Welcome to ACT I of Benton County

Love Notes Prepares for Opening February 12

ACT I of Benton Country is in final rehearsal for the 2010 Valentine's Variety Show Love notes featuring a talented cast of local favorites and some new faces with a lot of theatre experience but new to the ACT I group.

As in the past few years, the show will be held as a dinner theatre at the Vinton Country Club. Reservation can be ordered at 319-472-9957.

Day 1 Closes On Auditions for The Miser!

Director Steve Arnold had a successful first day of auditions for his upcoming production of The Miser.

	The Miser is a farce that Steve promises to update from is original French classic origins to the modern day. Those auditioning included Trent McAtee, Nancy Beckman, Emma Clingman, Rich Hainstock, and David Gates, with more promising to appear for auditions Monday January 11 at 7:00 PM. One of the problems many have with auditioning for a show as funny as the Miser is keeping a straight face while reading hilarious lines. The potential cast was (generally) up to the challenge though. There were a few cases of breaking character, but that's all part of the fun! Characters in The Miser include: Harpagon, Tyrant, father of Cléante and Elise, in love with Mariane. Cléante, Harpagon's son, lover to Mariane. Valère, son to Anselme and brother to Mariane. In love with Élise. Signior Anselme, father of Valère and Mariane. Master Simon, broker. Master Jacques, cook and coachman to Harpagon. La Flèche, valet to Cléante. Brindavoine and La Merluche, lackeys to Harpagon. An Officer and his clerk. Élise, daughter to Harpagon. In love with Valere. Mariane, daughter to Anselme and sister to Valère. In love with Cléante. Frosine, an intriguing woman, the matchmaker. Mistress Claude, servant to Harpagon. Age range is from late teens to 60s.

Love Notes Auditions Held

Directors Sue Gates and Marcy Horst held auditions for ACT I's production of Love Notes at the Palace Theatre this weekend.

Love Notes will be a variety show-style dinner theatre at the Vinton Country Club on Valentine's Day Weekend. Several great acts auditioned for the show, including familiar faces and newcomers. Marcy and Sue have a lot of great ideas and, based on observations at the auditions, are very open to ideas from the cast (no guarantees, though!)

There are still some openings for the show available, so if you weren't able to make it this holiday weekend, be sure to contact either of the co-directors, or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll be sure to pass the information along.

Pictured: Marcy Horst and Sue Gates discuss an act Rick Primmer is hoping to perform.

ACT I Announces 2010-2011 Season!

November 21, 2009

It seems like our current season just got underway, but the next season is coming quickly upon us! ACT I is pleased to announce that several shows have been announced for the season that begins July 1, 2010.

ACT I will be the first theatre in Iowa to stage 13, a successful musical that was the first show with an all-child cast to be staged on Broadway, a grown-up story about growing up!

When his parents get divorced and he's forced to move from New York to a small town in Indiana, Evan Goldman just wants to make friends and survive the school year. Easier said than done.

The star quarterback is threatening to ruin his life and his only friend, Patrice, won't talk to him. The school freak sees an opportunity for blackmail and someone is spreading the nastiest rumors.

With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown, "13" is a hilarious, high-energy musical for all ages about discovering that cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it.

Also scheduled for the main stage is Picnic, winner of the 1953 Pulitzer Prize and the Critics Circle Award.

The play takes place on Labor day Weekend in the joint backyards of two middle-aged widows. The one house belongs to Flo Owens, who lives there with her two maturing daughters, Madge and Millie, and a boarder who is a spinster school teacher. The other house belongs to Helen Potts, who lives with her elderly and invalid mother. Into this female atmosphere comes a young man named Hal Carter, whose animal vitality seriously upsets the entire group.

Plaza Suite, a poignant and funny three act show from Neil Simon will also be a featured show in 2011. Hilarity abounds in this portrait of three couples successively occupying a suite at the Plaza. A suburban couple take the suite while their house is being painted, and it turns out to be the one in which they honeymooned 23 (or was it 24?) years before - and was yesterday the anniversary, or is it today? This wry tale of marriage in tatters is followed by the exploits of a Hollywood producer who, after three marriages, is looking for fresh fields. He calls a childhood sweetheart, now a suburban housewife, for a little sexual diversion. Over the years she has idolized him from afar and is now more than the match he bargained for. The last couple is a mother and father fighting about the best way to get their daughter out of the bathroom and down to the ballroom where guests await her or as Mother yells, "I want you to come out of that bathroom and get married!"

In addition to these timeless shows, check back here often for information about additional productions for Second STAGE!, children's theatre camp, and Event Series!

Latest Website Updates

We are still building our new ACT I website. We have added a new page for ACT I's history, where we will keep photographs and show information for all of our 30+ year history.