Auditions for I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change Announced

Mount Vernon - MVLCT announces auditions for I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change - A Musical Review. Auditions are May 31st and June 1st at 7PM at the First Street Community Center Uptown Theatre with possible callbacks Tuesday or Wednesday (June 2 or 3). Performance dates are July 23-26. The director is Michael Petkewec, with music direction by Forrest Green and choreography by Braden Rood.

Auditions will consist of:

--a song you want to sing (any song--could be Happy Birthday if you want) without accompaniment
--part of a song you will learn at auditions
--cold readings
--small dance step you will learn at auditions.

Any questions, contact Braden Rood at mvlcommunitytheatre@gmail.com or call 319-654-1016.

The Man Who Came to Dinner runs one weekend only!

Amanda Bishop, Paul Freese and Duane Larson

Mount Vernon - The Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre will present The Man Who Came to Dinner, March 5, 6, and 7 at 7:30 PM and March 8 at 2 PM in the First Street Community Building Uptown Theatre, 221 1st Street E., Mt. Vernon. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students.

MVLCT Theatre Board President Amy White says, "This show features the largest set and one of the largest casts we have ever worked with in our Uptown Theatre space. The fast paced comedy of the 1930s script and the comings and goings of so many characters is a wonderful diversion for a winter evening or afternoon."

Auditions for Schoolhouse Rock

Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre announces AUDITIONS for Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Sunday, September 7 and Monday, September 8 at 7 PM in the Uptown Theatre in the First Street Community Center, 221 East First St., Mt. Vernon.

Parts for adults and high school students. No need to prepare anything for auditions--just come willing to read, sing, move and have fun!

Production dates are October 17, 18 and 19. Call Braden Rood at 319-654-1016 with questions or email mvlcommunitytheatre@gmail.com.

Source: MVLCT

Is He Dead? Opens July 24

Mount Vernon - Tickets are on sale for Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre's summer production, Is He Dead? by Mark Twain. This hilarious farce, adapted for modern audiences by David Ives, runs July 24 - 27 in the First Street Community Center's Uptown Theatre at 221 1st St. E. in Mt. Vernon. Shows run Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors and are available in advance at Shepley Pharmacy and Lisbon Public Library. You may also call our reservation line at 319-535-2030 to reserve a ticket and pay at the show.

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at MVLCT

Mt. Vernon - "Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee July 25 - 28 in the First Street Community Center, 221 East First Street, Mt. Vernon. Showtimes are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors (60+), and are on sale in advance at Shepley Pharmacy in Mt. Vernon and Lisbon Public Library. Ticket reservations may be made by calling our reservation line at (319) 535-2030. This show is rated PG-13 for language and content. For more information, contact Amy White at (319) 899-1399."

(Source: MVCLT Press Release)

Cabin Fever Comedy Festival is Next Week

Mt. Vernon/Lisbon - The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group has announced the 2nd Annual Mount Vernon-Lisbon Cabin Fever Comedy Festival, which will take place March 20 through 23, 2013, at several locations in Mount Vernon and Lisbon.

Slices of Life at MVLCT

Mt. Vernon - "Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre presents its third Slices of Life New Play Festival on March 7, 8 and 9 at 7:30 PM and March 10 at 2 PM in the First Street Community Center, 221 First Street East in Mt. Vernon. Over fifty actors will portray characters in eleven new plays by playwrights in the community and beyond. The plays include: House in Progress by Chrissy Berlin, So Help Me, Julia! by Barbara Lau, They Grow Up So Fast by Duane Larson; Always Learning by Tait Larson; Prodigal Cow by Mark Harvey Levine; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner by Thomas Misuraca; Smoke and Knives by Mike Moran; A Day in the Park by Anton Rood; Picnics at Windy Creek River by Brian Tanner; Signs by Deborah Yarchun; and Goose Step by Amy White. Tickets are $15 and include dessert during intermission. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Shepley Pharmacy in Mt. Vernon and at the Lisbon Public Library, but will also be available at the door. For more information, call Amy White at 319-899-1399." (Source - MVLCT Press Release)

Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre Calls for Submissions

Mt. Vernon - Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre is looking for submissions for its annual "Slices of Life" production, which opens March 7. Submissions are due September 1.

