Having completed its 2013-14 season with the acclaimed production of True West, Davenport's QC Theatre Workshop is gearing up for its third season of performances with two exciting and funny presentations: the Tony Award-winning comedy 'Art,' running August 15 through 30, and Bat Boy: The Musical, with auditions for the October show taking place on July 26.

Translated by Oscar winner Christopher Hampton from the original French play by Yasmina Reza (author of 2009's Tony champ God of Carnage), 'Art' is a biting and hilarious exploration of male camaraderie, competitiveness, and ego. Reza's comedy revolves around the purchase of an enormous white painting, with white lines, that threatens the relationship of three longtime friends: Serge, who can't grasp his pals' disapproval of his new artwork; Marc, who can't fathom the $200,000 purchase of an all-white painting; and Yvan, who can't understand why everyone can't just get along.

Described by the New York Times as "very funny" and "an impeccably tailored piece of work," 'Art' received the 1998 Tony for Best Play and went on to run for 600 performances. The show was also produced by the area's Curtainbox Theatre Company in 2010, and the QC Theatre Workshop's Artistic Director Tyson Danner is delighted that the cast for that production - Adam Michael Lewis, Aaron Randolph III, and Mike Schulz - is returning, in their original roles, for this new take on 'Art.'

"At the Workshop, we are incredibly lucky to attract such stellar performers show after show," says Danner, "and these guys were all eager to reunite. I can't wait for our audiences to see what a riot they will be!"

Each member of the show's acting trio is already acquainted with the Workshop venue: Lewis appeared there in the Prenzie Players' 2013 production of Two Gentlemen of Verona; Randolph was the author of last summer's original drama A Green River; and Schulz performed in the company's springtime presentation of True West.

But while this stage reunion is taking place with the full support of 'Art''s Curtainbox director Dave Furness and producer Kimberly Kurtenbach Furness, Danner - who will direct the Workshop's production- stresses that the season-opener is not simply a remount of a previous area presentation.

"I am glad we can offer this play to our community again. Having been out of the area during the previous production, I'm looking forward to leading the production with a fresh perspective," says Danner. "Plus, 'Art' will take place exactly two years after our first production, and it couldn't be a better match. I love that we get the chance to produce this comedic flip-side of RED."

'Art' will be staged at the QC Theatre Workshop (1730 Wilkes Avenue, Davenport) from August 15 through 30. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances are at 3 p.m., and due to occasional strong language, the show is recommended for mature audiences.

Meanwhile, three weeks prior to 'Art''s opening, the theatre will host auditions for its October production (performance dates TBA) of the off-Broadway smash Bat Boy: The Musical, which will take place at the Workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.

Loosely based on the notorious Weekly World News story about a half-boy/half-bat who was discovered living alone in a cave, Bat Boy is the hysterical, clever, and surprisingly touching tale of a strange young creature and the townsfolk who despise him - a genre-bending hit that led the New York Times to rave, "It's remarkable what [this show's] intelligent wit can accomplish."

James Fairchild, from last fall's Workshop production of Last Call: The Songs of Stephen Sondheim and director of the District Theatre's A New Brain, will direct Bat Boy. Roles are available for male and female actors of all ages and types, with most characters open to the double- (and even triple- ) casting of performers. Those auditioning should be prepared to read from the script, and should prepare 32 bars, or one verse and chorus, of either a pop-rock song or an up-tempo musical-theatre selection. No monologues will be required, but those auditioning should come prepared to tell a joke.

As with the Workshop's eight previous productions, both 'Art' and Bat Boy: The Musical will be presented under the company's popular "Pay What It's Worth" policy, which allows patrons to determine their own ticket prices following each performance.

or info@QCTheatreWorkshop.org, or visit QCTheatreWorkshop.org.

Bat Boy: The Musical auditions

Saturday, July 26, 1 - 3 p.m.

'Art' performances

Friday, August 15, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 16, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 17, 3 p.m.

Friday, August 22, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 23, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 24, 3 p.m.

Friday, August 29, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 30, 7:30 p.m.

