09 Jul 2013

FRATERNITY MEN CYCLING ACROSS COUNTRY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RIDE INTO DAVENPORT

By Joey Haynes

A Journey of Hope to Enhance the Quality of Life

DAVENPORT, IA- On Wednesday, July 17, a team of cyclists participating in the 26th Journey of Hope, presented by KRG Capital, will arrive in Davenport as part of a nine-week, 4,000-mile cycling event across the country to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities.

That evening, the team will have dinner and a Friendship Visit with the City of Davenport Parks and Recreation at 5:00 p.m. at their pool.

Journey of Hope is a program of Push America, the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, which raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities. The Journey of Hope team consists of men from Pi Kappa Phi chapters across the country. The team will cycle an average of 75 miles per day, beginning in San Francisco and Seattle and ending in Washington, D.C. on August 10.

At stops across the country, the three routes (North, South and TransAmerica) will distribute grants directly to assist organizations in serving people with disabilities. For the team, the real journey will not be on a bike, but spending time with the people for whom they are riding. The Journey of Hope team members will spend every afternoon with people with disabilities in many different community events and activities. These men are striving for community inclusion of people with disabilities and are helping to break the barriers of society that keep people of all abilities from living life to the fullest.

The organization was founded in 1977 with the hope of committing its members to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. With the combined efforts of sponsors and individual team members, this year's Journey of Hope will raise more than $500,000 on behalf of people with disabilities. Push America and Pi Kappa Phi have raised over $15 million to date and continue to be on the cutting edge of the disability movement.

For more information about this event or more on Push America's summer programs, please contact Josh Sasek at (980) 318-5393 or log on to www.pushamerica.org.

09 Jul 2013

Brucemore Outdoor Children's Theater Presents: The Amazing Story Machine

By Rick Martin

The eleventh annual Brucemore Outdoor Children's Theater will bring to life The Amazing Story Machine, July 24 - 27 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Arthur the Inventor and his pet mouse, Rusty, will pull audiences out of their seats and take them on adventures of story time favorites, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and The Lion and the Mouse, during this world premier written by Joe Link and directed by Nathan Nelson. This will be Link's seventh original production on the Brucemore stage; previous plays include The Incredible Adventures of Captain Spoon, The Forgetful Pirate; The Princess Who Wouldn't Wear Pink; and Tyrannosaurus Fetch. Each year, the Brucemore Outdoor Children's Theater promises an engaging performance sure to keep the young audience captivated and the adult audience entertained.

Brucemore's natural amphitheater near the pond will set the stage for this hour-long performance. Gates open at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Children and their adult chaperones are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs (no food or beverage please). On-site parking is available. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children.  Brucemore Outdoor Children's Theater is sponsored by US Bank and media sponsored by ImOn Communications. Purchase tickets by visiting www.brucemore.org, calling (319) 362-7375, or at the box office the night of the event. Ticket purchases are nonrefundable.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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05 Jul 2013