Rules 
Send 2 hard copies to PO Box 294, Mount Vernon, IA, 52314.
Submissions must be postmarked by September 1, 2012. (Local submissions may be delivered to the Lisbon Public Library, care of Amy White).
Scripts must be family friendly (i.e. PG-13).
Props and costumes should be kept to a minimum.
Scenes should be written for a black box setting.
Plays should run approximately 10 minutes.
Slices will be performed March 7-10, 2013.
MVLCT will only consider royalty free scripts.

Call Amy White at 319-899-1399 or email mvlcommunitytheatre@gmail.com with questions.

Nunsense Is a Heavenly Hoot!

By James E. Trainor III

Mt. Vernon - The Little Sisters of Hoboken need your help! The convent has been nearly wiped out by a fatal serving of vichyssoise, and the remaining sisters have put together a show to help raise the funds to bury them. They hope you'll come out and support it; the evening of Bible-themed jokes, skits, song and dance will have you convinced that "Nunsense is habit-forming."

Nunsense, a musical comedy by Dan Goggin, opened in 1985 and has become a beloved staple of community theatre. Kim Benesh, who plays Sister Robert Anne, also directs, but she credits the ensemble for bringing their "talent, enthusiasm and love of theatre" to rehearsal to create a fun and engaging piece of theatre. There's a lot of playfulness in this show: audience interaction, irreverent religious jokes, groan-inducing puns and even tap-dancing nuns!

It's not simply a musical revue, however; there is a loose plot that keeps the show moving along. As the nuns scramble to deal with the disaster back home (getting their fellow nuns off ice before the health inspector looks in the freezer), there is some interesting character development; each of these women has a funny and clever back story, a reason for becoming a nun in the first place and for stepping out into the spotlight now. From Sister Mary Leo's dream of being a ballerina to Sister Robert Anne's tale of growing up on the streets of Brooklyn, there's some humanity hidden in the silliness, and these actors did a fine job bringing it out.

Courtenay Baker-Olinger is delightful as Sister Mary Leo, the young novice. She's funny, she sings well, and she pulls off some challenging dance steps. Jacki Lock is quite good as Sister Mary Hubert, the Mistress of Novices. She participates is some really fun bandying with Barbara Lee, who plays Sister Mary Regina, the Mother Superior. These two respond to each other well; between Lee's stiff harshness and Lock's subtle undermining, they have some great comic moments ("Just a Coupl'a Sisters" is a hoot). Lee seems to stumble a bit, and her accent comes and goes, but during "Turn Up the Spotlight" she really shines, and the giddy moments at the end of Act One when Regina finds a mysterious inhalant and decides to try it out are a great contrast.

The second act slows things down a bit, and Sister Robert Anne, the street-smart nun from Brooklyn, tells us the story of her childhood. "Growing Up Catholic" carries some heartache that transcends the silliness of the setting; it examines the contrast between the security of tradition and the confusion of the modern age in a very thoughtful way. Benesh's Robert Anne is a charming creation; easy-going, fun-loving, but also tough and clever. Her accent work is excellent, and the roguish vibe she creates as the understudy striving for the spotlight is a joy to watch.

Traci Rezabek really stands out as Sister Mary Amnesia, the slightly dim nun who has a number of very funny songs and scenes. When she gives the audience a pop-quiz on the plot, she keeps the energy going and doesn't miss a beat. During "So You Want to Be a Nun," she is able to switch seamlessly between the naive and nervous Amnesia and the cynical Sister Mary Annette (her puppet co-star), showing a great deal of range. She doesn't attempt to conceal the fact that she's moving her lips, but the scene is so dynamic and funny that it's hardly missed. During "I Could Have Gone to Nashville," when Amnesia suddenly recovers her memory, she puts on a great country-western accent, and the song is sweet and charming.