QC Theatre Workshop

1730 Wilkes Avenue, Davenport, Iowa, 52804

(563)650-2396

info@QCTheatreWorkshop.org

QCTheatreWorkshop.org

Facebook.com/QCTheatreWorkshop

On Wednesday, July 02, 2014 at approximately 1010 hours, the Scott County Sheriff's Office responded to the area of Scott Community College (SCC) reference a report of a female who had been physically assaulted.

Just minutes prior to the assault, the 47 year old female parked at SCC to watch a PV/Central high school baseball game. As she was exiting her vehicle, she was approached and physically pushed back into her vehicle by a male subject. The female struggled back, honking her vehicle horn and yelling.

She drew the attention of spectators at the game. The male subject took off running toward SCC, as a few spectators ran after him and kept view of his whereabouts. The spectators initiated a call to the Scott Emergency Communications Center (SECC) who in turn dispatched Deputies. A Deputy was able to take the male subject into custody shortly thereafter without incident.

The female while visibly upset by the incident, was not seriously injured.

The female did not know the male subject prior to the incident.

The male subject was identified and charged as follows:

Name: Anthony Duane Williams, Jr, age 24, a resident of Rock Island.

Charges:

1 count of Burglary 2nd Degree, a class "C" felony.

1 count of Driving While Revoked, a simple misdemeanor.

William's total bond on the charges filed is $ 10,300.00.

A photo of Williams can be seen at www.scottcountyiowa.com under "Sheriff's Office Inmate Listings" for today's date.

The case remains under further investigation.

No further information is being released at this time.

"A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty."

Not only have online dating sites opened up a whole new dynamic for singles looking for company - attitudes about the viability of these sites have become more positive.

The Pew Research Center recently published the following survey results:

• Almost 60 percent of Americans say online dating sites are a good way to meet people, up from 44 percent in 2005.

• While one-third of those who use the sites never go on an actual date - that leaves 66 percent of users who do.

• One in five young adults have used a dating site, and they're growing in popularity with older adults, too.

"I was one of those older adults who found online dating sites to be a convenient way to meet women for potential romance," says Charles W. Massie, a baby boomer who wrote about his online dating experience in a new novel, "Stains on the Gavel" (www.starshowpublications.com).

"Middle-aged singles have a smaller pool to draw from because so many men and women are married with families by then. That makes finding love tough."

Massie, an entrepreneurial businessman with his own business and a full schedule, says he was elated when things progressed quickly online with a hot prospect.

"I almost couldn't believe how lucky I was," he says. "Unfortunately, I did believe it, which led to this woman taking advantage of me in the worst way."

The woman set him up in an elaborate ruse that resulted in him going to jail on false charges, while she took possession of everything he owned.

"Something that was too good to be true wound up becoming a nightmare," says Massie, who suggests these red flags:

•  She likes everything about you. "To put it simply, I quit thinking with my brain," he says.

No matter how smart, established or successful you may be in other aspects of life, just about everyone of any age loves being love-drunk; it's not just for teens like Romeo and Juliet. But what are the chances that a smart and very attractive woman, about whom you know next to nothing, likes everything you like, do and are?

"The food I liked, the hobbies I liked, the music I liked and political affiliations were identical to hers," he says. "That was a red flag."

•  She asks you to move in almost immediately. Most smart young women are somewhat cautious while getting to know a potential new love interest.

"This woman, however, was all too eager for me to leave my home state to move into her home," Massie says. "That should tell you one of at least two things: she's either desperate for someone because she's emotionally unstable, or she has no fear of you, which could mean she's working an angle."

•  She really is, physically, too good to be true. It's possible that a hot date that's "out of your league" will come to love you for who you are - in time! On the other hand, when you weigh all of the conditions that may include the fact that you don't really know her, nor she you; that you are financially sound and she is not; that she suggests a living situation that's moving far too fast; that you've only known each other for a matter of weeks, and never met in person - "yeah, at that point, you should be at least a little skeptical," he says.

About Charles Massie

Charles Massie is an engineer, former member of the U.S. Navy and businessman, overseeing several companies including Massie Engineering Associates and InfoTech Consulting. He's also a prolific writer and owner of Starshow Publications. "Stains on the Gavel," www.starshowpublications.com, continues the story of his online dating and criminal justice nightmare, which began in his first novel, "Pinned: A Kentucky True Crime."

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Date: Jul 2, 2014