Iowa City is Blessed by Good People

By K. Michael Moore
Photos by Bob Goodfellow

(L-R) Jody Hovland, Carrie Houchins-Witt, 
Kristy Hartsgrove Mooers, Osean Perez

Iowa City —“Good” theatre has long been a crucible in which we test our ideas against themselves. It makes us think, it challenges us, forces us to examine the preconceived notions we may not want to admit are present in our lives. But theatre is also entertainment, joy, and a window into our own world. Riverside Theatre’s Good People is exactly that kind of theatre. All of that kind of theatre.

The play is set primarily in South Boston – “Southie” – a rough-and-tumble part of the city. This is not a place where stars rise, but rather where “good” people make do. They make their way. And sometimes that way is not in any way glorious. Sometimes, we don’t have choices. Or we think we don’t.

Of Mice and Men Comes to Life Through Shared Emotions

By Matt Falduto
Photos by Josef Wise

Brett Borden as George (foreground);
Jaret Morlan as Lennie

Iowa City - John Steinbeck wrote the classic story Of Mice and Men with an eye toward a live performance. With locations that are easily depicted on stage and a distinct focus on the characters, the story is easily translated to the stage without losing any of its emotional impact. The Iowa City Community Theatre does a fine job bringing this moving story to its audience. 

Of Mice and Men is the story of two ranch hands traveling from job to job during the Great Depression. Lennie, an incredibly strong man, is what we’d call mentally challenged today. Back then, everyone called him “crazy” and “nuts.” Another ranch hand, George, takes care of Lennie, who brings out the best in George. Their friendship is one in which both gain far more than they’d ever admit. They come to a ranch where Lennie is caught in a tragic situation that leads to a heartbreaking conclusion.

My Sister Compelling, Intelligent, and Full of Grace

By James E. Trainor III
Photos by Janet Schlapkohl

Elizabeth Hinckler as Matilde;
Emily Hinckler as Magda.

Davenport - It's 1934. We're in a small, poor apartment in Berlin. Two sisters live here, trying to live out their dreams on the threshold of the coming nightmare. Magda (Emily Hinckler) is the actress; charming, confident, "the talk of Berlin." She comes home from the cabaret every night to care for her sister, sharing the glow from a great night's performance. Matilde (Elizabeth Hinckler) has cerebral palsy, and is confined to the home. It is difficult for her to move and speak with the ease and grace of her pretty sister, but it is obvious she is the brains of the operation. Matilde writes the jokes for her sister's act, and though she must miss the show, every night, Magda performs a special reprise before resting her weary head.

The only problem is, Matilde's material is getting more and more political, and the cabarets are coming under greater scrutiny as Hitler consolidates his power. What starts off as urbane joking about lesbians in pantsuits becomes nervous dialogue about the party's policy on "incurable" genetic disorders, which, given Matilde's condition, hits dangerously close to home. It is in this dark and dreadful period of history that Janet Schlapkohl's new drama plays out, a story which, for all its terror and tragedy, has a good deal of warmth and humor. My Sister does as wonderful a job portraying the courage of the human spirit as it does the perils of mindless conformity.

Spamalot a Silly, Silly Production

By James E. Trainor III
Photos by Von Presley Studios

Megan Anderson as The Lady of the Lake

Cedar Rapids - Of the many musicals based on movies that have been trotted out on stage in the last couple decades, Spamalot is one of the best adaptations. There are a couple reasons for this: first, Eric Idle, who wrote the book and lyrics (and worked with John Du Prez on the music), has gobs of experience recycling old jokes for new audiences. Second, the source material isn't really a narrative film with a steady plotline like The Producers or even Young Frankenstein; it's a collection of sketches loosely based around the King Arthur legend that ultimately goes nowhere (if you recall, they don't ever find the Holy Grail in the Grail film; the most famous project from everyone's favorite comic anarchists ends with the police arresting Arthur's crew, including the camera operator). As such, it's ripe for ripping apart and stitching together in a new form: a larger-than-life Broadway musical, where everyone's favorite skits and gags can mingle with some brand-new material that is just as hilarious.

Love, Loss and What I Wore Opens February 14

The cast of Love, Loss and What I Wore.

Coralville - City Circle Acting Company of Coralville will present Nora and Delia Ephron’s play Love, Loss and What I Wore on February 14-16 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Performances are February 14 and 15 at 7:30 pm and February 16 at 2:00 pm. The show is directed by Meg Dobbs. Set design and decoration is by The Luxe Zone of Coralville.

