The First Street Community Center is thrilled to announce that the The Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Theatre is performing “The Frogs” by Stephen Sondheim, Directed by Grant Freeman in the Uptown Theatre. Performances are July 20-22 @7:30pm and July 23rd @ 2pm.
From the writers behind A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum comes the hilarious send up of Greek comedy and satire, The Frogs. Loosely based on a comedy written in 405 B.C. by Aristophanes, The Frogs playfully explores the great challenges of human existence: confronting our fears, understanding life and death and challenging the distractions that can prevent us from achieving our goals.
This boisterously hilarious, yet poignant, musical follows Dionysos, Greek god of wine and drama, and his slave, Xanthias, on a journey to Hades to collect renowned critic and playwright, George Bernard Shaw, so that he may enlighten the easily misled and coerced masses of Earth. Along this journey, Dionysus and Xanthias meet Chekhov, Congreve, Ibsen, Brecht and, of course, the chorus of frogs. Then, Shakespeare shows up and starts declaiming his greatest hits; before long, he engages in a battle of words with Mr. Shaw. Who will win the honor of becoming reincarnated: The Bard or Bernard?
The Frogs stays true to its heritage, mixing Aristophanic pratfall satire with a Sondheim score that swings from witty to pretty to rambunctious, but it also mirrors the Greek original for the serious issue of the role of the arts in a world beset by war and folly.
COST: Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors 65+.
Come to the show and support your favorite home town actors and crew!
Cast for The Frogs
Dionysus : Braden Rood
Xanthias : Stacey Jaegar
Charon/Aeakos/Ensemble : Valerie Davine Bills
Herakles/Ensemble : John Gruber-Miller
Pluto/Ensemble : Jacob Glass
Shakespeare/Ensemble : Nicole Margheim
Ariadne/Ensemble : Margaret Gustason
Shaw/Ensemble : Joseph Williams
The Frogs/Ensemble : Eric Teeter, Jordan Juett, Silas Young, Eva Giacomo, Mandy Moellering, Kim Benesh, Rachel Connell, Nicole Klosterman, Nikki Scheel, Sam White
Crew for The Frogs
Director/Dramaturg : Grant Freeman
Assistant Director : Kasey Springsteen
Musical Director : Brandon Douglas
Choreographer(s) : Alanah Malone & Gina Montgomery
Pianist : Emory Gillespie
Saturday, May 13th, 2017 at 7:30pm, the First Street Community Center’s Uptown Theatre will host “The Fez” – A Steely Dan All Star Tribute band.
The Fez is a 15-piece band composed of some of the finest musicians in Eastern Iowa dedicated to faithfully reproducing the jazz/rock fusion masterpieces of Steely Dan. The Fez has risen in 6 yrs to become one of Eastern Iowa state most popular bands. With an all star line up of 15 amazing musicians – you will not be disappointed!
Featuring a 4-piece horn section, 3 backup singers, 2 keyboardists (including a genuine Rhodes 88), 2 guitarists, and one of the best rhythm sections around, The Fez captures the magic of Steely Dan’s glory days.
The band is comprised of veteran players from other notable bands, such as Public Property, OSG, Dr. Z’s Experiment, Jumbies, Insectoid, Saul Lubaroff Jazz Ensemble, Amanda Miller and the Super Secrets, We Funk, Big Funk Guarantee, various big bands, etc.
TICKETS
Are only $10 and can be purchased online via Facebook, at Bauman’s and in person at the concert. Patrons are welcome to bring a favorite beverage and purchase a Community Center cup or bring a clean Community Center cup from home to use in the Theatre space.
Band Members:
– Loren Lang – lead vocals
– Andy Parrott -guitar
– Craig Hiedgerken -guitar
– Jeremiah Murphy -bass
– Tim Crumley -drums
– Creighton Gaynor – auxiliary percussion
– Luke Vertiel – keys
– Sean Seaton – keys
– Saul Lubaroff – saxophones
– Jim Pickering – tenor saxophone
– Greg Young – trumpet & flugelhorn
– LeAnn Dahn – trombone
– Meghan McDonough – vocals
– Katie Robbins – vocals
– Bethann Gavin – vocals
Check them out with this YouTube video:
People are encouraged to bring their own beverage. Beverages consumed in the theatre must be in Uptown Theatre mugs to prevent spillage. The reusable mugs are $5 and available at the event. People who already have a mug should bring it; they don’t have to purchase another.
We are thrilled to be having five great musical groups coming to perform in the next few weeks.
Live Music – Back for more Dixieland Jazz – Eddie Piccard Jazz with The Busch Brothers
The First Street Community Center in Mount Vernon, Iowa is pleased to announce that we will once again be hosting the Eddie Piccard Jazz Quartet. Performing with them again will be the Busch Brothers. The show will be April 29th from 7 pm – 9 pm in the Uptown Theatre.
Tickets
Can be bought at the performance, online via Facebook, or by calling (319) 895-8692. Patrons are welcome to bring a favorite beverage and purchase a Community Center cup or bring a clean Community Center cup from home to use in the Theatre space.
For more information check out this earlier News article.
Live Music – Frances Luke Accord – Modern Folk/Americana. Also Performing – Undlin & Wolfe.
The First Street Community Center of Mount Vernon, Iowa is proud to announce that the Uptown Theatre will be hosting live music performances by two great groups, Frances Luke Accord and Undlin & Wolfe on Saturday, May 6th from 7:30 – 9:30 pm.
TICKETS Are only $15 and can be purchased online via Facebook, at Bauman’s and in person at the concert. Patrons are welcome to bring a favorite beverage and purchase a Community Center cup or bring a clean Community Center cup from home to use in the Theatre space.
Frances Luke Accord are an independent Chicago-based duo hailing originally from South Bend, Indiana. Both dedicated multi-instrumentalists and meticulous songwriters, Nicholas Gunty and Brian Powers distinguish their music with genre fluidity, buttery harmonies and acoustic ensembles.
Although prevailingly a modern folk band, FLA sip copious inspiration from Americana, jazz, soul, and rock.
Also performing are Undlin & Wolfe. Theyare an alternative folk group whose songs whistle straight through your down-jacket to shatter the northern-most corner of your heart before melting it completely.
For more information check out this earlier News Article.
Live Music – The Fez – A Tribute to Steely Dan
Saturday, May 13th, 2017 at 7:30pm, the First Street Community Center’s Uptown Theatre will host “The Fez” – A Steely Dan All Star Tribute band.
TICKETS Are only $10 and can be purchased online via Facebook, at Bauman’s and in person at the concert. Patrons are welcome to bring a favorite beverage and purchase a Community Center cup or bring a clean Community Center cup from home to use in the Theatre space.
The Fez is a 15-piece band composed of some of the finest musicians in Eastern Iowa dedicated to faithfully reproducing the jazz/rock fusion masterpieces of Steely Dan. The Fez has risen in 6 yrs to become one of Eastern Iowa state most popular bands. With an all star line up of 15 amazing musicians – you will not be disappointed!
Featuring a 4-piece horn section, 3 backup singers, 2 keyboardists (including a genuine Rhodes 88), 2 guitarists, and one of the best rhythm sections around, The Fez captures the magic of Steely Dan’s glory days.
The band is comprised of veteran players from other notable bands, such as Public Property, OSG, Dr. Z’s Experiment, Jumbies, Insectoid, Saul Lubaroff Jazz Ensemble, Amanda Miller and the Super Secrets, We Funk, Big Funk Guarantee, various big bands, etc.
For more information look for an upcoming News Article posting soon!
