City High Reaches Out to Ferguson Thespians

Iowa City - "Following the tumultuous events in Ferguson, Missouri this fall, City High Drama is jumping in to help Ferguson high schools send students to the Missouri Thespian Festival in October to continue to have a voice and an impact in the dramatic arts. City High Drama director Troy Peters communicated with the fine arts coordinator for the Florissant-Ferguson school district recently, describing some of City High’s past productions, such as Mayberry and Medea, which have given minority actors opportunities to get on stage and discuss issues of race. “We’ve never shied away from these important issues, and the schools in Ferguson were wanting some ideas for how to help heal the wounds and promote a hopeful future through the arts,” says Peters. “The African-American students in Ferguson say they feel like the ‘raisins in the rice’ when they attend these state festivals, but they know it is important to continue to have a voice in that arena, and to create something positive out of what has happened in their community.”

Auction to Benefit City High Drama

Iowa City - "You won’t want to miss Iowa City High School Drama’s upcoming Silent Auction culminating on Oct. 26th at Opstad Auditorium in Iowa City. One-of-a-kind items will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with all of the proceeds going to the high school drama program. Drama director and English teacher Troy Peters donated some of his own movie memorabilia which comes from fifteen years of working in Hollywood as a set dresser and prop master on movies such as The Bridges of Madison County, LA Confidential, The Little Rascals, and 8 Mile. “I have quite a collection of unique props,” Peters says, “but I think other people might appreciate them more, and our drama program could really use the proceeds to continue putting on quality shows at City High.”

Along with gift certificates from local Iowa City restaurants such as Clinton Street Social Club, Stella’s, Short’s East, and El Banditos, the movie props to be auctioned off include a handwritten note Meryl Streep tacked to Roseman Bridge for Clint Eastwood in the film Bridges of Madison County, hand-painted featured banners from Academy Award-nominated Pleasantville, and Pan American Airlines payroll checks used by Leonardo DiCaprio in the Steven Spielberg-directed Catch Me If You Can.

Other items of interest include Madonna’s printed seatback from her chair on a movie set, and props from the film Seabiscuit starring Tobey Maguire. In addition to movie memorabilia, there are some concert posters autographed by Buddy Guy, Rick Springfield, Cinderella, Warrant, RATT, and Jonny Lang. For drama enthusiasts, there are two season passes to City Circle’s 2013-2014 productions, and two tickets to any Des Moines Civic Center show or Broadway in Chicago event. Fun local items include a certificate for lunch for four students with Principal John Bacon at Panchero’s, and an opportunity for a lucky audience member to receive VIP treatment during intermission of a performance of City High’s upcoming comedy The Foreigner on Oct. 24-26 at 7:30PM. Tickets for The Foreigner are only $5 for students and $10 for adults, and available online at www.seatyourself.biz/iowacityhs.

The public is welcome to view the auction items and begin bidding on Monday, October 21st through Friday, Oct. 25th from 3:30-6:00pm, and Saturday, Oct. 26th from 5:00-7:15pm in the lobby of Opstad Auditorium. The final bid deadline is 7:15pm on Saturday, Oct. 26th. The highest bidder must be available to pay for the items at that time."

(Source: City High Press Release)

Special Benefit Performance of City High's Crimes of the Heart

Iowa City - City High's thespians did very well at this spring's regional competition in Cedar Falls. As a result, they've been invited to perform at the International Thespian Festival this summer. To facilitate this, they're putting on a special fundraising production of Beth Henley's Crimes of the Heart, the award-winning play directed by Patrick DuLaney. Performances are June 15 and 16 at City High.

The Iowa Theatre Blog would like to congratulate students Sage Behr, Francesca Lubecki-Wilde, Miriam Thoe, Christina Sullivan, Elijah Jones and Ryan Forbes-Shellady on the honor they've received.

Crimes of the Heart runs Friday and Saturday at 7:30 at Opstead Auditorium in City High School. Tickets are $10 ($5 for students). City High Drama asks that you consider a donation if you're not able to intend; contact Lestina.Doug@iccsd.k12.ia.us to find out how you can help.