Musical comedy is challenging and requires a wide variety of different skills. This company, with guidance from Kim Benesh and Emory Gillespe (the musical director), does a wonderful job putting the pieces together. The result is a night of engaging and entertaining theatre. Go see it!

Nunsense runs through July 22 (7:30 Thursday - Saturday, 2:00 Sunday) at the District Auditorium in Mt. Vernon Middle School (525 Palisades Rd). Tickets are $12 ($10 seniors & students, $8 children ten and under).

Nunsense! Opens July 19

Mt. Vernon - Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre is presenting Nunsense! by Dan Goggin this July. The popular musical tells the story of five nuns who are putting on a variety show to raise money for a funeral.

Nunsense runs July 19 - 22 (7:30 Thursday - Saturday, 2:00 Sunday) at the District Auditorium in Mt. Vernon Middle School (525 Palisades Rd). Tickets are $12 ($10 seniors & students, $8 children ten and under).

Cast List for Nunsense!

MVLCT - This summer's production of Nunsense! at Mount-Vernon Lisbon Community Theatre has been cast. The show opens July 19.

Cast

Reverend Mother: Barbara Lee
Sister Mary Hubert: Jacki Lock
Sister Mary Amnesia: Traci Rezabek
Sister Mary Leo: Courtenay Baker-Olinger
Sister Robert Ann: Kim Benesh

Kim Benesh directs, with musical direction from Emory Gillespie.

Auditions for Nunsense June 3 & 4

MVLCT - Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre will be presenting Nunsense by Dan Goggin in July. Auditions are June 3 and 4 at 7:00 in the District Auditorium of the Mt. Vernon Middle School, 525 Palisades Road in Mt. Vernon.

Roles:

SISTER MARY REGINA is to the outside world a model Mother Superior-even if she is overweight. But to those who know her, she is an outrageous, quick-witted soul who knows how to get a laugh. She tries to convince you that she is strict, but everyone knows that her “bark is worse than her bite.”She can't resist the spotlight. Her vocal part is mezzo.

SISTER MARY HUBERT is a kind person who always tries to be understanding and diplomatic. She teaches the Novices the ground rules, and is supposed to be dignified. But with the slightest bit of encouragement, she is ready to kick up her heels. Second in command she is always competing with Mother Superior. Her vocal part is alto.

SISTER ROBERT ANNE is a tough streetwise nun who has a heart of gold. All the kids adore her because she speaks their language. And she can hit a baseball “out of the park.” A constant source of aggravation for Mother Superior. Her vocal part is alto belt.

SISTER MARY AMNESIA is the picture of innocence. She lost her memory when a crucifix fell on her head. She can't remember her past, and so she looks at each day with a childlike joy. Her vocal range is soprano.

SISTER MARY LEO was a professional dancer before she entered the convent, and she is always eager to display her talent. She is also impressionable because she is young and could easily be lead astray. She entered the convent to become the first ballerina nun. Her vocal range is soprano.

Performance dates are July 19-21. No preparation is required. Contact Amy White at 319.899.1399 or email mvlcommunitytheatre@gmail.com for more information.

Leaving Iowa Hits Home

By James E. Trainor III

If you're a native Iowan, you probably recognize the ubiquitous Midwestern road trip. Endless driving through flat land. Questionable destinations such as Hannibal, Missouri. Fighting with your sister. But if that doesn't sound familiar, never fear; Leaving Iowa also deals with more universal themes, such as family, grief, and learning to forgive. It approaches these topics in a warm, homespun way that weaves plenty of laughter inbetween the thoughtful moments.

Don, who now lives in Boston, is coming home to Winterset for a family gathering, but also to fulfill a simple request: his father wanted his ashes scattered two hours away, in Mt. Union, at the home of Don's grandparents. He's taken time out of his busy life to do this because he has to deal with his father's ghost. Unfortunately, grandma's house is now a grocery store, and what was supposed to be a simple gesture to make peace takes a wrong turn into a zany adventure.

