What Are You Doing This Weekend?

Going out to the theatre, we hope! Here's our weekly roundup:

From The Old Creamery: Busybody

(4th weekend; review here.)

"Mrs. Piper, a cleaning woman for a suite of corporate offices, seems to know everything about everybody. When she discovers a dead body, will she survive, or does she know too much? You'll be laughing and guessing 'who done it' until the very last scene."

Script by Jack Popplewell; directed by S. Joseph Nassif.

Location: Old Creamery Mainstage
Time: 7:30 Friday & Saturday, 3:00 Sunday
Price: $22.50 ($16 Youth)

From Riverside Theatre: The Merchant of Venice

"One of Shakespeare's less frequently produced plays, The Merchant of Venice introduces characters rich in complexity, humor and, most of all, flaws. To help Bassanio win the heart of the wealthy heiress Portia, Venetian merchant Antonio borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Amid the blossoming love and comic pursuits of the heart, Shylock's loan goes unpaid and Antonio must suffer the consequences." Script by William Shakespeare; directed by Kristin Horton.

Location: Lower City Park in Iowa City
Time: 8:00 Friday & Saturday, 7:00 Sunday
Price: $17 - 39

From City Circle: Guys and Dolls

(2nd weekend; review here.)

"Based on the short stories of Damon Runyon, the show, with book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, takes us into the romantic intricacies of a collection of 1920s-era gangsters and their loves, and follows them as they butt heads with the Save-a-Soul Mission band, evade the authorities, and belt out some of the most beloved tunes in musical theater history. This show is a long-time favorite among fans and performers alike. Director Josh Sazon describes it as 'a classic in the best sense of the word,' and admits that 'directing this production has been a joy.'"

Music by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows; directed by Josh Sazon.

Location: Coralville Center for the Performing Arts
Time: 7:30 Friday & Saturday, 2:00 Sunday
Price: $22-27 ($17 students & seniors; $12 child)

From Old Creamery: Jack and the Beanstalk

(2nd weekend; review (here.)

"Join The Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences for an imaginative and creative retelling of the classic Jack and the Beanstalk. The show comes complete with a giant, a hen that lays golden eggs and a magic beanstalk of course!"

Script by Bob Rafferty; directed by Tom Milligan.

Location: Old Creamery Mainstage
Time: 1:00 Saturday
Price: $8

From Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre: Frankenboy! a Monsteropera

"Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre has commissioned an original children’s opera with themes of anti-bullying/tolerance for diversity."

Libretto and score by Robert Lindsey-Nassif.

Location: CSPS
Time: 7:30 Friday & Saturday, 2:00 Sunday.
Price: $20 ($10 children; $50 for Friday - price includes post-performance reception).

From Iowa Summer Rep: What the Butler Saw

"What the Butler Saw is one of the great satiric comedies of modern theatre, and, like a good detective, it requires curiosity and a quick mind. It may be the craziest spoof of detective mysteries ever written."

Script by Joe Orton; directed by Eric Forsythe

Location: David Thayer Theatre
Time: 8:00 Friday - Sunday
Price: $26 ($17 Youth, $13 Student, $5 UI Student)

From ITAC: Stories of Old Amana

"This new stage adaptation of the rich history of the Amana Colony features stories that have been gathered from the Amana Heritage Museum in addition to stories directly provided to ITAC’s acting ensemble. A few of the stories in this special one-hour presentation will be told for the very first time on the Amana stage. Five actors keep the pace of this show lively and engaging and the addition of projected slides of communal-era Amana enhances the enjoyment of this unique and illuminating show recommended for audiences from elementary age children to senior citizens."

Location: Iowa Theatre Artists Company. Time: 1:30 Friday& Saturday.
Price: $10

... so get out to the theatre!