Brucemore announces the appointment of three new members to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees?President Brenda Duello (photo), University of Iowa Department of Medicine; Vice President Echo Batson (photo), Controller at Rockwell Collins; and Secretary Tom Peffer (photo), Senior Vice President at Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, P.L.C.  Craig DeWulf (photo), Assurance Director at RSM McGladrey, was appointed treasurer in December 2012 and will continue on the Executive Committee in 2013.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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Enjoy the tenth anniversary of hilarious stories, engaging conversation, and outstanding music with SPT Theatre and special guest, Jim Kern, during A Modern Salon, January 11, 12, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26 at 7:30 p.m. Emulating the Parisian salons at the turn of the twentieth century, A Modern Salon is held in the Mansion's Great Hall, where Brucemore's second family, the Douglases, frequently entertained guests. Admission is $45 per person or $40 per Brucemore member and includes pre-show wine tasting from First Avenue Wine House and appetizers starting at 7 p.m. Champagne and desserts will be served during intermission. Evening dress is encouraged and valet parking is available. Space is limited; purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org, by telephone at (319) 362-7375, or by visiting the Brucemore Store.

No stranger to Brucemore and the local arts scene, Jim Kern will provide comically nostalgic insight into A Modern Salon with this year's theme, "tradition."  As former Assistant Director and Executive Director at Brucemore, Jim was instrumental in expanding the educational programs, tour menu, building and landscape preservation activities, and arts and culture events offered on the estate.  Now that he is officially retired, his biography is a list of former exploits and careers: teacher, stage director, actor, restaurateur, historic site director, development director, caterer, and Oprah panelist.  In short, he could never quite figure out what he wanted to be when and if he grew up.  He currently serves as Chair of the Cedar Rapids Visual Arts Commission, on the boards of the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Theatre Cedar Rapids, and as travel group host for Destinations Unlimited.  In July, he will return to the Classics at Brucemore, which he co-founded in 1996, as the Artistic Director for Cyrano de Bergerac.

 

SPT Theatre was founded by Doug Elliott, Gerard Estella, Janelle Lauer, and Jane Pini, four local performing artists looking to support, provide for, and expand the artistic opportunities available to performers and arts patrons in the Cultural Corridor. For further information about SPT Theatre, call (319) 361-5297 or visit www.spttheatre.org.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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Celebrate holidays past by participating in Brucemore's annual tradition, Holiday Mansion Tours, November 23 through December 30. Visitors will enjoy the seasonal splendor of 13 glowing trees, a dining room set for Christmas dinner, stunning mantel arrangements, the lush garland adornment of the grand staircase, and other seasonal cheer throughout the Mansion. The holidays at Brucemore are sponsored by Pearson.

Daytime tours will begin on the hour, Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and every half hour, Sundays, Noon to 3:00 p.m.  The last tour will begin at 3:00 p.m. Sunday tours will feature live music from the original 1927 Skinner Pipe Organ. Admission for daytime tours is $7 per adult, $3 per child, and free to Brucemore members. Tickets can be purchased the day of the tour in the Brucemore Store located in the Visitor Center.

Evening tours will be offered every 15 minutes from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, December 11, 13, 18, and 20. The last tour will begin at 7:30 p.m. Evening tours will feature live music from the original 1927 Skinner Pipe Organ. Admission for evening tours is $10 per adult, $7 per child, and $5 per Brucemore member. Tickets can be purchased the day of the tour in the Brucemore Store located in the Visitor Center.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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Explore over a century of Cedar Rapids history through guided evening tours of Brucemore, a 21-room Victorian Mansion, Tuesday, October 16 and Wednesday, October 17 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Experience the art, furnishings, technology, architecture, and stories preserved at Brucemore. Tours will begin every 30 minutes and last approximately 50 minutes. The last tour will start at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $7.00 for adults, $3.00 for children between the ages of 6 and 18, and free to Brucemore members. Purchase tickets the night of tour in the Brucemore Store and Visitor Center.

