Amongst Iowa Citians, I think I’m pretty close to holding the record for seeing the Nutcracker ballet the most times. My father was the conductor of the Cedar Rapids Symphony, and he conducted the Nutcracker every year once they moved to the Paramount Theatre. I also saw it at Hancher with my kids when they […]
Theatre
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City Circle Acting Company's "Godspell" at the Englert July 23-25
Godspell at the Englert, courtesy of City Circle Acting Company of Coralville!
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Red Door Ensemble "How To Heal The Hurt By Hating"
I’ve never seen a performance by this group, but I will try and hit one of the performances, if for no other reason than the fun title. The play is based on the book of the same name by Anita Liberty. Red Door takes what could be a one-woman show and has three actresses play the same woman. Intriguing, no?
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Iowa City Community Theatre Benefit: June 16, 2010 at the Piano Lounge
I’d have to confess I haven’t seen a Iowa City Community Theatre production since my brother was in a couple of shows in the 90s. But I have no doubt they’re a worthy organization, and since it’s Community Theater, it’s only going to be as good as we in the community make it.
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Les Dames du Burlesque with Cirque Stupendo
Even the word coming off of someone’s lips in a casual conversation–burlesque–drips like satin off the shoulder. Its an old fashioned word, one that my Nana would have used only in one of her raciest jokes to her closest girlfriends. Somehow through its mythology I only had a vague notion of this kind of performance. […]
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Iowa City Weekender: December 3-5
This Weekender is sponsored by UI Fine Arts Council… Aaaaahh. Nothing like the smell of newsprint in the morning. The fresh ink on crisp pages, not yet dogeared and smudged with love. That’s right folks, a brand new Little Village – December’s Holi-D.I.Y. special, the insider’s guide to the hippest holidays around – is hittin’ […]
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Iowa City Weekender – June 12-14
The IC Weekender is sponsored by the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, July 2-4, 2009 Ah, just when we’ve started to recover from Arts Fest, the weekend is here again! Big thanks to Andre Perry and The Mill for bringing yet another world-class band to Iowa City–Last night’s Rock Plaza Central (http://www.rockplazacentral.com/) show was definitely one […]
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Birthing Medusa
When poet and teacher Barbara Lau began writing her first play about the transformation of the American teenager, she analyzed her knowledge of Greek mythology and found the famed goddess whose metamorphosis was one of the most terrifying and heartbreaking: Medusa. “Just because she has a beauty-and-the-beast transformation, that’s not enough. I looked at the […]
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Reviewing Medusa
“Raising teens is more tricks than treats,” the Greek chorus chants in the new Riverside Theatre production “Raising Medusa,” written by local poet and playwright Barbara Lau of Mt. Vernon. The production features a stellar cast with palpable chemistry. Stage and screen actress Nancy Youngblut plays the mother in the play, exasperated with her 13-year-old […]
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Iowa City Weekender April 3-7
With Mission Creek coming to a close this weekend you’re probably in one of two mindsets: a) “I’m heading for an intentional music overdose” b) “no more music, I’m getting a headache”. Quick Hits: The Mountain Goats, Copyright Criminals, No Age, The Cool Kids, Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival, Raising Medusa, Augusten Burroughs Friday, April […]
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Iowa City Weekender – March 4-8
Its supposed to be a great weekend to get outside. It’s also a great weekend for some local art happenings. Art and weather collide on Friday, but there’s plenty else going on too, here’s something for every day, now through Sunday. Wednesday, March 4 Po’ Girl | The Mill, IC | 8pm | $10 Our […]
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Iowa City Weekender – October 24-26
The weekend schedules are filling up again. In no small part because a number of CR based arts orgs are back from the flood. Likewise, Parkview Terrace, where I’ve owned an unoccupied house for six months is filling up again. My house is almost done and I’m getting ready to move this weekend. IT feels […]
