27 Jul 2015

'Big Fish' and 'James and the Giant Peach' at TLP

By Rick Martin

MOUNT CARROLL, IL - Timber Lake Playhouse presents the acclaimed new musical adaptation of Big Fish July 30th through August 9th. Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the beloved Tim Burton film adaptation, Big Fish brings the life and tall-tales of Edward Bloom to the stage with the kind of inventive stagecraft that reminds audiences why they love going to the theatre. The production stars longtime TLP favorite Karl Hamilton as Edward, and it is directed and choreographed by artistic director James Beaudry.

Edward Bloom is a traveling salesman whose incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him - most of all, his adoring wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father's epic tales, hoping to reveal the real man behind the rollicking fantasy life. Overflowing with heart, humor and spectacular stage magic, Big Fish is an extraordinary new Broadway musical and an experience richer, funnier and bigger than life itself.

Beaudry said of the production, "The show is filled with everything you could ever want in a musical: romance, comedy, a beautiful story about parents and children, spectacular production numbers, trees that come to life, an All-American USO show, a circus with dancing elephants, and more?all the things that Edward Bloom can think up to make his life seem bigger. It's an absolutely unforgettable theatre experience that will send people home feeling larger than life."

Joining Hamilton is Elizabeth Haley as Edward's wife Sandra (the two are married off-stage, as well), Samuel Leicht as son Will, Daxtun Heier of Sterling as Young Will, and the 2015 TLP resident company playing everyone else in Edward's stories.

Big Fish opens Thursday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. Performances continue Friday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, August 1 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, August 2 at 2:00 p.m.; Tuesday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, August 5 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

; Thursday, August 6 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, August 7 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, August 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 9 at 2:00 p.m.

The Magic Owl Children's Theatre at TLP will present a 50 minute stage adaptation of James and the Giant Peach, based on the classic children's novel by Roald Dahl. Performances are at 2:00 p.m. August 4, 6, 7 and 8. Tickets to Magic Owl shows are only $7. This program has been introducing live theatre to you people for three generations.

Opening August 13, TLP will present the Tony Award-winning musical Big River, based on Mark Twain's stories of Huckleberry Finn, with music by Roger Miller.

Tickets for all TLP mainstage show are $17-$25 with discounts for seniors, active duty military and students. For reservations, call the box office at 815-244-2035 or visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Road in rural Mount Carroll, Illinois.

This program is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

24 Jul 2015

Still Time to Sign up for Pinterest Craft on Thursday at Rock Island 30/31 Branch Library

By Lisa Lockheart

Rock Island, IL: If you've pinned craft ideas on the Pinterest social media site, you can try out one of the crafts yourself at a Pinterest Night next week at Rock Island Library.

Participants can make customized photo coasters at 7:00 pm on July 30 at the Rock Island 30/31 Branch Library, 3059 30th Street. Attendees can use photos from Instagram, bring 4 -inch square photos, or use other designs for their coaster.

The event is free and materials are supplied. Enrollment is limited. To sign up, choose 'register" on the event listing at www.rockislandlibrary.org or call 309-732-7369.

For more upcoming library events, visit library locations or the website at www.rockislandlibrary.org, follow Rock Island Library on Facebook or Twitter or call 309-732-READ (7323).

###

Calendar of library programs: http://rockislandlibrary.evanced.info/signup/eventcalendar.aspx

23 Jul 2015

Showboat to announce 2016 season at Follies

By laurdeck@mchsi.com
Even though the Showboat promises two more productions this summer, it is time to announce the 2016 Season. That will happen on Tuesday, July 28th at 7pm during the Showboat Follies.

The Follies is an evening of entertainment by the professional company, the Showboat interns and some local performers. Hosted by Producing Artistic Director Matthew Teague Miller, the show will recap some favorite songs from 2015 shows and highlight numbers from next summer's season.

The audience will not only be first to learn what shows are planned for the 2016 CAST season, but there will also be specials, offering the best pricing on 2016 season tickets. After the performance, there is a reception in the lobby of the Showboat.

Members of this summer's professional company who will perform numbers at the Follies include : Jonathan Young, Christian Chambers, Livvy Marcus, and Bailey Reeves. Production Music Director Matt Bean and Lighting Designer/Production Manager Kyle Davis will also perform. The Follies will provide an opportunity to preview the talents of Daniella Dalli who will play the role of Diana in Next to Normal.

