March 18, 2013 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Theatre Cedar Rapids Accepting Submissions for 2013 Underground New Play Festival.

Continuing an annual tradition, TCR will hold the Underground New Play Festival during the fall of 2013. The Festival is currently accepting submissions of new plays written by playwrights residing in Iowa, or who have strong Iowa connections. TCR is looking for a wide variety of original plays which have never been produced or published.

Submissions can be ten-minute pieces, one-acts, or full-length plays. We welcome a wide variety of genres, from comedies to dramas to musicals, and pieces can appeal to a family audience, a strictly adult audience, or may be pieces geared specifically to a child audience.

Both established and experienced playwrights, as well as those new to the craft, are welcome to submit work. In addition to adult playwrights and directors, youth in grades 6-12 are encouraged to submit plays and apply to direct.

A blind copy of each play submitted will be read by a selection committee chaired by TCR's artistic director Leslie Charipar. Each piece selected by the committee will be produced by volunteer directors (also chosen by the committee) in the Grandon Studio theatre at TCR. Each Underground New Play Festival has been unique. Audiences are challenged by seeing new material and having an opportunity to participate in talkbacks with each piece's playwright, director and cast. Playwrights have the opportunity to see their work performed, and often rework material based on actor and director feedback. Those new to directing have opportunities to work with a cast and crew in producing a piece in a supportive workshop environment, and every Festival sees both new and returning actors onstage. The Festival is a true workshop experience for all participants.

Key dates for the 2013 Underground New Play Festival:


* May 6, 2013: Deadline for play submissions and director applications.
* May 31, 2013: Public announcement of the play titles selected and the names of each play's volunteer director.
* June 30, July 1-2, 2013: Actor auditions and callbacks for the Festival plays.
* September 2013: Underground New Play Festival performances.

For more information on submitting a play or applying to direct, please visit

http://www.theatrecr.org/get-involved/get_underground/. Additional questions regarding the Underground New Play Festival may be sent to TCR Education Coordinator Mike Wilhelm (mike@theatrecr.org).

February 1, 2013 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa - "Theatre as a Community Collaboration"

Six talented individuals from REM Iowa Developmental Services Hiawatha (RDS) have
spent six exciting weeks preparing for a very special night.  As a cooperative effort
of REM Iowa Developmental Services, Theatre Cedar Rapids and Legion Arts, this self-named
group, the "Team of Super Awesome Rock Stars", will present "Three Awesome Fables"
at CSPS Hall on Friday, February 8th at 6:00pm to an audience of invited peers,
family, and community members.

Theater Cedar Rapids Education Coordinator Mike Wilhelm coached the actors weekly
with exercises to encourage self-expression and interactions between players.  Legion
Arts has generously allowed the use of the historic theater at CSPS Hall in Cedar
Rapids so the participants could have the full experience of presenting on a stage
where scores of artists have presented before them.   Local artist Sonya Darrow
worked with the actors to create inspiring and creative costumes.  Musician and
teacher Brook Hoover was eager to lend his musical talents to the show by collaborating
with the troop of six on innovative sound techniques.  Todd Kimm of Legion Arts
was instrumental in catching the vision and bringing the team together to make the
project a great experience. The actors responded with teamwork, cooperation, and
pride in their accomplishments.

The RDS actors have had a wonderful time learning about movement, projecting their
voices, and following stage direction.  "I like it.  I think it's fun," says Douglas
Franta, one of the actors.  Shawn Stender also had an enjoyable time, "It's great
and very beautiful," he says of the experience.   Stephanie Bawek, Program Director
and Kevin Connor, Program Coordinator will lend their acting chops to the performance
as well.   Kevin believes the experience will be a memorable one for RDS, "The individuals
involved relish the idea of being in the theatre," he commented.  Felicia Sales,
actor from RDS, agrees, "I like to be a mouse and I really enjoy it!"

The theatre experience exemplifies the RDS mission of quality programming and community
integration. It is one of many opportunities individuals in our services enjoy along
with art classes, music therapy, and fun fitness coaching.   We hope the relationships
created within the community through this project will continue to inspire opportunities
and enhance lives.

For more information please contact TCR Education Coordinator Mike Wilhelm at 319-366-8591
or mike@theatrecr.org.

About Theatre Cedar Rapids

Among the region's largest and longest-operating community theatres, Theatre Cedar
Rapids is located in the Iowa Theater Building in the heart of downtown Cedar Rapids,
Iowa.  Founded by regionalist artist Grant Wood, TCR is a nationally-recognized
501(c)3 nonprofit community theatre embarking on its 79th season of quality local
programs that reach more than 55,000 eastern Iowans of all ages.  Core goals of
the organization center on the quality and accessibility of programs.  During the
August to July season, the 11 full-time staff, part-time help and contract artists
fill more than 3,000 volunteer placements and work together to create an ambitious
lineup of musicals, comedies, dramas and classics in addition to providing theatre
education programs. The mission of Theatre Cedar Rapids is "to provide quality theatre,
maximizing community participation and education in theatre arts to Cedar Rapids
and the surrounding region."

Quick Facts:

* 35,000 hours volunteered last year
* Over 60,000 patrons and participants last season
* Founded by artists Grant Wood and Marvin Cone in 1925
* An independent certified public accountant audits the theatre annually