Disney’s "Winnie the Pooh, Kids" Is Coming To Denison, IA

A Musical Theatre Workshop for ages 6-13

It’s official. The Children’s Musical Theatre Workshop is back for its sixth Disney production, June18-23, 2012. The week-long workshop is designed to teach the basics of musical theatre to kids ages 6-13 who love singing, dancing and challenges. The workshop culminates with a performance of Disney's Winnie the Pooh, Kids on Saturday, June 23. (Auditions for speaking roles will take place at the first session on Monday, June 18.)

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.

The Paley Center for Media Salutes the Donna Reed Show

The Donna Reed Show Reunion

Tuesday, December 6, 2011, 7:00 pm PT, Los Angeles

Forty-five years after airing its last episode of the Donna Reed Show, and on the occasion of its official Season Four - The Lost Episodes DVD release, the Paley Center welcomes members of the iconic series cast and creative team for a fond look back at this true TV classic, including the screening of highlights and rare footage from unsyndicated episodes not seen anywhere in decades.

Appearing In Person

Shelley Fabares, "Mary Stone"
Paul Petersen, "Jeff Stone"
Patti Petersen, "Trisha Stone"
Jimmy Hawkins, "Scotty"
Ann McCrea Borden, "Midge Kelsey"
Stu Phillips, Music Producer, "Johnny Angel," "My Dad"
Eddie Foy III, Screen Gems Casting Director
Read a follow-up commentary.

Free screenings of "It's a Wonderful Life" at the Donna Reed Theatre, December 18

See It's a Wonderful Life as it was meant to be viewed – on the big screen. 

On Sunday, December 18, the classic holiday movie, starring Denison native Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart, will be shown twice – at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Donna Reed Theatre. Free admission.

Bedford Falls display returns.
A miniature replica of Bedford Falls returns to the front window of the Donna Reed Heritage Museum for a winter showing. The HO scale replica was built by model building enthusiast from the Quad Cities area and, for several years, was displayed by the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center in Davenport, Ia. before being donated to the Donna Reed Foundation.

Expanded museum exhibit on the making of It's a Wonderful Life opens. 

The expanded exhibit features a variety of items from the Donna Reed Collection relating to the making of the movie. It includes a letter to pen pal Violet Lindsey mentioning the upcoming filming of the movie; daily call sheets detailing the daily shoot schedule; daily production reports tracking expenses and progress of the filming of a various scenes; Donna Reed's invitation to a screening of the movie from director Frank Capra; and the review of the movie which appeared in Variety. Of particular interest are photos of the new snow-making process developed especially for this film that replaced the practice of using painted cornflakes for falling snow.

It's a Wonderful Life: The Making of a Film Classic to be presented in New York City, December 12

An encore presentation of a program that will be presented in Los Angeles on December 9 by the Academy’s Science and Technology Council.

It's a fresh take on a familiar film! Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Craig Barron and Oscar-winning sound designer Ben Burtt reveal the unique photographic and sound effects used in creating Frank Capra’s quintessential holiday favorite "It’s a Wonderful Life." The program will examine classic studio production methods, the use of matte paintings in key scenes, and the origins of the film’s sound effects. The event will feature an introduction by Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu Bailey) with a big-screen showing of a newly struck print of the film from the Academy Film Archive.  Read more.

2004 Scholarship Recipient to Perform at National Christmas Tree Lighting, December 1

Preston Boyd, 2nd from right

Preston Truman Boyd, along with JERSEY BOYS First National Tour cast members , Joseph Leo Bwarie, John Gardiner, and Michael Lomenda will perform a special holiday selection during the pre-show of the 89th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Thursday, December 1, beginning at 4:30 p.m ET. Presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the ceremony will take place on the Ellipse in President’s Park in Washington, D.C., and will be streamed live at www.thenationaltree.org. The event will also be broadcast throughout December on PBS stations nationwide. Check local listings for full broadcast schedule.
 
The cast members will perform “Little Drummer Boy” from Seasons Greetings: A JERSEY BOYS Christmas, a new holiday CD featuring international cast members from JERSEY BOYS, produced by Bob Gaudio (Rhino Records).

Boyd was the recipient of both the 2004 Donna Reed Vocal Scholarship and the Musical Theatre Scholarship.   Read more.

Local Actors Bring Back Old-Time Radio For The Holiday Season In Denison, IA

Clarence needs his wings and George Bailey needs… well George needs Clarence. Live out a holiday classic as a part of our "live studio audience" as The Donna Reed Foundation brings It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play to the stage, December 2 and 3. Written by Joe Landry and set in 1947 as a radio broadcast, this heartwarming tale will remind you and yours of the important things in life and send you home laughing, loving and living the magic of Christmas.

An ensemble of eight local actors brings more than three dozen characters to life, and employs an array of radio sound effects from on-stage. Audience members step back in time and experience what it might have been like as part of a live studio audience, as the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds, and he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve.

The production is part of the American Icon Series and features Troy Gehlsen, Al Hazelton, Steven Holt, Braeden Irvine, David Loeschen, Mell Malkey, Kerri Miller and Donna Walker, with Steven Fitzgerald and Darly Philipp doing sound effects. Pat Fleshner is the director.

Each performance will begin at 7 p.m., December 2 and 3 at the historic Donna Reed Theatre, 1305 Broadway, in downtown Denison, Iowa, home of The Donna Reed Foundation and Museum. Tickets are $10 for Adults and $5 for Students (K - 12th grade) and can be obtained by calling The Donna Reed Foundation at 712-263-3334, by e-mail at info@donnareed.org or by downloading and mailing the ticket order form.

Donna Reed Show (Lost Episodes): Season 4 DVD Set To Be Released December 13, 2011

THE DONNA REED SHOW: SEASON 4 makes its DVD debut with all 39 digitally remastered episodes that have not been seen anywhere in thirty years. Among the guest stars are Cloris Leachman, John Astin, Gale Gordon, Don Drysdale, William Windom, James Darren, Patricia Barry, Johnny Crawford, Roberta Sherwood, Jimmy Hawkins and Swoosie Kurtz.

The five-DVD set includes: all-new digitally restored masters; teen idols Shelley Fabares, Paul Petersen and guest star James Darren singing their hit records Johnny Angel, She Can‘t Find Her Keys and Goodbye Cruel World; new video interviews with stars Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen; original DONNA REED SHOW ABC-TV promotional spots; original cast commercials plus sponsor opening & closing credits; special extended episode; new featurette: THE DONNA REED SHOW ROCKS! with music composer, and producer Stu Phillips; Donna Reed public service spot; and a photo gallery. Read more and pre-order the set.