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.

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.

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.

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 10^th 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