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.

SPT will present Magnicent 7 May 22 & 23

Cedar Rapids - SPT Theatre will conclude their "7" themed season of Tales from the Writers' Room with a show called Magnificent 7. The show will be performed at CSPS, 1103 Third St SE, Cedar Rapids at 8 pm on May 22 and 23.

From the SPT email:

"Featuring the original musings of the members of the Writers' Room, Tales is an evening of sketch comedy and drama, monologue, poetry and live music provided by SPT and musical guests. 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. Musical guests Billy Heller, Greg Kanz and Dave Ollinger. The bar opens at 7:00, the doors open at 7:30, and the show starts at 8:00. More information available at spttheatre.org and legionarts.org.

An Itch to Scratch

By K. Michael Moore

Cedar Rapids - Some of my most amazing memories are of sitting in some friend’s basement, or around a table at some dive, tossing back a couple beers and having a bull session with my creative, often acerbic, always dreaming, creative friends. The unplanned conversations that spark a “You know what we could do…?” brainstorming session, that maybe leads to nothing at all but a couple laughs and a memory, or maybe becomes the next sensation. SPT’s Tales from the Writers’ Room series makes me feel like I’m watching those conversations every single time I go. The SPT troupe has this unplanned feel to everything, and it’s beautiful. They don’t waste time worrying about perfection, they throw together the funniest, best stuff they’ve got and see what sticks. And the result is really, really enjoyable.

For those who don’t know, Tales is like Cedar Rapids own SNL – a variety show of local writers and acting talent, with musical interludes between sketches. As far as I understand, like SNL, the performers come together in the week ahead of the 2-night set, and cram like hell to memorize, block, and put up a full evening of sketch comedy, spoken-word, and often electrifying concert-style music. Each season has a theme the writers must utilize, and each specific session has a specific topic – both must be included or at least nodded to in each sketch. In addition, each session includes the talents of the usual band of SPT ne’er-do-wells, and also 2 Guest Actors, a Guest Writer, and Musical Guest Artists. This season’s theme is “7”, and this weekend’s particular session was 7 Year Itch.

A Modern Salon at Brucemore

Cedar Rapids - "SPT's next A Modern Salon begins January 16th at Brucemore.

Tales from the Writers' Room: 7 Year Itch

Cedar Rapids - "SPT continues it's "Seven" theme with its next Tales from the Writers' Room, entitled 7-Year Itch, February 20 and 21 at 8pm at CSPS

Seven Deadly Sins Plays October 31 and November 1

Cedar Rapids - This weekend at CSPS (1103 Third St SE, Cedar Rapids): Sins don't kill. The people using the sins kill. Well, I suppose Gluttony can pop your stomach, so maybe ... well, come to think of it, Sins are ultimately pretty dangerous. Like bacon.

7 Deadly Sins feature special guests Nikki Stewart and John Smick with guest writer Chris Okiishi. Musical guests are Craig Erickson, Greg Kanz, & Dave Ollinger.

New "Tales from the Writers' Room" Season

Cedar Rapids - The 7th season of SPT's "Tales from the Writers' Room" begins September 12 with Lucky 7.

Tales from the Writers' Room: Nightcap

Cedar Rapids - How can it be the end of another Tales From the Writers' Room season already??? Come on up for a final nip from our menu on Friday, May 30th and Saturday, May 31st 8:00 p.m. at CSPS.

Catherine Blades comes back from New York to join new guest Alex Doser for our last show of this season. A little last tipple from the Writers' Room decanter, a last sip of our comic aperitif, a last quaff of music, always with a twist of something surprising. Let our Nightcap warm you for this last morsel from Food for Thought. All your favorites will be back including Jason Alberty, Doug Ellott, Akwi Niji, Jane Pini, Mary Sullivan and Adam Witte. Special musical guest Billy Heller will be there along with the rest of the band; Greg Kanz, Dave Ollinger and Gerard Estella.

Tales from the Writer's Room: Dessert

Cedar Rapids - "Yummmm. Dessert!

Three Special Guests come to play with our food for this weekend’s show and one of them might just do some live art!

Join us this weekend, April 4th and 5th, as Mel Andringa, Meg Merckens and Chris Okishi help create mayhem and magic among the regular cast of characters.

Musical Guests include Matt Brooks, Greg Kanz, Dave Ollinger and will feature our own fabulous Janelle Lauer!

Take Five From Your Busy Schedule to Check Out 5

By James E. Trainor III

Cedar Rapids - This weekend, SPT wraps up the fifth show of its fifth season of its Tales from the Writers' Room series. The theme of the show, as you might have guessed, is the number five. Though the show has moved spaces over the years and brought on director Richard Barker, the quality and the format remain the same: funny skits, thoughtful monologues, and rocking music.

Tales from the Writer's Room: Episode Five

Cedar Rapids - SPT'S 2012-13 Tales from the Writer's Room series closes with Episode Five on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8.

The show begins at 8:00 p.m. at CSPS -- 1103 3rd St SE in Cedar Rapids. Guest artists will be Jackson Bartelme and Hannah Spina. Musical guests: Matt Brooks, Greg Kanz, and Dave Ollinger.

Tales from the Writers' Room: 4 April 12 & 13

Cedar Rapids - The next installment of SPT's "Tales from the Writers' Room," entitled 4, will be performed at CSPS April 12 & 13 starting at 8:00 p.m. Guest Artists are Stephen Ginsberg and Meg Merckens; musical guests are Gayle Elliott, Craig Erickson, Greg Kanz & Dave Ollinger.

SPT Returns to CSPS

Cedar Rapids - SPT's "Tales from the Writer's Room" series opens its fifth season on September 14, with David Combs, David Morton, and Nicolette Coiner-Winn as guest artists, Matt Brooks and Ron DeWitte as musical guests. Episode 1 runs September 14 - 15 at 8:00 at CSPS - 1103 3rd St SE in Cedar Rapids. Tickets are $20 online, $25 at the door.

Sorry Opens June 1

SPT - The 2011-12 "Tales from the Writer's Room" series closes this weekend with Games People Play: Sorry. Special guests will be Scott Humeston, Aaron Murphy and Hannah Spina. Musical guests will be Craig Erickson, Greg Kanz and Dave Ollinger.

Games People Play: Sorry runs June 1 & 2 at 8:00 at CSPS in Cedar Rapids. Tickets are $25 at the door, $20 online.