Grease Paint Online - September, 2007

ACT I of Benton County opens its Main Stage Series for our 2007 - 2008 Sseason hosting three performances by the Old Creamery Theatre this weekend at the Palace Theatre in Vinton. The Creamery’s production of Greater Tuna, by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard, which ended its four week run at the Depot Stage in Amana September 16, begins a four city tour in Vinton on Friday. Following performances in Vinton, Greater Tuna will be seen in Oelwein, Eldora, and Des Moines.

Performance Times are 7:00 pm on Friday, September 21 and Saturday, September 22, and 2:00 pm on Sunday, September 23. Ticket Prices are $7.00, and $5.00 for students and seniors. Call 472-9957 for reservations.

This appearance by the Old Creamery in Vinton is sponsored locally by Palace Productions and P.A.M.S. Storage. The Creamery’s tour of Greater Tuna is sponsored in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Greater Tuna tells the story of Texas' fictitious third smallest town, where the Lion's Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies. The eclectic band of citizens that make up this town are portrayed by only two performers, making this satire on life in rural America even more delightful as they depict all of the inhabitants of Tuna – men, women, children and even animals.

“When people ask me what Greater Tuna is about I tell them hopefully about an hour and a half," chuckles director Tommy Milligan. "Actually, it's a really funny, satirical look at small town life seen through the eyes of 20-plus weird residents that are played by only two actors. We think audiences will have a great time.”

The show is directed by Milligan and the cast includes Steve Taft and T.J. Besler. Dr. Taft is an Associate Professor of Theatre at the University of Northern Iowa. He is a frequent performer and director for the Old Creamery. T.J. Besler is an Iowa native who has acted professionally from California to New York. Greater Tuna marks his debut with the Old Creamery. Tommy Milligan is originally from Des Moines and has appeared in or directed numerous Creamery shows over the last three years. He has also given performances across the state of one-man shows featuring Iowans Grant Wood and Henry Wallace. This year he is the company’s technical director.

Stage Manage for the production is Matt Patton, and the many costumes were created by Sarah Marchand.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company is celebrating its 36th season of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest. They perform in residence in Amana from April through December at their Price Creek and Depot stages. Producing director of the company is David Kilpatrick. The Creamery was instrumental in establishing ACT I when our local theatre began in 1980.

For additional information about this production, go to the Greater Tuna show page of this website at www.act1.org/tuna.htm.

The ACT I Ticket information line and Palace Theatre Box Office number is (319) 472-9957!
Call today for Reservations for Greater Tuna! Tickets are on sale now!

Announcing the very talented cast of the ACT I Events Series production of Ledge, Ledger, and the Legend, by Paul Elliott. The role of Peter, the man on the ledge contemplating suicide, will be played by ACT I newcomer Steve Auld. Although Steve may be new to The Palace stage, he is a very seasoned actor. In his career, he has acted in both film and television and has posed for commercial print advertising. Steve became interested in ACT I through his daughter's on-stage role in the recent Children's Theater production of Flying Colors, directed by Mary Horst. Anthony Bopp, an Act I veteran who always brings a wonderful energy to any production he's involved in, will play the role of J.M. J.M. is a frustrated professional suicide counselor on the scene. Finally, the role of P.J., a rival suicide counselor who is looking to steal a client, will be played by Rick Primmer. Although somewhat new to ACT I, Rick has jumped in with both feet. His last major role, George Hay in Moon Over Buffalo, under the direction of David Canaday and Anthony Bopp, was a comedy sensation at The Palace in May 2007. Ledge, Ledger, and the Legend is under the direction of Mary Horst and Alex Martinez-Vasquez. Mary just finished directing approximately fifty children in the successful performances of Flying Colors, through ACT I. Alex has contributed talents to our theater ranging from acting to technical directing. In the 2001 production of My Fair Lady, he even did both. The combination of experienced directors and actors is sure to make this presentation wonderfully memorable! Look for rehearsal photos and pre-production information on Ledge, Ledger, and the Legend in October's issue of Grease Paint. This show is a dinner theater production, that will take place November 9 and 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Vinton Country Club, so get your tickets early! Tickets for Ledge, Ledger, and the Legend can be purchased starting on October 1st, by calling the ACT I box office at (319) 472-9957.

For additional information about this production, go to the Ledge, Ledger and the Legend show page of this website at www.act1.org/ledge.htm.

On Our Stage
5 - 10 - 15 - 20 - 25 Years Ago

10 Years Ago...

On September 19 - 28, 1997 at the Tilford Middle School auditorium, ACT I presented what was then its largest production ever, Oliver! by Lionel Bart. The production was the kick-off in our fund raising efforts then known as the Palace Project, which ultimately led to the rennovation of the Palace Theatre in Vinton as a multi-use facility for the community, and ACT I's long awaited permanent home.

The cast included Keith Kriz and Kyle Brewer double cast as Oliver Twist; Charlie Vogl as the Artful Dodger, Larry Adams-Bowers as Fagin, Annette Williams as Nancy, Darran Sellers as Mr. Bumble, Cathi Calderwood as the Widow Corney, and Ron Baldwin as Mr. Brownlow, and Greg Morris as Bill Sykes. The cast of 74 also included two entire families - the Patrick and Diana Sheahan family and the Greg and Penny Morris family, as well as four and a half sets of twins.

Larry Adams-Bowers as Fagin and
Charlie Vogl as The Artful Dodger
were featured cast members in our
1997 production of Oliver!.

Steve Arnold directed the production, assisted by Jessica Coulter. Mike Williams was the Music Director, and the Choreographer was Joan Cooling. Technical Director was Jay Appleby, and Kevin Bookmeier was the Stage Manager.

For additional information about this production, go to the Oliver! show page of this website at www.act1.org/oliver.htm.

5 Years Ago...

On September 5 - 15, 2002 at the Palace Theatre in Vinton, ACT I presented a campy production of the musical Kiss Me Kate. Our version of this play within a play within a play about a down and out troupe of actors in Baltimore, Maryland attempting a musical version of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew featured a dog, two vintage automobiles, a deconstructed set, and a playing space that ran from the street in front of the theatre, throught the auditiorium, stopping only momentarily on the stage before moving into the green room, out the back door, and into the alley behind. Principal cast members who five years later are willing to admit to having been involved with the show include Sherry Stout as Lilli Vanessi, Kara Stumpff as Lois Lane, Jeff Cumberlin as Bill Calhoun, Kayla Comer as Hattie, Ron Baldwin as Harry Trevor, Greg Walston and Cody Robison as the gangsters, and Alan Nebola as Senator Harrison Howell. Oberon the Dog made a cameo appearance as a sofa pillow.

Sue Freet bravely rallied the cast as the Assistant Director, with Rob Glass as Music Director and Judy Trytstad as the pit band director. Heather Happel was the Choreographer. Kevin Bookmeier un-built the set, and Ed Cardwell did some tech stuff.

The production was sponsored by Clingman Pharmacy of Baltimore, Maryland.

For additional information about this production, go to the Kiss Me Kate show page of this website at www.act1.org/kate.htm.