Iowa River Players

Celtic dance (think Riverdance!) will be a feature of the live performance by the UNI International Dance Theatre on Sunday, April 27th at 2PM for one performance only. Complicated Celtic patterns will be executed by a dozen UNI students and graduates in the touring company. The troup will also stage a suite of dances that are in the repertoire of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, including the famous Mexican hat dance and an exciting machete dance. A comic-romantic note is struck in their “Mancini Moments”. Tickets are available at the door — $5 general admission, $1 for students of any stripe.

We are again hosting Pop Wagner, the Renaissance Cowboy on Friday, March 28th at 7:30. Pop’s show in Rowan was sold out last year and we expect another good crowd.
Tickets are available at the door or by mail to be held at the door — $10 for adults and $5 for students. No reserved seats, so come early enough to get your favorite spot.

The annual American Legion Fish Fry is prior to the show in the lower level of the theatre with serving starting at 5:30, then come upstairs for Pop’s cowboy singing, guitar picking, fiddling, rope twirling and friendly dose of humor.
Visit Pop Wagner’s website at www.popwagner.com

“Dearly Beloved” opens on April 2 for five performances on our stage at 901 Broadway Street in Rowan.
Tickets are $10 at the door ~ or save $2 per ticket and order in advance by mail.
Send your check to:
IRP tickets
PO Box 22
Belmond IA 50421
Tell us what date you want to attend — you can pick up your discounted tickets at the box office that night. Seats are not reserved so come early and sit where you choose. We are temporarily not able to process credit card orders or phone orders.

Times and dates:

Wednesday, April 2 at 7:30 PM
Thursday, April 3 at 7:30 PM
Friday, April 4 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 6 at 2:00 PM

The United Church of Rowan will serve a wedding dinner in keeping with the theme of the production, on Sunday before the show - $7 per person. Serving starts at 11:30AM.

Auditions for “Bunnicula” are:  1pm on Sunday, Sept 9, and 7pm on Monday, Sept. 10, 2007.  Cast needs are:  1 mom, 1 dad, 2 kids (either gender), 1 adult or teen male to play a dog, 1 adult or teen female to play a cat, and 1 puppeteer!  Trese Arends is directing.

Face melting Rock and Roll!  ARSENAL will perform at the “Rowan Dome” on Saturday, Sept 15 at 7:30pm.  Tickets $8 at the door.

Annual kids’ DRAMAPALOOZA all day drama workshop on Saturday, September 29, from 9AM to 3PM.  Modest charge covers the entire day of workshops, lunch and snacks.  This is for kids in grades 3 through 6.  Free performance for parents, siblings and the public at 3PM.

 ”Bunnicula” will be presented October 26, 27, 28 and November 2, 3, and 4.  The perfect Halloween show for kids, priced right to include the whole family.  Show times are 7:30 PM on Fridays, 2:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.

We are hosting a tent show!  Friday and Saturday, July 6 and 7 – curtain at 7:30 PM but come at 6PM to get in on all the fun! 

The Jenison Meacham Art Museum and Farm in rural Belmond (see driving directions below) will be the scene for some groundbreaking theatrical work with its roots in our rural past when the Iowa Tent Theatre Project cruises into town with its vintage vehicles, red and yellow big top tent that will seat 300 and a company of energetic young actors.  Patterned after the old-time tent shows that toured the American Midwest in a bygone era, the Iowa Tent Theatre Project promises a pleasant reminiscense for those who have known this style of entertainment, and a surprising and exciting new experience for those who weren’t here to catch it the first time around!

The play is “Standing Tall: an Iowa Tent Play” by native Iowan Ralph Hall who also founded the company and directs the play.  Entertainment with the whole family in mind, the play features sets, masks and puppets by professional designer Bruce Marrs, and even a tornado!  The Iowa Tent Theatre Project is committed to a celebration of the people and places of Iowa.  Don’t miss a moment of this magical evening shared with family and friends! 

