Loading…

Category: Arts

ROOTS – A New Play Festival at the Uptown Theatre

Website AdminArts, Events, News, Theatre
PLEASE SHARE

Tonight @7:30, running from March 8th – 10th

The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre’s new play festival centers around the theme of Roots. This idea has been expressed in numerous ways from the roots of evil to familial roots to the foundations of community theatre itself.

With eleven different plays from eleven different local Eastern Iowa writers, Roots: A New Play Festival is sure to be grounded in great midwestern theatre and stem plenty of theatrical ingenuity.

Each play is listed below with their cast.

Please come out and support your favorite local actors, writers and directors!

All Evil Inc by Kelli Massey
The dashing and daring Captain Man is in a dastardly duel with the Root of All Evil, but all is not what it seems.
CAST:  Lisa Smith, Elijah Webster

Home by Eva Giacomo
Past becomes present as an event draws two ex’s together.
CAST:  Jordan Ray Hogan, Kate Margheim

Past Tense by Barbara Lau
CAST:  Michelle Hinz

Some Surprise by Amy White
A birthday doesn’t go quite as planned against the backdrop of the 1920s … with Puppets
CAST:  Allyssa Jubeck, Maria McAlexander, Amy White

Not Doing Christmas by Kristin Schneider
Sisters discuss plans for Christmas, but the talk quickly veers into the news of the day.
CAST:  Amanda Bishop, Nicole McAlexander

Loving Addison and Dealing with Teenage Angst in 1946: The Musical by Tristan Maynard
The show must go on even when a disgruntled actor steps in.
CAST:  Kaylynn Burgin, Jasper Rood, Elijah Webster

Weeding by Brian Tanner
Life Lessons in Gardening.
CAST:  Michelle Hinz, Jordan Ray Hogan, Jasper Rood, Boede Stoops, Steve Weiss

Mock Trial/Real Error by Elijah Jones
A father & son confront the past.
CAST:  Craig Jarvie, Tristan Maynard

This is a Bad Idea by Grant Freeman
A wacky and weird community theatre selects their final show for their upcoming season.
CAST:  Kim Benesh, Bill Croghan, Grant Freeman, Braden JP Rood, Amy White

Memory by Chris Okishi
Memory is a fickle beast, especially when you’re losing it.
CAST:  Shauna Daub, Lisa Smith

Untitled Interview by Tony Craine
An elderly woman learns of her family’s history.

For more information please see their website:

MVLCT Logo

PLEASE SHARE

MVLCT – Auditions for Roots – A New Play Festival

Website AdminArts, Events, News, Theatre
PLEASE SHARE

Auditions are coming up for MVLCT’s Roots: A New Play Festival. 

When: January 20 & 21 at 7:00 PM

Where:  Uptown Theatre in Mount Vernon’s First Street Community Center

What to bring:  Yourself!  All auditions will consist of cold reading and performing A/B scenes.

Show Dates: March 7,8,9, & 10

What is the Roots Festival? 

This year’s new play festival centers around the theme of Roots.  This idea has been expressed in numerous ways from the roots of evil to familial roots to the foundations of community theatre itself.  With eleven different plays from eleven different local Eastern Iowa writers, Roots: A New Play Festival is sure to be grounded in great midwestern theatre and stem plenty of theatrical ingenuity.  A breakdown of plays and characters is listed below:

All Evil Inc by Kelli Massey 

The dashing and daring Captain Man is in a dastardly duel with the Root of All Evil, but all is not what it seems.

1 Male Actor

1 Female Actor

Home by Eva Giacomo

Past becomes present as an event draws two ex’s together.

1 Male Actor

1 Female Actor

Ping Pong by Barbara Lau

Gender and race come to the forefront when an adopted daughter learns about her heritage.

1 Male Actor

2 Female Actor

Some Surprise by Amy White

A birthday doesn’t go quite as planned against the backdrop of the1920s … with Puppets

1 Actor

Not Doing Christmas by Kristin Schneider 

Sisters discuss plans for Christmas, but the talk quickly veers into the news of the day.

2 Female Actors

1 Male Actor

Loving Addison and Dealing with Teenage Angst in 1946: The Musical by Tristan Maynard

The show must go on even when a disgruntled actor steps in.

2 Male Actor

1 Female Actor

Weeding by Brian Tanner

Life Lessons in Gardening.

3 Male Actors (all 12 years old)

2 Female Actors

Mock Trial/Real Error by Elijah Jones

A father & son confront the past.

2 Male Actors

This is a Bad Idea by Grant Freeman

A wacky and weird community theatre selects their final show for their upcoming season.

