DES MOINES, IA (02/05/2015)(readMedia)-- Valentine's Day inspires a day of card and gift giving to those we love. Throughout the years, those cards and keepsake mementos sometimes become lost treasures. State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald wants to reunite Iowans this Valentine's Day with those lost treasures. "In addition to money, we have safe deposit box contents, which include an assortment of valuable items waiting to be reclaimed," said Fitzgerald. "Some of these items may have been gifts from a past Valentine's Day."

Treasurer Fitzgerald encourages all Iowans to check the website for a forgotten treasure. "Check regularly and check often," Fitzgerald advises. New property is uploaded throughout the year, so even if you have claimed property in the past, there is a chance your name could reappear. "Our goal is to keep reminding people to check their names for any unclaimed property."

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt database contains more than one million accounts for individuals that have lost track of some money or a treasure. The program has returned over $188 million to more than 452,000 individuals since Fitzgerald started it in 1983. Companies and financial institutions in Iowa and from across the nation report millions of dollars in unclaimed property to the state treasurer each year. Common examples of unclaimed property include money in forgotten savings/checking accounts, uncashed insurance benefit and payroll checks, lost stock and dividends, abandoned safe deposit box contents and utility refunds or deposits. Simply visit GreatIowaTreasureHunt.com to begin your search. Be sure to like the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt on Facebook and follow the program on Twitter @GreatIATreasure.

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A Double Bill of Hilarious One-Act Comedies Features Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound and Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy

City Circle Acting Company of will present a double-bill of British comedies February 13-15 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.  The program consists of Tom Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound and Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy. Performances of An Evening of Farces are Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14 at 7:30pm, and Sunday, February 15 at 2pm.  Tickets ($12-$27) are available online at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts box office and Coralville Recreation Center.  Sponsorship support is provided by Meadowlark Psychiatric Services; TheLuxeZone and Skeffington's provided furniture and costume support.

On Friday, February 13, ticket buyers are encouraged to stop by TheLuxeZone, 1303 5^th Street, for a pre-show reception from 6pm-7pm.  Patrons are invited to arrive early from the Sunday, February 15 performance for an informal pre-show chat at 1:45pm.

In The Real Inspector Hound, two theater critics are reviewing the opening night of a typical drawing-room murder mystery when they unexpectedly become part of the action.  This brilliantly absurd play sends up the typical whodunit trappings of mysterious strangers, a bitter love triangle, and, of course, a madman on the loose!

Black Comedy is staged under a reversed lighting scheme -the action supposedly in the dark is illuminated, while when the lights are to be on, the stage is dark.  Lovesick and desperate "starving artist" Brindsley Miller has "borrowed" furniture and precious objects d'arte from his antique collector neighbor in an attempt to impress his fiancee's pompous father and a wealthy art dealer.  When the neighbor returns unexpectedly as a blown fuse plunges the apartment building into darkness, Brindsley must attempt to return the purloined items before light is restored - while plagued by unexpected guests, aging spinsters, errant phone cords, his ex-mistress, and other obstacles.

" So much of the comedy of The Real Inspector Hound is verbal," says director Krista Neumann.  "I looked for actors who can bring Stoppard's words to life and really embody the ridiculousness of the play-within-a-play and the critics who become involved."  Black Comedy is more physical, says director Tara Acton.  "It's amazing to work with actors who can handle physical comedy so brilliantly. A farce can be almost like a choreographed dance--it's all about timing. Seeing all the elements come together is very rewarding!"

The cast of The Real Inspector Hound includes Joseph Dobrian, Ellis Fontana, Kristin Owens, Rip Russell, Josh Sazon, Catherine Shook, Christina Sullivan, and Hank Welter.  Black Comedy features Robyn Calhoun, Christopher Carpenter, Bryant Duffy, Derek Johnson, Elijah Jones, Katy Karas, Larry Newman, and Oli Peters.  Set design is by James Mayfield; set décor by Jan Finlayson; lighting design by Drew Bielinski; and costume design by Rachael Lindhardt.