Local performers participating in Tuesday's Follies include : Peter Sickels, Kris Doss, Allison Winkel, Laurel Decker, Hannah Dalton, Lily Leding, and Joseph Brune. Members of the Intern Company performing in the Follies include : Haley Appel, Matthew Espey, Erin Hardigan, Hannah Johnson, Susanna Klooster, Savannah Medley, Clayton Melvin, Audrey Simpson, Danica Smith, Kate Struble, Cassie Van Zuiden, Emma Van Zuiden and Kayla Zeimet.

Tickets for the Follies are just $20 and may be purchased at the box office or at www.clintonshowboat.org. For more information about any of the Showboat performances, call
563­-242­-6760.

The final two productions this summer are Steel Magnolias (July 23-­August 2) and Next to Normal (August 6­-15).
17 Jul 2015

Young Footliters presents RAPUNZEL! RAPUNZEL! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale July 24-26 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts

By Nancy Mayfield

The Young Footliters will present Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale July 24-26 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $11-$17 and are available online at www.coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office (1301 5th Street) and Coralville Recreation Center (1506 8th Street).

Book, Music and Lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman
Directed by Dave Helmuth
Musical direction by Jessica Palmer

Rapunzel! Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale is a modern spin on the story of Rapunzel.  This hilarious musical is filled with wonderful characters and unforgettable songs.  According to director Dave Helmuth,  "This is one of the most talented young casts I've seen.  Each young actor has worked hard to make their character hilarious and over-the-top.  It will be easy for the audience to pick a favorite."

Show times:

Friday, July 24 at 7:00 PM

Saturday, July 25 at 2:00 & 7:00 PM

Sunday, July 26 at 2:00 PM

Ticket prices:

Adults: $17

Seniors: (age 55+): $14

Students (age 13-18): $14

Children (age 12 and under): $11

Description:

Visit an enchanted fairy tale land with dragons, a handsome prince, an evil would-be Queen, a really great hair stylist, and that famous princess with the long, long, long hair! Hold on to your hair and prepare for a brand new magical musical re-telling of the classic fairy tale! 

On the edge of glory, the evil Lady Za Za determines to rule the kingdom by keeping the beautiful Princess Rapunzel - with the long, long, long hair - trapped in a tower in the deep, dark, dank, dismal, dreary forest. It'll be up to Sir Roderick and his hair stylist friend Edgar (who is on a quest to find the perfect head of hair) to rescue Princess Rapunzel and restore the kingdom - with the help of a slightly neurotic Gypsy Woman - isn't there one in every fairy tale? and a tired, yet witty, old dragon named Socrates - who has lost his poof!

Young Footliters is a program of the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts offering children and teens fun, creative, and educational theater arts opportunities in a safe, positive, and professional environment.  Young Footliters aims to produce quality productions and classes that promote responsibility, confidence, leadership, cooperation, and arts appreciation.

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15 Jul 2015

Texas Turns Up at TLP in 'Greater Tuna'

By Rick Martin

MOUNT CARROLL, IL - Timber Lake Playhouse continues its summer season with the hilarious theatre phenomenon Greater Tuna. Long before Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and the Blue Collar Comedy tours captured the nation's funnybones, Greater Tuna was selling out theatres with its characters who populate the town of Tuna, Texas. In just under two hours, two actors play twenty residents of one town on the day they're mourning the corrupt Judge of Tuna--where the Lions Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies.

TLP favorites Cody Jolly (who just completed a run as Captain Hook in Peter Pan) and Matt Webb (who starred opposite Jolly in Young Frankenstein and Spamalot) play a pair of clueless radio disk jockeys, a questionable sheriff, a used-weapons store owner, a religious "scholar" who studies "segregation in the scriptures," an animal rights advocate, an undertaker, Baptist "smut snatchers," a cliché-laden preacher, all five members of the Bumiller family and more. Chicago director Stephen Schellhardt stages the antics of the fictional third smallest town in Texas.

Joe Sears, Jaston Williams and Ed Howard wrote the comedy in 1981. Sears and Williams also starred in the original production. The two met while working in Texas and decided to put together a show based mostly on real-life people they'd known living in Oklahoma and San Antonio.  Since 1981, they've written three additional Tuna plays that have been performed around the world at such wide-ranging venues as dinner theatres, Shakespeare festivals and the White House. The show was also recorded and presented as an HBO special event.

Director Schellhardt says of the play, "For me, what makes Greater Tuna unique is that all of the town's residents - male, female, young and old - are played by two exceptional performers. This is no small feat. The skills of Cody Jolly and Matt Webb surpassed all my expectations. These remarkable, versatile actors have gone to great lengths to breathe life into all the eccentric citizens of Tuna, Texas. It's been truly astounding to watch them work."

