Area Seniors Awarded Performance Scholarships

The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts has awarded four scholarships to graduating seniors who have participated in the performing arts during their high school careers. 

Awarded $1,000 scholarships are:
Shannon Barondeau of Denison, a graduate of Denison-Schleswig High School, who will be majoring in Theater at Simpson College starting this fall.
Andrew Berger of Westside, a graduate of Ar-We-Va High School, who will be majoring in Theater Arts at the University of Iowa beginning this fall.

Awarded $500 scholarships are:
Alison Ranniger of Manning, a graduate of IKM-Manning High School, who will be majoring in Art at Central College beginning this fall.
Taylor Schillerberg of Denison, a graduate of Denison-Schleswig High School, who will be majoring in engineering at Iowa State University in the fall.

To qualify for these scholarships, a student must be a graduate of a Crawford County high school and have acted in or have been a part of the tech crew for at least two drama productions during their high school career. Preference is given to students who plan to pursue a degree in the dramatic performing arts, however, this is not required in order to be considered for the scholarships.

The Foundation’s scholarship program is co-sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank, Crawford County Trust and Savings Bank, and Bank Iowa.

Disney’s "Sleeping Beauty, Kids" Comes to Denison, IA, June 20-25

It’s official. The Children’s Musical Theatre Workshop is back for its fifth Disney production, June 20-25 . A performance of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, Kids will culminate the week-long workshop which is designed to teach the basics of musical theatre to kids ages 6-13 who love singing, dancing and challenges.

Additional workshop information and tuition rates can be found by downloading our registration form or by calling 712.263.3334 or by stopping at the Donna Reed Foundation office, 1305 Broadway, Denison, IA.

Annual Wine & Beer Tasting Fundraiser, May 6

Don't miss our annual Wine & Beer Tasting Fundraiser at the Donna Reed Theatre on May 6 starting at 6 p.m. There will be wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres by Hy-Vee, sweet desserts by Reiney's and music by Paul & Joe. Door prizes will be announced at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 and may be reserved by calling the Donna Reed Foundation at 712-263-3334.

Donna Reed Foundation Offers Scholarships For Crawford County Students

The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts, with the generous support of Wells Fargo Bank, Crawford County Bank, Bank Iowa, and a private donor, is again offering three $1,000 college scholarships to high school seniors graduating in 2011 who reside in or attend high school in Crawford County, Iowa.

In order to qualify for these scholarships, a student must have acted in or have been a part of the tech crew for at least two drama productions during their high school career. Preference will be given to a student who plans to pursue a degree in the dramatic performing arts, however, this is not required in order to be considered for the scholarships.

Application forms are available through the guidance offices at the Denison-Schleswig, Charter Oak-Ute, Ar-We-Va, and IKM-Manning high schools. You may also download a pdf copy of the form.

Deadline for the applications is May 6, 2011.

Spring Issue Of Our Newsletter Is Now Online

We've put the Spring issue of our Foundation newsletter online. You'll find information about our weekend workshops, museum expansion, the latest Benefactor Award recipient, and upcoming events. You can download a pdf copy at www.tinyurl.com/43cbuly

Exhibit at Smithsonian American Art Museum will include showing of “It's a Wonderful Life”

Mary Owen will introduce a special screening of “It's a Wonderful Life” for the Smithsonian American Art Museum on Thursday, April 14. It is one of three movies chosen to accompany the exhibit, “To Make a World: George Ault and 1940s America,” showing March 11 - September 5, 2011.

During the turbulent 1940s, artist George Ault (1891-1948) created precise yet eerie pictures—works of art that have come to be seen, following his death, as some of the most original paintings made in America in those years. The beautiful geometries of Ault’s paintings make personal worlds of clarity and composure to offset a real world he felt was in crisis.

ComedySportz Tickets On Sale

ComedySportz "actletes" prepare for battle.

The Donna Reed Foundation brings the popular ComedySportz team from the Quad Cities back to Denison on Friday, February 11. ComedySportz is competitive team improvisational comedy, played just like a sport. It's complete with a referee, uniforms, artificial turf, peanuts, pennants, and even the National Anthem! Because everything is improvised, no two matches are alike.

Two teams of improv comedy "actletes" battle for laughs and points as they make up scenes, games and songs on the spot. A zebra-striped referee keeps the action moving and gets suggestions from the audience as to what they'd like to see on the playing field. The audience calls fouls and ultimately decides which team is the evening's winner. 

The audience of a typical ComedySportz match has everyone from kids to grandparents and from grade schoolers to college students.  Everyone has a good time and no one gets offended. It's the only entertainment that's funny enough for bachelor parties and clean enough for a church or business group. If you missed them the last time they were in Denison, here's your chance to see what everyone was talking about.

Tickets ($10) for the 7:00 pm performance on February 11 at the Donna Reed Theatre are available by contacting the Foundation office at 712-263-3334 or info@donnareed.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.