Brucemore is offering evening tours in conjunction with the new fall event?Scarecrow Invasion. From October 13 through 27, visitors will find scarecrows made by families, organizations, and businesses on display around the property. Awards for best scarecrow and various other categories voted on by the public will be announced on October 22. For more information on the Scarecrow Invasion or how to participate, please call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

 

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Visit every floor, peek into closed rooms, and satisfy curiosity through this all access pass to the Mansion during the Nooks and Crannies Tour, Brucemore's most popular specialty tour, Saturdays, October 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 9:30 a.m.Marvel at the Skinner pipe organ room, discover the architecture and oddities in the attic, and experience the sight and sound of a "rain storm" in the basement Tahitian Room. Examine the superior craftsmanship and learn about ongoing preservation work.

Advance ticket purchase for the Nooks and Crannies Tour is required. Space is limited. Purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org, by calling (319) 362-7375, or by visiting the Brucemore Store and Visitor Center. Admission is $15 per person and $12 for Brucemore members.  The tour is not recommended for children under 10 or individuals who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.  

 

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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Bring the whole family on the Hands on History: An Interactive Family Tour of the Brucemore gardens, grounds, and Mansion, September 18 at 6:00 p.m. Participants will learn about the daily lives of children and families in Victorian America while touring the estate, practicing etiquette of the era, and creating a craft project.

Tickets for Brucemore members are $10 per adult and $5 per child or $12 for non-member adults and $7 per child.  Space is limited; purchase tickets by visiting www.brucemore.org or calling (319) 362-7375. Family programming at Brucemore is sponsored by US Bank.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

 

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The annual Brucemore Garden and Art Show will return Saturday, August 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. amidst the historic charm of the Brucemore gardens and landscape. More than 60 artists and garden vendors from across the Midwest will share their expertise by showcasing unique products, vivid presentations, and pertinent information, including ceramics, plantings, jewelry, sculpture, glass, textiles, and more. New in 2012, The Glass Art Centre will be onsite conducting hot glass blowing demonstrations?gathering glass at 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit on the end of a blowpipe and making drinking vessels, vases, sculpture, and more.

Educational opportunities will captivate attendees, whether it's engaging in a one-on-one conversation, participating in an interactive display, or listening to a featured lecture. The Linn County Master Gardeners, Ceramics Center, Eastern Iowa Storm Water Education Program, and Trees Forever will lead relevant presentations on the festival's main stage along with author Kelly Norris's discussion on dividing and planting irises.  The Linn County Master Gardeners will showcase several displays and demonstrations in the Formal Garden, including raised-bed garden creation, insect identification, and heirloom vegetable care. Plant vendors and horticultural organizations will share unusual and standard specimens; and artists will eagerly discuss their original pieces of work. Featured vendors include In The Country Gardens & Gifts of Independence, providing fairy gardens, garden art, succulents, and birdhouses; and fine art paintings by Solon's Susan Kennicott of Kennicott Fine Art.

The 2012 show will continue its rich tradition of incorporating hands-on activities for families.  Children can decorate flower pots with mosaic pieces, fire raku, and participate in a clay activity with the Ceramics Center. For the third year, the special section "Chew on This" will highlight organic and locally grown food with interactive displays, heirloom tomato tasting, frozen custard tasting, old fashion lawn games, watermelon seed spitting contests, an insect petting zoo, and more. Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency will provide free compost to all interested attendees.

