Moline High School students are adding a little STEAM to the classic Romeo and Juliet...STEAMPUNK, that is.  PREVIEW THIS WEEK!

(Moline, IL)  Moline High School is presenting its fall play, Romeo and Juliet,  next weekend, but it is not going to be your typical Romeo and Juliet.  First of all, the school has hired Tristan Tapscott, Director of District Theatre in Rock Island, to run the show.  Typically the plays are produced by high school English teachers, but the teacher who usually directs the fall play left this summer to take a job in Libertyville, Illinois. MHS hired Tapscott as a guest director and the students are enjoying being directed by a working professional.

Secondly, Tapscott is producing the play in what is known as "Steampunk" style so you will see lots of metal and funky stuff on the set and part of the costumes. Here is an explanation of steampunk : Steampunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction, usually set in an anachronistic Victorian or quasi-Victorian alternate history setting. It could be described by the slogan "What the past would look like if the future had happened sooner".

Thirdly, Romeo and Juliet are dating in real life.  Christian Frieden is a junior boy who is dating a sophomore girl, Carolyn Wehr who is playing Juliet.
***The media is invited to a preview of the play on Tuesday, October 15th at 7:00 pm. in the school auditorium. The director will be available for interviews as will the students actors.

WHO:  Moline High School Students
WHAT:  Media Preview of fall play Romeo and Juliet?Steampunk version
WHEN:  Tuesday, October 15th, 7:00 pm
WHERE:  MHS Auditorium   3600 Avenue of the Cities

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month cell phone drive supports shelters in need

CARBONDALE - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and on Friday Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will end her third annual cell phone drive with a check presentation in Carbondale. Simon will join officials from Verizon to present $5,000 to both the Cairo Women's Shelter and HOPE, located in Rochelle.

"Each year we've done this cell phone drive, I have been so impressed by the generosity of Illinois residents," said Simon, a former Jackson county prosecutor who helped found the domestic violence legal clinic at Southern Illinois University School of Law. "Because so many people donated their old phones, we are able to help two shelters that are assisting survivors in underserved parts of our state."

Simon received 1,000 cell phones collected at her offices in Carbondale and Chicago, the Illinois State Fair, the Du Quoin State Fair and from the Department of Central Management Services. For every phone collected, Verizon donates $10 - up to $10,000 - to domestic violence shelters.

Since its recycling program was launched in 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 10 million wireless phones and has awarded more than $18.1 million in cash grants to domestic violence organizations throughout the country. More than 151,000 HopeLine phones with the equivalent of more than 453 million minutes of airtime have been provided to victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations since the program's inception.

Donations are also accepted year-round at Verizon Wireless stores.

DATE: Friday, Oct. 11

TIME: 11 a.m.

LOCATION: Kaplan Hall, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, 1205 Douglas Drive, Carbondale

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October 19, 2013 - (Coralville, IA) - The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts will present Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing on Friday, October 18^th at 8 PM & midnight.  The 8 PM show features a special performance by the inimitable Megan Gogerty.  Tickets cost only $8, and are available via the CCPA Box Office: 319-248-9370.  The Box Office is open Wed/Thurs/Fri 11:00-1:00 & 4:00-6:00, and Saturdays 12:00-4:00, and one hour before ticketed performances.  Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.coralvillearts.org.

"Joss Whedon has a huge fan base in this area," explains Nancy Mayfield, Patron Services Supervisor at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.  "But when Whedon's long-awaited film adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing was released in theaters, fans were devastated to learn that the closest showing was in Des Moines.  We are so thrilled to be able to present the film here in Coralville on the big screen.  Within hours of announcing our intentions, local Whedon fans were so enthusiastic we decided to add a midnight showing."

"Having Megan Gogerty open the 8:00 show will be a special treat," Mayfield continues.  "For the first time in years, she will perform from her Buffy the Vampire Slayer tribute album, I Miss Buffy.   Her songs are as hilarious and engaging as her plays.  The last time I saw her onstage, I laughed until I cried."

THE MOVIE

Writer/director Joss Whedon gives William Shakespeare's beloved battle-of-the-sexes comedy a contemporary makeover in this feature adaptation starring Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof. 2012, PG-13.

In the wake of an eventful trip abroad, Claudio (Fran Kranz) and Benedick (Denisof) arrive safely back in their hometown of Messina, where Claudio wastes no time declaring his love for Hero (Jillian Morgese). Alas, when clever Benedick learns that his friend has poured his heart out to the daughter of powerful governor Leonato (Clark Gregg), he chides his old friend relentlessly over the syrupy assertion while engaging Leonato's outspoken niece Beatrice (Acker) in a series of spirited debates. Meanwhile, somewhere amidst all of the pointed insults and playful barbs, something that strangely resembles true love seems to blossom between Benedick and Beatrice.

JOSS WHEDON:

Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon (born June 23, 1964) is an American screenwriter, film and television producer, director, comic book author, composer, and actor. He is the founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-founder of Bellwether Pictures. He is best known as the creator of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Angel (1999-2004), Firefly (2002-2003), Dollhouse (2009-2010) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-present) as well as Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008). Whedon co-wrote Toy Story (1995), wrote and directed Serenity (2005), co-wrote and produced the horror film The Cabin in the Woods (2012), and wrote and directed the film adaptation of Marvel'sThe Avengers (2012), the third highest-grossing film of all time.

Whedon is notable for his work in the comic books Astonishing X-Men, Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics, Angel: After the Fall and Runaways, and his collaborations in online media. Many of Whedon's projects have cult status.

MEGAN GOGERTY:

The 8 PM event will feature a special introduction by the inimitable Megan Gogerty.  Gogerty is a playwright, monologuist, and songwriter. She will perform from her Buffy the Vampire Slayer tribute album, I Miss Buffy.

THE CCPA:

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; 16 school events took place at the Center in the 2012-2013 school year. The Center was named 2012 Member of the Year by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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Mount Carroll, IL--Timber Lake Playhouse announces its annual one-night-only interactive viewing party of the classic 1975 film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The pre-Halloween event will take place Saturday, October 26th at 9:00 pm at the playhouse in Mount Carroll. Concessions, beer and wine and a costume contest will be a part of the festivities. Admission is $15 and may be purchased in advance at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or by calling 815-244-2035.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a musical parody of B-movie, science fiction and horror films of the late 1940s through early 1970s. The film stars Tim Curry and features Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick along with cast members from the original London stage production. Still in limited release 36 years after its premiere, it has the longest-running theatrical release in film history. It gained notoriety as a midnight movie in 1977 when audiences began participating with the film in theatres.

Interactive prop bags are also available for only $10. Doors will open at 8:30. No outside food or beverages are allowed. The movie is RATED R. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Run time for the movie is approximately two hours. Hot dogs and rice may not be brought in to the theatre. Open flames of any kind are illegal in public theatres in Illinois.

The costume contest will have prizes for first, second and third place. Costume may be related to the film or original creations. Audiences have the opportunity to purchase a "Rocky Horror Prop Bag" for only $10 that includes props to use during the film, as well as an interactive guide. The interactive guide is a script that shows audience members what to say and when to use the props during the show. While a limited number of  Prop Bags will be available the day of the showing, pre-ordering tickets and bags is recommended. To order, or for more information, visit timberlakeplayhouse.org or call 815-244-2035.

Photo caption: Timber Lake Playhouse presents The Rocky Horror Picture show OCtober 26th at 9:00 pm.

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