Based on the best seller by Ilene Beckerman as well as the recollections of the Ephron’s friends, the show uses clothing and accessories and the memories they trigger to tell funny and often poignant stories that all women can relate to: mothers, prom dresses, mothers, buying bras, mothers, hating purses, and why we only wear black.

Twelve talented actresses will bring these stories to life. They include Robyn Calhoun, Paula Grady, Ramya Hipp, Diviin Huff, Katy Karas, Sara Knox, Kathy Maxey, Nicole McDonough, Krista Neumann, Leslie Nolte, Mary Rinderspacher, and Mary Wedemeyer.

During the production, City Circle will be collecting donations of new and gently used professional women’s clothing to benefit the clients of the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP). Donations can be brought to the theatre or dropped off at Catherine’s Boutique in downtown Iowa City at 7 S. Dubuque Street during business hours February 10-22.

Nine local businesses have donated the costumes worn by the actresses: Catherine’s, Dress Barn, Domby, Dulcinea, Francesca’s, JC Penney, Revival, Textiles, and Velvet Coat. The dresses will be auctioned off after the show’s run to benefit the DVIP. More information about the clothing drive and auction can be found at www.citycircle.org.

Tickets to the show are $12-$27 and can be purchased online at coralvillearts.org or by calling 319.248.9370 or in person at the CCPA box office at 1301 5th Street and at the Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 8th Street. ASL interpreters will be translating the performance on Sunday, February 16 at 2 PM. Please call 319.248.9372 to request seating in the ASL section.

(Source: City Circle Press Release)

Of Mice and Men Opens Tonight

Iowa City - ICCT's production of Of Mice and Men opens this weekend and plays through February 2.

ABOUT THE PLAY
George and Lennie might be poor migrant workers during the Dust Bowl, but they have a dream: saving up enough money to tend their own land. It keeps them going, but more than hard times will conspire to hold them back.

WHEN & WHERE
Jan. 24, 25, 31 and Feb. 1 at 7:30pm
Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 at 2:00pm
Johnson County Fairgrounds

TICKETS
For tickets call (319)-338-0443 or purchase them online!

Adults-$16
Seniors-$13
Students-$5 <--- Yes, that is correct. Student tickets are only 5$

AUDIENCE ADVISORY
Of Mice and Men includes use of strong language (profanity, vulgarities and racial slurs), onstage violence and gunshots. It is appropriate for teenagers and even children aged 10-12 years old, but because of the pervasive strong language in the play children should attend at their parents’ discretion. The film was given a "PG-13" rating.

(Source: ICCT Newsletter)

Auditions for Time Stands Still Tuesday and Wednesday

Iowa City - Dreamwell Theatre will hold auditions for Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies January 21 and 22, 6:00-8:30 in Meeting Room B of the Iowa City Public Library. The show is directed by Christina Patramanis. Performance dates are March 14, 15, 21, 22. Scripts are on reserve at the library.  

Characters: 
Sarah Goodwin: 30s-40s, a wartime photojournalist; independent, intelligent, creative and a bit snarky 
James Dodd: 30’s – 40’s, freelance journalist; loyal, clever, humble and youthful 
Richard Ehrlich: mid 40’s to mid 60’s, photo editor: wise but spirited, calm, practical, handsome, open-minded, the kind of guy that can pull off a black turtle-neck 
Mandy Bloom: a 20-something event planner; genuine, ambitious, affectionate, stylish, sweet 

Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, Time Stands Still is a twist on the coming home story. Wartime photojournalist Sarah, wounded overseas by a roadside bomb, returns home to James in their small Brooklyn loft. James, a freelance journalist, and Sarah have had a long romantic relationship while covering stories together, but James had to return home early because he suffered post traumatic stress after witnessing a violent event. James and Sarah’s relationship is juxtaposed with Richard and Mandy. Richard is a distinguished photo editor, and Mandy a young event planner. They have entered into an unlikely, but happy and energetic relationship. Over the course of the year we watch Sarah physically heal while she and James try to define the future of the relationship. Time Stands Still is an elegant play about love, dreams, artistic ethics and moral struggles.

Dogs of Rwanda Both Personally and Universally Compelling

Sean Christopher Lewis

Cedar Rapids - The people of Rwanda have a very homespun way of dealing with crime and punishment, despite the many brutal atrocities that occurred during the 1994 genocide. They meet, in a large open space, victim and accused, for the Gacaca, literally: "the short grass where we all gather as a village." And then they tell the story. The accused air their misdeeds before the public, who they are, and who they killed, and how. The simple, bold act of speaking the truth out aloud, more than jail sentences or reparations, becomes an important step towards giving closure to this war-torn community. David (Sean Christopher Lewis, who also wrote the piece) knows about this custom, just as he knows first hand about some of the terrible things that happened that spring. He's even written a book about them. But his book hasn't given him the closure he desperately needs, because it doesn't tell the truth, not the real, messy truth about what happened, and he knows it. So he has a story to tell us. His own short grass is a small black box theatre, his court a video camera and a few rows of strangers in chairs. Dogs of Rwanda is a story of guilt, forgiveness, and the healing power of owning your own past. It plays this weekend at CSPS.

