10 Jan 2012

TCR TO HOLD AUDITIONS FOR 'WEDDING SINGER' JAN. 15 & 16

By Rick Martin

CEDAR RAPIDS - Theatre Cedar Rapids will hold auditions Sunday and Monday (Jan. 15 & 16) for "The Wedding Singer," the Tony Award-nominated musical that performs March 9-31.

Auditions will be held at 7 p.m. each night at the theatre, located at 102 Third St. SE. Auditioners are asked to prepare 16 bars of a song of their choice. Due to the '80s theme of the show, the directors encourage auditioners to choose a song that was popular in the 1980s. No accompanist will be provided, so be comfortable singing the song a capella.

Auditioners will be also asked to dance and to read from the script, and are encouraged to wear clothing that's comfortable to move in. If needed, callbacks will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Directed by Leslie Charipar with music direction by Janelle Lauer and choreography by Patricia Offt, "The Wedding Singer" is a musical comedy based on the movie starring Adam Sandler. The story of a wedding singer in 1985 New Jersey who goes berserk after his own fiancée leaves him at the altar, the musical version received multiple Tony nominations during its 2006 Broadway run.

For more information on the show, specific roles or general audition requirements, call (319) 366-8591 or visit www.theatrecr.org.

 

10 Jan 2012

The Big Dance

By Don Doxsie
A dozen top high school show choirs from three states will descend on Davenport North's Paul J. Holzworth Auditorium on January 21st for one of the Midwest's premier show choir invitationals, The Big Dance.

The 15th annual event will include preliminary competition from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and finals competition beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Among the competing schools will be Bettendorf, Davenport Central, Davenport West, Iowa City High, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Western Dubuque, Herscher (Ill.) and Bloomington (Minn.) Jefferson. Also included will be exhibition performances by North's own choirs, Northside Establishment and Center Stage.

Admission is $12 for adults, $7 for children and seniors.

For more information, contact:
Ryan Riewerts, North vocal music director       (563) 388-9884
Don Doxsie, The Big Dance co-chair      (563) 320-5002
Gale Doxsie, The Big Dance co-chair     (563) 320-5820
10 Jan 2012

Morthland presents check to E.H. Spencer Foundation

By Jonathan Wallace
Moline, IL...State Representative Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) will present a charitable donation to the E.H. Spencer Foundation with Rock Island Mayor Dennis Pauley.  A press conference will be held 10AM January 12 at Morthland's District Office, 4416 River Drive, Moline, IL to present the foundation with the check. The E.H. Spencer Foundation serves those who are "coping with physical or mental limitations due to aging, chronic or terminal illness, dementia diseases, and the caregivers serving this population."

WHO:  State Representative Rich Morthland and Rock Island Mayor Dennis Pauley
WHAT: Press Conference presenting a monetary donation to the E.H. Spencer Foundation
WHEN: 10:00AM CST, January 12, 2011
WHERE: State Representative Rich Morthland's District Office, 4416 River Drive, Moline, IL

"I am honored to able to support a charitable organization in our community," Morthland said. "Thank you also to AT&T and Mayor Dennis Pauley for partnering and supporting the E.H. Spencer Foundation."

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10 Jan 2012

Guys on Ice Opens at Riverside Theatre Jan. 20

By Sarah Burnett

Iowa City, IA - Guys on Ice: An Ice Fishing Musical Comedy, about two ice fishing buddies, opens at Riverside Theatre January 20 and runs through February 19. 

In this manly musical, long-time pals Lloyd and Marvin spend their free time in a ramshackle ice fishing shanty outside of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. As the guys anxiously await their opportunity to appear on a popular cable TV fishing show, they scramble to protect their beer from fellow angler, Ernie the Moocher.

They pass the time by fishing, swapping jokes, playing cards, talking about their romantic problems - and occasionally breaking into song and dance about snowmobile suits, beer, and fish.

 

With songs like "Ode to a Snowmobile Suit" and "Fish is de Miracle Food" Guys on Ice is sure to be a roaring good time that will charm your wool socks off. 