The reasons he's driven so passionately to deal with his father are outlined in a series of flashbacks, interspersed with Don's soul-searching monologues. The flashbacks show us a caring but tightly-wound father determined to give his family a taste of adventure on a limited schedule and a strict budget. But in Iowa, adventures, Don points out, "are like steep hills: hard to come by."

The family vacations were tense, stressful affairs, and Don and his sister never really appreciated the effort. Don's journey, however, is to figure out what his father taught him, and how to do his memory justice. The script, by Tim Clue and Spike Manton, tells this story in all its fullness, becoming raucously humorous at times, quietly insightful at others. The use of language is particularly good; the cadence of most of the characters is easy and subtle, terse with plenty of repetition, and it gives the actors a lot to work with when a simple "that's all right" or "you betcha" can say so much.

Russ Keast, who plays the lead, is a good storyteller, and his simple, honest Don is quite relatable. He has a great physical energy, and is a lot of fun in the comic scenes. When he transitions from a boy to an adult and back, his detailed acting work shows. He wears the same costume, but he somehow gets a little bit bigger, a little more confident, and his scenework gets less broad and carefree. You can see the consistency between the two time periods, but you can also see the change. It's very effective.

Bill Croghan is great as the well-meaning but often infuriating Dad. He runs every scene with restless energy, very rarely backing down from a conflict but speaking volumes about the inner life of this character when he does. The comedy comes from the unstoppable drive of the father, but the meaningful center of the piece comes from the purity of his philosophy: he wants his family to appreciate the wonder of life, the way a simple stretch of road can give us such insight into ourselves and our history.

Croghan deals with the transitions extremely well. The father is in the scenes with the adult Don, listening quietly and waiting to see what he will do. Here his agitated, on-the-go manner is completely lifted and he is a quiet, calm -- but still curious -- ghost. This great acting really sells the piece.

Carole Martin and Mary Jane Myers play the roles of Sister and Mom, respectively, and they work well with Keast and Croghan to create some really fun scenes of chaotic family squabbles. Duane Larson and Sarah Fried play a wide variety of characters that are met on the road, and their versatility, tireless energy, and onstage chemistry is incredible. The sheer amount of character work done here is impressive, but none of it is showboating; it's all done to serve a quirky and engaging story.

Wayne Haug's direction shapes the play quite well. The scenework, for all its variety, is consistently nuanced. The laughs hit home and the deeper scenes tug at the heartstrings. Haug says he saw the show at the Royal George Theatre at Chicago, and just had to bring it home to Gwen's; his passion for the work is evident. Haug also designed the set, a simple and effective arrangement that creates a "car" out of four chairs, a steering wheel, and a backdrop of picturesque rural Iowa, leaving plenty of playing space.

Barb Shepley's costume design deserves special mention here. There are a lot of costume changes in this show, but they all go smoothly, and everyone, from the part-Cherokee farmer to the diehard Hawkeyes fan, looks the part.

Leaving Iowa is a very fun show that is sure to make you appreciate the things you miss on the side of the road. So hop in the car and head on down to Gwen's. Who knows? You just might find an adventure.

Leaving Iowa is presented as a dinner theatre at Gwen's Restaurant in Lisbon, on March 8th, 9th and 10th. Dinner is served at 6:30; the show begins at 7:30. Tickets are $25.

Leaving Iowa Opens March 8

MVLCT - This weekend, the Mt. Vernon Lisbon Community Theatre will be at Gwen's presenting Leaving Iowa, a comedy by Tim Clue and Spike Manton.

The play concerns Don, who has come back to Iowa to collect his father's ashes. Over the course of the play, he recalls old family road trips, including many funny encounters. Russ Keast plays the role of Don. Also featured are Bill Croghan, Mary Jane Myers, Carole Martin, Duane Larson and Sarah Fried. Wayne Haug directs.

