The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre will be holding local auditions for their community holiday production. Auditions will be held on Saturday, November 7 from 6-­8pm and on Sunday, November 8 from 1-­3pm at Mullany Theatre on the Ashford University Campus.

This year's show is Adam's Gifts by Peter Filichia and directed by Kris Doss. Loosely based on Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol, the story follows William Pront, a greedy landlord who has cut corners on his tenants for years. His employee, Jason Romano just wants to make a living and to finish writing his book. Pront's greediness leads to Jason quitting, a stranger appearing, and Pront reliving life through his younger self. William learns a lot about himself, but most importantly is finally taught to read from the most unlikely of people. Adam's Gifts is a story of redemption and the heart­melting surprise of feeling needed.

Roles are available for males and females, middle school to adult. Auditions are drop­in and no preparations are necessary. Cold readings will be provided. Anyone interested in helping with technical, backstage work should attend one of the audition dates. Rehearsals will likely be scheduled Monday through Fridays from 6pm­-9pm.

Performances are scheduled for December 11-­13 and 18­-20. Shows will be at 7:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3pm on Sundays.

The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre will offer a Season of American Classics for the summer of 2016. The upcoming 2016 season includes Neil Simon's The Odd Couple (June 4­-11), Meredith Wilson's The Music Man (June 16 to July 4), the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic South Pacific (July 8-­17), Grease ! (July 21­-31), and Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie (August 4-­13). Matthew Teague Miller is Producing Artistic Director for the 2016 season.

For more information about any Showboat events or to purchase season tickets, visit: www.clintonshowboat.org.

Despite the passing of MHS English teacher and director, K.C. Griesenbeck, the school's fall play will go on as scheduled.  Griesenbeck suffered a brain aneurysm October 11th and was airlifted to Iowa City for treatment. She was taken off life support the following Tuesday morning.  Practice for the play had already been underway so the assistant Director, Calvin Vo, took over the job.  "It's a big project for us but it will get done.  We will honor her vision for the show."

The play, Almost, Maine, runs next Thursday, October 29th, Friday the 30th and Saturday the 31st at 7pm each night in the school's auditorium.  The play consists of 9 separate vignettes that deal with the different stages of love and laughter.  In keeping with the love theme students, friends and alumni who were knew Griesenbeck are being asked to bring any pictures they of her to put on the auditorium wall--a so called wall of love.

The media is invited to a preview night of Almost, Maine on Tuesday, October 27th at 4:30 pm.   Available for interviews are the students, the director and the assistant director.  Student Director, Quinn Daley, said her sudden death at the age of 44 shocked the community but the students came together and are more serious about the production.  "They want the stow to be a good one--it is being dedicated to  her".

West Captured The Stage At The Texas Association Of Magicians 2015 Event

Des Moines (9/14/15) - Keith West, a magician and illusionist based out of Des Moines, won the Texas Association Of Magicians (TAOM) Senior Stage award at the 2015 TAOM convention last week in Austin, Texas. He is the first Iowan to bring home a title from this international event and one of 35 title holders historically. The Senior Stage award is granted to the best theater performance of magic, which includes illusions and effects involving more than one person or animals.

West was personally scouted to compete in the competition by TAOM president Trixie Bond while performing at Hoyt Sherman Place, in Des Moines, Iowa last May. In preparation of the event, he created a routine consisting of seven show-stopping illusions and his three beautiful showgirls over the course of two years.

West turned to friend and mentor, FISM-winning Master Magician Lance Burton, when finalizing his award-winning routine, "Lance watched a video of my performance and encouraged me, giving me pointers on how to make the act better."

The hard work paid off. West and his team of showgirls Brandy Belle, Kitty Marie, and Madeline Peyton stole the show, beating out all the other international contestants.

When he is not winning magic competitions, West performs nationwide at events of all kinds.

His upcoming performances include corporate events, casinos, as well as performing in Bob Zany's "One Man, 3 Chicks & a BAY BEE!" Show with Bob & Tom Show and Tonight Show Comedian Bob Zany. For the last 23 summers, West has performed a series of magic shows at libraries throughout the Midwest to promote summer reading with Miss Kitty the Library Lady. He also performs a special anti-bullying program in schools.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZtlDwxqM-A&feature=youtu.be

Looking for the next big act to perform at your upcoming event? Learn more about Keith West and entertainment group at entertainmentgroupcomedy.com.

Des Moines - The Iowa Finance Authority today announced that a new Workforce Housing Loan Program is now available to communities with a need for additional rental housing as a result of local employment growth. The program has a total of $5 million available to provide financial assistance in the form of low-cost repayable loans to cities and counties.

"Jobs are moving into communities all throughout our state. These jobs are both attracting current Iowans to move within the state as well giving us the opportunity to welcome new Iowans," said Governor Terry Branstad. "This employment growth is in-turn creating the need for additional workforce housing and this program will allow communities to increase available housing stock to meet that demand."

"Iowa has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and ranks among the top places to raise a family," said Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds. "Affordable housing is at the core of thriving families and communities all across Iowa and the new Workforce Housing Loan Program will help to ensure our workforce has housing options in close proximity to their jobs."

The Workforce Housing Loan Program is available to all cities in Iowa on a competitive basis. Cities with populations of less than 50,000 that have shown an annual job growth during the last three years will be awarded additional points. Local contributing financial effort, employer investment in the proposed workforce housing project and designated Home Base Iowa or Iowa Great Places communities are also considerations in the competitive scoring process, among others.

"This program is a win-win for Iowa communities and their workforce," said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Dave Jamison. "The Iowa Finance Authority is proud to offer this program and work in partnership with Iowa communities to fulfill the need for additional workforce housing."

The maximum loan amount per project is the lesser of $1 million or $50,000 per assisted workforce housing rental unit. The loans will have a one percent interest rate with a maximum term of twenty years. Workforce housing units shall not be age restricted and will be limited to households earning 140 percent or less of the statewide median income as published by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Applications in the initial Workforce Housing Loan Program funding round are due to the Iowa Finance Authority by November 2, 2015. More information on the program is available at IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/WHLP.

The Iowa Legislature created the Iowa Finance Authority, the state's housing finance agency, in 1975 to undertake programs to assist in the attainment of housing for low-and moderate-income Iowans.

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