ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/15/2011)(readMedia)-- The Augustana Department of Theatre Arts, which includes several students from the local area, will end its 2010-11 theater season with a performance of Thorton Wilder's classic American play, Our Town. The play will run two consecutive weekends beginning Friday, April 29 and ending Sunday, May 8. All performances are in the Potter Theatre at the Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts (3701 7th Ave.)

Our Town is set in the fictional town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, in the early 1900s and follows the everyday joys and trials of the town's citizens. The main character of the stage manager, who serves as the narrator, makes comments on the action and plays roles as needed within the town. The play was first performed in 1938 and won the Pulitzer Prize for drama that year.

Jacqui Schmidt, a theatre arts and English writing major, is excited to play the role of the stage manager. The character is interesting because he-or she, in the case of Augustana's production-directly interacts with the audience and the characters onstage. "I sometimes have to present a male character," Schmidt said. "This allows a contemporary take on what the gender roles would have been during the early 1900s in a small town like Grover's Corners."

Students from the local area who will perform in the play include :

Greg Donley, a sophomore from Silvis, IL majoring in general studies. Donley will play the role of townsperson in the production.

Kayla McKay, a first-year from Moline, IL majoring in general studies. McKay will play the role of townsperson in the production.

Augustana's production presents some new twists to the timeless play. Whereas the stage manager is usually a contemporary of the play's characters, the Augustana stage manager will be observing the play from a modern perspective. "The narrator's commentary is not just nostalgic reflection," said Jeff Coussens, the play's director and the chair of the theatre arts department. "We ask the audience to look at the past through a contemporary lens."

Our Town is the last production in Augustana's 2010-11 theater season, Reflections. In keeping with the season's theme, the production will invite the audience to reflect on how times change, yet how much remains the same. Simple lighting, minimal scenery and timeless costumes will emphasize this theme. Members of the 1989 cast of Our Town at Augustana also will return for the April 30 performance to discuss the changes in the production since they performed it more than 20 years ago.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 29, Saturday, April 30, Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7; and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 1 and Sunday, May 8. Tickets are $11 for the general public and $9 for senior citizens (age 60+), students and children. For ticket information, please call (309) 794-7306 or visit www.augustana.edu/tickets.

Amana - Come watch as Charlotte spins her magic web and cast a heartwarming spell over Fern, Wilbur and all the animals in Zuckerman's barn during The Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences production of Charlotte's Web.

A true favorite for so many, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White was dramatized for the stage by Joseph Robinette. The show opens Saturday April 23 at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage at 39 38^th Ave., Amana and runs through May 7.

Charlotte's Web is directed by Sean McCall of Marengo. The cast consists of Laura Ambrose of Coon Rapids, Minn.; T.J. Besler of Manchester; Nicholas Hodge of South Amana; Jackie McCall of Marengo; Amber Snyder of Memphis, Tenn.; Ian Zahren of South Amana; and Kamille Zbanek of Ely, IA.

McCall said bringing a favorite story to life on stage is always a thrill. "The popularity of Charlotte's Web plus the professional experience of the cast makes for a show not to be missed," he said. "Plus, we're teaching the next generation that the theatre is a wonderful place."

Tickets are $8 per person for reserved seating. Reservations for this show are highly recommended as tickets are going fast.

Call the box office at 800-35-AMANA or visit the website at www.oldcreamery.com for information or to purchase your tickets.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company is celebrating 40 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest. We thank KGAN and Fox 28, our 2011 season media sponsor.

Amana - Be a part of The Old Creamery Theatre's 40th anniversary season! Money-saving season tickets are on sale now through June 1, 2011.

With Main Stage shows like Dixie Swim Club (April 28 - May 29); G.I. Jukebox (June 2 - July 3); Suds (Aug. 4 - Sept. 11); Boeing Boeing (Sept. 15 - Oct. 16); The Mousetrap (Oct. 20 - Nov. 13); and A Don't Hug Me Christmas Carol (Nov. 17 - Dec. 18), there truly is something for everyone at The Old Creamery Theatre.

Season ticket packages that include our Studio Stage season are available. A discounted ticket packet that can be used for either the Main Stage or the Studio Stage is also available.

Call the box office at 800-35-AMANA or visit the website at www.oldcreamery.com for more information and a complete listing of season ticket options.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company is celebrating 40 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest. We thank KGAN and Fox 28, our 2011 season media sponsor.

Duluth, Minn. - maurices is putting out a nationwide casting call of sorts. The young women's retailer is looking for 12 real girls in all sizes to model maurices clothing, and the runways for the photo shoots will be the models' hometowns. The models will be selected through maurices Main Street Model Search.

"Fashion, small towns and community involvement are the heart and soul of maurices," says Brad Hartmann, maurices vice president of marketing. "Last year through our Small Town Charm campaign, we flew professional models into charming communities across America from St. George, Utah; to Miles City, Mont.; and Meridian, Miss., to Brunswick, Ga. The photos showcased our seasonal fashions as well as these beautiful locations. This year, the exciting twist is that we'll be highlighting hometown girls in their hometowns for our fall, holiday and spring campaigns."

Women ages 18 and older can enter the maurices Main Street Model Search online. They'll need to upload photos and a video about themselves. They'll also need to answer a few questions about why maurices should select them and what makes their hometown special. Full model contest rules should be reviewed before entering.

Fashion designer Christopher Straub from Lifetime's Project Runway will lead the judging panel. "His passion for fashion and sense of style are a great fit for maurices Main Street Model Search," says Hartmann. He adds that Straub also understands how exciting national exposure can be, and he can help guide winning models through this journey.

Straub says he sees beautiful women in all shapes and sizes and was inspired when maurices approached him about this model search. "Being in the fashion industry I have so many aspiring models who come up to me. They say, 'I'm not your typical model - I'm not 6' tall and thin - is there a place in the modeling world for me?' I think it's amazing that maurices is providing this chance for real girls of all sizes to have their dreams come true." In addition to his involvement with maurices Main Street Model Search, Straub is working on product design and development for maurices.

Judges will select models based on appearance, written and video responses, and their representation of the maurices' image.The top 12 models will each receive a photo shoot in their hometown and national exposure at maurices store locations, www.maurices.com, mailers and social media; $1,500 in maurices clothing; and a Flip Video camera to capture their path to becoming a maurices model. maurices will also work with each model to select a nonprofit organization in her hometown to receive a $7,500 charitable makeover.

Women can enter online now through April 7. Online voting is open from April 10 through 24, with each voter receiving a coupon for 20 percent off at maurices and a chance to win maurices' gift cards. Online voting will narrow the field of contestants to 50, and then maurices will select 20 models for a final casting call in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 5 and 6. The top 12 models will be announced May 9.

For more information, visit maurices.com or facebook.com/maurices.