2 Male Actors

3 Female Actors

Untitled Interview by Tony Craine 

An elderly woman learns of her family’s history.

I Male Actor

1 Female Actor

Memory by Chris Okishi 

Memory is a fickle beast, especially when you’re losing it.

2 Female Actors

PLEASE SHARE

2018 Uptown Theatre Honors – Gala Celebrating the Arts

Website AdminArts, Events, Music, News, Theatre
PLEASE SHARE

Collage of Johnny Krob, Mickey Woods, James & Catherine Kennedy, Beryl O’Connor and Damon Cole
Johnny Krob, Mickey Woods, James & Catherine Kennedy, Beryl O’Connor and Damon Cole

The A-Go-Gos, a Mount Vernon Volunteer Organization, proudly present the 2018 Uptown Theatre Honors – An Evening Gala Celebrating the Arts on Saturday, October 20, 2018 starting with a 6:30 pm cocktail hour and 7:30 pm for the show.

This year’s honorees are Johnny Krob, Mickey Woods, James & Catherine Kennedy, Beryl O’Connor and Damon Cole.

Tickets are $20 and an be purchased ahead of time at Bauman’s in Mount Vernon, or you call the Reservation Line (319) 895-8060. Tickets are also available at the door.

Come join us to celebrate these wonderful people and their contributions to the arts!

PLEASE SHARE

Your Art Project Paradise – MY Studio – Made by You

Website AdminArts, Classes, Directory, News
PLEASE SHARE

My Studio art sign

MY Studio (Made by You Studio) opened for fun creative projects in June 2018.  It is a cozy little space stocked with an extensive variety of art supplies and materials just for you!

MY Studio has already hosted several birthday parties, ladies nights, creative friend gatherings, couple’s art dates, as well as partnered with Cornell College as part of their new student orientation activities. MY Studio has walk in open studio hours on Tuesdays Wednesdays and Saturdays, and can be reserved any other time for private events.

MY Studio started as a dream of Andi Spencer’s.  She wanted to have an intentional creative space to make art that could be shared with others.  But a seed of an idea/dream is just a seed until it’s planted.  Enter Andi’s friend Braden. When asked by Joe Jennison about what her ideal business would be, she said “Andi’s Art Studio idea!”

The two friends began having a more serious conversation about the possibilities of bringing this vision to life and in late 2017 the seed was “planted”.  With encouragement from family and friends and a newly available space opening up in the First Street Community Center, MY Studio was born!

MY Studio is a Make it Yourself arts and crafts studio with all the tools and supplies you need to make your creative vision a reality.

MY Studio is the place for you IF:

  • You are feeling inspired and looking for a designated space with a good, creative vibe
  • You’d like to try a new craft, but don’t want to buy all of the equipment you need to get started
  • You need a place to make that Pintrest project that you got all the stuff for and but haven’t gotten around to making yet
  • You’d like to make a personalized gift
  • You’d like to have an art-inspired gathering: birthday parties, team bonding, family projects, time with friends, date night
  • Come with an idea, Andi & Braden are ready to help you make it happen…AND take care of the clean up!

MY Studio is located on the basement level near Yoga Studio C and is easily accessed via the entrance via the North Parking lot.  For more information phone: (319) 331-6205.

Andi Spencer

Andi Spencer and kids working on an art project at MY Studio

Andi Spencer has lived in Mount Vernon with her husband Jaime and their two children, Connor and Fiona, for 11 years.

Her love of art started at a very early age. She grew up in Grinnell where she took as many art classes as she could while in school and then as a student at Grinnell College and the University of Iowa. She loved to draw and paint and make things with her dad’s wood working tools.

She was also fortunate to have access to a variety of art experiences with artists in Grinnell who opened their studios to her and encouraged her and helped to develop her artistic abilities. The idea for MY Studio really stems from that experience. Andi’s desire to have an intentional space to make art as well as a space that could be shared so that others could have that experience as well.

Braden JP Rood

Braden Rood at MY Studio in Mount Vernon Iowa

Braden JP Rood hails from Mount Vernon. After graduating from MVHS she went to University of Northern Iowa and majored in Theatre Performance. She lived in New York for four years to pursue an acting career.  In 2002 she moved back to Iowa and married her husband, Anton and they settled in Mount Vernon with their three boys: Jasper, Atticus & Chester.

Along with MY Studio, Braden also works at the University of Iowa as a teacher and Standardized Patient. She is heavily involved with Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre as well as volunteers for various community groups including: MVL CDG, Mount Vernon Schools, Hallmark and MVAAC. She is proud to call Mount Vernon her home and is thrilled with the prospects of MY Studio.

PLEASE SHARE