CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today issued the following statement in favor of legislation supported by President Barack Obama to close the corporate tax inversion loophole:

"Big corporations should not be allowed to exploit the tax code to avoid paying their fair share. Members of the House and Senate supporting closure of this loophole are right - corporations should not be allowed to shirk their own responsibilities while passing on the burden to everyday taxpayers.

"These corporations benefit from America's world-class infrastructure, education system, skilled workforce and competitive economy - not to mention U.S. customers. Yet they're looking to renounce their citizenship and shortchange America and the everyday people who helped them grow and thrive.

"I urge Congress to take swift action on the President's proposal to end this abuse and close this unpatriotic loophole. It's the right thing to do."

Israeli Consulate to the Midwest rep to provide info, answer questions in program at Davenport Library-Eastern Avenue branch at 6:30 PM

ROCK ISLAND, IL - The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities (www.jfqc.org) will host an informational program with a diplomat from the Israeli Consulate to the Midwest (Chicago) this Thursday, July 31st - 6:30 PM - at Davenport Public Library-Eastern Ave. Branch (6000 Eastern Ave, Davenport, IA).

The appearance, which was requested by the Jewish Federation, will share details on how the current conflict came to this point and what is happening now. It will also give an opportunity for the community audience to ask questions and move beyond media reports for a dialogue on the current conflict.

In addition, there will also be some brief information provided on the Jewish Federations of North America's "Stop the Sirens" campaign (www.jewishfederations.org/stopthesirens) to assist with social service needs for Israelis in the affected areas.

The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cites (www.jfqc.org) is a non-profit, 501 c (3) Illinois corporation founded in 1980. With other local organizations, JFQC addresses a broad range of needs to include cultural, religious, educational, family welfare, care of the elderly and interfaith relations. The Federation combats hate and anti-Semitism by supporting religious liberty and civil rights for everyone.

The core mission of JFQC is to preserve, protect, enrich and enhance Jewish communal life and the well-being of Jews locally, in Israel and throughout the world. It is a proud member of the Jewish Federations of North America (www.jewishfederations.org). The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jewishfedqc.

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The annual Brucemore Garden & Art Show will return Saturday, August 23 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.

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. Main Stage presentation topics include seasonal gardening, and historic grottos. The Linn County Master Gardeners will showcase several displays and demonstrations in the formal garden, including "walkabouts" identifying trees, invasive pests, and seed saving. Plant vendors and horticultural organizations will share unusual and standard specimens, and artists will discuss their original paintings, pottery, and more. . Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency will provide free compost to all interested attendees. Children can participate in a complimentary, special project with the Ceramics Center, Linn County Master Gardeners, Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency, and Brucemore during the event.

Admission is $6.00 per person. Children 10 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are sold at the gate the day of the event or online at www.brucemore.org.  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, or outside food 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 and Penford Products.  The festival's main stage presentations are sponsored by Hills Bank and Trust Company. Free self-guided tours of the mansion's first floor are brought to you by Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust. 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.

Mount Carroll--Les Misérables, the most popular musical ever written, will be presented at Timber Lake Playhouse for the first time Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 10. Special guest star Jason Kraack, who has played the role of Jean Valjean on the national tour, leads the TLP production under the direction of Matthew Teague Miller.

Executive Director James Beaudry said, "We've been very lucky to assemble 28 of the best performers we've ever had at Timber Lake for this production. Our director has a long history with show having performed it around the world, and our star is giving one of the finest performances I've ever seen. Additionally, the orchestra is the largest we've had in my time here, and they are astonishing."

Les Misérables premiered in London in 1985 (where it continues to run) and quickly grew to be a major hit in the United States and in productions around the world. Now in its third Broadway production, the musical has long been available to schools, but only recently have professional theatres been granted the rights to produce this epic and triumphant show.

The story of Les Misérables spans two decades and is one of passion, dreams and redemption set against the backdrop of a nation in the throes of rebellion. Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment, finding nothing in store but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a life-long struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert. During the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront the truth after Valjean spares him and saves the life of Marius, a student revolutionary, who has captured the heart of Valjean's adopted daughter, Cosette.

Guest performer John B. Leen, a Jeff Award winner from Chicago, stars as Inspector Javert, with resident performers Nathan Goodrich and Caroline Murrah as Marius and Cosette, respectively. TLP favorite Erica Stephan returns to the company as Eponine, who longs for Marius. Lexie Plath plays Cosette's ill-fated mother, Fantine. Matt Webb and Analisha Santini proved comic relief as The Thenardiers, scheming their way through Paris.

Joining the adult cast are Lily Leding of Clinton, Iowa as Young Cosette, Avery Findlay of Savanna, Illinois as Young Eponine, and Cecelia Ryan of Sterling, Illinois as Gavroche.

"We were also lucky to find three young people in the area with the talent Lily, Cecelia and Avery have," says Beaudry. "They are a joy to work with, and the company's faces light up every time these young ladies perform."

"But it was the role of Jean Valjean--one of the most demanding in all musical theatre--that was the tough one. After a national search and many auditions in many cities, we found Jason Kraack. It's been a privilege to have him at Timber Lake for Les Misérables."