A GREEN RIVER Opens Friday

By Tyson Danner
A Green River Flows Through the QC Theatre Workshop, July 5 through 14
When the QC Theatre Workshop debuts its world-premiere presentation of A Green River, running at the Davenport venue July 5 through 14, author Aaron Randolph III will celebrate the end of a lengthy journey, as he's spent the last five years writing, re-writing, and continually developing his powerful combat-veteran drama.
Yet considering that the production's rehearsal process, as Randolph says, has been a truly collaborative effort between himself, director Daniel DP Sheridan, and the show's five-person cast - with entire scenes sometimes shaped primarily through improvisation - he won't be celebrating alone.
"Everyone has contributed to the finished product," says Randolph, "either through making suggestions for dialogue changes, or helping organize the material in more effective ways, or reinterpreting lines in ways I never would've imagined on my own. And while this sort of collaboration can sometimes turn 'simple fixes' into major undertakings, the end result is a much stronger play."
Adds Sheridan, "The depth brought to this production by the artists involved is what makes this one of the most dynamic theatrical pieces I've ever been involved with. There have been some heated discussions and disagreements, but they've only made us delve even deeper into this story."
A Green River centers on the character of Erik (portrayed by Thomas Alan Taylor), a young Army veteran who has returned from overseas to a world he now struggles to recognize. Told through a kaleidoscopic blend of present-day sequences, flashbacks, memories, and dreams, the 90-minute drama explores the frequently harsh realities of being a soldier, a husband, a son, a brother, and an expectant father - obligations that weigh heavily on Erik's already troubled mind.
Yet despite A Green River's weighty material, Sheridan states, "The script is incredibly engaging and really captures the scope of Erik's life. And in any life, there are moments of great joy and sorrow. I really think the audience will have a full emotional experience, because this play is heartbreaking, funny, scary, honest, dangerous, and thrilling."
"The show is all about very human people dealing with wide ranges of emotions," adds Randolph, whose production also features Jessica Sheridan, Joe Goodall, Jessica Denney, and Mike Schulz as significant figures in Erik's life. "So while there are some intense moments, there's also a great deal of love and humor in the play. I actually hope people find themselves laughing a lot during the course of the show."
Taylor, whose character is seen at many different ages over a two-decade period, is himself no stranger to the process of working on debuting scripts, as the actor appeared in five original theatrical productions as a student at the University of Iowa.
"Being part of a premiere really pushes you to re-attach to the role of storyteller," says Taylor, "because it's the only time the story itself is being developed along with the production. And it's very rewarding to be part of something that's never been done before. There's a higher sense of ownership for all of us, especially since this process has involved so much improvisation."
As for the role he has been entrusted with, Taylor says, "I love the challenge of bringing clarity and specificity to Erik's journey. It's extremely challenging to cover a 20-year arc, a harrowing struggle with civilian stresses, and the suffering of a modern American soldier all within the script's stream-of-consciousness structure. Aaron has done tremendous work, and being able to give breath to Erik through his words is quite an honor."
A Green River is also a considerable technical challenge, with the show's sprawling riverfront set, lighting, and original sound effects and music - composed by Randolph himself - contributing greatly to the show's tone.
"We are focused on using the technical elements to heighten the psychological state of Erik's character," says Sheridan. "We want the audience to not only witness, but feel, the stress Erik is under. And we're really pushing ourselves as artists in terms of expanding the experience at appropriate moments. We're holding nothing back in our design options."
Adds Randolph, "The play is about blending very natural things with very surreal things, and I'm trying to blend sound and music so there's a constant flow between reality and memory.
"I kind of have this sword-forging mentality about how I like to work," he continues. "When you make a sword, you shape the metal into place only to heat it back up and fold the metal again. By doing this over and over again, you end up with something that's effective and strong. And hopefully, that's what we're making here."
A Green River will be staged at the QC Theatre Workshop (1730 Wilkes Avenue, Davenport, IA) Friday, July 5, through Sunday, July 14, with show times at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Due to the play's adult language and violent scenes, this debuting drama is recommended for mature audiences, and as with the QC Theatre Workshop's previous productions, the show will be presented under the company's unique "Pay What It's Worth" policy, allowing audience members to determine their own ticket prices following each performance based on the quality of their theatrical experience.
For reservations and more information on A Green River, please call (563)650-2396 or e-mail info@QCTheatreWorkshop.org, and visit QCTheatreWorkshop.org and Facebook.com/QCTheatreWorkshop.
A Green River performance dates:
Friday, July 5 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 7 - 3 p.m.
Friday, July 12 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 13 - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 14 - 3 p.m.
Location:
QC Theatre Workshop
1730 Wilkes Avenue, Davenport, Iowa, 52804
(563)650-2396
info@QCTheatreWorkshop.org
QCTheatreWorkshop.org
Facebook.com/QCTheatreWorkshop
05 Jul 2013

Theatre Cedar Rapids Call for Actors

By Theatre Cedar Rapids
July 1, 2013 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa - Theatre Cedar Rapids will hold auditions for the upcoming musical production of The Music Man in Concert at:
  • 6pm to 9pm MONDAY July 8th       (Kids)
  • 7pm to 10pm TUESDAY July 9th   (Adults)
  • 7pm to 10pm WEDNESDAY July 10th   (Adults)
Those wishing to audition only need to attend one of the times.