The play is presented as a dinner theatre; Gwen's Restaurant (119 W Main St. in Lisbon) will be serving dinner. Dinner starts at 6:30 and the show begins at 7:30. Tickets are $25 and are available at Shepley Pharmacy and Lisbon Public Library. The show runs March 8th through March 10th.

Energetic Frog and Toad Cast Delivers

by Andrew Juhl

Mount Vernon - A Year With Frog and Toad is a delightful family musical that can easily fall flat at the community theatre level. Not so much a linear story as a series of rolling set pieces, the musical requires a cast of energetic performers and a creative production staff. Thankfully, the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre has both.

More than any other thing, what sells MVLCT’s production this show is the enthusiasm of its cast. You can tell they’re having a great time, and their enjoyment is infectious.

And though the dialogue, songs, and morals are designed for children to consume and understand, the show is no less enjoyable for adults. There exists enough clever wordplay and you’ll-get-it-when-you’re-older themes (not jokes, but themes) that the adults in the audience often end up laughing harder, louder, and longer than the children.

A true ensemble piece if ever there was such a thing, no one actor or actress deserves to be singled out above the rest. Each and every performer brought something unique and wonderful to the evening. From Randy Dotson’s terribly large performance as a “Large & Terrible Frog” to Mary Morgan-Blacharski’s unerringly upbeat “Mouse” to Braden Rood’s hilariously exuberant “Snail” to Traci Rezabek’s unexpectedly touching “Young Frog” to … well, pretty much everything Kim Benesh did. And, of course, there was Frog (Steve Rezabek) and Toad (Jay Gunn), who were fun and charming throughout.

Directors Laura Werkman and Damon Cole did a fabulous job bringing this warm, pleasant comedy about friendship and life to the stage. If you have children—and even if you don’t—seeing MVLCT’s production of A Year With Frog and Toad this weekend will not be a waste of your time or money. Two more performances remaining - tonight at 7:00 pm and tomorrow at 2:00 pm. For information, go here.

Check out MVLCT's Frog and Toad

Mount Vernon - Mount Vernon/Lisbon Community Theatre will present A Year with Frog and Toad on November 17 and 18 at 7 PM and November 19 at 2 PM in the auditorium of the First Street Building in Mount Vernon. The musical is based on the children's book series by Arnold Lobel, with music by Robert Reale and book and lyrics by Willie Reale.

Portraying the characters are Kim Benesh, Randy Dotson, Jay Gunn, Nanette Gunn, Mary Morgan-Blacharski and Braden Rood of Mount Vernon and Steve Rezabek and Traci Rezabek of Cedar Rapids. Laura Werkman of Mount Vernon is directing and Damon Cole of Cedar Rapids is music director. A preview of the show will be given for students at Lisbon and Mount Vernon elementary schools on November 16. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior and students ages 11-18, and $8 for students 10 and under. Call Braden Rood at 319-654-1016 for more information.

Check out a comedy that warms your heart

by Meghan D'Souza

Lisbon - The Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Theatre invited audience members to join them in the elaborately decorated 1930s Brooklyn home of Martin Vanderhof for a lesson about what is really important in life, shown to us in a most zany way. Their production of You Can't Take It With You provides an enjoyable evening.

This group of actors was able to take "zany" and not go too far with it. Each character had his and her own quirks, and everyone in the play embraced them without turning the performance into a corny show. For instance, grown and married daughter Essie, played by Tawnua Tenley, is certain she is destined to be a ballet dancer. Because of this, she is constantly dancing and spinning around the house. The closest she gets to a walk is a dancer-like glide across the stage. She can even be found practicing on the furniture. As an actress, Tenley does a fabulous job taking on this role and maintaining it throughout the play.

As the other daughter, Alice, who fits more in society's norms, Andrea Hallier found the fine line between showing great love for her family while also wishing they were less odd without ever seeming resentful about their behaviors, except when the play called for such behavior. The message of love and acceptance overriding materials and denial came across very well, in part due to Hallier's fine performance.