Of his experience at TLP, Kraack said, "I have been amazed by the talent here. The cast is just amazing. The band, the directors, the designers--all of it. Theaters like TLP have their pick of the best talents of the future and they certainly hired the best young talents for this show. I have very much enjoyed the chance to mentor and learn from these great performers in our cast. I can't wait for audiences to see the hard work we have been doing for the past few weeks. They are going to be blown away!"

Les Misérables performs evenings at 7:30 p.m., and there are 2:00 p.m. matinees on Sundays and Wednesday. There is also a Saturday matinee performance on the opening weekend at 3pm. Tickets are $17-$23 and may be purchased through the box office 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily at 815-244-2035 or any time at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.

As part of the playhouse's Do Something Spectacular: Live The Story campaign, TLP is partnering with The Table, a group that serves hot meals in Carroll County Monday through Friday at no charge. Part of Great River Outreach, The Table has served over 45,000 meals to date. A non-perishable food drive to support The Table will be held at TLP throughout the run of Les Misérables.

The Table has a specific need for cereal, rice, dry beans, peas, soda crackers, egg and elbow pasta, canned fruit, pancake mix, and pork and beans. Cash donations may be made to cover the organization's needs for meat. Anyone able to make a donation of chickens, pigs or cows is encouraged to contact the organization directly at 815-990-6511 or greatriveroutreach@yahoo.com. All non-perishable donations may be dropped off at Timber Lake Playhouse, located at 8215 Black Oak Road in Mount Carroll, during box office hours (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or before any performance of Les Misérables.

Full Production Credits:

TIMBER   LAKE   PLAYHOUSE Presents a new production of BOUBLIL and SCHÖNBERG'S Les Misérables, a musical by ALAIN BOUBLIL and CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG.  Based on a novel by VICTOR HUGO.  Music by CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG.  Lyrics by HERBERT KRETZMER.  Original French Text by ALAIN BOUBLIL and JEAN-MARC NATEL.  Additional material by JAMES FENTON.  Adapted and originally directed by TREVOR NUNN and JOHN CAIRD.  Orchestrations by JOHN CAMERON

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Directed by

MATTHEW TEAGUE MILLER

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Music Direction by CINDY BLANC

Assistant Music Director MICHAEL USELMANN

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Original London Production by CAMERON MACKINTOSH and THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

"Les Miserables" is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 W. 54th St. New york, NY 10019

Ph. 212-541-4684 Fax. 212-397-4684 www.mtishows.com

This program is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

CAST:

Jean Valjean ............................................................................ Jason Kraack*

Javert .......................................................................................... John Leen

Fantine ....................................................................................... Lexie Plath

Eponine .................................................................................. Erica Stephan

Cosette ................................................................................ Caroline Murrah

Marius ................................................................................ Nathan Goodrich

Thenardier .................................................................................. Matt Webb

Madame Thenardier ............................................................... Analisha Santini

Enjorlas .................................................................................. Gabriel Brown

Gavroche .................................................................................. Cecelia Ryan

Young Cosette ........................................................................... Lily Leding

Young Eponine ....................................................................  Avery  Findlay

Feuilly, Ensemble.................................................................. Ryan Armstrong

Ensemble ............................................................................. Anastasia Arnold

Brujon, u/s Jean Valjean ....................................................... Christopher Brady

Bamatabois, Grantaire ................................................................ Grant Brown

Joly, u/s Marius ...............................................................  Christian Chambers

Ensemble, u/s Cosette ................................................................ Bethany Fay

Ensemble .................................................................................. Allison Hunt

Claquesous, Ensemble ..................................................................  Cody Jolly

Bishop of Digne, Lesgles, Ensemble, u/s Javert ................................ Sean Knight

Courfeyrac, Ensemble ............................................................  Hunter Lindner

Ensemble, u/s Eponine ........................................................... Jessica Palkovic

Foreman, Combeferre, Ensemble .............................................  Blake W. Price

Montparnasse, Ensemble ............................................................... Levi Skoog

Babet, Ensemble .................................................................... Sawyer Smith*

Jean Prouvaire, Ensemble  ..................................................... Cameron Turner

Ensemble, u/s Fantine ............................................................... Melissa Weyn

*These actors appear through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

PRODUCTION DESIGN & STAFF

Production Stage Manager............................................ Mary-Catherine Mikalayunas

Assistant Stage Manager............................................................................ Katie Ritter

Scenic Designer........................................................................................... Colt Frank

Lighting & Projection Designer............................................................... James Kolditz

Technical Director....................................................................................... CJ Sneath

Properties Master ............................................................................. Anders Goodwin

Sound Designer / Master Electrician .................................................  Lucas Pawelski

Assistant Technical Director / Master Carpenter ..................................Joe Simpson

Carpenter ................................................................................................. Riley Wood

Scenic Artist ............................................................................. Ben Lipinski

Costume Shop Manager, Wig Designer ....................................... Emma Crafton

Assistant Costume Shop Manager ......................................... Kathleen Embrey

Costuming Assistant........................................................................... Corina Walbert