Jarmon (Meg) and Angie Toomsen (Lenny) both appeared in the joint Dreamwell/ICCT production of 9 Parts of Desire last summer. Justin Braden, Alex Williams and Clare Duffy round out the cast.
For a video preview go here. To reserve tickets, go here.
Monday, January 24, 2011
All My Sons Opens January 28th
Iowa City - Arthur Miller's All My Sons opens on Gilbert Street this Friday. The play tells the story of the Keller clan, which is haunted by the events of World War II. The patriarch, Joe, has to face up the consequences of his factory's actions. His wife Kate is still deep in denial about their missing son, Larry, which is only intensified by the fact that their first son, Chris, wants to marry Larry's fiancée. This results in an uncovering of truths that could shatter lives held together by illusions. “The action unfolds because of choices people made in the past—the dark consequences of which are just becoming apparent,” says director Mark Hunter. “Those are the ingredients of very potent drama."
The production will feature Ron Clark as Joe, Jody Hovland as Kate, Scot West as Chris, and Christina Panfilo as Ann. Kristy Hartsgrove, Martin Andrews, Tim Budd, Kehry Anson Lane and Heather Michele Lawler will also feature. Scenic design is by Paul Sannerud, lighting design is by Courtney Schmitz Watson, costume design is by Jenny Nutting Kelchen, and sound design is by Mark Hunter.
All My Sons runs January 28th through February 20th; curtain is at 7:30pm (2pm on Sundays) Tickets range from $12-$26 with a $12 student rush 20 minutes before the performance. Tickets may be ordered through the Riverside Theatre Box Office at 213 N. Gilbert St., (319) 338-7672. More info at www.riversidetheatre.org.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Auditions for New Play Fest Five Friday-Saturday
Coralville - City Circle Acting Company of Coralville will hold auditions for their original production, New Play Festival Five.
Auditions will be held Friday and Saturday, January 28 and 29 at 7pm at the Iowa Children’s Museum in the Coral Ridge Mall, 1451 Coral Ridge Avenue. Callbacks will be held February 4th.
New Play Festival Five is coordinated by Joshua Beadle, with individual scenes produced by a number of area directors. The pieces in the Festival were selected from over 50 submissions and represent local and national playwriting talent. These six short scenes range from drama to comedy and from the sublime to the absurd.
Actors who are unable to attend are encouraged to contact the director by emailing joshua@citycircle.org. Rehearsals will begin in January, 2011. Performances of New Play Festival Five will be held at the Iowa Children’s Museum Theatre, Coral Ridge Mall, March 4-6.
Performers of all ages, races, and physical types are encouraged to audition. Directors are also seeking two older actors (50s to 60s) and two younger actors (early teens). No preparation is necessary – actors will be asked to do cold readings from provided scripts. Information on specific scenes is available at www.citycircle.org. Copies of scenes are available by request at the same email.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Eulenspiegel's Chat 'N' Chew show on Saturday
West Liberty - Immigrant Stew at the Chat 'N' Chew, written by Iowa’s Poet Laureate, Mary Swander, will be presented by Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre and Friends on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2:00 and 4:00 P.M. at the New Strand Theatre, 111 E. 3rd, in West Liberty. Tickets are $5.00.
Immigrant Stew at the Chat 'N' Chew is a timely, humorous, touching performance dealing with universal issues brought on by generations of immigration into the rural Midwest. Cathy Schmidt-McGillicutty, the proprietress of the local cafe, the Chat ‘N’ Chew, is upset because her daughter wants to marry a member of a Mexican immigrant family. She confronts her prejudice as she looks into her own family history. She shows the audience a diverse group of ancestors starting with a Native American great grandmother and including characters any of us can relate to. Mary Swander’s script will make you laugh out loud as you think about serious issues. As is typical of an Eulenspiegel production, this performance is true family entertainment, delighting adults as well as children.
