What Are You Doing This Weekend?

We're going to the theatre. How about you?

There are a variety of choices available for the finicky theatre-goer out there. Let's look at the freshest first:

@Riverside
Working Group's brand-new play Toymaker's War opens tonight (February 23rd) at Riverside Theatre on Gilbert St. Written by Jennifer Fawcett and directed by Sean Christopher Lewis, it tells the story of an ambitious young journalist sucked into a world of child soldiers and ambiguous ethics. (Review here.)

@TCR
In the Grandon Studio at TCR, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde continues. It's Moises Kaufmann's look at the persecution of the famous satirist (Look here for a review).

@The Ox Yoke Inn
Murder Rides Again continues riding strong. (If you haven't made reservations for this weekend, never fear: they've added dates!

@Oster Regent Theatre
If you're in the Cedar Falls area (or you're not, and you're just up for a trek), you might want to check out the Oster Regent Theatre's production of Gogol's classic comedy, The Inspector General. It's a laugh-a-minute spectacle of mistaken identity, in its final weekend (7:30pm Friday & Saturday)

@The Englert
If you've been following the campaign season this year, you've probably heard a lot of talk about "Lincoln/Douglas" style debates. Wondering what all the fuss is about? Seeing The Rivalry might be informative. It's a docudrama by L. A. Theatre Works, using the original transcripts to create a entertaining and educational night of theatre. (Tonight only, 7:30pm)

@U of I
Or maybe you're thinking you'd sell your soul to see some college theatre? Then Dr. Faustus is the show for you! Christopher Marlowe's classic tale of reckless bargains, showing in Theatre B (Thursday through Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2pm)

@Cornell College
And if you're wondering what the devil that noise is next door, it's Cornell College's production of Sarah Ruhl's In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play. The play tells the curious and hilarious history of the creation of the vibrator, in Kimmel Theatre at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon. (Friday through Saturday 7pm, Sunday 2pm).

Last but not least, there are two special annual events going on in the area: Diamonds and Denim, by Riverside Theatre and Puppets and Pastries by Eulenspiegel. Diamonds and Denim includes an auction to support live professional theatre, and Puppets and Pastries involves a puppet show and some tasty treats. Both are guaranteed to be a great time, so get out there to celebrate and support local theatre!

That's your roundup for the week. Variety is the spice of life, so pick something and get out to the theatre!

Murder Rides Again Run Extended

Old Creamery - The dinner theatre murder mystery Murder Rides Again, now playing at Ox Yoke Inn, has added dates. Tickets are available for shows on March 23rd and 24th. More information here.

What Are You Doing This Weekend?

There's a wide variety of theatre in the Corridor this weekend, from old classics to brand-new works, with a little holiday (or rather, anti-holiday) flavor thrown in as well.

Here's the rundown:

@Riverside
Guys on Ice continues its run at Riverside. It's an ice-fishing musical about two pals trying to land a cable fishing show. The show starts at 7:30 (2 on Sunday); tickets Here.

@The Ox Yoke Inn
Murder Rides again is Old Creamery's whodunnit with food, held at the Ox Yoke Inn. The show begins at 6; call the Ox Yoke at 1.800.233.3441 for tickets.

@TCR
Theatre Cedar Rapids continues with the hilarious Oscar Wilde play The Importance of Being Earnest on the mainstage, while down in the basement, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde tells a darker tale of Oscar Wilde's persecution by a court that was highly suspicious of his work and his lifestyle. Earnest is on the mainstage Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 (Sunday at 2:30); Gross Indecency is in the Grandon at 7:30 Friday & Saturday. Tickets here.

@PS1
3 Brothers' Men Misbehaving is a series of bad-boy monologues that is stomping up the Corridor from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City this weekend. They'll be at Public Space One (129 E. Washington St) at 7:30 (2 on Sunday); call 319.621.0024 for tickets.

Also in Public Space on this weekend is Mud, a University of Iowa Theatre Honors Project. The play is written by Maria Irene Fornes and directed by Maria Vorhis. From the Facebook page:

"Mae is learning to read. When not at school, she irons all day and takes care of Lloyd. Mae meets Henry, and desiring his brilliant mind, invites him to live with them. Tensions in the house grow and Mae must choose between the world she inhabits and the world she craves."

The cost is free, and the time is 8 starting Thursday (tonight), and Friday. For Saturday and Sunday, the show will move to the University of Iowa Theatre Building, room 172.

@UI
While you're in the Theatre Building to see Mud, why not pop into the Next Room? Yes, the University is doing Sarah Ruhl's hit adult comedy In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play. It's an examination of the history of the vibrator, which was originally invented by Victorian doctors to cure "hysteria" in women. Ruhl's play is a bold and funny look at the sexual politics of the Victorian Age and the fear of feminine sexuality. It's at 8pm Friday and Saturday (no Sunday) in E. C. Mabie Theatre. Tickets through Hancher.

@Gilbert St. Piano Lounge
The sexy and funny In the Next Room must be the perfect show for Valentine's Day. But what if you can't stand Valentine's Day? Well, the perfect show for you might be Fourth Room's Anti-Valentine's Day Cabaret, F*CK LOVE!!! From Fourth Room's press release:

"Fourth Room Theatre presents an evening of piano and song dedicated to the misery, insanity, heartbreak, betrayal, boredom, loss, grief, unrequited passion, obsession, creepiness and sadism that comprise the dark side of Hallmark's favorite holiday.

F*ck Love features songs by C.Lo Green, George Michael, Stephen Sondheim, Adele, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Burt Bacharach, Weird All Yankovic, Leonard Cohen, Chess the Musical and many others."

The show begins at 8pm. Cost is a $5 donation at the door, which goes to help fund Fourth Room's next season.

@The UU
Dreamwell continues its "Here I Stand" season with Sans Merci by Joanna Adams. It's the story of a staunchly conservative woman's encounter with her daughter's lesbian lover. The girl has recently died tragically, and as the details unfold, the two very different survivors must find some common ground. Plays Friday & Saturday at 7:30 at the Unitarian Universalist Society. Tickets here.

@Coe College
Last but not least, the Acting Company is bringing a production of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors to Coe College. The production, directed by Ian Belknap, is a ridiculous romp playing off confusion and mistaken identity, centered around two pairs of long-lost twins. Plays Sunday at 3pm; call Coe's box office at 319.399.8600 for tickets.

So what are you waiting for? Plenty of options this weekend, so you've got no excuse. Grab your date, your twin, your imaginary brother, or your anti-Valentine's-Day anger, and get out to the theatre!

Murder Rides Again Opens February 3

Old Creamery - Saddle up and ride out to the Ox Yoke Inn this weekend to see Murder Rides Again, Old Creamery's wild-west murder mystery dinner.

Murder Rides Again features Ian Zahren, Sean McCall, Amber Snyder, Deborah Kennedy, Nicholas Hodge and Jackie McCall. It is written by James Daab.


Show dates are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Feb. 3 through 19; Tuesday, Feb. 14; Saturday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, March 3. All shows begin at 6 p.m. with seating opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 including dinner and show. Call the Ox Yoke Inn for reservations at 800-233-3441.

Murder Rides Again is sponsored by City Revealed Dining Guide.