Former Donna Reed Scholarship Recipient Lands Another Broadway Role

Saycon Sengbloh

"Motown the Musical" Opens March 11

Saycon Sengbloh, a 1996 Donna Reed Foundation national scholarship winner, landed the role of Martha Reeves in the stage production, “Motown the Musical.” Martha Reeves was the leader of Martha and the Vandellas who are famous for their hits “Heatwave” and “Dancing in the Streets.” Sengbloh, from College Park, Georgia, wrote on her website, saycontalks.com, that she had met Reeves years ago in Detroit and looks forward to meeting her again.

Earlier in her career Sengbloh became the first women of African descent to perform the role of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) as standby in “Wicked” the musical.

-Courtesy of Denison Bulletin

Donna Reed Scholarship recipient to perform with ‘Les Miserables’ number at the Oscars

Ben Gunderson

Ben Gunderson was 2005 Donna Reed Foundation National Award Recipient in Musical Theater  

LOS ANGELES – On the eve of the Oscars, Ben Gunderson is feeling anything but miserable.

Gunderson, a 2005 graduate of Moorhead High School, is a cast member of the 25th anniversary touring production of “Les Miserables” and will be performing live with a special ensemble at tonight’s Academy Awards.

The 2012 film adaptation of “Les Miserables” is nominated for several awards tonight, including best picture, best actor and best supporting actress.

Gunderson and the “Les Miserables” group, which includes Oscar-nominated Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, will take the stage at the end of a tribute to movie musicals.

Gunderson has been with the touring production of “Les Miserables” for 2½ years. He’s earned the title of dance captain, which means that he’s in charge of maintaining the show’s choreography.

Read the entire INFORM article by Sam Benshoof.

 

Auditions For "An Iowa Songbook" At Donna Reed Theatre February 28 and March 3

An Iowa Songbook

 Donna Reed Foundation looking for local talent for variety show to be performed March 23, 2013 as part of its American Icon Series – Focus On Iowa

Auditions will be held on Thursday night, February 28 at 7 p.m., and on Sunday, March 3 at 5 p.m., at the Donna Reed Theater, 1305 Broadway in downtown Denison, Iowa.

Participants should bring sheet music or a CD with background music for the song they wish to audition. An accompanist will be provided. Rehearsals are planned for Thursday and Sunday evenings in March leading up to the show. High school and adult performers are urged to audition.

Those selected for An Iowa Songbook will be asked to perform songs that are connected to Iowa. That includes songs from Andy Williams, The Everly Brothers, Meredith Willson, and Roger Williams, among others. Some songs will be featured from Iowa films, either made in or about the state, or that starred Iowa artists. For example, It’s A Grand Night For Singing from the movie State Fair will be one of the songs presented. There will also be songs from Television. Remember Johnny Angel from the Donna Reed Show?

“Iowans have had a profound impact on American Pop Culture,” said show director, Tim Tracy, “and we’re going to try to feature as many of those great songs as possible in this show.”

Any questions should be directed to Tim Tracy at 712-830-7669.

Read the press release.

Free Community Cinema Screening at the Donna Reed Theatre, February 24 at 1 PM

Whitney M. Young, Jr.

The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights

 

Whitney M. Young, Jr. was one of the most celebrated — and controversial — leaders of the civil rights era. The Powerbroker: Whitney Young's Fight for Civil Rights follows his journey from segregated Kentucky to head of the National Urban League. Unique among black leaders, he took the fight directly to the powerful white elite, gaining allies in business and government, including three presidents. Young had the difficult tasks of calming the fears of white allies, relieving the doubts of fellow civil rights leaders, and responding to attacks from the militant Black Power movement.

The screening is free to the public with concessions available for purchase. After the film, a discussion will be held with the audience.

Watch the Trailer for The Powerbroker: http://youtu.be/34o7BoDU4ok

More about the movie: http://www.itvs.org/films/powerbroker

"Heeere's Johnny II!" Is A Big Hit

Kristie VerMulm and Jim Malmberg

Audience Gets Into The Mood

Over 300 people flocked to The Donna Reed Theater in downtown Denison, Iowa to see Johnny Carson impersonator Jim Malmberg do a reenactment of “The Tonight Show.” They weren't disappointed as “Johnny” interacted with Kristie VerMulm, KTIV news anchor, and Kelly Sonnichsen, Crawford County naturalist and her critters. Don Luensman, Director of Marketing & Development at Crawford County Memorial Hospital, made the job of sidekick look easy. In fact, people wondered if he had previously worked with Malmberg. Tim Tracey, former managing director for The Donna Reed Foundation, provided an Iowa musical component with an Andy Williams selection. 

Read Kristie VerMulm's recap of the evening HERE.

“Heeere’s Johnny II” Will Re-create "Tonight Show" Memories at Donna Reed Theatre

Fourth program of “American Icon Series” is February 9 at 7:00 PM

 The Donna Reed Foundation is offering Johnny Carson fans a chance to re-live a live version of the Carson show. 

Celebrity impersonator, Jim Malmberg,  has been performing his tribute to “The King of Late Night” from coast-to-coast for over twenty years. Just as Johnny did back in the day, Jim does a monologue and interviews with guests, and re-creates some of Carson’s unforgettable characters, including the role of Carnac the Magnificent.

Malmberg’s resemblance to Johnny Carson, in both sight and sound, led him to give up an award winning career as a television reporter and news anchorman to pursue a career impersonating Johnny Carson.

The performance is part of The Donna Reed Foundation's “2012-13 American Icon Series – Focus On Iowa” and will take place at the Donna Reed Theater in downtown Denison.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for youths under 18. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Donna Reed Theater Box Office at 712-263-3334, or by e-mail at info@donnareed.org. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended for this event.

More information on the “American Icon Series” is available on The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts website, www.donnareed.org.

Independent Film Series Comes to Donna Reed Theatre in Denison, IA

Film screenings free to the public on the last Sunday of each month.

The Donna Reed Foundation has been approved as a venue for the Community Cinema Program, a national documentary screening series sponsored by the Independent Television Service (ITVS). The program will run at the Donna Reed Theatre on the final Sunday of each month at 1PM. Film running times are around one hour and will include an audience discussion following the screening. All events are free to the public. Concession stand with soft drinks, popcorn, and candy will be available for purchase.

Our first screening will be the film Soul Food Junkies on Sunday, January 27th at 1PM. In Soul Food Junkies filmmaker Bryon Hurt sets out on a historical and culinary journey to learn more about the soul food tradition and its relevance to black cultural identity. Hurt’s exploration was inspired by his father’s lifelong love affair with the high-fat, calorie-rich traditional soul food diet and his unwillingness to give it up even in the face of a life-threatening health crisis. Hurt discovers that the relationship between African Americans and culinary dishes like ribs, grits, and fried chicken is culturally based, deep-rooted, complex, and often deadly.

Complete list of films http://communitycinema.org/films

Watch the Trailer for Soul Food Junkies: http://youtu.be/9IvggBwtDPk

Official ITVS Website: http://www.itvs.org/films/soul-food-junkies