07 Jan 2015

QC THEATRE WORKSHOP ANNOUNCES TRIBES AUDITIONS AND SPRING PLAYS

By Tyson Danner

Davenport's QC Theatre Workshop will host auditions for its summer production, Nina Raine's family drama Tribes, on Saturday, February 21 at 5:00pm, with performances scheduled for June 12 - 28. Directed by Augustana College theatre instructor Jennifer Popple, Tribes features roles for three women and three men, ages early 20s through early 60s, with two of the roles requiring some performance of sign language.

The recipient of the 2012 Drama Desk Award for Best Play, Tribes tells the story of a young deaf man born into a hearing family, whose parents - wanting to protect him from feeling like an outcast - prevent him from learning sign language. However, when he meets a young woman who is losing her hearing and is already fluent in sign, deeper questions about family, community, beliefs, traditions, and communication are raised in this smart and moving new work that the Chicago Tribune called "uncommonly fine play," and the New Yorker magazine deemed "extraordinary."

Raine's unique drama employs both speech and sign language - with the latter being interpreted for hearing audiences via projected super-titles - and two of Tribes' cast members will be asked to perform sign language in their roles. But while prior familiarity with sign language will be beneficial, it is not required, as rehearsals will be set aside for the actors to focus exclusively on sign.

Female actors are sought for the roles of Beth (50s/60s), Ruth (20s), and Sylvia (20s), and male actors for the roles of Christopher (50s/60s), Daniel (20s), and Billy (20s). Those auditioning will be asked to perform a memorized dramatic monologue of two minutes or fewer and be prepared to read from the script. Rehearsals will begin in early May, with opening night scheduled for Friday, June 12.

Prior to Tribes, the QC Theatre Workshop will present its two spring productions. The first production of 2015 is author Keith Huff's Broadway smash A Steady Rain. Running March 13 - 28, and described by the Chicago Tribune as "a gritty, rich, thick, poetic, and entirely gripping noir" this tale of two Chicago cops and a horrific shooting reunites the team who initiated the Workshop's 2012 debut production of RED: director Tyson Danner and co-stars Mike Schulz and Thomas Alan Taylor. In May, the Workshop with partner with Dress for Success Quad Cities to present a benefit production of Nora and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss and What I Wore May 15 - 17.

and other events at the QC Theatre Workshop, call (563)650-2396 or e-mail info@QCTheatreWorkshop.org, and visit QCTheatreWorkshop.org and Facebook.com/QCTheatreWorkshop.

A Steady Rain Performances

Friday, March 13, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 14, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 21, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 27, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 28, 7:30 p.m.

Love, Loss and What I Wore

Performances

Friday, May 15, 7:30pm

Saturday, May 16, 7:30pm

Sunday, May 17, 3pm

Tribes Performances

Friday, June 12, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 13, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 14, 3 p.m.

Friday, June 19, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 20, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 21, 3 p.m.

Friday, June 26, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 27, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 28, 3 p.m.






16 Dec 2014

Old Creamery Announces 2015 Auditions

By Lily Allen-Duenas

Old Creamery Theatre Company 2015 Auditions

WHEN:

Saturday January 24, 2015, from 3:30pm - 6:30pm Sunday January 25, 2015, from 3:30pm - 6:30pm

WHERE:

The Old Creamery Theatre Main Stage

39 38th Ave. Amana, IA 52203

 

WHAT:

Audition by appointment. Appointment may be made beginning January 12, 2015 by calling The Old Creamery business office at (319) 622-6034. Actors should prepare two short contrasting monologues (max. 1 minute each). At least one monologue should be a comic piece (preferably contemporary). In addition to the short monologues, singers should prepare 16 to 32 bars of one (or two

contrasting) song(s) sung a cappella or with recorded accompaniment. (A CD player will be available - no accompanist will be provided but there will be access to a piano). Please bring a current headshot and resume.

Seeking Equity and non-Equity adult performers of various ages (College age and up) to fill paid positions in The Old Creamery's 2014 Main Stage, Studio, and Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences seasons.

A limited number of performance internships are available.

Internships typically involve onstage and backstage work on our Theatre for Young Audiences productions and/or Camp Creamery theatre workshops. Internships may or may not include performance opportunities providing EMC weeks.

Membership and applicable weeks in Equity's EMC program are available for regular Main Stage productions only.