"This show has a cult following like you wouldn't believe, and rightly so," said John Watkins, who plays Lloyd. "It's a terrifically written show with fabulous music, a big heart, sidesplitting humor grounded in Ernie, Marvin and Lloyd's candid simplicity, and a halftime show where you can win prizes."

 

Book and lyrics are by Fred Alley and music is by James Kaplan. The show is directed by Riverside Theatre Resident Artist and Production Manager Ron Clark, who previously appeared as Marvin in the 2007 and 2009 productions of Guys on Ice. 

Watkins and Randal Sandersfeld play Lloyd and Marvin respectively. Watkins appeared as Lloyd in the 2009 production of Guys on Ice. This is Sandersfeld's first appearance on the Riverside stage. Ryan Westwood rounds out the cast as the dreaded Ernie the Moocher. Westwood was last seen at Riverside Theatre in End Days.

Guys on Ice also features lighting design by Courtney Schmitz Watson, choreography by Patrick DuLaney and accompaniment by Ruth Baldwin. The show is sponsored by ACT. Ernie the Moocher's popular "Half-Time Show," an audience quiz game, features prizes provided by Fin and Feather.

"I think the reason a lot of people don't know about Guys on Ice is that those who do are trying to keep it all for themselves," Watkins said.

Tickets for Guys on Ice, January 20 - February 19, are $15-$29 with discounts available for those over 60, those under 30, and youth. $15 students rush tickets are available on a first come first served basis 20 minutes before curtain. Tickets are available by phone at (319) 338-7672, online at www.riversidetheatre.org or in person at the Riverside Theatre Box Office, located at 213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City, IA.

 

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Performance calendar:

 

Friday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 22 at 2:00 p.m. - Talkback Sunday following the performance

Thursday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, January 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 29 at 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 5 at 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 12 at 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 p.m.

Talkback Sunday: January 22, 2012, stay after the Sunday performance on this date to chat with company members and gain behind-the-scenes info about the play.
10 Jan 2012

Riverside Theatre to Hold Outdoor Fish Fry Jan. 14

By Sarah Burnett

Iowa City, IA - Riverside Theatre will celebrate the opening of Guys on Ice: An Ice Fishing Musical Comedy with an outdoor fish fry on Jan. 14 from Noon-3 p.m.

Guys on Ice: An Ice Fishing Musical is a manly musical about two ice fishing buddies from Wisconsin. The show runs Jan. 20-Feb. 19, at Riverside Theatre, 213 N Gilbert St, Iowa City.

The fish fry will be held outdoors in the parking lot off 319 E Bloomington, behind Murphy-Brookfield Books.

Tickets for the fish fry are $10 for a meal of fried fish served with sides, dessert and hot beverages.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 319-338-7672 or by stopping by the box office at 213 N Gilbert St.

All proceeds from the event benefit Riverside Theatre.

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10 Jan 2012

Grassley begins 2012 meetings with Iowans in 36 counties

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Starting today and through January 19, Senator Chuck Grassley will meet with Iowans in 36 counties.

Grassley has held at least one meeting in each of Iowa's 99 counties every year since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980.

The January meetings will take place in Riceville, Charles City, New Hampton, Waverly, Waterloo, Clarion, Dakota City, Algona, Forest City, Garner, Hampton, Mason City, Manly, Osage, Calmar, West Union, Independence, Manchester, Vinton, Gladbrook, Centerville, Albia, Chariton, Corydon, Garden Grove, Mt. Ayr, Creston, Osceola, Winterset, Greenfield, Panora, Grimes, Grand Junction, Boone, Ames, and Le Grand.

"I look forward to these meetings to hear directly from Iowans and to have the kind of dialogue that's so important to the process of representative government.  I like to say this process is a two-way street.  I need to go to people to answer questions and listen to comments, and they need to come out and participate in the discussion," Grassley said.

In addition to regular, face-to-face meetings in Iowa and with Iowans in Washington when the Senate is in session, Grassley responds to every letter, email and phone call from Iowans.  He also communicates via Facebook, Twitter and at http://grassley.senate.gov.  Grassley is a regular guest on public affairs broadcasts statewide where he responds to questions.

Below is more information about this month's meetings.  The town meetings are open to the public.  Local hosts should be contacted regarding other meetings.  Grassley will be available for interviews with local reporters for 15 minutes after every meeting.*

 

Thursday, January 5

7-8 a.m.

