Based in Chicago, Maggie Brown is a talented singer and performer who infuses her music with history and storytelling. She describes her style as "edutainment" and strives to use music to educate and uplift people. This performance is being sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society. For more information, please visit the Mississippi Valley Blues Society website at http://www.mvbs.org/index.php/education/115-bits-maggie-brown-2012.  For more information about other programs offered at any of the Davenport public libraries, visit www.davenportlibrary.com.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that his office will provide tickets to President Barack Obama's swearing in ceremony through a lottery system during the month of December.  Residents of Iowa's Second Congressional District who are interested in attending the event must fill out the form at http://loebsack.house.gov/inauguration to register for the lottery.  Each resident awarded a ticket will be responsible for their own travel arrangements.

The lottery drawing will take place in mid-December.  At that time, constituents will be required to provide additional information before they can secure their ticket allotment.

Inauguration Day is Monday, January 21, 2013.   It is expected there will be a variety of events that will not require tickets, including a public viewing area of the Inaugural ceremony on the National Mall and the public Inauguration parade. Iowans unable to attain tickets through Congressman Loebsack's office are encouraged to monitor the Inauguration Planning Committee website, http://inaugural.senate.gov/, for further details on non-ticketed events.

Please be aware that there are a few organizations trying to sell fake tickets to people.  Tickets are only being provided free of charge from official government offices, and tickets must be picked up in person from Loebsack's office before Inauguration. Any group that suggests differently is providing incorrect information.

Los Angeles, Chicago week runs plus NYC, Philly, San Francisco and more

CHICAGO -Sam I Am Films, producers of "Scrooge & Marley," a modern-day variation on Charles Dickens' classic holiday story, "A Christmas Carol," will show in more than a dozen cities this holiday season.

In Los Angeles, the film runs Nov. 21-27 at the Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena. In Chicago, the hometown film will run one week at the prestigious Music Box Theatre Nov. 29-Dec. 6, including an opening night gala with the actors and filmmakers.

The film will also be available on DVD and Blu-ray in December, and the soundtrack is now available. See www.scroogeandmarleymovie.com
for links to purchase items.

Acclaimed out actor David Pevsner portrays Ben Scrooge while former Saturday Night Live star Tim Kazurinsky appears as the Ghost of Jacob Marley. The film also stars Rusty Schwimmer, Bruce Vilanch, Megan Cavanagh, Ronnie Kroell, David Moretti, Richard Ganoung, and JoJo Baby. It is narrated by Tony award-winning actress Judith Light. The stars at the gala opening include Pevsner, Schwimmer, Vilanch, Cavanagh, Kroell, Moretti and Ganoung.

"Scrooge & Marley" was shot in Chicago in May and also highlights a host of recognized theatrical actors who round out the cast: Drew Anderson, Christopher Allen, Nicholas Bailey, Allison Torem, Fawzia Mirza, Peter Mohawk, Becca Kaufman, Scott Duff, PJ Powers, Amy Matheny and many more.

Scrooge & Marley features a wide range of music from award-winning singers and bands, with a special end credit song performed by Jason Gould and written for the film by Marsha Malamet, Liz Vidal and Stephan Oberhoff. Other performers in the film and soundtrack include Matt Alber, BETTY, Linda Good, Amber deLaurentis, Becca Kaufman, Jeannie Tanner and more.

Following are the upcoming screenings of the movie (more to be added):

Nov. 21-27: Laemmle Playhouse 7, 673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 310-478-3836, http://www.laemmle.com/viewmovie.php?mid=8602. All shows 1 p.m. Special talk-back with actors Sunday, Nov. 25, 1 p.m.

Nov. 29-Dec. 6, Chicago's Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, www.musicboxtheatre.com.

Wed., Dec. 5, 2012, 7 p.m.: The Seattle at The Rendezvous JewelBox Theatre (2322 2nd Ave., Seattle) will serve as host with proceeds benefiting Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea). This special screening is being presented by The Seattle Lesbian. Tickets are $10 general admission and $25 VIP. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m., full bar and food menu available. Brown Paper Tickets:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/297234 . Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/455830031130242/?fref=ts .

Thursday, Dec. 6: Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film festival special screening. 8 p.m., $10, at Baywalk Muvico, 151 2nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Fla., www.tiglff.com.

Friday, Dec. 7, 8 p.m., Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Drive, Three Oaks, Michigan, www.acorntheater.com.