Churchill Opens February 1

Andrew Edlin

Coralville - Fairfield, Iowa based writer and performer Andrew Edlin will perform his play Churchill at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, February 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 2 at 2 p.m.

Edlin stars as the charismatic statesman, orator, and wit Sir Winston Churchill in a powerful performance seguing from iconic speeches to private revelations, from witty stories to brilliant commentary.

It is April 1955. Churchill, aged 80, agonizes in his wartime bunker below London whether to finally resign as Prime Minister as the Cold War gathers pace. He is old and tired, but it becomes clear that personal issues will affect his ability to let go. As he tries to decide, he rolls back the years and reviews his uniquely eventful career, filled with history-changing events and people, glorious speeches, pithy comments, funny stories, his checkered relationship with his family, and all the wit and wisdom that has made Churchill an imperishable legend.

Alice in Wonderland Opens January 24

Coralville - Travel down the rabbit hole and join Alice's madcap adventures in Wonderland in this fast-paced stage adaptation of the timeless film, presented by Nolte Academy.

This musical production features updated dialogue and new arrangements of classic Disney songs like "I'm Late," "The Un-Birthday Song," and "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah."

Tickets ($12-$22) are available online, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office and Coralville Rec Center.


Source: CCPA newsletter

Dogs of Rwanda Opens January 17

Cedar Rapids - Working Group Theatre would like to invite you to Dogs of Rwanda, the newest solo piece from Artistic Director Sean Christopher Lewis. Originally developed at the Ojai Playwrights Conference (with Conan O'Brien and Mad Men Star Aaron Staton) it now comes to CSPS/Legion Arts in Cedar Rapids.

Dogs of Rwanda tells the story of David, an American writer who can not forget what he saw as a young missionary in Rwanda 20 years ago. He writes a book on his experiences and he’s thrust back into the spring of 1994 and his fateful meeting with a young boy on the run from genocide. That boy’s name was God’s Blessing. In 2013, David now sits in a hotel room in Rwanda, traversing time, literature, memory and regret to make sense of what he’s seen and done. Hopefully he can forgive himself for what he could and could not do for God’s Blessing.

Dogs of Rwanda plays January 17th and 18th at 8pm at CSPS. Tickets available here.


Source: WGT press release

The Whipping Man Is a Must-See

by Matthew R. Kerns
photos by Bethany Horning

Roe Lloyd as Simon

Iowa City — It begins with a trip down a drafty church stairwell into the catacombs of this Unitarian place of worship in the heart of Iowa City. Folding chairs, globe lighting, posters, and congregants' name tags line the walls of this now-meeting place for artistic worship. At the far end of the basement is an antiquated auditorium stage that in my imagination has been host to countless holiday pageants, lectures, and community theatres like just like the Dreamwell Theatre Company.

At the beginning of the event Rachel Lindhart, Co-Artistic Director of Dreamwell and Director of this evening's show, offers a curtain speech explaining that the company is spending the entire year examining guilt. She finishes her speech and proceeds to lower the globe lights on the wall behind her. Music arises and we begin Dreamwell’s simplistic but stunning version of The Whipping Man.

Carmen Opens January 17

Cedar Rapids - Experience Bizet’s vibrant and beloved opera Carmen at the Paramount Theatre, Friday, January 17 at 8:00PM and Sunday, January 19 at 2:00PM. CR Opera’s new production of Carmen, sung in French with English supertitles, is directed by Bill Ferrara with Orchestra Iowa Musicians directed by Daniel Kleinknecht. Featuring Iowa native, mezzo soprano Janara Kellerman in the title role, and baritone Philip Torre in the role of Escamillo, the Toreador.

A free pre-opera talk is held one hour prior to each performance at the Paramount, on Friday, 1/17 in the Encore Lounge and on Sunday, 1/19 in the Opus Cafe. Tickets are available through the Orchestra Iowa Ticket Office located at 119 Third Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401. Tickets may also be purchased by phone 319.366.8203 or online at orchestraiowa.org. For more information about the opera, visit cr-opera.org.