This engagement of the ITTP is sponsored cooperatively by the Iowa River Players and its parent organization, the Belmond Area Arts Council, with primary funding from the Luick Memorial Trust of Belmond.  Additional funding from the Belmond United Way and the L K Boutin Grant ~ administered through IACT (Iowa Association of Community Theatres).

To get to the Jenison Meacham Art Museum and Farm - from Belmond, go North 1 mi. on Hwy 69, turn East on Hwy c-20 and go 1 mi., turn North on Taylor Avenue and go 1-1/4 mi.  

Tickets to the Tent Theatre are just $5 for adults and “a buck a kid” through high school ~ a bargain!  Get tickets at the door before the show or at the Belmond July 4th picnic lunch in Belmond City Park at noon.

For more information on the Iowa Tent Theatre Project visit www.iowatenttheatre.org

A lyrical but earthy love letter to the land, OKLAHOMA! reminds us of IOWA!  “We know we belong to the land!”  It’s a 60-ish year old classic of American musical theatre that could have been set in Iowa!  Indeed, IA and OK have a bit of a shared history; Iowa was the scene of the first great land rush in the western territories, like the ones that OK became famous for.  The play was unique in its time for being set in a rural area, among country people. 

 You’ll see bright new faces and seasoned favorites on stage this summer and we expect to sell every seat in our fully air-conditioned theatre, so order early!  Tickets will go on sale the week of July 9.  Show times and dates are 7:30 PM Thu-Sat July 26-28 and 2:00 PM Sun July 29;  7:30 PM Thu-Sat Aug 2-4 and 2:00 PM Sun Aug 5, 2007.

Advance tickets are $8 ~ use your MasterCard or Visa to order by phone: 641-853-2398.  (We cannot process any orders until July 9th.)

“There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow….”

When the “corn is as high as an elephant’s eye” in July and August, we’ll be singing all about it on Broadway in Rowan! You can, too! Come to auditions on any of the three nights and read for a part in the IRP production of this beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. There’s Curly and Laurie, Will and Ado Annie, Aunt Eller, Jud Fry and all the cowboys and farmers and their gals. What could be more fun?

You say you don’t sing and dance? We still need you to help with set construction, painting, costumes, props and more! Come to auditions and offer any of your services! We love volunteers!

Friday, March 30th at 7:30PM — Pop Wagner, the Renaissance Cowboy, will perform songs, poems, guitar picking and rope tricks as well as a good share of friendly humor. $10 adults, $5 students. Includes dessert and a complimentary glass of wine (for those of age, of course.) Have dinner at the annual Rowan American Legion All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry (they start serving at 5:30) or try Bea’s delicious Mexican cuisine at Cafe Primo, then come for the show.

Sunday, April 15 @ 2:00 PM – ORCHESIS Dance Troupe from University of Northern Iowa will perform their spring concert selections of modern, ballet and jazz dance. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Free to current IRP members.

Sunday, April 22 @ 2:00PM – International Dance Theatre from University of Northern Iowa will perform selections from their spring concert of elaborately costumed folk dances. Tickets ar e$5 for adults and $3 for students. Free to current IRP members.

Saturday, April 28 @ 2:00PM and 8:00PM — Iowa River Players presents two performances of Old Creamery Theatre’s “Dates With A Nut” starring an OCT favorite actress, Meg Merckens. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.

Sunday, April 29 from 11:30 to 4:00 — Quilt Show — Pieces of the Past and Present: quilts by Ardeth Laake. Quilt talk at 2PM. Admission $5 Optional salad and dessert bar luncheon from 11:30 to 1:30 - $5 per person.

To get tickets to any show, call the box office phone:  (641) 853-2398.  You may charge your tickets to MasterCard or Visa — be sure to leave all the information including exp. date and how many tickets you want for what night!  Tickets will be waiting for you at the box office when you arrive.  Please be accurate — we do not return phone calls unless the show is sold out.  Ordering and paying in advance generally saves you $1 to $2 per ticket.