Tickets are sold at the gate the day of the event or online at www.brucemore.org.  Admission is $6.00 per person. Children 10 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is off-site. Shuttle service is available from Washington High School throughout the day. Handicap parking is available on-site by entering the First Avenue gate only. No pets, coolers, outside food, or weapons allowed during the event. Food and beverage vendors will be available on-site. The Brucemore Garden and Art Show is sponsored by Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency, Green Endeavors, and Penford Products.  For further information on the Brucemore Garden and Art Show, please call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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Brucemore will celebrate the tenth anniversary of Cabaret in the Courtyard, the sophisticated and saucy nightclub event at Brucemore, August 9 - 11 and 16 - 18 at 7:30 p.m. The ambience of the Brucemore Visitor Center courtyard will be transformed into a cabaret club with tables, chairs, twinkling lights, and stars on the stage and in the sky for two back-to-back weekends you don't want to miss. Cabaret in the Courtyard is sponsored by Bankers Trust and Novak Design Group.

The first weekend, August 9 - 11, features local Eastern Iowa native and singer-songwriter Susan Werner.  Last seen in Cedar Rapids at the grand opening of CSPS in 2011, she will charm audiences with her effortless blend of folk, country, agnostic gospel, jazz, and pop. Visit www.susanwerner.com for more information about Susan Werner or to sample her music.

The second weekend, August 16 - 18, brings four local comedians and well-known performers - Jason Alberty, Tim Boyle, Leslie Charipar, and Meg Merckens - to one stage to entertain audiences with stand-up comedy, improv, and humorous song. Courtyard Jesters follows the success of Brucemore's original production, Tenors Tonight, in 2011. Richard Barker is the stage director and Gerard Estella, one of the stars from the 2006 series, will return as musical director.

Advance tickets are $20 per person and $18 per Brucemore member. All tickets are $25 at the gate (if available). Limited space available; please call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org to purchase tickets. Individuals reserving five or more advance tickets will have tables reserved under their name. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with gates opening at 7:00 p.m. On-site parking is available. Patrons are encouraged to bring their favorite beverages and glasses, but no food is allowed.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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Music lovers and blues enthusiasts alike will revel in the live performances on Brucemore's First Avenue lawn at the 19th annual Bluesmore on Saturday, August 4 from 4:00 to 9:30 p.m. Presented by Brucemore and the Linn County Blues Society, Bluesmore will feature Janiva Magness, The Chris Beard Band, and BF Burt and the Instigators.  Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust sponsors Bluesmore 2012. Home Town Restyling sponsors the Back Porch Stage. The co-media sponsors are The Gazette and KCRG-TV9.

Janiva Magness, a charismatic performer known for her electrifying shows, is among the premier blues and R&B singers in the world today. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty and beauty born from her life experience. As a teenager, Janiva discovered her musical calling at an Otis Rush show. She formed her first band in 1985, Janiva Magness and the Mojomatics. She released a series of Indy albums before making her major label debut, What Love Will Do, on Alligator Records in 2008. Janiva has given her heart and soul to the blues during her nearly 30-year career, but the award-winning singer has reached a whole new level of intimacy in her recently released tenth studio album, Stronger for It. A gusty and dynamic musical powerhouse, Janiva has received a total of 17 Blues Music Award nominations to date. In 2009, she received the coveted Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year?only the second woman to ever win this award?and Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year for the third time.

Chris Beard, "The Prince of Blues," is a modern blues guitarist and singer like few others. His assertive voice and exciting guitar are a seamless combination of traditional blues with a contemporary edge. Born in 1957, Chris is the son of Joe Beard, a blues guitarist who grew up on Beale Street in the 1950s before moving to Rochester, New York. When family friends like Matt "Guitar" Murphy and Buddy Guy stopped by, young Chris became their willing pupil.?After years of playing the clubs in and around Rochester, Chris was offered the opportunity to record. In 1998, he released his debut record, Barwalkin', and earned a W.C. Handy nomination as Best New Blues Artist.

BF Burt and the Instigators have been touring the Midwest for over a decade with what they call "American Music," a mix of American blues, rock, soul, and funk. The band met in Iowa City at the Yacht Club's Monday night Blues Jam and formed a four piece group of drums, bass, guitar, harmonica, and vocals. They have had the opportunity to observe, work with, interview, and perform with blues legends like Koko Taylor, B.B.King, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Albert Collins, Luther Allison, and many more. From local "battle of the bands" and Iowa Blues Challenge winners, the Instigators have won numerous awards. They have been featured at the Top 25 Unsigned Blues Band Competition and the International Blues Band Contest.

