Mount Carroll, IL--Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional, non-profit summer theatre of northwest Illinois, will hold auditions for qualified musicians for their summer season on Sunday, April 27th at 2:00 pm at the theatre in Mount Carroll, Illinois.  Auditions for children for the theatre's upcoming production of Les Miserables will follow at 4:00 pm.

The 53rd summer season of Timber Lake Playhouse will include the musicals Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, Les Miserable and Shout! The Mod Musical. All musicals at TLP utilize paid area musicians. Auditions for Bass (upright & electric), Woodwinds, Percussion, Guitar, Brass and Strings will begin at 2:00 pm. Musicians will be seen in 10 minute appointments. They should be prepared to play a selection of their choosing. They might be asked to sight read from one of the shows. For an appointment, please call the theatre at 815-244-2035. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd in Mount Carroll. Performance dates and rehearsal schedules can be found at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.

Auditions for the roles of Gavroche, Young Cosette and Young Eponine in Les Miserables will begin at 4:00 pm. The playhouse is seeking a boy aged 8-12 for Gavroche who is a very strong singer and is comfortable on stage. Girls ages 8-10, who are strong singers and very comfortable on stage are encouraged to audition for Young Cosette and Young Eponine. All children should bring a song to sing in the style of the show. They may sing from the show, as well. An accompanist will be provided. These roles are not paid, but a travel stipend may be arranged. All ethnicities are encouraged to attend. Please call the theatre at 815-244-2035 to sign up for auditions.

Additional auditions for children for Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and adults for Young Frankenstein will be held in May. Performers and musicians must be available for all scheduled performances and rehearsals. More information is available at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. Timber Lake Playhouse programs are supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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DECORAH, IA (03/12/2014)(readMedia)-- Luther College junior, Lis Athas of Blue Grass, Iowa, will perform as Katherine Mesrou in Luther's Visual and Performing Arts production of "La Dispute."

Inspired by Pierre de Marivaux's prose comedy originally written in 1744, Luther's adaption of "La Dispute" explores the nature of love, betrayal, passion and seduction in a unique social experiment. Eight young adults, isolated from the world, are paired together in attempt to discover if it is possible to create a perfect love with no risks or doubts.

The performances, held in the Jewel Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the Luther campus, are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, March 12-13; 9:30 p.m. Friday, March 14; and 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15.

Athas, the daughter of Mark and Vickie Athas of Blue Grass, is majoring in theatre and management at Luther. She is a 2011 graduate of Davenport West High School.

Tickets for the performances are $12 for adults, $5 for children five and under, and can be purchased at Luther's ticket website, www.tickets.luther.edu, by calling the Ticket Office at (563) 387-1357, or by visiting the Luther Ticket Office, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9-10:30 a.m. and 11a.m.-3 p.m.; and Tuesday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., with extended hours on Thursdays, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

"La Dispute" will be directed by Bobby Vrtis, Luther assistant professor of theatre.

Vrtis earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Longwood University and a master's and doctoral degree in theatre from the University of Oregon. At Luther, Vrtis teaches classes in several areas of theatre including acting, directing, improvisation and clowning.

A national liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,500, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the bachelor of arts degree in 60 majors and preprofessional programs. For more information about Luther visit the college's website: www.luther.edu.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Tourism Office has kicked off its spring advertising campaign with television and digital ads designed to inspire travelers to visit Iowa.

Television ads are now airing in Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Kansas City, and Omaha. Digital ads are being served up on websites such as parents.com, TripAdvisor and Expedia as well as Google search.

"Travelers spend nearly $8 billion in our state annually and generate more than $300 million in revenue for the state," said Gov. Terry Branstad. "Iowans are humble, but it's important that we show off our state, promote what we have to offer and encourage our neighbors to visit."