About Carmen Carmen, first performed in Paris, on March 3, 1875 is Georges Bizet’s most well-known opera. The story tells the passionate tale of the seductive and fiery gypsy Carmen, soldier Don José who is captivated by her charms, and the dashing matador Escamillo. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée.

Good People Opens January 24

Iowa City – This winter, Riverside Theatre brings to life the award-winning play Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire. Set in South Boston, the play follows the struggles of sharp-tongued character Margie Walsh as she looks for work in the most unlikely place, her scrappy high school boyfriend turned doctor, using her best friends and bingo night for catharsis. The clever and timely script ultimately questions if a good heart fates one for the right, or wrong, side of the poverty line. Directed by Ron Clark.

Tickets: Adults, $25-30; Youth/Student Rush, $15. Riverside Theatre is located at 213 N. Gilbert Street, Iowa City, Iowa. Shows run Thursday – Sunday, January 24 – February 16, 2014. More information at riversidetheatre.org, or 319-338-7672.

Auditions at Old Creamery

Amana - The Old Creamery Theatre is seeking Equity and non-Equity adult performers of various ages (college age and up) to fill paid positions in the professional company’s 2014 Main Stage, Studio, and Theatre for Young Audiences seasons.

Auditions for Jesus Christ Superstar

Coralville - City Circle Acting Company of Coralville will hold auditions for its production of Jesus Christ Superstar, January 12th from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Community of Christ Church, 2121 S Ridge Dr. in Coralville. The show is directed by Liz Tracey. Kent Keating is the music director.

Jesus Christ Superstar, the ground breaking rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, is loosely based on the Gospel’s account of the last week of Jesus’ life, as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.

This is a big cast and all ages are welcome to audition. Those auditioning should bring 30 seconds of a song to sing that shows of your voice and acting ability.

To schedule an audition, complete and submit the audition form at www.citycircle.org. Walk ups are always welcome. For more information call Liz Tracey at 712-249-6214.

Jesus Christ Superstar will be performed April 4-13 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.


Source: City Circle press release

The Whipping Man Opens January 10

Iowa City - Dreamwell Theatre presents The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez, directed by Rachael Lindhart. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m., January 10-11 and 17-18 at the Unitarian Universalist Center, 10 s. Gilbert St., Iowa City. There will be a special performance at 7:30 on January 25 at the First Street Community Center, 221 First St., Mt. Vernon

Cast List for Les Miserables

Cedar Rapids - Theatre Cedar Rapids has announced the cast for its June production of Les Miserables:

Don't Change the Station! Opens January 10

Iowa City - CET (Combined Efforts Theatre)'s production of Don't Change the Station!, written by Janet Schlapkohl and directed by Osean Perez, runs for two nights only, January 10th and 11th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Iowa City Community Theatre’s home at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, a new venue for the company. CET rehearses at Uptown Bill’s and Hillel house, in Iowa City. “Hillel house is accessible and accommodating, director Jerry Sorokin is delightful and Uptown Bill’s is marvelous, Tom Gilsenen couldn’t be more welcoming.” Says Janet Schlapkohl, company founder.

Several new actors will be making their CET debuts in this performance. Terry Cunningham plays Judge Greyson, an aging soap opera star. Terry holds an MS degree and works at the University of Iowa’s Center for Excellence on Disabilities. “Terry’s comedic timing is brilliant.” says director Osean Perez. Terry uses a wheelchair for mobility, which the Johnson County space accommodates well.

Mark Nidey, a local actor who has performed with Dreamwell Company, and Sue Melleker play Network executives, in charge of a reality T.V. show, The End of an Era, although their characters have forgotten what it means to experience a real moment. “They make a wonderful emotional arc in the performance. They’re fun to watch.” says CET board president Mary Vasey.

Jerry Sorokin, Director of Hillel house in Iowa City, is also in the show. He plays the television station’s cameraman.

An entire family is bringing their talents to the production, Jane Bradbury, Ken Gayley, and their children, Anna and Peter are characters of a Medical Science show.

CET is an award winning company, Iowa’s only theatre company purposefully inclusive of performers with disabilities.

CET was selected by the Kennedy Center to implement the Young Playwright Discovery Program for students ages 10 to 22. The program is free to participants. CET hired several local theatre professionals as teachers. There are current openings at various sites and times.

“The program is open to students with and without disabilities. There are play-making classes for non-writers as well.” Says Janet Schlapkohl, the program director.

CET is a nonprofit organization that also includes a Dance Company and Men’s Choir Company. Both companies are involved in the current production. CET also has a monthly open mike performance, Slices: Performance and Pie held at Uptown Bill's in Iowa City.


Source: CET press release