Advance Bluesmore tickets are $13 per adult and $12 per student or Brucemore/Linn County Blues Society member. All tickets are $15 at the gate - no discounts are available the day of the event. Children age 10 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.  Advance tickets must be purchased by August 3 and are available through Brucemore by calling (319) 362-7375, by visiting www.brucemore.org, or at the following outlets: Brewed Awakenings, Chappy's Safari Lounge, Checkers Tavern, Music Loft, Guitar Center, J.M. O'Malley's, The Longbranch Hotel, Music-Go-Round, Parlor City Pub and Eatery, and West Music (Cedar Rapids). Tickets are non-refundable.

Gates open at 3:00 p.m. Bands will perform from 4:00 to 9:30 p.m. on the First Avenue lawn at Brucemore, 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. No on-site parking is available except handicap parking by entering on Dows Lane. No pets, coolers, or outside food is allowed during the event. Food and beverage vendors are available on-site, including the Jaycees beer tent. For further information on Bluesmore, please visit www.brucemore.org, www.lcbs.org, or call (319) 362-7375 or (319) 399-5105.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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The Classics at Brucemore: The Night of the Iguana

Let a live mariachi band transport you to Puerto Barrio, Mexico, the setting of American playwright Tennessee Williams's drama, The Night of the Iguana. This year's Classics at Brucemore performances are July 12-14 and 19-21 at 8:00 p.m. in the natural amphitheater near the pond on the Brucemore estate. Gates open at 7:00 p.m.

Tennessee Williams, considered one of the greatest American playwrights, is most known for two Pulitzer Prize dramas, A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955).  Debuting on Broadway in 1961 and winning the New York Drama Critics Award, The Night of the Iguana is the last of Williams's major successes. Set at a Mexican hotel in the early 1940s, the drama presents several character portraits in an exploration of what it means to be human.

"We chose this show for the Classics because it has all the great hallmarks of a Classics show," said Artistic Director Jason Alberty, "a gorgeous outdoor setting, compelling characters, a classic literary pedigree, and themes that reach out to all of us."

Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Corridor Business Journal, The Night of the Iguana features a cast of the area's finest actors. Ten return to the Classics stage, including Heather Akers, Richie Akers, Megan Turner Ginsberg, Scott Humeston, Jim Kropa, Nathan Nelson, Marty Norton, Katy Slaven, Hannah Spina, and Len Struttmann. Making their Classics debut are Andrew Clancey, Olivia Frisch, Kivan Kirk, and Skyler Mathias.

Audiences for the Classics at Brucemore are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnics, and beverages to enjoy pre-show revelry from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.  A trio from Mariachi de Colores, an Iowa based ensemble founded in 2010, will enhance the experience and set the tone for the show with traditional music. The full ensemble numbers 11 musicians from Mexico, Panama, and the United States. For more information about the band, please contact the director of Mariachi de Colores, Ed East, at (319) 504-2122.

Advance tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for Brucemore members and students. All tickets at the gate are $20.  Tickets may be purchased at the Brucemore Store or by calling (319) 362-7375. Parking is available on the grounds. For additional information, please visit the Brucemore website, www.brucemore.org.

The Classics at Brucemore began as collaboration between Torchlight Theatrics and Brucemore in 1996, thus launching outdoor theatre in Eastern Iowa. The Classics celebrates a rich history of quality live theatre, from Greek tragedy to Shakespearean comedy and twentieth  century American drama. Much more than a play performed outdoors, the Classics fully utilizes the site as the natural amphitheater provides a lush backdrop and the outdoor environment is incorporated into the action ? actors emerge from the woods, get dunked in the pond, and help themselves to the audience's picnics.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org

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