Speak to the Riceville Kiwanis Club

Windy Tree Cafe

101 East Main Street in Riceville

 

9:15-10:15 a.m.

Tour School and Q&A with 5th and 6th Grade Students

Immaculate Conception Elementary School

1203 Clark Street in Charles City

 

10:45-11:15 a.m.

Floyd County Farm Bureau Coffee

North Iowa Area Community College Center, Room 110

200 Harwood Drive in Charles City

 

12-1 p.m.

Chickasaw County Town Meeting

Chickasaw Wellness Complex, Multipurpose Room

1050 West Hamilton Street in New Hampton

 

2:15-3:15 p.m.

Bremer County Town Meeting

Wartburg College, Whitehouse Business Center 214

100 Wartburg Boulevard in Waverly


Friday, January 6

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Tour Facility and Q&A with Employees

Engineered Products

2940 Airport Boulevard in Waterloo

 

Tuesday, January 10

8:30-9:15 a.m.

Q&A with U.S. History II Students

Clarion Goldfield High School

1111 Willow Drive in Clarion

*Grassley's media availability in Clarion will be at 8:15 a.m., in advance of the event, rather than immediately following.

 

10-11 a.m.

Humboldt County Town Meeting

VFW Post

412 Main Street in Dakota City

 

12:45-1:45 p.m.

Kossuth County Town Meeting

County Courthouse, Assembly Room

114 West State Street in Algona

 

3:15-4:15 p.m.

Winnebago County Town Meeting

Waldorf College, Salveson Ballroom

1006 South 6th Street in Forest City

 

5:15-6:15 p.m.

Hancock County Town Meeting

Garner Education Center

325 West 8th Street in Garner

 

Wednesday, January 11

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Franklin County Town Meeting

Center 1 Chamber, Large Room

5 1st Street SW in Hampton

 

9:45-10:45 a.m.

Q&A with Students

Newman Catholic High School

2445 19th Street SW in Mason City

 

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Worth County Town Meeting

Manly City Hall

106 South Broadway in Manly

 

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Mitchell County Town Meeting

Krapek Family Fine Arts Center, Cedar River Complex

809 Sawyer Drive in Osage

 

4:45-5:45 p.m.

Winneshiek County Town Meeting

Calmar Public Library, Community Room

101 South Washington Street in Calmar


Thursday, January 12

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Tour Facility and Q&A with Employees

Art's Way Manufacturing

706 Highway 150 South in West Union

 

10-11 a.m.

Buchanan County Town Meeting

County Courthouse, Assembly Room

210 5th Avenue NE in Independence

 

12-1 p.m.

Delaware County Town Meeting

Manchester Public Library

304 North Franklin in Manchester

 

2:45-3:45 p.m.

Benton County Town Meeting

City Hall, City Council Chambers

110 West 3rd Street in Vinton

 

5-6 p.m.

Tama County Town Meeting

American Legion

Corner of Johnston and Front streets in Gladbrook

 

Monday, January 16

5-6 p.m.

Appanoose County Weekly Meal at Faith United Methodist Church, Q&A with Attendees

23851 Highway 5 South in Centerville 

 

Tuesday, January 17

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Monroe County Town Meeting

Albia Area Chamber of Commerce

18 South Main Street in Albia

 

10:15-11:15 a.m.

Lucas County Town Meeting

Carpenter Hall

1215 Court Street in Chariton

 

12-1 p.m.

Wayne County Town Meeting

Wayne County Courthouse

100 North Lafayette in Corydon

 

2-3 p.m.

Speak to Government Class

Mormon Trail Jr./Sr. High School

502 East Main Street in Garden Grove

 

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Ringgold County Town Meeting

Jamie's Coffee Mill & Deli

118 West Adams Street in Mt. Ayr

 

Wednesday, January 18

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Union County Town Meeting

City Hall/Restored Depot, City Council Chambers

116 West Adams Street in Creston

 

9:45-10:45 a.m.

Q&A with Students

Clarke County High School

800 North Jackson in Osceola

 

12-1 p.m.