The show will be performed by the Eulenspiegel puppeteers together with a group of local and area children and adults, including the Mayor of West Liberty. It will feature large rod puppets, masked characters, a life size dancing doll, and numerous Saxon-style flat painted puppets performing on a set designed by Peggy Fitzgerald.
The final scene of the show, the Immigrant Stew Polka, written and performed by Ron Hillis, will be danced by twelve students from Nicole Rock’s School of Dance, wearing costumes designed by Susan Short Gilbert and created by local seamstresses. Enjoy live music, including the talented Dave Moore, before and during the show!
Immigrant Stew was was initially created with the help of a grant from the National Endowment For The Arts. The current remounting of the show is supported by generous grants from the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine.
For further information, or to reserve tickets, call (319) 627-2487 or email
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Riverside unveils a new website
Iowa City - Check out Riverside Theatre's new website. Lots of great information, including cast bios for the upcoming show, All My Sons. You can also order tickets online. The website is here.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tosca Opens January 14th
Cedar Rapids - Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre returns to the Iowa Theatre Building this weekend with a performance of Puccini's Tosca.
The famous opera is a tragic love story set in Rome shortly after the Battle of Marengo. From CROT's press release:
"The dramatic opera Tosca is set in Rome on June 17, 1800, following the French victory in the Battle of Marengo. The story takes place over an 18-hour period, ending on June 18, 1800. The plot rotates around three main characters, Floria Tosca, a famous opera singer, her lover, Mario Cavaradossi, an artist and Bonapartist sympathizer, and Rome's harsh Regent of Police, Baron Scarpia. The opera is an engaging tale of love, lust, jealousy, betrayal and vengeance."
Tosca will feature Caroline Worra as Tosca, Stephen Mark Brown as Cavaradossi, and Todd Thomas as Scarpia. Performances are January 14th at 8pm and January 16th at 2pm at Theatre Cedar Rapids. Tickets are $40-55 and can be purchased from the box office at 319-366-8591 or CROT's website.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Dreamwell announces cast of Nibroc
Iowa City - Dreamwell Theatre has chosen its cast for the first show of their War and Consequences season: Last Train to Nibroc. Set during World War II, this is a love story. It is directed by Rachael Lindhart with assistant direction by Rich Riggleman.
Cast:
Raleigh - Kevin Moore
May - Ottavia DeLuca
The other shows in the War and Consequences season are Stuff Happens, Henry V and Soldier's Daughter.
Update: Kevin Moore has taken over the role of Raleigh.
Location set for Footliters auditions
Coralville - Footliters has set the location for their upcoming show, Camp Rock. They will take place at the former Celebrations Bridal Shop, 805 2nd Street in Coralville. This is two doors down from Hawkeye Audio. See the original story for more information.
Auditions for MVLCT show coming up
Lisbon - Mt. Vernon/Lisbon Community Theatre announces auditions for Drama at Dry Gulch Creek, a western comedy written by Black Dogger and Mt. Vernon resident Amy White. The Black Doggers are a playwriting group with members from all over the Corridor. The play began as a 10 minute show written for the first All in a Day Play Festival. White has expanded it into a full length play.
The auditions will be held Sunday, January 16 and Monday, January 17 at 7 PM, at the Lisbon Heritage Hall, 101 East Main Street, Lisbon. Scripts available to check out at Lisbon Public Library (455-2800). Parts available for 6 men and 3 women. The production dates are March 10, 11 and 12 at Gwen's Restaurant.
