Mount Carroll--Executive Director James Beaudry and Timber Lake Playhouse, will present the first regional production of Monty Python's SPAMALOT as part of TLP's upcoming summer season. Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, SPAMALOT retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, their quest for the Holy Grail and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French people. Did we mention the bevy of beautiful show girls? The show that "raises silliness to an artform" (The Sunday Times), will open August 1, 2013 and run through August 11th.

The show has been a huge hit in a long run on Broadway and on three national tours, but it had it's pre-Broadway premiere in Chicago, where its entire run was sold out before it began in late 2004. Beaudry confirmed that TLP was offered the rights to produce the show a full year ago, but had to keep mum about it until now. "Sean Cercone, director of professional licensing for Theatrical Rights Worldwide, contacted us and several other theatre companies in April 2012. We had a four-day window to make a decision and secure the rights, or the show would be unavailable because another national tour was going back out," Beaudry said.

"So we made it happen. But the only catch was that we couldn't advertise the show until March 2013. When we announced the rest of the season last July, we were as creative as possible about selling the show without saying anything specific about it." According to Beaudry, "It was quickly brought to our attention by some eager, Google-savvy subscribers, however, that the licensing company had our production listed on their website. We weren't allowed to advertise, but we were allowed to encourage people to go on their own quest to find the information we weren't allowed to tell. It quickly became the worst kept secret in the history of our company!"

The show that the New York Times calls a "no-holds-barred smash hit," will star John Chase of Mount Morris as King Arthur. He has previously been seen at TLP in Working, Sunset Boulevard and Oklahoma!. Sharriese Hamilton (Working, ...Spelling Bee) takes on the Tony Award winning role of The Lady of the Lake, Brandon Jess Ford (All Shook Up, Sunset Boulevard, Boeing Boeing) returns to play Sir Lancelot, and James Beaudry returns to the TLP stage in the role of Brave Sir Robin. Rounding out the cast are newcomers Brandyn Day (Baldwin Wallace University) as Sir Galahad, Cody Jolly (Webster University) as The Historian, Elliot Marach (Millikin University) as Sir Bedevere and Matthew Webb (Savannah College of Art and Design) as Patsy. The new resident company of TLP fills out the ensemble.

The 52nd Season at Timber Lake Playhouse opens June 6, 2013 and includes A Chorus Line, Tuesdays With Morrie, The Music Man, Unnecessary Farce, Spamalot and 'S Wonderful: The New Gershwin Musical. Subscriptions for all six shows are only $110. The Magic Owl Children's theatre will also present The Hobbit and Seussical. More information is available at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.

Monty Python's Spamalot performs August 1-11. Performances are at 7:30pm, Tuesday through Saturdays and there are 2pm matinees on Sunday and Wednesday. There is also a Saturday matinee performance on opening weekends at 3pm. Season subscribers and groups may reserve tickets immediately during regular business hours, 11am - 4pm Monday through Friday at 815-244-2035, or any time at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. Single tickets will go on sale May 20th.

Timber Lake Playhouse presents
Monty Python's SPAMALOT
Book & Lyrics by ERIC IDLE
Music by JOHN DU PREZ & ERIC IDLE
A new musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
From the original screenplay by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Original Broadway Production produced by Boyett Ostar Productions,The Shubert Organization, Arielle Tepper Madover, Stephanie McClelland/Lawrence Horowitz,Elan V McAllister/Allan S. Gordon, Independent Producers Network, Roy Furman, GRS Associates, Jam Theatricals, TGA Entertainment, Live Nation
Directed by Derek Bertelsen
This program is partially supported by a grant for the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

###

Governor and Public Health Officials Stress the Critical Need to Prevent Youth Violence

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) director, legislators and other public health officials at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago to kick-off National Youth Violence Prevention Week. The governor encouraged access to resources and non-violent conflict resolution as part of his agenda to increase public safety and protect Illinois' youth.

"Every child in Illinois deserves a chance to have a bright, healthy future," Governor Quinn said. "We must stop the violence now and work on solutions to protect this vulnerable generation."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of 14 people ages 10 to 24 are murdered every day in the United States. Each year, almost 740,000 children and youth are treated in hospital emergency departments - more than 84 youths every hour - as a result of violence. Young African-American and Latino men and children are disproportionately impacted, with the highest homicide rates of any group.

"Youth violence is a serious problem, but it is preventable," IDPH Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck said, a former lead scientist for the CDC Division of Violence Prevention and co-author of a Surgeon General's Report on Youth Violence in 2001. "It is a legitimate public health concern - as significant as exposure to secondhand smoke, a severe influenza outbreak or a contaminated water supply."

"In many ways, the problem of youth violence is more complex than even the most rare health conditions we treat at Lurie Children's," Karen Sheehan, MD, Attending Physician at Lurie Children's and Medical Director of its violence prevention consortium, Strengthening Chicago's Youth (SCY) said. "At the same time, it is important for every individual and organization to know that they can play a role in preventing violence. We applaud Governor Quinn and Dr. Hasbrouck for their leadership on this critical issue."

There are many risk factors that can lead to youth violence such as past victimization, family conflict, rejection by peers, drugs, alcohol and a lack of community involvement.  There are also several protective factors to help prevent youth violence including mentoring, parental training and involvement, non-violent conflict resolution, social skill building and support systems in the community.

For more information about youth violence prevention resources, please visit www.idph.state.il.us.

###

Hamlet Insurance Agency Inc. of Reynolds was recently named to the prestigious Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company President's Club for 2013.

Recognized by Grinnell Mutual President and CEO Larry Jansen, Hamlet Insurance Agency ranks among the company's top 50 agencies and 11 farm mutual companies for outstanding production and profitability over a five-year period.  President's Club members provide insights on key insurance and business issues to company management from Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance and Grinnell Select Insurance Companies.

"Our President's Club members are an impressive group of insurance professionals.  Many of these agencies have been successfully serving local policyholders for decades in an ever-changing market," said Jansen.  "For that reason, listening to our top agents and mutuals keeps our partnership and our service to the policyholder strong and stable.  They provide valuable insight as we seek their opinions on many topics, from product development to marketing."

The agents and staff at Hamlet Insurance Agency will be presented with a plaque and letter of recognition from Grinnell Mutual for the agency's notable achievement.

In business since 1909, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company provides reinsurance for mutual insurance companies and property and casualty insurance products through nearly 1,600 independent agents in 12 Midwestern states. Grinnell Mutual is the largest primary reinsurer of farm mutual companies in North America.

*****

For more information please contact:

Hamlet Insurance Agency
PO Box 5
Reynolds, IL 61279
Phone: 309-372-4227

ajahn@hamletmutual.com