"This campaign is targeted to metro areas within easy driving distance of Iowa," said Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. "Less time traveling to Iowa means more time to actually enjoy it. Our ads showcase several locations across the state, but they really represent just the tip of the iceberg. There's no shortage of unique museums, shops, restaurants and hotels in Iowa where travelers can make lifelong memories."

The $1.5 million combined ad buy will run from March to June of this year.

Iowa Tourism Office also recently completed a major overhaul of web site, www.traveliowa.com, adding several news pages meant to inspire potential travelers with a range of interests, from history and culture to hunting to outdoor recreation to wine and beer. The ad campaign is intended to drive traffic to traveliowa.com were travelers can immerse themselves in learning more about destinations in the state.

Tourism in Iowa generates more than $7.6 billion in expenditures, employs 64,400 people statewide and generates $345 million in state taxes. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. For more information about Iowa tourism, visit www.traveliowa.com, call 800.345.IOWA or stop at any Iowa Welcome Center.

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What do you get with you bring together a fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, upright slap bass, rhinestone costumes, hilarious comedy and great classic country, bluegrass, rockabilly and gospel music at a theatre near you...Branson On The Road®!

Branson On The Road® has over 20 years of experience of performing at the top theatres in Branson on the famous 76 Country Music Boulevard (known as "The Strip"), and is the first national touring show named for the famous city. The show delivers the Branson traditions of good, clean, family fun wherever they go...and they go all over the US and beyond!

Branson On The Road® is the kind of show most people thought was long gone in this day of overproduced music, overused special effects and performers singing to tracks. In the same tradition as the traveling road shows during the glory days of the Grand Ole Opry, the Louisiana Hayride and the first Branson music shows, Branson On The Road® keeps you tapping, laughing and smiling.

Those seeing a Branson On The Road® show can not only expect great music but plenty of hilarious comedy every step of the way.

"We reside in the live music capital of the world, Branson, Missouri", said Debbie Horton, "and realized that there are many people who will never have a chance to visit Branson personally and with the economy the way it is today, we decided to bring our Branson stage show directly to them."

Branson On The Road® is the best way to experience a Branson show right where YOU live!  For a couple of hours you can forget all about your troubles and have good time - laughter is the best medicine.

Debbie Horton holds the distinction of being the only woman to have played lead guitar for the great Johnny Cash.  She hosted her own show at the old Boxcar Willie Theater in Branson and has performed on the famous Louisiana Hayride and Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree in Nashville.  She was a radio DJ in Norfolk, Virginia and acted as MC for concerts with Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams, Jr., the Oak Ridge Boys, and many more.  Among her other credits, Debbie is an accomplished songwriter.  She has had her songs recorded by Wanda Jackson, Norma Jean and many other country singers.

Donnie Wright is an expert, sought after, respected musician, arranger and is versatile on many instruments including fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo and bass and has been part of the Branson music scene for 40 years.  He provides a good deal of the comic relief on the show with his mischievous antics. Among his long list of credits are performances at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, The Presley's Show in Branson, The Pine Mountain Jamboree in Eureka Springs, and a long-standing run at The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.  Donnie has been nominated for a Lifetime Honors Award for his contribution to music in the Ozarks by the National Endowments of the Arts in Washington, DC.

Brian Capps plays upright bass and sings songs reminiscent of Marty Robbins and Hank Williams.  Brian's latest recording reached the Top 10 on the Americana Charts and is part of the music rotation on XM Radio.

Branson On The Road® is a regular featured act on the national television show, "Midwest Country" on the RFD-TV network seen in over 100 million homes.

Visit www.BransonOnTheRoad.com to learn more!

Below is information regarding BRANSON ON THE ROAD®:

Dates:  March 13, 14, 15, 2014 at 2 pm  
Place:  The Old Creamery Theatre Main Stage 39 38th Ave, Amana, IA 52203
Phone:          319-622-6262
Show Times: 2 pm
Tickets:        $30 for adults and $18 for students. Call 319-622-6262 to order or order online at www.oldcreamery.com

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company is celebrating 43 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.