City Circle Acting Company is the community theater program of the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.  Since 1997, City Circle's mission has been the production of high quality dramatic, musical, and performing art pieces for the enjoyment of the public.  Upcoming City Circle productions Black Comedy and The Real Inspector Hound (February 13-15), and Into the Woods (April 24-May 3).

Owned and operated by the City of Coralville, the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts is dedicated to enriching the community and contributing to the vitality of Coralville by offering an accessible, affordable venue for a variety of performances, presentations, and public and private events.  The 472 seat theater opened August 26, 2011 and has hosted performances from City Circle Acting Company, Orchestra Iowa, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Dan Knight, Lola Astanova, Lorie Line, Judy Carmichael, Jim McDonough, Nolte Academy of Dance, and many others.  Coralville schools are also able to use the Center free of charge up to three times per year; 15 school events took place at the Center in the 2013-2014 school year. The Center was named 2012 Member of the Year by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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The Old Creamery Theatre will hold a benefit, A Shaken Not Stirred Affair, on April 11, 2015 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center in Cedar Rapids. Enjoy refreshments, hors d'oeuvres, sneak peeks of 2015 shows, and a silent auction!

A Shaken Not Stirred Affair will also serve as the culmination of the Old Creamery's silent auction, featuring items from the Amana Country Club, Zin's, Cedar Ridge Winery, Siegel's Jewelry, Disney World, and so much more!

Please feel free to browse through all the items available online at  www.charityauctionorganizer.com/auction/oldcreamery.  You can either bid online or by attending our 2015 comic murder mystery dinner theatre, The Spy Who Killed Me, at The Cedar Rapids Clarion Hotel and Convention Center. The final opportunity to bid will be on April 11, 2015 at A Shaken Not Stirred Affair where the winners will be announced.  You do not need to be present to win, but it will be a fun-filled evening with a season preview, drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and a chance to talk with some of your Creamery favorites. You won't want to miss it!

Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased online at www.oldcreamery.com or by calling the box office at 319-622-6262.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 and located in Amana, IA.  Since its founding, the company has been dedicated to performing high-quality, live professional theatre for audiences of all ages and interests, and offers a wide variety of plays each season, as well as many different educational opportunities. The Old Creamery is proud to be the longest running professional theatre company in the state of Iowa.

MOUNT CARROLL, IL -- Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional summer theatre in Mount Carroll, will hold open auditions for teenagers and young adults who look like high school students for ensemble roles in their summer production of Hairspray. The company is seeking to cast up to ten strong dancers who can sing. African Americans are strongly encouraged to audition.

Auditions will be held on Saturday, February 14th at the West Carroll Middle School in Mount Carroll, located at 633 South East Street. Performers should arrive at 10:30 a.m. to sign in. The audition will begin with a dance call at 10:45 a.m. Based on the dance call, people may be asked to stay and sing. All auditions will end by 2:00 p.m.

Anyone attending should bring proper footwear, a current photo, and sheet music for a song in the style of the musical. An accompanist will be provided. Singing to a recording is discouraged. Please bring a list of potential rehearsal conflicts, as well.

Rehearsals for the production will begin on May 22nd. Rehearsals are every day through June 3. The production runs June 4th through June 14th. TLP will try to work around class schedules for rehearsals. No performance conflicts are allowed. Visit the website for more information.

Hairspray will be directed by Lili-Anne Brown, artistic director of Bailiwick Chicago and recipient of the 2014 Jeff Award for best direction of a musical for her company's production of Dessa Rose. Choreography will be by Zachary L. Gray, who recently served as associate director/choreographer of Shrek The Musical at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and was a resident performer and choreographer at TLP in 2008.

Winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Hairspray is a family-friendly musical piled bouffant high with laughter, romance, and deliriously tuneful songs. It's 1962 in Baltimore, and the lovable plus-size teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire ? to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. She must use her newfound power to dethrone the reigning teen queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a TV network, all without denting her 'do!

For more information,  visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org, call the box office at 815-244-2035, or visit the company at 8216 Black Oak Rd. in Mount Carroll.

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