New Website!

We've moved to a new home! Go to https://iowatheatre.wordpress.com/ to find us.

So why did we move?

The new site allows us more flexibility in terms of how we present the information. It also allows us to feature three articles on the top of the page. And we think it's just a cleaner look. In addition, we found that Wordpress works better for us than Blogger.

So come over to the new Iowa Theatre website.

The Andrews Brothers Opens June 4

Amana - The Andrews Brothers opens June 4 and runs through June 28 on the Old Creamery’s Main Stage, with shows on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 2:00 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm.

A USO show is threatened with cancellation when a certain famous trio of singing sisters fails to appear, and it’s up to three earnest and determined stagehands to go on with the show! Mistaken identities and madcap adventure along with the music of an entire generation highlight this wonderful valentine to the heroes of World War II. The Andrews Brothers is written by Roger Bean.

The cast includes Ali Foley, Ryan Gaffney, Vaughn Irving, and Zack Steele. The musicians include Tim Daugherty and Derek Dreier. Sean McCall is the director.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $18.50 for students, with a $12 special student rush rate for students purchase their tickets 30 minutes before the performance begins. Call the box office at 319-622-6262 for tickets and more information or visit the website.

Last SPT Show of the Season Tonight and Tomorrow Only

Cedar Rapids - The final installment of SPT's Tales from the Writers' Room series opens tonight. Entitled Magnificent 7, it features an evening of sketch comedy and drama, monologue, poetry and live music provided by SPT and musical guests.

From the press release: "Magnificent comes from the Latin magnificus, meaning 'great, elevated, noble, distinguished.' Someone actually decided to use this word for a Writers' Room show. Awkward!"

Special guests include Alex Schulte and Hannah Spina. The musical guests are Billy Heller, Greg Kanz and Dave Ollinger.

Bar opens at 7:00, doors open at 7:30, show at 8:00 at CSPS 1103 Third St SE, Cedar Rapids. Tickets available thought Legion Arts' website.

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.

A Review of Tons of Money

by Toni Wilson Wood

Waterloo - Alan Ayckbourn's Tons of Money is a hilarious farcical romp about indebtedness, inheritance, and imposters. This is the first show directed by Brian McCarty at Waterloo Community Playhouse and he has done a fine job with this show. What I love about McCarty’s approach to this show is that he’s really gathered together wonderful actors who meld together as an ensemble--each actor, no matter how big or small his or her part is, gives everything he or she can to the role--and you can see that in the performance.

Riverside's Moving Indoors for Summer Shows

Iowa City - After having to cancel shows for many years due to the flooding of Lower City Park, Riverside Cyrano de Bergerac entitled simply Cyrano as well as the classic play, Love Letters by A.R. Gurney. It's the Riverside Theatre Summer on Gilbert Street. Both shows run June 19-July 12, 2015.

Theatre has moved this year's summer productions indoors to their Gilbert Street location. They will present an intriguing adaptation of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac entitled simply Cyrano.

North Star's Jungle Book Opens June 3

Waterloo - North Star Community Services in Waterloo is putting together an inclusive community theatre production of The Jungle Book on June 3, 2015 at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls.

North Star’s inclusive community theatre project is a special opportunity for 120 people with disabilities and non-disabled volunteers to learn and work together in a collaborative effort to create amazing costumes, wonderful sets and props, and produce a fantastic full-scale musical theatre production, which will be free and open to the public.

This project offers opportunities for individuals who in the past may not have had the chance to participate in the performing arts. It allows the participants to use the process as a meaningful form of personal expression and growth, as well as provides a valuable life experience - promoting teamwork, responsibility, collaboration, leadership, communication skills, and self-confidence. The project creates a community presence, build community relationships, and serves as an inclusive experience for the community as a whole. People of all ages and backgrounds have attended the previous performances. This is an ideal platform to educate the public by raising awareness, showcasing what people with disabilities can accomplish, and promoting integration and inclusion. The last production, Peter Pan in 2013, nearly filled the Gallagher Bluedorn. Greg Holt will once again direct the show and veteran actor Brian John McCarty will be playing the part of Bagheera.

You can find more information on North Star’s website.

Evan Hilsaback Hired as Managing Director of CCPA

Coralville - A new Managing Director will soon take the stage at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Evan Hilsabeck will join the City of Coralville in June as the new leader of the Center. Most recently, Hilsabeck has served as the Managing Artistic Director for the Spencer Community Theater in Spencer, Iowa. Similar to the CCPA, Hilsabeck has overseen the programming and operations of their 266 seat house. He has been responsible for the technical and creative elements of producing theater works, developing a robust volunteer program, overseeing a rental costume shop operation, and leading both annual and major gifts campaigns. "I'm thrilled to be joining the team at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. There's such tremendous programming happening at the CCPA, and I look forward to meeting the many artists and patrons who call this theatre home," comments Hilsabeck.

Hilsabeck is a graduate of Gustavus Adophus College and the Eugene O'Neill National Theatre institute. He serves as a board member on the Iowa Arts Council. Hilsabeck will begin with the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on June 8.

(Source: CCPA email)

Dreamwell Announces Season and is Seeking Directors

Iowa City - Dreamwell Theatre has announced its 2015-16 season. In addition to two classic shows, the self-titled theatre of exploration will present three shows never before performed in our area. Dreamwell is also looking for directors for all of the shows. Previous experience with Dreamwell is not a requirement. Directors should be aware that Dreamwell is an all-volunteer theatre. Copies of all plays will be available at the Iowa City Public Library beginning Friday, May 15. Listed time-frames are tentative. Interested directors should send an e-mail indicating the play(s) they are interested in directing and briefly describe their interest in directing to Chuck Dufano, Artistic Chair at chuck@dreamwell.com. Director interviews will take place in early June.

Tons of Money Opens Friday

Waterloo – The Waterloo Community Playhouse has cast ten local, talented actors in roles for its upcoming production of Tons of Money. What happens when a down on his luck inventor finds out he’s about to receive an inheritance? He fakes his own death and attempts to come back as his long lost (presumably dead) cousin to collect the inheritance. Hilarity ensues in typical farce fashion.

The cast for the show is: