Catch The Donna Reed Show On MeTV

The Donna Reed Show can now be seen on MeTV and is part of the new line-up launched in September. Check out the network's promo which features Paul Peterson (all grown up) reprising his role as Jeff Stone. Watch it here.

MeTV (Memorable Entertainment Television) is an American broadcast television network owned by Weigel Broadcasting and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The network airs classic television sitcoms, dramas and classic commercials from the 1950s through the 1980s. Its library includes series from Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution and CBS Television Distribution as well as independent series owners and producers.

Free screenings of "It's a Wonderful Life" at the Donna Reed Theatre, December 16

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

On Sunday, December 16, the classic holiday movie, starring Denison native Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart, will be screened 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.

Exhibit on the making of It's a Wonderful Life continues inside.

Step inside the museum and view an expanded exhibit that 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.

Local Actors Return With Old-Time Radio Play For The Holidays

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 back by popular demand, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, November 30 and December 1. Written by Joe Landry and set in 1946 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.

Last year's ensemble of eight local actors returns to bring more than three dozen characters to life, employing an array of radio sound effects from on-stage. Audience members will 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: Focus on Iowa 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 and Diane Furne playing piano. Pat Fleshner is the director.

Each performance will begin at 7 p.m. November 30 and December 1 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.

Kristian Day named new Director of Marketing for The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts

The Donna Reed Foundation has named independent filmmaker and president of Modern American Cinema, Kristian Day, as the Foundation's Director of Marketing for a term of one year. He has been an outspoken advocate for both independent filmmakers and non-corporately owned movie theaters. In his position, he will expand educational and public outreach of the Donna Reed Foundation at state, regional and national levels. 

Day is a 26 year old native of Rock Island, Ill. and went to high school in Cedar Rapids. He attended the University of Colorado at Denver in the Music Industry Studies program. In 2008, he began directing and producing his own movies. His short films have played all over the world including Austria, Greece, and Italy. His films have also been screened at various festivals in cities across the United States including Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.

 In 2010, Day founded Modern American Cinema, a film production and distribution company based in Des Moines. The company has produced and distributed feature length narratives and documentaries to over 60 theaters in the Midwest. The company is most noted for the feature length documentary, Capone's Whiskey: The Story of Templeton Rye and the Iowa Public Television program, Templeton Rye: Iowa's Good Stuff, which were both directed by Day.

Listening To The Still Small Voice – The Story Of George Washington Carver

Second program of “American Icon Series” is October 12th

Iowa educated, George Washington Carver was best known for creating over 300 uses for the peanut. But Carver the man was an agriculture visionary and much more. On Friday night, October 12^th at 7 p.m., The Donna Reed Foundation in Denison will host a one-man play celebrating the life of Dr. Carver.

The performance is part of the foundation’s “2012-13 American Icon Series – Focus On Iowa” and will take place at the Donna Reed Theater in downtown Denison. The presenter is Paxton Williams, an Iowa State University graduate – like Dr. Carver, who become interested in the doctor’s work as a student and developed a play titled “Listening To The Still Small Voice – The Story Of George Washington Carver”.

Tickets to “Listening To The Still Small Voice – The Story of George Washington Carver” are $15 each for adults and $5 each for youths 18 and under. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Donna Reed Foundation at 712-263-3334 or by e-mail at info@donnareed.org. More information on the “American Icon Series” is also available on The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts website and blog, www.donnareed.org.

Performance News Release

Glenn Miller Orchestra fills Donna Reed Theater with memorable music

Photo by Gordon Wolf

First of Donna Reed Foundation’s American Icon: Focus on Iowa series.

The music of the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra had toes tapping and people swaying in their seats at the Donna Reed Theater, September 21. The audience filled the main floor and spilled over into the balcony as the group filled the theater with their unamplified sound.

The tight performance kept the audience involved and spotlighted the talents of individual orchestra members. Applause greeted many of the musical selections, indicating the group had stirred fond memories.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra, under the direction of Nick Hilscher, consists of five saxophone players, four trumpeters, four trombonists and three rhythm musicians (piano, bass and drums). Two vocalists, one male and one female also accompany the band.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra, formed officially in 1956 under the direction of Ray McKinley, has earned a reputation as a highly disciplined, musical and visually entertaining musical organization. The band currently plays an average of 300 live shows per year in front of millions of fans.

Second Annual "AMERICAN ICON SERIES" Returns to the Donna Reed Theater With An Iowa Focus

Spend an evening with the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, hear the life story of George Washington Carver, enjoy a live stage version of “It’s A Wonderful Life", relive the Johnny Carson Show, and then celebrate Iowa’s Music and Musicians.

That’s the lineup of shows The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts has in store for you as part of the second annual “American Icon Series – Focus On Iowa”. The series features five “Chautauqua-style” events and runs from September, 2012 to March, 2013. The performances include two concerts, a live radio play, and two living history re-enactments, all featuring icons with Iowa ties. 

 

September 21, 2012 - “The World Famous GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA” in concert.
October 12, 2012 - “The Story of GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER” with Paxton Williams
November 30 and December 1, 2012 - “It’s A Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play”
February 9, 2013 - “HERE'S JOHNNY!” with Jim Malmberg's re-enactment of The Carson Show.

March 23, 2013 - “AN IOWA SONGBOOK” with area entertainers celebrating Iowa's music history.

Each performance will begin at 7 p.m. at the Donna Reed Theater, 1305 Broadway, in downtown Denison, Iowa, home of The Donna Reed Foundation and Museum.

Season tickets (all five events) are $65 per person and include a free “Youth Pass”  for ages 18 and under. Season tickets must be purchased prior to the first show on September 21st.

Individual show tickets to the "Glenn Miller Orchestra", "George Washington Carver", and "Here’s Johnny" shows are $15 each for adults and $5 each for youths 18 and under. Tickets for the "It’s A Wonderful Life" play and "An Iowa Songbook" are $10 each for adults and $5 for youths 18 and under.

Tickets 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.

More about the performances.
More about the artists.
Download a fillable ticket order form to print and mail to the Foundation.