The Velveteen Rabbit at Old Creamery

Hannah Spina and Jeff Haffner

Amana - The Old Creamery Theatre Company’s Theatre for Young Audiences is excited to announce the opening of The Velveteen Rabbit to start your family’s holiday season celebration. The show premieres on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. on The Old Creamery Theatre Main Stage; it runs through Saturday, Dec. 21.

In this delightful classic set to music, the Velveteen Rabbit longs to become real. Alone, forgotten, and teased by other toys, the Velveteen Rabbit’s world changes forever when he gets tucked into bed one night with the Boy. Illustrating the musings of the wisest toy in the box, will a toy become real once a child really loves it?

Directed by Sean McCall of Marengo, IA, the cast of The Velveteen Rabbit includes Tyler Brown of Nashville, TN; Katie Colletta of Rockton, IL; Jeff Haffner of Cleveland; Jackie McCall of Marengo, IA; Nikki Savitt of Arlington Heights, IL; Hannah Spina of Cedar Rapids, IA; and Alexander Quitman Volpi of Maysville, NC.

The Velveteen Rabbit is adapted from the classic story by Margery Williams, with book and lyrics by George Gray and music by Chris Talbert.

Shows are at 11 a.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, and Dec. 21. A weeknight performance is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19. Tickets are $8.50 per person. All seating is reserved. Walk-ins are always welcome if seats are available; however, reservations for The Velveteen Rabbit are highly recommended.

To order tickets, call the box office at 319-622-6262 or visit www.oldcreamery.com. The Velveteen Rabbit is sponsored by Scheels and 96.5 Kiss Country.

Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly Opens June 15

Hannah Spina, Beau Wilson, and Lou Petrucci

Amana – "Join The Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences and follow the adventures of Worm, Spider and Fly from their first day of school through the last as they learn to dream big in this show filled with music and fun for all! Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly opens June 15 on the Main Stage in Amana and runs through June 29.

The cast consists of Lou Petrucci, Beau Wilson, Hannah Spina, Jackie McCall, Lisa Crosby Wipperling, and Eddie Skaggs. Directed by Sean McCall, Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly was written by Joan Cushing.

Shows are at 1 p.m. on Saturdays, June 15, 22, and 29. Special weekday matinees are at 10 a.m. on Tuesday June 18, Thursday June 20, Wednesday June 26, and Thursday June 27. Tickets are $8.50 per person. Some weekday matinees are sold out so please call ahead to reserve your seats today. Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly is sponsored by Scheels with Kiss Country 96.5 as the media sponsor."

(Source: Old Creamery Press Release)

Three Little Pigs Full of Endearing Charm for the Younger Crowd

By Sharon Falduto (and Piper Falduto, age 5)
Photo by Jackie McCall

Amana—In our post-ironic age, it’s nice to see a good old straightforward telling of the story of the three little pigs. The Life and Times of the Three Little Pigs, by Gene Mackey, presented at the Old Creamery Theatre in their Theatre For Young Audiences series, is a delightful retelling of the age old tale of three pigs and the wolf who wants to eat them. I brought my 5 year old daughter Piper with me to get the view from the ground floor.

The Life and Times of the Three Little Pigs Opens March 30

Nicholas Hodge and Stacia McKee

Amana – "Can the three little pigs remember their survival skills as they go out into the world to make a living? Join Big, Tweeney and Wee and find out! The Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences presents a classic tale with an imaginative and musical twist in The Life and Times of the Three Little Pigs, opening Saturday, March 30 on the Main Stage in Amana.

A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail Opens November 24

Jeff Haffner (l) as Winnie-the-Pooh;
Nicholas Hodge as Eeyore

Amana – It’s almost Christmas Day in the 100-Acre Wood but Eeyore has lost his beautiful tail and is even gloomier than usual. Can Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Owl, and the whole gang help find Eeyore’s tail in time for the Christmas party? Come and find out as The Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences brings you A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail, complete with lots of music and fun.

The show opens Saturday, Nov. 24 at 11 a.m. on the Main Stage in Amana. The cast consists of Jeff Haffner of Cleveland, Ohio; Ian Zahren of South Amana; Elizabeth Higbee of Tonganoxie, Kansas; Nicholas Hodge of South Amana, T.J. Besler of Manchester, Kaitlyn Skaggs of Cedar Rapids, Jackie McCall of Marengo, and Eddie Skaggs of Cedar Rapids.

Directed by Sean McCall of Marengo, A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail runs through Dec. 15. Tickets are $8 per person and all seating is reserved. Show times are 11 a.m. on Saturdays; 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30; and 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4 and Thursday Dec. 6.

A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail is based on the stories by A. A. Milne with book, music, and lyrics by James. W. Rodgers.

Walk-ins are welcome if seats are still available. Reservations for this show are highly recommended. Call the box office at 800-35-AMANA (352-6262) or visit us online at oldcreamery.com.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company has been bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest for 41 years.

Bunnicula Opens October 20

Nicholas Hodge, Elizabeth Higbee, and Jeff Haffner

Amana - From Old Creamery:

"Join The Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences for the delightful story of Bunnicula, just in time for Halloween! Bunnicula opens Saturday, Oct. 20th on the Main Stage and runs through Nov. 3.

Written by James and Deborah Howe, adapted by Jon Klein with music by Chris Jeffries, Bunnicula follows the adventures of a cute and cuddly bunny by day and something else entirely by night!

Directed by Sean McCall of Marengo, the cast of Bunnicula consists of Nicholas Hodge of South Amana, Jeff Haffner of Cleveland Ohio, Elizabeth Higbee of Tonganoxie Kansas, Vaughn Irving of Washington DC, Jackie McCall of Marengo, and Max Locher and Brennan Urbi both of Cedar Rapids.

Bunnicula is rated Theatre G for all audiences. Tickets are $8 per person for reserved seating. Show times are 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, 27 and Nov. 3 and 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23, Thursday, Oct. 25 and Saturday Oct. 27. Walk-ins are welcome but some weekday matinees are sold out and reservations are highly recommended for all shows.

Bunnicula is sponsored by Scheels with Kiss Country 96.5 as the media sponsor.

For tickets or more information, call the box office at 800-35-AMANA or 800-352-6262 or visit the website at www.oldcreamery.com

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company is celebrating 41 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest."

Jack and the Beanstalk Opens June 16

Eddie Skaggs as Jack and Jeff Haffner as The Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk.

Old Creamery - Theatre for Young Audiences returns to Old Creamery this weekend with Jack and the Beanstalk, written by Bob Rafferty and directed by Tom Milligan.

Jack and the Beanstalk begins Saturday, June 16 and runs through June 30, with weekday shows at 10:00 AM (June 19, 21 and 27) and Saturday shows at 1:00 PM (June 16, 23 and 30). Tickets are $8.