Madison County Town Meeting

Winterset Public Library, Meeting Room

123 North 2nd Street in Winterset

 

2-3 p.m.

Adair County Town Meeting

Andrews Memorial Adair County Health & Fitness Center, Meeting Room

202 North Townline Road in Greenfield

 

4:15-5:15 p.m.

Guthrie County Town Meeting

Panora Community Center

115 West Main Street in Panora

 

Thursday, January 19

8-9 a.m.

Q&A with Students

Dallas Center-Grimes Middle School

1400 Vine Street in Grimes

 

10:30-11:30 a.m.

Greene County Town Meeting

Grand Junction Community Center

212 Main Street in Grand Junction

 

12:30-1:30 p.m.

Boone County Town Meeting

Boone County Historical Center

602 Story Street in Boone

 

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Tour Facility and Q&A with Employees

Becker Underwood

801 Dayton Avenue in Ames

 

5-6 p.m.

Marshall County Town Meeting

Le Grand Area Community Center

206 North Vine Street in Le Grand

 

-30-

10 Jan 2012

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau appointment

By Grassley Press

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, today made the following comment on President Obama's appointment of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

"The President is upending years of Senate practice and legal precedent with this move. He's interpreting advice and consent as bypass and appoint.  It's an affront to constitutional checks and balances.  It's also an affront to the principle that every agency should have accountability, which the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lacks.  The President is ignoring the longstanding advice of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, which has found that an adjournment of '5 or even 10 days' would not be sufficient for a recess appointment.  I'm planning to write to the Attorney General to ask if the President asked for a new Justice Department opinion prior to making this appointment and whether the Attorney General agrees with it.  Regardless, the President needs to make clear why there was a change in position and what rationale the White House counsel used to overturn more than 90 years of Justice Department precedent.  The White House should make the rationale public.  The public's business ought to be public.  And the President promised to run the most transparent administration in history."

04 Jan 2012

Riverboat Development Authority Grant Enables Davenport Junior Theatre to Perform First-Ever Stage Adaptation of Tween Novel Mia the Melodramatic

By Nicholas Depew

Artistic Director Daniel Sheridan and the Davenport Junior Theatre Board wanted to produce a stage adaptation of author Eileen Boggess's tween novel Mia the Melodramatic.

Thanks to a generous $8000 grant received in December 2011 from the Riverboat Development Authority, an organization devoted to supporting "programs benefiting residents of Scott County, Iowa," that dream will become a reality.

"We are excited to be producing this project," says Sheridan.

Founded in 1951, the Davenport Junior Theatre in Davenport, Iowa is, according to Sheridan, the second-oldest children's theater in America. Teaching and performing with children from the ages of 3 to 18, Davenport Junior Theatre, a program of the City of Davenport Parks and Recreation Department, has touched many young people in its long and proud history.

One of them was Boggess herself. Boggess worked at the theater from her freshman year of high school through the end of her junior year. "It was a very good time in my life when I look back at it," says Boggess.

Mia the Melodramatic, published in 2008 by Bancroft Press, is the second book of Boggess's Mia Fullerton series. It's preceded by Mia the Meek (2006) and followed by Mia the Magnificent (2010).

Based on Boggess's own experiences at the Davenport Junior Theatre, Mia the Melodramatic follows Mia Fullerton as she spends the summer working at Little Tykes Theatre. "All of Mia's friends have moved away or gone to camp, and her mom signs her up for this theater group," says Boggess. "Of course, chaos ensues."

With the Riverboat Development Authority grant, the Davenport Junior Theatre has purchased 750 copies of Mia the Melodramatic to be distributed to youth in the Davenport area.

"It will be great for Eileen to come back and visit the very schools she once attended," says Sheridan.

The play, adapted by Boggess herself, will be performed February 18 through February 26, 2012 as the first show of the Davenport Junior Theatre's 60th season.

Leading independent house Bancroft Press has published some of the country's very best fiction and nonfiction over the past two decades.

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04 Jan 2012

COE COLLEGE LOCAL ATHLETES RECOGNIZED

By Ryan Workman

Coe athletics can be followed on the college's website: www.CoeAthletics.com. Located near the heart of Cedar Rapids, Coe is a selective, private, nationally recognized liberal arts college providing superior quality educational experiences for students since 1851.

