The T-Birds and Pink ladies will be out in force this week when the Moline High School Theatre Department puts on Grease!!!

(Moline, IL)   The Moline High School stage is turning into Rydell High School.  The popular musical is being put on this year with the help of a community member who is well known to local theatre goers-- Erin Platt,  She is directing the show and has handpicked a choreographer.  It's been 23 years since MHS has done the production.

The show runs Thursday (March 19), Friday (March 20) and Saturday the 21st at 7:30 pm in the school auditorium.  Tickets are $6.00 for students, $8.00 for adults.

Any publicity for the show is appreciated.  If you would like to interview Erin or a student please contact me at the above number

Hot Glass provides an opportunity for at-risk and under served youth in the Quad Cities (tuition free) to engage in a unique art experience while learning leadership and job skills that will encourage them to stay in and finish school. We also offer a variety of fee based classes to the public to sustain our mission of offering tuition free classes for youth.

Hot Glass uniquely uses art - specifically glass blowing - to provide youth with a life changing experience. Working with glass, students develop essential skills such as teamwork, communication, planning and decision-making, as well as job-related applications.  Most importantly, they learn that they have the responsibility and power to shape their futures. Some may find their passion in glassblowing and a future career. For others, Hot Glass offers a place to meet other teens with a similar interest and an opportunity to engage in a positive activity. Art provides a unique opportunity for teens to experience the success of creating something beautiful without the competition inherent in sports, academics, and other activities. A National Endowment for the Arts report found that at-risk students who have access to the arts in or out of school tend to have better academic results, better workforce opportunities, and more civic engagement.

We also offer an opportunity for interested students to join our Glass Team. These teens complete projects for commission, to sell to organizations (on special order for awards, for example), and possibly sell at the Farmers Market or the  Riverssance Festival. Glass Team members develop and exercise leadership and business skills while creating revenue to sustain Hot Glass' operations. Mentors - professional artists and business leaders - further these students' skills. We may ask some who truly excel on the Glass Team to teach future classes or mentor other youth.

Joel Ryser, Executive Director
104 Western Ave. Davenport, IA 52801
www.hotglassart.org hotglassdavenport@gmail.com 309.236.9223

The "Leadership Squad" at Edison Jr High is spending a few days on a college campus to learn how to be effective leaders....

(Rock Island, IL)  There are 7 eighth grade students from Edison Junior High school going to the University of Illinois Extension Summer Illini Academy in Leadership later this month.   They will be living and easting in the dorm for four days.  They will be learning about different leadership styles and attending Leadership training with about 300 to 400 students from around the state.   The Leadership Squad at Edison Junior High School is funded through the 21st CCLC "Lights  ON" for Learning program which partners with the University of Illinois Extension and Mrs. Diane Baker.

Site Coordinator, Susan Witmer, says the learning that will take place there is unmeasurable.   "Without this great community partnership, our students would not have this opportunity to see what it is like to live on a college campus, participate in community service projects in the Champaign area and see some of what college life is like."

Students will be on the University of Illinois campus from June 22 through June 25.  The students attending include Man Lun, Paw Ka Ku, Dakota Tello-Goossens, Mykeisha Wells, Rashawn Overton, Patience Mutoni and Ethan Wiley.  All total there are 20 Quad Citian attending the academy.

(Rock Island, IL)  According to the director, Diana Allen, "Bridges:  The Polly Musical" is an adaptation of the made-for-TV Disney movie, Polly.  That movie was a remake of a movie that came out in the 1950's with Hayley Mills called Pollyanna, but it used African Americans.  Allen says it is a story about love and hope in a black community.  It portrays both sides of a community?the black and white cultures?and how to build bridges between them.  The show is this Friday and Saturday, June 6th and 7th at 7:00 pm at the Rock Island High School Auditorium.

Allen says the intent of the program is to encourage people of all ages and color to attend the show and learn how to change a bad situation into a god one.  Allen says there will be 6:45 Pre-Show that will showcase aspiring artists.  Tickets are $10.00 per person....under five is free.

Allen and cast members will be available for interviews and photographs tonight and tomorrow night at 5:15 pm in the auditorium.