Great Tuna opens Thursday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. Performances continue Friday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 18 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, July 19 at 2:00 p.m.; Tuesday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, July 22 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Opening July 30th, TLP will present the new musical Big Fish, based on the Tim Burton film and the novel of the same name. Karl Hamilton returns to TLP to star as Edward Bloom, a teller of very tall tales that come to life on stage. The show has been called "Remarkable and essential for everyone who loves musicals," "breathtaking from start to finish," and "a dream musical." Artistic Director James Beaudry directs and choreographs the romantic comedy.

Tickets for all TLP mainstage show are $25 with discounts for seniors, active duty military and students. For reservations, call the box office at 815-244-2035 or visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Road in rural Mount Carroll, Illinois.

This program is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

13 Jul 2015

Spring 2015 University of Dubuque Dean's List

By Kristi Lynch
The University of Dubuque congratulates the following students on being appointed to the Spring Semester 2015 Academic Dean's List.   To be named to the dean's list, a student must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for that semester. The University of Dubuque, founded in 1852, is a private, coeducational, professional University with a focus in the liberal arts.

-30-


HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME


Bettendorf, IA

Rebekka Jacobs
Travis Timm

Davenport, IA

Tanasha Atwater
Allison Chapman
Jessica Dvorak
Freedom Malik
Kelsey McCreight
Anna Runge

Moline, IL

Darin Bohl
Kristina Bozickovic
Jared Hillier
Mitchell Morrisey
MichelleAnn Sanchez

Riverdale, IA

Annmarie Ulrich
10 Jul 2015

Shear Madness Opens July 23 on the Old Creamery's Main Stage

By Rick Martin

Amana- Shear Madness, opens July 23 and runs through August 16 on the Old Creamery's Main Stage, with shows on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 2:00 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm.

Voted "Best Comedy of the Year" seven times by the Boston Globe!

This unique comic-whodunit takes place today in the "Shear Madness" hairstyling salon.  During the course of the action, a murder is committed and the audience gets to spot the clues, question the suspects, and solve the funniest mystery seen on stage. The outcome is never the same, which is why many audience members return again and again to the scene of the mayhem. Shear Madness is written Paul Portner and adapted by Marilyn Abrams and Bruce Jordan.

The cast includes Josh Cahn, Mike Long, Jeff Haffner, Jackie McCall, Sean McCall, and Marquetta Senters. The director is Bryan Garey.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $18.50 for students, with a $12 special student rush rate for students purchase their tickets 30 minutes before the performance begins. Sponsored by Capper Auto Group. Media Sponsors: Z102.9 and Little Village Magazine. Shear Madness is rated Theatre PG. Call the box office for tickets and information 319-622-6262 or visit us online at www.oldcreamery.com.

The Old Creamery Theatre is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. In 2015, the company is celebrating 44 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.
10 Jul 2015

National FFA Organization Names 50 Individuals as 2015 New Century Farmers

By Kristy Meyer

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, July 9, 2015/National FFA Organization) - The National FFA Organization has selected 50 outstanding young people to participate in the 2015 New Century Farmer program. This exclusive, highly competitive program develops young men and women committed to pursuing a career in production agriculture.

Participants representing 50 states will take part in an intensive seminar July 12-18 in Johnstown, Iowa. They will learn from each other and industry experts during a series of workshops and sessions. Topics will include the global marketplace, farm financing, demographic trends and risk management. New Century Farmers will hear from motivating and informative keynote speakers who will educate them on the risk and rewards involved with production agriculture. In addition to classroom learning, students will experience the latest developments in agricultural technology.

The New Century Farmer program is sponsored by DuPont Pioneer; Case IH; CSX Corporation; and Farm Credit with media partner Successful Farming as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. The program is designed to provide participants with valuable skills and knowledge applicable to their own farming operations. In addition, they will build a network of colleagues that will benefit them throughout their careers.