(EMC is not available for Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences productions or Studio Stage productions).

One technical internship is also available for a candidate with carpentry and/or  lighting and sound experience.

Internships can begin as early as March, but typically have summer or fall start dates and most require fall availability. All internships include housing plus a $225 per week living stipend. Intern duties involve all aspects of theatre and may include but are not limited to:

performing, costuming, set work, assistant stage management, house management, props, lighting, sound, promotions, assistant teaching, box office, and concessions assignments.

Information regarding the full 2015 season of plays is available on our website at www.oldcreamery.com .

If you are unable to attend these auditions, please send a headshot and resume to:

Sean McCall - Artistic Director

The Old Creamery Theatre Company

39 38th Ave.

Amana, IA. 52203

Or electronically to smccall@oldcreamery.com
16 Dec 2014

Christmas at Augustana

By Sam Schlouch

ROCK ISLAND, IL (12/15/2014)(readMedia)-- Augustana College performed its annual 'Christmas at Augustana,' performance on Friday, December 5, and Saturday December 6. More than 300 student musicians shared their talents, in one of the highlights of the Augustana and Quad-City holiday season. From your area this includes:

Liam Baldwin of Davenporyt

Samantha Turner of Rock Island

Taylor Anderson of East Moline

Sydney Crumbleholme of Moline

Brittany Middleton of Davenport

Alecsus Sebben of Rock Island

Andrew Skalak of Davenport

Adam Bengfort of Davenport

Joseph Oliger of Davenport

Payton Brasher of Davenport

Sonja Hurty of Moline

Chelsea Mentado of Moline

Shannon Ryan of Moline

Hannah Griggs of Bettendorf

Leslie Carranza of Rock Island

Jennifer Darby of Moline

Sheila Doak of Rock Island

Emmalynn Tully of Bettendorf

Rebecca Knapper of Davenport

Christine Harb of Davenport

Philip Tunnicliff of Bettendorf

Anthony TouVelle of Bettendorf

Benjamin Knapper of Davenport

Jacob McManus of Reynolds

Jens Hurty of Moline

Erik Whitcomb of Rock Island

Robert Holmquist of East Moline

Benjamin McKay of Rock Island

Biniam Anberber of Coal Valley

Daniel Culver of Rock Island

Charles Bald of Blue Grass

Alyssa Kendall of Davenport

Susan Stone of Rock Island

Shylee Garrett of Vernon Hills

Mariah Logan of Moline

Adam Bengfort of Davenport

Nicholas Clark of Moline

Janina Ehrlich of Rock Island

Samuel Ferry of Rock Island

Corey Jacobs of Rock Island

Tanner Logan of Moline

Kayla Jackson of Rock Island

Ingrid Schneider of Davenport

Andrew Bainter of Coal Valley

Benjamin McKay of Rock Island

Caitlin Thom of Bettendorf

Margaret Ellis of Rock Island

Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Current students and alumni include 155 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 13 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.

13 Dec 2014

Happy Holidays -- Trumpet Blossom Café

By Trumpet Blossom Cafe

TRUMPET BLOSSOM CAFÉ

http://www.trumpetblossom.com :: 310 E. Prentiss St. :: Iowa City, IA :: 319-248-0077

Happy Holidays from Trumpet Blossom--

We're excited to be hosting some fun gatherings this month. We'd love to see you here!
Thanks for sharing this dynamite Iowa winter with us,
Katy Meyer, chef/owner

--Pete Balestrieri Annual Xmas Party:
NEXT FRIDAY Dec 19th
--New local tofu from Ethan Brown
--Gifts for the Holidays
--Holiday Hours

Our good friend, Pete Balestrieri, is putting together his annual Christmas party! Please join us for a night of live music from a handful of local musicians as well as stories from Christmas past and plenty of holiday cheer.

Feel free to get in touch with Pete if you'd like to play a tune or two the night of the event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/612674228836401/

Our friend at Wake Up Iowa City (a local coffee roaster & maker of Cobra Verde), Jarrett Mitchell, has teamed up with Coralville's Backpocket Brewery to produce the awesome Wake Up Iowa Coffee Stout. Lucky us! Join us for a half-barrel in our cooler that we're saving just for you til the night of the party.