Along with truly becoming their characters, the actors did a fantastic job of exuding their familial relationship. I would venture to guess they grew close in the creation of the play, because watching them on stage truly seemed like watching a family who simply understands and loves each other in spite of, or perhaps because of their quirks.

This play was refreshing with the route the director Grant Freeman chose to take. The audience is treated to a performance by actors who truly become their characters. Had the wrong turns been taken, this could easily have become slapstick with overacting performers. It is a comedy with a heartwarming lesson. This group carried it out beautifully.

There is one more performance this evening at 7:30 at Lisbon Community School. Tickets available at Shepley Pharmacy, Lisbon Library, or at the door.

You Can't Take It With You Opens Thursday

Lisbon - The Mt Vernon Lisbon Community Theatre presents "You Can't Take It With You" at Lisbon Community School July 21, 22, and 23 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors, $8 children 10 and under. Tickets available at Shepley Pharmacy, Lisbon Library, or at the door.

Taken directly from the Dramatists website:

"At first the Sycamores seem mad, but it is not long before we realize that if they are mad, the rest of the world is madder. In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirbys. The plot shows how Tony, attractive young son of the Kirbys, falls in love with Alice Sycamore and brings his parents to dine at the Sycamore home on the wrong evening. The shock sustained by the Kirbys, who are invited to eat cheap food, shows Alice that marriage with Tony is out of the question. The Sycamores, however, though sympathetic to Alice, find it hard to realize her point of view. Meantime, Tony, who knows the Sycamores are right and his own people wrong, will not give her up!"

For more information, contact MVLCT at mvlcommunitytheatre@gmail.com or 319-895-8476.

Audition for MVLCT's summer show this weekend

Lisbon - Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Theatre announces their summer production of You Can't Take It With You by George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart. Auditions will be Sunday, June 5 & Monday, June 6 at 7pm at Lisbon Library's Heritage Hall. The show will run July 21, 22 & 23 in the Lisbon gym/auditorium. There are large & small roles for all ages and abilities.

Click here for details on the cast list and the plot summary. MVLCT's website is here.

MVLCT Presents Drama at Dry Gulch Creek

Lisbon - Mt. Vernon/Lisbon Community Theatre presents a new western comedy, Drama at Dry Gulch Creek, as dinner theatre at Gwen's Restaurant, 119 W. Main St., Lisbon on March 10 - 13. The play was written by Amy White, a member of the Black Doggers playwriting group. 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 play is set in Nevada Territory, 1897, in a town that has lost its identity. Once a watering hole and stagecoach stop in the newly settled southwestern desert, Dry Gulch Creek has been turned into a tourist mecca by its sheriff, James Austen Wheelwright, Jr., and corrupt mayor, James Austen Wheelwright, Sr. Both positive and negative reactions to the change come to light when Lacey Anderson returns to his home town after some time away. The ensuing discussions bring up many of the same problems that still exist within any community.

Cast members are Connett Croghan, Grant Freeman and Meghan Yamanishi of Mt. Vernon; Kyle Langhurst and Melinda Hudson of Lisbon; Charly Martin of Iowa City; Duane Larson of Marion; Susie Burns of Fairfax; and Paul Freese of Cedar Rapids. Chrissy Berlin of North Liberty is directing the show, which was written by Amy White of Mt. Vernon.

Tickets include the buffet meal and are available in advance at Shepley Pharmacy, 113 1st St. East, Mt. Vernon and Lisbon Public Library, 101 E. Main St., Lisbon. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, dinner is served at 6:30 PM and the show is at 7:30 PM. Tickets for evening shows are all $20 and the doors open at 6 PM. The Sunday show is a matinee and dinner is served at noon before the show starts at 1 PM; doors open at 11:30 AM. For this show only, tickets for children ten and under are $15; all other tickets are $20. Seating is limited.