The 2015 New Century Farmers are:

California: Erica Larson of Sonoma; Cassidy Steenbock of Romoland
Iowa: Geordan Hanson of Elgin Iowa
Idaho: Kellsie Hodges of Salmon
Illinois: Patrick King of Oneida
Indiana: Jared Baird of Scottsburg, Mallarie Stookey of Milford
Kansas: A.J. Carlson of Clay Center
Massachusetts: Brianna Mann of Stoneham
Maryland: Jordan Borkoski of Baltimore; Dalton Clabaugh of Keymar
Michigan: Dalton Hard of Quincy; Ethan Haywood of Hastings
Minnesota: Jack Chisholm of Gary; Sam Mellgren of Cologne; Brett Petersen of Murdock
Missouri: Monica Campen of Canton; Emilee Haubner of Auxvasse; Cody Jones of Fulton; Jade Morgan of Lamar
Montana: Cali Christensen of Big Timber
North Carolina: Harrison Jenkins of Stony Point; Cara Ruth Pace of Clayton
North Dakota: Justin Bartholomay of  Sheldon; Kady Rath of McClusky; Joshua Stutrud of Barton; Brandon Weber of Thompson; Verlin Zacharias of Kathryn; Donovan Zacharias of Kathryn
New York: Logan Martin of Salamanca; Ryker Smith of Manilius
Ohio: Ryan Goddard of Urbana; Logan Russell of Wapakoneta; Ryan Schwyn of Marysville; D.J. Steele of Amanda; Lee Turner of Waynesfield; Ashley Vogt of Shelby; Ryan Walker of Houston
South Dakota: Adam Krause of Clear Lake; Tara Parmely of Miller
Utah: Calee Lott of Oakley
Virginia: Cole Ramsey of Waynesboro
Washington: Tanner White of Prosser; Olivia Zurcher of Mesa
Wisconsin: Brad Jaeger of Newton; Jackson Remer of Omro; Austin Sprecher of Sauk City; Aaron Zimmerman of Spencer

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 610,240 student members who belong to one of 7,665 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

# # #

10 Jul 2015

Senate Judiciary Committee Members Press Department of Homeland Security on Enforcement Priorities

By Grassley Press
WASHINGTON -- Senate Judiciary Committee members are pressing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on the department's enforcement priorities which are, "Contrary to law and pose(s) direct threats to public safety," the senators wrote in a letter to Johnson.

The members wrote about the deaths of Kathryn Steinle and Angelica Martinez who were killed by illegal immigrants residing in sanctuary cities where local officials don't cooperate with federal immigration representatives.

"Rather than enhance the successful Secure Communities program, confront sanctuary jurisdictions, defend federal law enforcement's legitimate use of detainers, request additional resources, or ask Congress for a legislative solution, your Department has unilaterally designed a program that will endanger the American people," the members wrote to Johnson.

The members pointed out the disparity between the enforcement priorities the department claims to be making and the reality of the department's actions and its new "Priority Enforcement Program" where criminals of all sorts are not being detained and instead being released into communities across the country.

Grassley has been conducting oversight of the administration's release of individuals who illegally entered the United States and who have subsequently committed other crimes.  Reports show that many of these people are going on to commit new crimes that could have been avoided if they were deported after their initial prison sentence

The letter to Johnson was sent by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest Chairman and Deputy Chairman Jeff Sessions and David Vitter, and senators David Perdue, John Cornyn, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, Thom Tillis and Orrin Hatch.

A copy of the text of the letter is below.  A signed copy can be found here.

08 Jul 2015

Ticket deadline for Hardacre "Clue" murder mystery in Tipton is July 9

By Rick Martin

Event includes costumed suspects and screening of classic comedy film

TIPTON, Iowa–The ticket-ordering deadline for July 18's  "Clue" Murder Mystery Dinner in Tipton, presented by the Hardacre Theater Preservation Association, is this Thursday, July 9.

The Hardacre Theater Preservation Association (HTPA) will present the murder mystery dinner party at 6:30 p.m., on Saturday, July 18. The event, inspired by the popular board game, will feature local actors from the Cedar County Stoplight Players as cast members/victims, as well as an outdoor screening of the classic 1985 comedy/mystery film "Clue" starring Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn and Michael McKean.

The event will be held in and around the Spear House Bed and Breakfast, 120 E. 9th St., in Tipton. The event is sponsored by the HTPA, the Spear House, and Wiskus Construction.

Tickets for the dinner are $50 each for murder mystery participants, which includes a four-course dinner, the murder mystery and the movie screening. Only 30 tickets are being sold for the murder mystery dinner. Tickets to watch the film afterward only are $10 each and are unlimited to participants.

Tickets can be ordered on the HTPA website at thehardacre.org.

This is one of several HTPA-sponsored events planned for summer 2015. The group will also hold a Hardacre "Big Lebowski" Festival Aug. 8 in Tipton, featuring a screening of the cult classic comedy, live music and bowling.

For more information about the event, to order tickets, or to find out more about the "Save the Hardacre" campaign, go to thehardacre.org.

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