Author's posts
Culture Crawl 745 “What That Treadmill Says About You”
Jill Van Brussel is a costume designer and Theatre professor, currently teaching at Colorado Mesa University, whose cabaret show “Why Do I Own A Thong? (And Other Existential Questions),” examines her life (and all of our lives) through our clothing choices. Jill is a longtime friend of long-time Eastern Iowa performers and producers Patrick Du …
Culture Crawl 744 “Marking Time”
Cedar Rapids has a rich history in Drum Corps. The Emerald Knights competed and performed for decades, and Slayton Thompson’s Grant Wood Drum & Bugle Corps marched in two presidential Inauguration parades. The tradition continues today with the Tournament of Drums festival, Aug. 5 at Kingston Stadium, when drum corps from around the country and …
Culture Crawl 743 “I Saved Too Many Things”
The final week of Cedar Rapids Municipal Band concerts is jam-packed, says director Steve Shanley. Including Leonard Bernstein’s famous Overture to “Candide,” a solo from Young Artist Isabella Anderson, a tribute to Muni Band member and legendary Cedar Rapids music teacher Luman Colton, conducted by his daughter Christie, and another guest conductor, UI doctoral student …
Culture Crawl 742 “Play Quarter Notes”
The Dandelion Stompers open the 2022 season of Jazz Under the Stars, Aug. 4 at Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids. Opening will be the first of four student ensembles we’ll feature this year, Vivian Shanley and Friends. The Iowa City-based band plays in the traditional New Orleans style of jazz, popular when the lines between …
Culture Crawl 741 “Picks Up the Phone for Lynne & Teddy”
Singer Lynne Rothrock met guitarist Paul Binkley when she lived in Nashville. He has toured with the band Alabama, and writes the orchestrations for Alabama shows with orchestra. (The Teddy in the show title is Alabama’s Teddy Gentry) Paul joins Lynne for an all-new show featuring the music of singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith, as well as …
Culture Crawl 740 “Excited… And A Little Terrified”
Week 8 of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band season will divide the band into a Woodwind Choir and a Brass Choir, each giving its own program. Leslie Fleer will direct the woodwinds, and Steve the brass. The program will include Mozart, Queen, and the “Quidditch” theme by John Williams from the Harry Potter films, which …
Jazz Under The Stars!
This year, Jazz Under the Stars doubles the music and fun by presenting two bands each week! A Young Artist ensemble at 6:30, followed by the headliner at 7:00. Here is the 2022 Jazz Under the Stars Lineup: Aug. 4 – Dandelion Stompers w/ Vivian Shanley & Friends Aug. 11 – Betsy Hickok/Ron Roberts Quintet …
Culture Crawl 739 “Facebook Will Allow You To Watch Live”
When Steve Shanley played in the Cedar Rapids Municipal band, he often wondered why the band members weren’t featured more as soloists. Now that he is the director, he sets aside one concert every year to showcase members of the band. This week, Christine Bellomy, clarinet; Caleb Lambert, euphonium, and Thiago Ancelmo, clarinet; will all …