Jarrett, in true entrepreneurial style, has plenty of his patented fun planned for the evening. Join us to try a pint (or two, or three) of this unique and limited-edition beer and hang out for the shenanigans. Also, Jarrett requested we make chili cheese fries that night so be sure to enjoy an order of those!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1573248969555139/

As you probably already know, sourcing locally-made ingredients is a top priority at Trumpet Blossom so it really makes us happy when a new product is made available that's produced right here in Iowa City. And this one is especially exciting for us because one of the co-owners of the company is a former employee, Ethan Brown, who joined us way back at The Red Avocado shortly after his 17th birthday. We're looking forward to purchasing & working with this locally-made tofu very soon. Please read on to learn more about their venture.

http://littlevillagemag.com/ui-students-launch-local-food-company-focusing-on-fresh-tofu/

Trumpet Blossom Gift Certificates make the perfect gift for anyone on your holiday list who enjoys delicious made-from-scratch meals that also happen to be good for you & the environment. Gift certificates are available in any amount and we're happy to mail them anywhere you wish. You can purchase them in person here at the restaurant or head to our website:

http://trumpetblossom.com/?page_id=655

We have a small number of Trumpet Blossom tees for sale too?screen-printed here in Iowa City by White Rabbit!

In addition to our gift certificates and tee-shirts I'm also pleased to offer many of my Grandma's hand-made items for sale. She is the creator of our popular cloth napkins and also the skilled crafter of quilts, handbags, purses, dish cloths, "burp cloths" for babies, and cloth coasters. She lives just over the Mississippi in Illinois and has been sewing for 70 years. Please stop in and take a look at her creations which occupy a special place in my restaurant. And believe me when I say that you can't find a better made product at a better price! There are plenty of seasonal items for sale as well as unique gifts that fit any décor year-round.

Holiday Hours:

Open Wed. Dec. 24th 11am-2pm

Closed Thurs. Dec. 25th

Open Fri. Dec. 26th 5pm-10pm

Closed for a short winter break Thurs. Jan. 1st-Wed. Jan. 7th

Open normal hours otherwise
09 Dec 2014

CITY CIRCLE ACTING COMPANY'S HOLIDAY PROGRAMS BEGIN DECEMBER 12

By Rick Martin

A Year with Frog and Toad is a delightful family-friendly musical;
The Holiday Cabaret Offers "Naughty" and "Nice" Entertainment

 

A Year with Frog and Toad

City Circle Acting Company of Coralville and Hills Bank will present the Broadway hit musical A Year with Frog and Toad for six performances December 12-21 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.  Adapted from the beloved books by Arnold Lobel by Willie Reale and Robert Reale, this heartwarming musical tells the story of a year in the life of forest neighbors Frog and Toad and their many woodland friends.

 

Lobel's stories of the worrywart Toad and the perky Frog are brought to life in lively songs and charming scenes.  Through the course of their year, Frog and Toad awake from hibernation, plant gardens, swim, have picnics, bake cookies, fly a kite, rake leaves, tell stories, and celebrate Christmas before hibernating again.  They have comic interactions with Birds, Moles, a Mouse, a Snail, and a Squirrel.  The New York Times calls the script, "bright, bouncy, altogether lovable."

The cast features Joe Mosher as Frog, Ken Van Egdon as Toad, Brett Boden as Snail, and Renee Zukin, Heidi Bibler, Katherine Boothroyd, and Kristina Rutkowski as the forest animals.  This production is directed by Liz Tracey, who previously directed the hit production of Jesus Christ Superstar for City Circle.  Wesley Habley serves as music director.  Lead sponsorship is provided by Hills Bank and Trust.

Performances are Fridays at 7pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm December 12-21 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.  Tickets ($12-$27) are available at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts box office (1301 5th Street) and Coralville Recreation Center (1506 8th Street).  ACT is sponsoring 100 free tickets for youth under 18 for the December 12 performance; these free tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis by calling or visiting the box office.

Holiday Cabaret - Sugar & Spice

City Circle is again presenting a Holiday Cabaret featuring music, dance and comic performance by local artists celebrating the season.  Performances are Saturdays, December 13 and 20, with a "Nice" cabaret of warm family fare at 7:30pm, and a "Naughty" show at 10pm featuring more mature material.  Performs include Broadway veteran Kristen Behrendt DeGrazia,  Christopher Okiishi, Ryan Shellady, Ellen Stevenson, Carrie Houchins-Witt, Elijah Jones, Paula Grady, Young Footliters, and more.  Tickets are $10 for one performance, or $15 for both, and are available at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts box office (1301 5th Street) and Coralville Recreation Center (1506 8th Street).