With an expected chorus of 80 local singers and performers, this is a collaborative event between Theatre Cedar Rapids and Orchestra Iowa, in an evening of incredible singing with classics such as: "76 Trombones" "Shipoopi" "Goodnight My Someone" and other favorites from one of the greatest and most beloved musicals of all time.  To be performed at The Paramount Theater with Orchestra Iowa and Conducted by Maestro Timothy Hankewich September 26-29, 2013.

Those auditioning are asked to prepare music selections in advance based on the part but may be asked to sing any of the selections listed. Prerecorded accompaniment will be used for auditions; these tracks are available online at the Theatre Cedar Rapids website.

Roles and audition numbers:

 

HAROLD HILL :

  • 76 Trombones or Till There Was You

MARIAN PAROO:

  • Good night My Someone

Chorus:

  • 76 Trombones, Goodnight My Someone or Wells Fargo Wagon

AMARYLLIS

  • Wells Fargo Wagon

MARCELLUS:

  • Shapoopi verse 1 and refrain

WINTHROP:

  • Wells Fargo Wagon or Gary, Indiana

**Pick a Little" ladies, Mayor Shinn, Eulalie Shinn, Ms. Paroo etc. will all be chosen out of the CHORUS cast.

More About THE MUSIC MAN...

An affectionate paean to Smalltown, U.S.A. of a bygone era, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys' band he vows to organize - this despite the fact he doesn't know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain's fall. 

This award-winning, critically acclaimed Broadway classic is an all-American institution, thanks to is quirky characters, charmingly predictable dramatic situations, and one-of-a-kind, nostalgic score of rousing marches, barbershop quartets and sentimental ballads which have become popular standards. 

By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, THE MUSIC MAN is family entertainment at its best.

Director & Music Director: Cameron Sullenberger

Choreographer: Alisabeth Von Presley

Assistant Director: Brian Glick

For more information on this show, the roles available, or to check out a script, call 319-366-8592 or go to www.theatrecr.org. All auditions will take place at Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 3rd Street SE.

02 Jul 2013

D.A.V. NEWSLETTER - July-August 2013

By Rick Martin

Quad Cities Chapter No. 2 News

The Chapter will meet on July 11, 7:00 p.m. at the Hickory Gardens, 3311 Hickory Grove Road in Davenport.  Key item is plans for the For-Get-Me-Not Drive this fall.  Tentative dates are September 13 and 14.  We have set those dates with Wal-Mart.  Members who can work a two hour shift should contact Commander Paul Janecek at 563-386-3533.  At our July meeting we will have sign up sheeting with proposed working shift printed on them.

Future meetings: No meeting in August.  There will be a regular meeting September 12; October 10; November 14; and no meeting December.  We will give a schedule for 2014 in our November Newsletter.

DAV Auxiliary

We CAN NOT URGE DAV AND DAVA MEMBERS ENOUGH to find an Auxiliary member or member candidate to come to our next meeting.  Call Mrs. Janecek at 563-386-3533 or Beverly Cherryholmes at 563-332-5161. Auxiliary meeting will be same time as Chapter meeting.

AMVET'S POST 144 - MEETING INFORMATION

PLACE:  Hickory Gardens     DATE:  June 24 2013   TIME:  5:00 P.M.

Come to enjoy the fellowship, good food, and a productive meeting.  We will have information about out Picnic (inside not outside).  Because of the storm, I did not attend the June 24th meeting.  I would have told you that our indoor picnic has been scheduled for September 15 at Biaggi's Ristoranti Italiano @ 5195 Utica Ridge Road in Davenport, Iowa.  The time is 5:00 p.m.  You MUST make reservations or you may not have a seat at the table!!!

HOW HAVE WE ALLOWED GOVERNMENT TO VIOLATE OUR 4TH AMENDMENT?

When we vote we put our faith and trust in those we elect to office.  Today, we know that some of these people disregard the "Oath" they take and violated your rights under the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  The revelations by a whistleblower and some of the media has exposed spying upon a vast number of citizens of this country is most alarming.  For those who have read Orwell's 1984 it has come to pass.  We are not safe from the spying of our Government in the safety of our own home.  An abuse of power greater than anything we have known in the History of the United States.   I can tell you I am concerned and you should be also.  We must demand Congressional investigations be conducted.  The Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives has indicated that if all of this spying is true that people need to go to jail.  The leaders of this spying need to be put in jail!  Elected officials who have been involved need to be removed from office.