Saturday, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, Mich., 616-459-4788,  www.grcmc.org/theatre.

Sunday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m., Cinema Center, 437 East Berry St., Fort Wayne, Ind., 260-426-3456, www.cinemacenter.org .

Sunday, Dec. 9, 4:30 p.m. at The Fleur Cinema, 4545 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, Iowa, 515-287-4545, $10; advance tickets available at the theater, www.fleurcinema.com.

Thursday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., Philadelphia Ritz East, 125 South Second Street, Philadelphia, Pa., 215-925-7900, tickets.landmarktheatres.com. Direct ticket link:  https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=273&MovieID=14229&ShowDate=12/13/2012&ScheduleID=19810

Thursday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., Camelot Theatre, Palm Springs, 2300 E. Baristo Rd., 760-325-6565, http://www.camelottheatres.com. Cast David Pevsner, Ronnie Kroell and David Moretti will do a post-show talk-back. Benefit for Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

Sunday, Dec. 16, 3:15 p.m., Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, Calif. In a double-header with "Hannah Free" starring Sharon Gless, 1 p.m., $8, start time, "Scrooge & Marley at 3:15 p.m., $10. Tickets available at the door prior to showtime, www.castrotheatre.com.

Sunday, Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m., Little Art Theatre, 247 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, Ohio, 937-767-7671. http://www.littleart.com.

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m., Nickelodeon Theatre, 1607 Main St., Columbia, SC, http://nickelodeon.org.

Thursday, Dec. 20, 5 p.m., Landmark Theatres Sunshine Cinema, 143 W. Houston St., New York, NY. Tickets: https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Ticketing.aspx?TheatreID=256&MovieID=14229&ShowDate=12/20/2012&ScheduleID=86239

Friday, Dec. 21, 8:15 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 22 at 7:45 p.m.; and Thursday, Dec. 27, 7:45 p.m. at Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N., State Street, Chicago, http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org.

Friday, Dec. 21, 7 and 9 p.m., Reel Affirmations XTRA: Monthly Film Series, at Carnegie Institute for Science at 1530 P Street NW, www.reelaffirmationsDecXtra.eventbrite.com.

More screenings to be added in additional cities this December.

The film is also on Tugg, a new website that allows people to create their own theatrical screening of current and classic movies at local theaters. See http://www.tugg.com/titles/scrooge-marley .

About SCROOGE & MARLEY

"Scrooge & Marley" is a modern-day variation on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Recounted from a gay sensibility, with heart, comedy and music, the magic of Dickens' timeless tale of a man's redemption at the holidays-thanks to the help of three ghostly spirits-comes alive from a fresh perspective that will appeal to audiences of every persuasion. The film is based on an original script by Ellen Stoneking, Knight and Timothy Imse. It was directed by Knight and Peter Neville. Producers of the film are Tracy Baim ("Hannah Free") and David Strzepek ("Foodgasm"), joined by several co-producers (Knight, Neville, Stoneking, Kroell, and Moretti) and noteworthy crew.

Full cast and production team bios at http://www.scroogeandmarleymovie.com .

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ScroogeMarleyCH .

On Facebook see https://www.facebook.com/ScroogeAndMarley .

TCR's Summer(land) Holiday Giveaway Begins Today!

Consider it an early holiday present from TCR to YOU.

Simply buy tickets to any opening weekend performance of Meet Me in St. Louis
(opens next Friday 11/23) and we'll give you an equal number of opening weekend tickets to the exciting new play The Summerland Project (opens in January) for FREE. 
Give them as gifts, or keep them for yourself, it really is that easy!

See the Fine (arts) Print at the bottom for more detail!

A Note from Meet Me in St. Louis Director, Casey Prince

During a time of year chock full of a sense of love and caring, it is appropriate that we are doing a show like Meet Me in St. Louis.  We are reminded of those simple things like family, love and devotion.  We are thankful for our home and those around us.  We take the time to ensure that they know how important they are to us.  We hope to say it with more than just a wrapped present, although sometimes we don't know a better way to say it.

No matter your faith, your story, your place, I believe we can all agree that there is a magic to this time of year.  For those that know this show, you'll know what I mean when I say that even something as simple as a trolley ride or anticipating the spring fair or realizing that your family isn't going to move is, well, magical.  I wholeheartedly believe that Meet Me in St. Louis will be a magical experience for all those that share in it.

On with the Show!

-Casey