City Circle Acting Company is the community theater program of the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.  Since 1997, City Circle's mission has been the production of high quality dramatic, musical, and performing art pieces for the enjoyment of the public.  Upcoming City Circle productions Black Comedy and The Real Inspector Hound (February 13-15), and Into the Woods (April 24-May 3).

Owned and operated by the City of Coralville, the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts is dedicated to enriching the community and contributing to the vitality of Coralville by offering an accessible, affordable venue for a variety of performances, presentations, and public and private events.  The 472 seat theater opened August 26, 2011 and has hosted performances from City Circle Acting Company, Orchestra Iowa, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Dan Knight, Lola Astanova, Lorie Line, Judy Carmichael, Jim McDonough, Nolte Academy of Dance, and many others.  Coralville schools are also able to use the Center free of charge up to three times per year; 15 school events took place at the Center in the 2013-2014 school year. The Center was named 2012 Member of the Year by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

###
08 Dec 2014

Jersey Boys On Sale Now - Makes Great Holiday Gift!

By Adler Theatre

April 21 - 26, 2015
Jersey Boys

Find Jersey Boys Tickets now!

"THE MOST EXCITING MUSICAL BROADWAY HAS SEEN IN YEARS."

- Chicago Tribune

"TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!" raves the New York Post for JERSEY BOYS, the 2006 Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award®-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the true story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were 30!  JERSEY BOYS features their hit songs "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," "Oh What a Night" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." "THE CROWD GOES WILD!" cheers The New York Times.

The JERSEY BOYS creative team comprises two-time Tony Award®-winning director Des McAnuff, book writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, composer Bob Gaudio, lyricist Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

JERSEY BOYS contains authentic, "profane Jersey language" and is recommended for ages 12+

Check out this great video featuring  Frankie Valli!

08 Dec 2014

5,000 years of Civilization. Live on Stage!

By Adler Theatre

Feb. 17 and 18, 7:30 p.m.
Shen Yun

EMBARK   on an extraordinary journey across 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. From ancient dynasties to the modern day, witness inspiring stories and legends come alive on stage. Featuring classical Chinese dance, a full orchestra, exquisite costumes, and dazzling animated backdrops, Shen Yun will transport you to another world.

REVIVING AUTHENTIC CHINESE CULTURE
For thousands of years, China was known as the Divine Land. Its rich culture, said to be a gift from the heavens, valued virtue, integrity, compassion, and tolerance. Yet over the past 60 years of communist rule, this glorious heritage has been almost destroyed. Formed in 2006 in New York, Shen Yun strives to revive authentic Chinese culture and share its beauty with the world.

Check out this great video!
03 Dec 2014

QC THEATRE WORKSHOP ANNOUNCES FUNDING CAMPAIGN

By Tyson Danner

This month, the QC Theatre Workshop will run an online campaign to help fund its upcoming 2015 productions. The QC Theatre Workshop's first large-scale fundraising effort will begin December 1, 2014. The final day of the campaign will be January 1, 2015. Donations can be made safely and securely through the company's website: QCTheatreWorkshop.org.

In August 2012, the Workshop started from scratch in a former elementary-school gymnasium with its dynamic production of John Logan's RED. In the following two and a half years, the dedicated and dynamic company has presented 10 productions, including such memorable hits as Last Call, Bat Boy: The Musical, and the world premiere of Aaron Randolph III's A Green River, which was later produced at Augustana College, and was highlighted in a documentary feature on WQPT.

Dedicated to providing powerful theatre that is accessible to everyone in the Quad Cities community, every Workshop production is offered under its "Pay What It's Worth" pricing policy, allowing patrons to determine their own ticket price based on the quality of the production, their financial ability, and their interest in supporting live theatre.

"An incredible number of new businesses fail within their first two years," says Tyson Danner, the Workshop's Artistic Director. "Not only have we survived, but we have thrived. That's incredible for any small business, let alone a brand-new nonprofit arts organization. Our success is entirely due to the support we've received from our audiences."

Danner and the theatre's Board of Directors have decided that the growing company is ready to take the next step. This season, the Workshop will begin to pay selected positions in each production, with the goal of paying all directors, designers, staff, and actors by next season.

