WQPT airs documentary creation of local play

MOLINE, IL - WQPT cameras followed the creative process in the QC Theatre Workshop production of "A Green River" during the summer of 2013. The play tells the story about one soldier's struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The documentary, "The Making of a Green River," produced by WQPT Director of Marketing and Local Content Lora Adams, features interviews with the playwright, actors, director, soldier and a counselor, intermingled with performance video. The documentary will air at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5 on WQPT.

"We are very excited to highlight the work that brings a new play to the stage," said Adams.

WQPT will also be holding a screening and panel discussion Thursday, Aug. 7., beginning at 6 p.m. at the QC Theatre Workshop, where the play was originally produced. The theatre is located at 1730 Wilkes Ave., Davenport (IA). The public is invited to view the documentary and ask questions of the principles about the process of dramatizing the return of a soldier with PTSD to civilian life.

Since the play was originally produced at the QC Theatre Workshop, it was remounted at Augustana College under the direction of Broadway director and Augustana Alumni Philip Wm. McKinley.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University.

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Amana - "Tuna Does Vegas", a comedy by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard, opens August 14 and runs through August 31 on the Old Creamery's Studio Stage, with shows on Thursdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm and on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm.

Join the residents of tiny Tuna, Texas as they turn the Vegas strip upside down in this all-new comedy filled with unforgettably funny characters, all played by two actors. You may never know what they'll do next, but it's a sure bet you'll be laughing!

The cast includes Sean McCall and Tom Schwans.

Tickets are $28 for adults and $18.50 for students. Tuna Does Vegas is Rated PG-13. The media sponsor is KCJJ.

Call the box office for tickets and information

319-622-6262 or visit us online at www.oldcreamery.com.

This is additional information reference the shooting that took place in the 20,000 block of 210th Street, rural Scott County on Monday, July 28, 2014.

The victim in the shooting has been identified as Gabriel Almanza, age 43, a resident of Davenport. Almanza is recovering from two gunshot wounds at a local hospital. He is in stable condition.

A blue 1999 Ford Windstar minivan, Iowa license plate number 016 RIX is listed as stolen. The suspects fled the scene in the minivan. The minivan's whereabouts is unknown at this time. The public is asked to call 911 if the minivan is located. A photo of the minivan is attached. Please note the driver's side door has been replaced and is a teal or green in color. The minivan also has damage to the rear from a previous unrelated accident.

The suspects are two black males. Both are believed to be approximately 30 years of age. One is approximately 5-09 and 130 lbs. The other is approximately 5-06 and 140 lbs. They are considered armed and dangerous.

The incident remains under investigation.

More information will be released as the case progresses.

Mount Carroll--Les Misérables, the most popular musical ever written, will be presented at Timber Lake Playhouse for the first time Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 10. Special guest star Jason Kraack, who has played the role of Jean Valjean on the national tour, leads the TLP production under the direction of Matthew Teague Miller.

Executive Director James Beaudry said, "We've been very lucky to assemble 28 of the best performers we've ever had at Timber Lake for this production. Our director has a long history with show having performed it around the world, and our star is giving one of the finest performances I've ever seen. Additionally, the orchestra is the largest we've had in my time here, and they are astonishing."

Les Misérables premiered in London in 1985 (where it continues to run) and quickly grew to be a major hit in the United States and in productions around the world. Now in its third Broadway production, the musical has long been available to schools, but only recently have professional theatres been granted the rights to produce this epic and triumphant show.

The story of Les Misérables spans two decades and is one of passion, dreams and redemption set against the backdrop of a nation in the throes of rebellion. Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment, finding nothing in store but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a life-long struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert. During the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront the truth after Valjean spares him and saves the life of Marius, a student revolutionary, who has captured the heart of Valjean's adopted daughter, Cosette.

Guest performer John B. Leen, a Jeff Award winner from Chicago, stars as Inspector Javert, with resident performers Nathan Goodrich and Caroline Murrah as Marius and Cosette, respectively. TLP favorite Erica Stephan returns to the company as Eponine, who longs for Marius. Lexie Plath plays Cosette's ill-fated mother, Fantine. Matt Webb and Analisha Santini proved comic relief as The Thenardiers, scheming their way through Paris.

Joining the adult cast are Lily Leding of Clinton, Iowa as Young Cosette, Avery Findlay of Savanna, Illinois as Young Eponine, and Cecelia Ryan of Sterling, Illinois as Gavroche.

"We were also lucky to find three young people in the area with the talent Lily, Cecelia and Avery have," says Beaudry. "They are a joy to work with, and the company's faces light up every time these young ladies perform."

"But it was the role of Jean Valjean--one of the most demanding in all musical theatre--that was the tough one. After a national search and many auditions in many cities, we found Jason Kraack. It's been a privilege to have him at Timber Lake for Les Misérables."