Call Braden Rood (654-1016) or Amy White (895-8352) with questions or email mvlcommunitytheatre@gmail.com.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Red Door Is Taking a Break
Iowa City - Red Door Ensemble, one of Iowa City's newest theatre companies, is on hiatus. Red Door is committed to bringing original work to stage. Last year they presented full productions of Postcards from the Post-Apocalypse and How to Heal the Hurt by Hating as well as staged readings of Blood on the Canvas and June's Winter. We called How to Heal "a triumph" so here's hoping they return soon with some exciting original shows.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
ICCT Announces Auditions for Chaperone
Iowa City - The Iowa City Community Theatre is holding auditions for the musical farce The Drowsy Chaperone. A play within a play, the show starts with the 'Man in Chair,' a recluse who spends his life with recordings of Golden Age Broadway musicals. When he puts on a record of his favorite — The Drowsy Chaperone — the action bursts onto stage and the audience gets to watch both the wildly improbable romantic comedy musical and the Man in Chair as he puts in his two cents along the way. Featuring music hall performers, gangsters, aging socialites, young lovers, a bumbling Lothario, a deus ex machina aviatrix and the titular tipsy (‘drowsy’) chaperone, The Drowsy Chaperone is a riotous homage to the classics of the Broadway stage, where no matter how hopelessly complicated things get in Act I, you can count on wedding bells by the end of Act II.
Auditions will be held January 23rd--25th at the following times and locations:
January 23 2-5pm Meeting Room A IC Public Library
January 24 7-9pm Robert A Lee Rec Center
January 25 7-10pm Johnson County Fairgrounds (Callbacks, plus extended auditions)
If you have any questions, contact director Ben Bentler by email at pianoartist@mac.com or by phone at (319) 512-9834.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Cast List for And Then There Were None announced
Iowa City - The Iowa City Community Theatre has chosen a cast for their upcoming murder mystery play, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. The play has previously been known as Ten Little Indians, but was changed by the Christie Estate. While ICCT has produced musicals at the Englert, this marks the first time they are producing a play in the space. The show runs February 11-13.
Cast:
Rogers - David Priebe
Mrs. Rogers - Susan Manuel
Fred Narracott - Josh Megget
Vera Claythorne - Tracy Schoenle
Philip Lombard - Matthew Falduto
Anthony Marston - James Anderson
William Blore - John Crosheck
General MacKenzie - Richard Paulus
Emily Brent - Caroline Oster
Sir Lawrence Wargrave - Gerry Roe
Dr. Armstrong - Nelson Gurll
Monday, January 3, 2011
ICCT presents concert version of My Fair Lady
Iowa City - Last summer, ICCT gave us South Pacific In Concert. They are following up with another concert version of a popular musical this weekend. For two performances only, they will present My Fair Lady In Concert at The Englert Theatre January 7 and 8 at 7:30pm.
Directed by Josh Sazon with music direction by Professor Emeritus Ed Kottick of the University of Iowa School of Music, the production will be a staged reading like the concert performance of South Pacific this past August. The production features a thirty-five piece orchestra, and the cast includes John Muriello, voice faculty at the University of Iowa School of Music as Alfie Doolittle, and veteran community theatre performer Megan Sands as Eliza Doolittle.
Principals include:
Eliza Doolittle — Megan Keiser
Henry Higgins — Josh Sazon
Alfred Doolittle — John Muriello
Colonel Pickering — Howard Meadows
Freddy Eynsford-Hill — Brian Jones
Mrs. Higgins — Caroline Oster
Mrs. Pearce — Jen Gerbyshak
Mrs. Eynsford-Hill — Mary Wedemeyer
Ensemble: Len Duncan, Katie Eaton, Jen Gerbyshak, Nancy Kula, Bryan Lawler, Susan Manuel, Reed Perkins, Elisabeth Ross, Jordan Running, Roxy Running, Ryan Shallady, Ellen Stevenson, Olivia Symmonds, Rebekah Trotter, Jill Van Dorpe, Jim Verry, Alexandra Walsh, Mary Wedemeyer and Dylan Wheeler.
Like South Pacific in Concert, the dialogue of My Fair Lady will be pared down and sets and costuming minimal, creating a more streamlined presentation of the beloved story of one woman’s transformation from Tottenham Court Road flower vendor to proper lady.