"Paying artists is the single biggest key to our future success," says Danner. "Not only do they deserve to be compensated for the tremendous amount of time and energy they offer, but it will also allow us to secure the right people for the right positions. Not everyone has the luxury of spending weeks working on a play for free. We want to make sure that - just like everyone can afford to see a play at the Workshop - everyone can afford to participate in our productions."

The funds raised will also go toward supporting the practical costs of producing theatre, such as lighting equipment, sets, props, performance rights, and costumes for the Workshop's upcoming productions of A Steady Rain and Tribes. A Steady Rain will be a reunion of the original trio behind RED: director Tyson Danner and actors Mike Schulz and Thomas Alan Taylor. A Steady Rain performances will take place March 13 - March 29. Following A Steady Rain, the company will partner with Dress for Success Quad Cities for a benefit performance of Nora Ephron's and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss, and What I Wore in mid-May. Rounding out its third season, the Workshop will present Nina Raine's Tribes June 12 - June 28.

For further information, please call (563)650-2396 or e-mail info@QCTheatreWorkshop.org, and visit QCTheatreWorkshop.org and Facebook.com/QCTheatreWorkshop.

25 Nov 2014

LeClaire Photographer Burt Gearhart to Speak on Photography of Bald Eagles Along the Mississippi River December 10th

By Burt Gearhart

The public is welcome to attend a free event called "Up Close Encounters with the Bald Eagles of LeClaire", presented by local photographer, Burt Gearhart of LeClaire, Iowa on Wednesday, December 10th at 6:30pm at the LeClaire Community Library.

Join Le Claire photographer Burt Gearhart for an all-ages slide presentation and lecture that will reveal many interesting discoveries about Bald Eagles and their everyday lives in Iowa.

See eagles diving for fish, eating while flying, flying with icicles on their toes and much more.  Learn to distinguish between immature and mature eagles, what they eat, why they winter in the area. Attendees will learn about this incredible wildlife opportunity to view and photograph the annual winter gathering of Bald Eagles along the Mississippi River north and south of Le Claire.

Burt's prints will also be on display that celebrate Bald Eagles, the Mississippi River, and the historic beauty of Le Claire. This program is free and open to the public.

LeClaire Community Library, 323 Wisconsin Street, LeClaire, IA (563)289-4242, ext. 4
www.leclairelibrary.org

25 Nov 2014

Dick Fallow Endowment for Social Justice announces its first annual grant to THE CENTER FOR WORKER JUSTICE OF EASTERN IOWA

By Alta Price

DAVENPORT, Iowa (November 24, 2014) - The Dick Fallow Endowment for Social Justice has announced that its first year grant award will go to the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa. The grant will be used to expand CWJ's Jobs with Dignity Campaign to the Quad City Area.

CWJ's Jobs with Dignity Campaign will build on existing relationships with labor and community leaders in the Quad Cities Area to offer education and organizing support for low-wage, immigrant, and young workers. CWJ's vision for worker justice includes:

1. Having a union

2. Being paid a livable wage

3. Being paid on time and receiving a paystub

4. Secure, predictable work schedules

5. Workplaces free of discrimination and racism

Since it was first established in Johnson County in 2012, CWJ has become a dynamic organization involving over 250 low-wage workers and members of 30 affiliated community organizations. Through education, direct action, and legal strategies, CWJ has successfully assisted low-wage workers in recovering thousands of dollars in unpaid wages, spurred policy makers to propose improved wage payment laws and reverse discriminatory policing practices, and built a strong base of worker members who now possess impressive organizing and leadership experience.

CWJ's leadership structure requires that low-wage worker members make up majorities in all of its organizational decision-making bodies, reflecting the group's core belief that low-wage workers themselves must lead any successful effort to address the root causes of poverty and oppression. For more information on past and current efforts of CWJ, please visit their website at http://www.cwjiowa.org/home/

About Dick Fallow Endowment for Social Justice

The Dick Fallow Endowment for Social Justice was established in 2013 to carry on the life work of Richard E. Fallow who fought for Labor and Economic Justice; Environmental Sustainability; and Democracy and Human Rights.  Each year the Endowment will issue a grant in one of these three categories. The Endowment is administered by the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and managed by Progressive Action for the Common Good - 563-676-7580.

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