Children's Summer Movie Series Kicks Off June 25 at Donna Reed Theatre

Summer Movie Series for Kids

Geared for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade

The Donna Reed Foundation is sponsoring a “Children’s Summer Movie Series” at the Donna Reed Theatre. The six-week series begins on Wednesday, June 25 with a 2 p.m. screening.

The price of the six-movie series pass is $10.00 if purchased before June 25.  Passes purchased on the 25th or after will be $15 per student. Children will receive a wristband that will be used as the series pass.  Children ages 7 and under will require supervision to attend the movies, but the supervisor will be admitted to the movie at no charge. 

The series will continue each following Wednesday with 2 p.m. screenings. Movies will include a variety of children’s adventures, animated, classic and nature movies.  Concessions will be available for purchase.

Movie passes are available by stopping at The Donna Reed Foundation office at 1305 Broadway, calling the Foundation at 263-3334 or contacting info@donnareed.org.  You may also sign up for the series at Reiney’s Kandy Kitchen at 1301 Broadway.

"Summer Camp" is coming to Denison, IA

A Musical Theatre Workshop for grades K-8

Ah, summer camp. Games, crafts, sleeping bags, toasted marshmallows, pranks and scary campfire stories. They make terrific subjects for a musical production.

It's why our workshop directors picked Summer Camp for our summer production. It's a fun-filled week designed to teach the basics of musical theatre to kids in grades K-8 who love singing, dancing and challenges. The workshop runs from June 16-20, 2014 and concludes with a performance for the public on Saturday, June 21.

We're continuing an opportunity started last year. Former students beyond grade 8 are invited to come back as volunteers to help stage the production. You don't even have to be a former student. ANYONE of ANY AGE can offer their assistance. Just contact the Foundation office.

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.

Donna Reed Festival Alumnus Opens in Broadway Production of ACT ONE

Tony Shalhoub and Santino Fontana

2000 Acting finalist stars as Moss Hart

Santino Fontana, along with Tony Shalhoub, star in Lincoln Center Theater's production of Act One, James Lapine's stage adaptation of playwright/director Moss Hart's 1959 memoir. The play officially opened April 17 at Broadway's Vivian Beaumont Theater.

Act One follows Hart's life's story from his youth as an impoverished child in the Bronx to his stint as the social director at resorts in the Catskills to his struggles to gain a foothold in the theater industry. The company of twenty-two actors plays multiple roles with Tony Shalhoub, Santino Fontana and Matthew Schechter playing Moss Hart at different stages of his life.

Fontana, who recently starred as the Prince in Broadway’s Cinderella, was previously seen Off-Broadway in The Sons of the Prophet and on Broadway in The Importance of Being Earnest, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Billy Elliot and Sunday in the Park with George.

Fontana was one of the three acting division finalists in the 2000 Donna Reed Performing Arts National Scholarship and received an honorable mention in musical theater.

See ACT ONE reviews

Donna Reed Theater Celebrates 100 Years With Reproduction of Century Old Play

1914 Broadway Play Within The Law performed on DRF stage nearly 100 years ago

Within the Law, the story of a woman falsely imprisoned by her employer for a crime she didn’t commit and how she seeks her revenge, was the hottest show on both the Broadway and London stages back in 1914. It ran for a total of 541 performances.

On January 13, 1917, the play was performed on the new Germania Opera House stage in Denison by a traveling troupe. A printed flyer for that show was found in the theater archives, but the details of how the play wound up being performed in Denison so soon after its successful run on Broadway remains a mystery.

And now, nearly 100 years later, The Donna Reed Foundation’s American Icon Series will repeat history by bringing back a production of Within The Law to celebrate the 100th birthday of the theater building. A cast of local actors has been assembled to re-enact the play.

“The play is very unique,” said the play’s director Pat Fleshner, “because at that time in our history, women were still fighting for the right to vote. It was unusual for a play to be built around a woman as well as include serious issues that women faced.”

Within The Law will be performed live on the stage at the Donna Reed Theater in Downtown Denison on April 11, 12 & 13, 2014. The Friday and Saturday night performances will start at 7 p.m. and the Sunday performance will begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

You can be part of history, and the celebration, by ordering your reserved seat tickets through the Donna Reed Foundation at 712-263-3334, or via email at info@donnareed.org.

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Donna Reed receiving her Oscar

Donna Reed admires Oscar

A weekend of movies and live theater at the Donna Reed Theatre

Donna Reed was awarded a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her work in the movie From Here To Eternity in March of 1954. Now, 60 years later, the Donna Reed Foundation will celebrate her career with a weekend film festival and live play based on letters she received from soldiers during World War II.

In her career, Donna Reed starred in over 40 films. Starting on Thursday, March 20th area movie lovers will get to see three of her best films. And, as an extra bonus, the ticket prices for each film will be only 75 cents – the price of a movie ticket in 1954!

The movies
Thursday, March 20: Trouble Along The Way – a comedy starring Iowa Icons Donna Reed and John Wayne.

Friday, March 21: The Far Horizons – a movie about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, starring Donna Reed, Charlton Heston, and Fred MacMurray.

Saturday, March 22: From Here To Eternity, starring Donna Reed and Frank Sinatra in the roles that won them Best Supporting Actor & Actress Oscars.

Each movie will be shown at the Donna Reed Theater in downtown Denison beginning at 7 p.m.  Tickets will be available at the door.

The live production
Sunday, March 23:  Two performances of the live play, Dear Donna, will be staged at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Donna Reed Theater. Dear Donna is based on actual letters that Donna Reed received during World War II from servicemen all over the globe.

Reed kept over 300 of the letters, which were recently discovered by her daughter, Mary, who worked to have the letters woven together into a live play.

“Some of the letters are humorous, some serious, and all are very respectful” said play director Tim Tracy. “Soldiers repeatedly said 'Miss Reed' was the 'kind of girl we want to come home to.'”

Admission to Dear Donna is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets can be obtained by calling The Donna Reed Foundation at 712-263-3334 or by e-mail at info@donnareed.org.

Casting Call for "Dear Donna" Production

Letters from WWII soldiers to Donna Reed

Actors needed for play at Donna Reed Theatre

The Donna Reed Foundation is seeking a cast and crew for its March 23 production of “Dear Donna.”  The play consists of actual letters Donna Reed received during WWII. The actors will read the letters on stage, portraying the feelings and emotions expressed by soldiers so far from home.

The production, directed by Tim Tracy, calls for a cast of five men and one woman. The actors ideally will be WWII “soldier age” from 18 to 40.

Auditions will take place in both Denison and Carroll. On Tuesday March 4, auditions will be at the Donna Reed Theater in Denison at 7 p.m. On Thursday, March 6, auditions will be at the Carroll Community theater’s Black Box Theater at 7 p.m.

“Dear Donna” will be performed at 2 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, at the Donna Reed Theater in Denison.

More information can be obtained by contacting Tim Tracy at 712.830.7669 or tracyhome@hughes.net.

First Friday Films: "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)

"Lions, and tigers, and bears!           Oh, my!"

Where-The Donna Reed Theater
When- Friday, February 7,2014
Time- 7:00 pm
Cost- $5.00
Concessions will be available

Notable for its use of Technicolor, fantasy storytelling, musical score and unusual characters, over the years it has become one of the best known of all films and part of American popular culture. It also featured what may be the most elaborate use of character make-ups and special effects in a film up to that time.

It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It lost that award to Gone with the Wind, but won two others, including Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow". The song was ranked first in the AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs list.

Watch the original trailer.