Theatre Cedar Rapids presents the holiday classic “Annie,” opening November 17. Jim Kern, who played Daddy Warbucks in one of the three previous outings for the musical at TCR, directs the show this year. He says the show doesn’t get stale because there is always a fresh crop of kids, many experiencing the show for …
David Combs plays Scrooge in the Old Creamery Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol.” But the production has a unique twist: Five actors not only play all the roles, but also many of the props and set pieces, like a door or roaring fire. David talks about the challenge of keeping a straight face when …
Orchestra Iowa performs what is arguably the most famous piece of music ever composed, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Tim Hankewich gives us the inside tip on what to listen for (Spoiler: It’s not the first movement!). Also on the program, the Orchestra features its own principal pianist, Miko Kominami, performing a Mozart Piano Concerto that may …
Ethel Barker’s new novel “The Andersons of Eden” is the story of an Iowa farm family during the World War II era, whose lives are disrupted when the young men of the family go off to war. It’s a novel of historical fiction, but she incorporated thoughts and memories from real people such as well-known …
Metromix Chorus, a 45-member troupe of barber shop-style singing, bring a new show to the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 11 and the Washington Area Performing Arts and Events Center on Nov. 12. Lynda Black-Smith and Ann Buckheister say that “So, What’s New” will feature tunes by Pentatonix, a patriotic medley, and …
“City of Angels,” a musical whose book is by Larry Gelbart, creator of “MASH” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” takes place in two eras, present day and the 1940s. The 1940s scenes are staged in black and white. This creates some technical challenges for the directors and crew of …
It’s a first for Tim Hankewich and Orchestra Iowa as they provide a live soundtrack to the classic movie “Casablanca,” one show only, Oct. 27 at the Paramount Theatre. Tim says that this is particularly challenging for the conductor, as he is the only one of the seventy musicians who can see the time codes …
The Iowa City Community Theatre presents “She Kills Monsters” Oct. 27 through Nov. 5. It’s the tale of a young woman’s journey to deal with tragedy against the backdrop of the role playing game “Dungeons & Dragons.” Director Nate Sullivan, an avowed D&D’er himself, says the play combines stage combat, and special effects that include …
