Uncle Rabbit's Adventures and more shows opening in Eastern Iowa theaters

A MAN AND HIS PROSTATE

May 19 and 20 @ Riverside Theatre, Iowa City

Acting legend Ed Asner brings stars in this one-man show by Ed Weinberger. Based on a true-life experience, a near-tragedy is transformed into a comedy, as a man discovers his inner self in more ways than one. Times: 7:30 p.m. May 19, 2 p.m. May 20; Riverside Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City. Tickets: $40 show only; $50 show plus meet-and-greet with Ed Asner after Saturday’s show at High Ground Cafe, 301 E. Market St., Iowa City (available to both Saturday and Sunday ticket holders); Riverside Box Office, (319) 338-7672 or Riversidetheatre.org

 

EX

Friday (5/11) and Saturday (5/12) @ SPT Theatre, Cedar Rapids

The company ends the 10th season of “Tales from the Writers’ Room” on an EXistential note, perhaps pondering what is, what was or what might have been. For EXample, “I saw your EX the other day,” or “Was that your EX I saw the other day?” or “Whatever happen to your EX?” But don’t worry, it won’t be philosophically EXhausting to the point that you’ll want to run for the EXit. No, it’s sure to be EXciting, EXuberant and EXponentially entertaining, as you’d EXpect. Guest actors: Patrick Du Laney and Meg Merckens. with musical guests Jim Coates and Dave Nanke. Times: 8 p.m. Friday (5/11) and Saturday (5/12); CSPS Hall, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Tickets: $20 advance, $25 door, (319) 364-1580 or Legionarts.org/events/upcoming/spt-theatre/

 

PLAYWRIGHTS SAY #NEVERAGAIN TO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS

Today (5/10) @ Cedar Rapids Public Library

RHCR Theatre of Cedar Rapids has teamed up with Code Red Playwrights: #ENOUGH, Moms Demand Action, Foundation 2 and the Cedar Rapids Public Library to present a staged reading of contemporary plays from playwrights across the country. Written in response to school shootings, the collection features one- to five-minute plays, each one responding to a different school shooting in the United States. The content may not be suitable for young children, due to violence and subject matter. Time: 6:30 p.m. today (5/10); Whipple Auditorium, Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE. Admission: free, with suggested donations benefiting Everytown for Gun Safety.

 

Uncle Rabbit’s Adventures (Las Aventuras de Tio Conejo)

Saturday (5/12) @ Eulenspiegel, West Liberty

This English/Spanish presentation combines two trickster tales into one story celebrating the victory of the small but clever rabbit over his larger, wealthier and more powerful adversary. “Tops and Bottoms,” an international tale, combines with “The Goat in the Garden” from Puerto Rico, using large hand puppets, rod puppets and props to tell the story of a wealthy landowning goat who doesn’t want to share with his neighbors. Watch Tio Conejo and his wife, Rosita, tend to their chores, plant, harvest and trick Senor Cabra (Mr. Goat) into sharing his agricultural wealth. The story is presented bilingually and features live music with guitar, xylophone and singing. Times: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday (5/12); Owl Glass Puppetry Center, 319 N. Calhoun St., West Liberty. Tickets: $5, (319) 627-2487 or email monica@puppetspuppets.com

 

ONGOING:

CAMELOT

To May 20 @ Old Creamery Theatre, Amana

This new re-imagining of the Lerner and Loewe musical features the same legendary characters and enchanting music, but on a more intimate scale that focuses on the relationships between King Arthur, Guenevere and Lancelot. Times: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 2 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday; Old Creamery Theatre, 39 38th Ave., Amana. Tickets: $31.50 adults, $19.50 students, Old Creamery Box Office, (319) 622-6262 or Oldcreamery.com. Mother’s Day Special: Moms get in free with another paid admission May 13.

 

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

To May 27 @ Theatre Cedar Rapids

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s re-imagining of the Biblical story of Joseph, his father, Jacob, 11 brothers and the “coat of many colors” that ignited jealousy and set off a series of epic events. The musical features a family-friendly storyline, universal themes and catchy music in a variety of genres. Times: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 Third St. SE. Tickets: $31 to $40, TCR Box Office, (319) 366-8591 or Theatrecr.org

 

Other events:

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

Book and character discussion: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (5/15), Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE. Members of Revival Theatre Company and the cast of the new musical “The Bridges of Madison County” will discuss the book, the play and the way in which their characters understand their roles. Attendees may win free tickets to the show, to be performed May 31 to June 3 in Dows Theatre at Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Details: Revivaltheatrecompany.com/The-Bridges-of-Madison-County/

 

RIVERSIDE SUMMER SEASON

• MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING: It’s a merry free-for-all when Riverside Theatre brings Shakespeare’s romantic romp to the outdoor stage in Lower City Park in Iowa City — with free admission for all ages and no tickets required. Set in the back lots of MGM Movie Studios right after World War II, love and frivolity are in the air when Don Pedro’s army, drunk with victory, descends upon Leonato’s country estate in Messina. Traveling with him is Claudio, who wants to marry Leonato’s daughter Hero. Meanwhile, Claudio’s friend Benedick and Leonato’s lively niece Beatrice (think Liz Taylor and Richard Burton) hide their mutual attraction behind a volley of witty insults. But their world is shattered when Claudio, influenced by a scheming malcontent, levels a shocking accusation at Hero. A linguistically challenged security guard and his sidekicks uncover the plot, casting a beam of hopefulness in this tempestuous landscape of love. Times: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Sunday June 15 to 24.
• THE 39 STEPS: Riverside’s summer season continues inside the troupe’s Gilbert Street theater. Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python, and you have this fast-paced whodunit. The Tony- and Drama Desk Award-winning play features more than 150 zany characters played by four actors. It’s packed with laughs, an onstage plane crash, missing fingers and some old-fashioned romance. Times: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, June 29 to July 22; Riverside Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City. Tickets: $30, Riverside Theatre, (319) 338-7672 or Riversidetheatre.org/buytickets/