The Donna Reed Foundation presents an evening of music with “An Iowa Songbook”

Last program in the American Icon Series – Focus On Iowa

Quick! Name three music legends with Iowa connections. Having trouble? Find help as The Donna Reed Foundation presents The Iowa Songbook this Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Donna Reed Theater. You'll hear music made famous by Andy Williams, The Everly Brothers, Glenn Miller, Roger Williams and more. You'll need both hands to count the connections.

It's an evening of music performed by area artists Molly Benson, Polly Eason, Gwen Ecklund, Marin Garcia, Myriah Hacker, Steve Hammel, Lisa Langholz, Kerri Miller, Jena Nahnsen, Emily Sailer, Erin Tracy, Tim Tracy, Voice Exchange and Matt Weier.

The performance will take place at the Donna Reed Theater in downtown Denison. Tickets are $10 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.

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

Wonder Women: The Untold Story of American Superheroines

Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines traces the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman. From the birth of the comic book superheroine in the 1940s to the blockbusters of today, Wonder Women looks at how popular representations of powerful women often reflect society’s anxieties about women’s liberation. The film goes behind the scenes with TV stars Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman) and Lindsay Wagner (The Bionic Woman), comic writers and artists, and real-life superheroines such as Gloria Steinem, Kathleen Hanna, and others, who offer an enlightening and entertaining counterpoint to the male-dominated superhero genre. A film by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and Kelcey Edwards, 

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 Wonder Women!: http://youtu.be/bwuGGoNRtgE

Learn more about the film: www.itvs.org/films/wonder-women

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.