Of his experience at TLP, Kraack said, "I have been amazed by the talent here. The cast is just amazing. The band, the directors, the designers--all of it. Theaters like TLP have their pick of the best talents of the future and they certainly hired the best young talents for this show. I have very much enjoyed the chance to mentor and learn from these great performers in our cast. I can't wait for audiences to see the hard work we have been doing for the past few weeks. They are going to be blown away!"

Les Misérables performs evenings at 7:30 p.m., and there are 2:00 p.m. matinees on Sundays and Wednesday. There is also a Saturday matinee performance on the opening weekend at 3pm. Tickets are $17-$23 and may be purchased through the box office 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily at 815-244-2035 or any time at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.

As part of the playhouse's Do Something Spectacular: Live The Story campaign, TLP is partnering with The Table, a group that serves hot meals in Carroll County Monday through Friday at no charge. Part of Great River Outreach, The Table has served over 45,000 meals to date. A non-perishable food drive to support The Table will be held at TLP throughout the run of Les Misérables.

The Table has a specific need for cereal, rice, dry beans, peas, soda crackers, egg and elbow pasta, canned fruit, pancake mix, and pork and beans. Cash donations may be made to cover the organization's needs for meat. Anyone able to make a donation of chickens, pigs or cows is encouraged to contact the organization directly at 815-990-6511 or greatriveroutreach@yahoo.com. All non-perishable donations may be dropped off at Timber Lake Playhouse, located at 8215 Black Oak Road in Mount Carroll, during box office hours (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or before any performance of Les Misérables.

Full Production Credits:

TIMBER   LAKE   PLAYHOUSE Presents a new production of BOUBLIL and SCHÖNBERG'S Les Misérables, a musical by ALAIN BOUBLIL and CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG.  Based on a novel by VICTOR HUGO.  Music by CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG.  Lyrics by HERBERT KRETZMER.  Original French Text by ALAIN BOUBLIL and JEAN-MARC NATEL.  Additional material by JAMES FENTON.  Adapted and originally directed by TREVOR NUNN and JOHN CAIRD.  Orchestrations by JOHN CAMERON

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Directed by

MATTHEW TEAGUE MILLER

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Music Direction by CINDY BLANC

Assistant Music Director MICHAEL USELMANN

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Original London Production by CAMERON MACKINTOSH and THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

"Les Miserables" is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 W. 54th St. New york, NY 10019

Ph. 212-541-4684 Fax. 212-397-4684 www.mtishows.com

This program is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

CAST:

Jean Valjean ............................................................................ Jason Kraack*

Javert .......................................................................................... John Leen

Fantine ....................................................................................... Lexie Plath

Eponine .................................................................................. Erica Stephan

Cosette ................................................................................ Caroline Murrah

Marius ................................................................................ Nathan Goodrich

Thenardier .................................................................................. Matt Webb

Madame Thenardier ............................................................... Analisha Santini

Enjorlas .................................................................................. Gabriel Brown

Gavroche .................................................................................. Cecelia Ryan

Young Cosette ........................................................................... Lily Leding

Young Eponine ....................................................................  Avery  Findlay

Feuilly, Ensemble.................................................................. Ryan Armstrong

Ensemble ............................................................................. Anastasia Arnold

Brujon, u/s Jean Valjean ....................................................... Christopher Brady

Bamatabois, Grantaire ................................................................ Grant Brown

Joly, u/s Marius ...............................................................  Christian Chambers

Ensemble, u/s Cosette ................................................................ Bethany Fay

Ensemble .................................................................................. Allison Hunt

Claquesous, Ensemble ..................................................................  Cody Jolly

Bishop of Digne, Lesgles, Ensemble, u/s Javert ................................ Sean Knight

Courfeyrac, Ensemble ............................................................  Hunter Lindner

Ensemble, u/s Eponine ........................................................... Jessica Palkovic

Foreman, Combeferre, Ensemble .............................................  Blake W. Price

Montparnasse, Ensemble ............................................................... Levi Skoog

Babet, Ensemble .................................................................... Sawyer Smith*

Jean Prouvaire, Ensemble  ..................................................... Cameron Turner

Ensemble, u/s Fantine ............................................................... Melissa Weyn

*These actors appear through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

PRODUCTION DESIGN & STAFF

Production Stage Manager............................................ Mary-Catherine Mikalayunas

Assistant Stage Manager............................................................................ Katie Ritter

Scenic Designer........................................................................................... Colt Frank

Lighting & Projection Designer............................................................... James Kolditz

Technical Director....................................................................................... CJ Sneath

Properties Master ............................................................................. Anders Goodwin

Sound Designer / Master Electrician .................................................  Lucas Pawelski

Assistant Technical Director / Master Carpenter ..................................Joe Simpson

Carpenter ................................................................................................. Riley Wood

Scenic Artist ............................................................................. Ben Lipinski

Costume Shop Manager, Wig Designer ....................................... Emma Crafton

Assistant Costume Shop Manager ......................................... Kathleen Embrey

Costuming Assistant........................................................................... Corina Walbert