Tickets are available at the Englert Theatre Box Office (open Monday-Friday from noon to 6:00 PM), by phone at 319-688-2653 or online at www.englert.org.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Starlighters holding auditions for Last Five Years
Anamosa - Starlighters will hold auditions for The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown on January 2, 3, 4 at 7 pm in The Studio, on the third floor of the Starlighters Theatre in Anamosa.
Production dates are March 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13. All who audition need to bring a prepared song of approximately 16 bars (can be any song). An accompanist will be provided; you may also bring a CD. One memorized monologue, from the two monologues is expected from the show. More information here.
Character Breakdown
CATHERINE HIATT: Excellent actress and singer, Mid 20s - mid 30's (Age range is tentative)
JAMIE WELLERSTEIN: Excellent actor and singer, Mid 20's - mid 30's (Age range is tentative)
Dreamwell announces auditons for Henry V
Iowa City - Dreamwell Theatre announces auditions for Henry the Fifth, William Shakespeare’s deepest exploration of war. Angie Toomsen directs. Performances will be 2–3 weekends in June (actual weekends to be finalized). This marks the first time Dreamwell has ventured into the realm of Shakespeare.
WHEN: Tuesday, February 22, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. and Wednesday, February 23, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A.
Both men and women are encouraged to audition for major roles. Sides will be provided for cold readings, but actors may feel free to prepare a 2-3 minute Shakepeare monologue or a reading (does not have to be memorized – verse is preferred). Ensemble members will likely play multiple roles.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
KING HENRY V.
DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, brother to the King.
DUKE OF BEDFORD, brother to the King.
DUKE OF EXETER, uncle to the King.
DUKE OF YORK, cousin to the King.
EARL OF SALISBURY.
EARL OF WESTMORELAND.
EARL OF WARWICK.
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
BISHOP OF ELY.
EARL OF CAMBRIDGE.
LORD SCROOP.
SIR THOMAS GREY.
SIR THOMAS ERPINGHAM, officer in King Henry’s army.
GOWER, officer in King Henry’s army.
FLUELLEN, officer in King Henry’s army.
MACMORRIS, officer in King Henry’s army.
JAMY, officer in King Henry’s army.
BATES, soldier in the same.
COURT, soldier in the same.
WILLIAMS, soldier in the same.
PISTOL.
NYM.
BARDOLPH.
BOY.
A Herald.
CHARLES VI, king of France.
LEWIS, the Dauphin.
DUKE OF BURGUNDY.
DUKE OF ORLEANS.
DUKE OF BOURBON.
The Constable of France.
RAMBURES, French Lord.
GRANDPRE, French Lord.
Governor of Harfleur
MONTJOY, a French herald.
Ambassadors to the King of England.
ISABEL, queen of France.
KATHARINE, daughter to Charles and Isabel.
ALICE, a lady attending on her.
HOSTESS of a tavern in Eastcheap, formerly Mistress Quickly,
and now married to Pistol.
Contact angietoomsen@gmail.com with questions.
Old Creamery Auditions in January
Amana - Old Creamery is seeking Equity and non-Equity performers of various ages (including college students and recent college graduates for intern positions) to fill roles in The Old Creamery’s 2011 Main Stage, Studio, and Theatre for Young Audience series.
WHEN: Saturday January 22, from 2 - 6 pm and Sunday January 23, from 1 - 5 pm
WHERE: The Old Creamery Theatre, 39 38th Ave Amana, IA 52203
WHAT: Actors should prepare two short contrasting monologues (maximum one minute each) one of which should be a comic piece (preferably contemporary). Singers (in addition to the short monologues) should prepare 16 to 32 bars of one (or two contrasting) song(s) sung a cappella or with recorded accompaniment. (A CD player will be available – NO accompanist will be provided.) Please bring a current picture and resume.
Please call the business offices at (319) 622-6034 after January 17, 2011 to make an appointment. More information available here.