Every veteran needs to write the Speaker and ask him to do what he said.  We need to call our two Senators and Congressmen to start action.  I believe we have a legal right to be safe in our homes.  Amendment IV (1791) James Madison wrote the following:  "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, house, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be search and the persons or things to be seized."  Madison said it then and it means the same today!

02 Jul 2013

Rockhurst University Holds 93rd Annual Commencement

By Katherine Frohoff

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Rockhurst University awarded more than 700 degrees at its 93rd annual commencement ceremony Saturday, May 11, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.


In keeping with the student-centered focus at Rockhurst, the program featured two student speakers: Katie Marie Birkenfeld, Kearney, Neb., who received a Bachelor of Arts in English and philosophy; and Andrew Christopher Kurz, Sedalia, Mo., who received a Master of Occupational Therapy.


Rockhurst University is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit universities in the United States. It seeks to challenge students while providing a supportive environment for intellectual and personal growth. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Rockhurst among the top Midwest Regional Universities. Rockhurst is the only institution in the Kansas City area to have earned the community engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.


The following students were candidates for degrees:

Julie Garnaas of Bettendorf, Master of Science, Communication Sci & Disorders

Gabriella Binion of Davenport, Master of Business Administrtn, MBA.

02 Jul 2013

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES ITS SPRING SEMESTER DEAN'S LIST

By Valerie Mason
Bemidji, MN (June 27, 2013) - The Spring Semester Dean's List was released by Dr. Martin Tadlock, vice president for academic affairs at Bemidji State University, and included Melissa Youngblut from Davenport, Iowa. Bemidji State students carrying 12 or more semester hours during any one term and earning at least 3.25 (B-plus) grade point average are listed on the Dean's List.

-30-

02 Jul 2013

'THE MUSIC MAN' Cast His Spell at TLP

By Rick Martin

Mount Carroll, IL-- Executive Director James Beaudry directs and choreographs The Music Man, one of the most beloved musical comedies of all time, at Timber Lake Playhouse. The show, a valentine to the American small town in a more innocent time,and was last seen at TLP 24 years ago, opens Friday, July 5 for only 12 performances.


Meredith Willson's classic story of a fast-talking salesman who knows nothing about music but sells bands to unsuspecting small towns until he meets his match in a piano playing librarian became an instant hit in 1957 and has since been turned into two films and seen countless productions all over the world. Songs like "Seventy-Six Trombones," "Till Theatre Was You," "Goodnight My Someone," "Lida Rose" and  "Marian The Librarian" are now American standards. The score, the dances and the timeless and hilarious writing still delight audiences of all ages.


Cody Jolly of Atlanta and Sarah Larson of Milwaukee star as Harold Hill and Marian Paroo. TLP favorites Time Wessel and Judy Knudtson return to play Marcellus and Mrs. Paroo, respectively. Featured in the show are Matthew C. Webb and Hannah-Jo Weisberg, as well as fifteen performers from the region including Will Boze and Vivian Lobdell, both of Sterling, IL, in the roles of Winthrop and Amaryllis. Cindy Blanc of Monroe, WI vocal directs and Emily Bressler of Mount Carroll directs the musicians.


"Classic musical comedy is one of the most american arts forms, and it's also one of the hardest to get right," Beaudry said. "But the commitment of the cast to creating a fun and spectacular show that celebrates a kind of mythical small town Americana, is turning The Music Man into a show that I think our audiences will just love."


The Music Man runs July 5-14 for 12 performances only. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd. in rural Mount Carroll, IL. Tickets are $15-23 and are available at the box office, by calling 815-244-2035 or visiting www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. The show is appropriate for all ages, and a few performances are already sold out. Opening July 9, TLP will also present Seussical, an hour-long musical based on the books of Dr. Seuss for children and families. All tickets for Seussical are $6.