Christina Grimm of Bettendorf, volleyball, 2009, Pleasant Valley High School, daughter, Chris and Mary Grimm, junior, 3rd-year.  The volleyball team is under the direction of sixth-year Head Coach DeAnn Woodin, the 2011 Iowa Conference Coach of the Year. Coe won its first Iowa Conference Championship in school history this fall, finishing the year with a 31-4 record, the most wins in school history. The Kohawks were a perfect 8-0 during the Iowa Conference season.

Keenan McLaughlin, also of Bettendorf, cross country, 2010, Pleasant Valley High School, son, Patrick and Melinda mcLaughlin, sophomore, 1st-year,    , The cross country team is under the direction of 18-year Head Coach Elaine Rydze.


Tom Wakeland, also of Bettendorf, men's soccer, 2008, Bettendorf High School, son, Mark and Jean Wakeland, senior, 3rd-year.  The soccer team is under the direction of tenth-year Head Coach Homer Screws.

Hannah Helms of Moline, women's tennis, 2010, Moline Senior High School, daughter, Michael and Jodi Helms, sophomore.  The women's tennis team is under the direction of 23-year Head Coach Eric Rodgers, the 2011 Iowa Conference Coach of the Year. The Kohawks won their fourth Iowa Conference Championship in school history this fall. Coe will host the IIAC Automatic Qualifier Tournament this spring as the regular season champion. Coe finished the fall season 13-0 in dual meets.

27 Dec 2011

Governor Quinn Announces Nearly $43 Million in Race to the Top Competition

By Katelyn Tye

Federal Funding Award to Advance K-12 Reforms, Improve Student Achievement and Boost Science Technology Engineering, Math (STEM) Learning Across Illinois

CHICAGO - December 23, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced Illinois earned a $42.8 million federal grant under the U.S. Department of Education's Race to the Top (RTTT) program to help bolster Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education across the state and other work to close the achievement gap. Half of those funds- about $21 million -will go directly to the state's local districts that agree to accelerate education reform. Illinois is one of seven states in the nation to be awarded a portion of the $200 million in federal funds, which will be distributed through the 2013-14 school year to benefit K-12 students.

"The best long-term economic tool is a good education," Governor Quinn said. "As Illinois continues to pursue a strong education reform agenda, this grant allows us to continue to reach for improved scores, higher graduation rates and a system that produces graduates who are well prepared for the 21st century job market."

"Education in Illinois is undergoing a sea change aimed to ensure new generations of students become better prepared for college and careers," said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. "These federal funds will help support the many efforts under way so that children across the state will have greater access to a quality education."

Illinois applied for the grant and was declared eligible for funds as one of nine finalists in the second round of RTTT. The grant application reflects the priorities of the previous two RTTT applications and ongoing work under the state's current reform agenda, which includes implementing the new rigorous Common Core Learning Standards in Math and English Language Arts, advancing teacher and principal effectiveness and providing educators with data that can better inform and improve classroom instruction. Among the initiatives is advancing STEM programs of study and developing a system of induction and mentoring for STEM educators.

"These federal funds will help support Illinois' ongoing work to implement new practices in the classroom during the next several years that aim to improve student learning and close the achievement gap," said Illinois State Board of Education Chairman Gery J. Chico. "An investment in education and our long-term reforms is an investment in children's well being and our state's economic future."

Other projects to be funded include the oversight and delivery of professional development to help align district curriculum to the new Common Core Learning Standards in English Language Arts and Math and high quality student assessments that can be used to measure student growth and be incorporated into educator evaluations.

Funds will also be used to bolster ongoing development of a data system that supports personalized learning and access to high quality resources. Specifically, Illinois has been selected to be one of the first states to implement the Shared Learning Infrastructure, a multi-state collaborative to develop a next-generation technology system that will enable teachers to easily find high-quality and highly-customizable curriculum and classroom resources aligned to the Common Core Standards.

The six other states awarded funds under the third Race to the Top Competition are: Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Race to the Top and Illinois' plan for the $42.8 million, please visit http://www.isbe.net/racetothetop/PDF/phase3_app.pdf .

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