Midwest Theatre Spotlight, Numero Cuatro

For our fourth spotlight, I am directing you a little closer to home. Only one year old, the Encore Players are, as far as I am aware, the only professional musical theatre touring company in Iowa. Their current touring show is Celebrate Sondheim which features music from the composer/lyricist's songbook. The Encore Players were formed under the auspices of the newly built Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts in Fairfield, Iowa. The gala opening of that space is December 7. More information about the opening can be found here under the "Featured Events" section. The Center and the Encore Players are two more examples of what a culturally rich state we live in.

Midwest Theatre Spotlight, Numero Tres

As I was looking around the web for a good theatre to spotlight, I came across Apple Tree Theatre, which is located in Highland Park, Illinois. They're producing a play right now that Dreamwell considered a year or so ago: Twilight of the Golds by Jonathan Tolins. It's about a couple who are able through genetic testing to know that their child will be born gay. The parents consider abortion which upsets the child's uncle, who is gay. It's an interesting play although I think homosexuality isn't the best vehicle for a intense look at the effects of prenatal genetic testing. Looking at Apple Tree's history, they have done a great mix of classics and more challenging works with some musicals thrown in. Definitely a theatre worth checking out.

Midwest Theatre Spotlight Numero Dos!

The Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival in Michigan looks like a good time. Their current production is Cymbeline, a rarely performed Shakespearean play. They are setting the action against the backdrop of the American Civil War. Next year is their 15th anniversary and they're going to produce A Midsummer's Night Dream, which was their inaugural production. Cymbeline runs this weekend so consider a road trip to Michigan.

That is, if you've already seen City Circle's Frozen. Reviews of that show are coming soon.

Midwest Theatre Spotlight Numero Uno!

Every once in a while, I'll spotlight a midwestern theater. There are lots of theaters in the states surrounding Iowa. A lot are typical community theaters, but some are truly unique theaters with an interesting mission. The first spotlight theater is Hardcover Theater located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a lover of literature, this is a theater for me. Check out their mission statement:

Hardcover Theater's mission is to create entertaining, thought-provoking, and stylistically original adaptations of literature for the stage.

Making a book work onstage is no easy challenge. I've not had the chance to see one of their shows, but I'm certainly interested.

Their next production is called The Dark Side of Brothers Grimm. So consider a road trip in October. See what else is out there... especially since Dreamwell, ICCT, Catalyst and City Circle are taking October off.