Full Cast List:


Harold Hill ........................................................................... Cody Jolly

Marian Paroo .................................................................. Sarah Larson

Charlie Cowell  .................................................................... Brad Field (Mount Carroll)

Mayor Shinn ....................................................................... Matt Webb

Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn ..................................... Hannah-Jo Weisberg

Marcellus Washburn ........................................................... Tim Wessel

Mrs. Paroo .................................................................... Judy Knudtson

Winthrop Paroo  .................................................................... Will Boze (Sterling)

The School Board

Ewart Dunlop ....................................................... Elliot Marach

Oliver Hix ......................................................... Gilbert Domally

Jacey Squires ..................................................... Alex Johnson

Olin Britt .............................................................. Brandyn Day

Tommy Djilas ................................................................. Zak McMahon

Zaneeta Shinn ...................................................... Genna-Paige Kanago

Amaryllis ........................................................................ Vivian Lobdell (Sterling)

Alma Hix  .......................................................................... Terrie Miller (Savanna)

Maud Dunlop ...................................................................... Lexie Plath

Ethel Toffelmier ................................................................ Tayloir Pace

Mrs. Squires .......................................................... Kathleen Brinkmeier (Pearl City)

Constable Locke ............................................................. Kevin Strunk  (Morrison)

Gracie Shinn ................................................................. Kallie Zuidema (Sterling)

Citizens of River City ....................................................... Joe Capstick,

Caden Foster (Sterling), Elise Foster (Sterling), Abby Frank-Taylor, Angie Lobdell (Sterling), Natalie Masini, Dylan Passman, Levi Skoog (Chadwick), Kallie Timmons (Lyndon), Katie Woods (Savanna), Morgan Zuidema (Sterling)




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02 Jul 2013

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Children's Theater production.

By Vanessa McNeely
Venture into the terrifying Black Forest with Snow White and her friends on July 13, 2013 when the Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) and more than 45 local students, from the ages of six to sixteen, perform SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS. An original musical adaptation of this classic tale, sure to thrill audiences of all ages.

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS will be presented at 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Central Performing Arts Center, 519 E. 11th Street DeWitt, Iowa. Tickets are $8.00 each and are available online at Midwestix.com, at the DeWitt City Hall; 510 9th Street, and at the door.

The Missoula Children's Theater has been touring for 41 years from Montana to Japan, and will visit nearly 1,200 communities this year with up to 47 teams of Tour Actor/Directors.

The Missoula Children's Theatre residency in DeWitt, Iowa is brought to you by the Central Performing Arts Center with grants from The Giving Organization for Iowa Teens, The Alliant Energy Foundation, and The DeWitt Fine Arts Foundation.

02 Jul 2013

DISTRICT THEATRE BECOMES NON-PROFIT ENTITY NEW DIRECTION FOR THE COMING SEASON

By Lora Adams

ROCK ISLAND, IL - The District Theatre (formerly Harrison Hilltop Theatre) has entered a new era.  The theatre, located in downtown Rock Island on 2nd Avenue has completed the process to become a non-profit theatre and has inducted a board of directors, which includes Bryan Tank, Deborah Shippy, Georgia Jecklin, Thomas Hanson, Joseph Maubach, Dana Copell, and Lora Adams.  Matt Mercer is the board president.

"I had wanted to complete the season as planned, but the board and I met and felt that rather than wait to implement our new business strategies with the beginning of the sixth season, we roll them out now," said Tristan Tapscott, District Theatre Artistic Director.

"We looked at our projected expenses and revenue and made the decision to unveil our 'new vision' for the District Theatre immediately," said board president, Mercer.  That new vision included changing some of the lineup for the remainder of the year, partnering with other arts organizations and producing special events like the upcoming roast of Tristan Layne Tapscott on July 20th.  The theatre's website is undergoing a change and will be unveiled later this summer.

Opening June 28 is "Reasons to Be Pretty" followed by, James Fairchild's one man cabaret titled "Out of Character."  New offerings begin August 1st with "Twelve Angry Men" "Let's Face the Music," a musical revue, in September; "The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs" in early October and "The Rocky Horror Show" in late October. November 15-24 will be "The Tempest" with and rounding out the year will be the critically acclaimed musical "A Christmas Carol" by Tapscott and Danny White running December 6 to 15.

"In many ways we are returning to our roots presenting a classic play, a new musical and a contemporary show this fall," said Tapscott

The District Theatre formerly known as Harrison Hilltop theatre, opened in 2008 and moved to their Rock Island location in June 2011. At that time the theatre changed its name to better define its new location in The District of Rock Island.  

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