Clinton Showboat

A mission of the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre is to educate. For the last 15 years there has been a strong internship program aboard the boat that has produced some fine actors and technicians. Local high school students audition in February to become part of the showboats company. Once selected they are given classes and get to perform along side of professional actors from around the country. On top of that the interns star in Saturday children’s theatre at noon.
This year the showboat’s producing artistic director, Patrick Stinson (a former intern program director) has added a one night only mainstage show for the interns in which he wrote. Brats, a drama, deals with problem teens. Eight teens are given the option to go to jail or receive counseling while camping.  Each teen gets a chance to tell their story with twists and turns in the plot.  “Having been a high school teacher for many years, kids that have gone through my classroom have had some of these issues and they needed to know there was a way out.  Brats may have bad kids in it that have done some bad things but it is a play about second chances and making good choices. I think this is a show that should be seen by every teen.  It helps them see the world from someone elses perspective, which teens have a hard time doing.” Stinson states.

In this Ensemble show are Ian Black, Haley Courter, Catherine Cole, Marissa Matzen, James Alt, Cole Rauch, Drew Simendinger, Justin Tegeler, John Barger, Tayor Wiebers, and Megan Collins.  The show is directed by Intern Director Nicole Horton and is assistant directed by Janet Howe.  The performance begins at 7:30 on July 13th. Tickets for the evening are available at the showboat box office on Tuesday through Sunday from 11 to 7 or online at clintonshowboat.org.

Do do do dootle doo do do do dootle doo…That catchy phrase will soon be on the lips of the people of the Clinton area as the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre presents the musical classic Singin’ in the Rain from July 9 through July 19 on the Lillian Russell stage aboard the City of Clinton Showboat.

This spectacular musical is based on the Gene Kelly movie of the same name.  A silent film actor is thrown into the world of the talkies and discovers the love of his life in the process.  Playing the Gene Kelly role is Showboat producing artistic director Patrick Stinson.  “This has always been one of my favorite movies and a very fitting musical to be performed in our theatre.”  Stinson is referring to the showboat’s Lillian Russell theatre.  Lillian Russell, a Clinton native was the premiere silent film actress of her day.  Stinson adds, “Singin’ in the Rain will be the most difficult show the boat has produced as long as I have been here for the past 12 years.  From a technical end there will be rain on stage and hopefully not in the audience, there are lighting and video challenges that only this show creates, and a set that will be a Hollywood sound stage on our intimate stage.  From a performance perspective Singin’ in the Rain has some of the most difficult choreography of any show and we plan to wow our audiences with this spectacle!”

Performing along side Stinson as he directs and stars in this toe tapper is Nicole Horton.  Horton, a showboat veteran plays Kathy Selden (the Debbie Reynolds role in the film). Joshua Sohn, a first year showboat performer from California plays Stinson’s best friend Cosmo Brown (the Donald O’Connor role from the movie).  Together with local favorites Rob Engelson, Bill Mosgrove, Sandee Cunningham, Laurel Decker, other professional actors from around the country such as Claire Barnhart, Dale Hawes, and Drew Simendinger, and a beautiful sounding chorus this musical extravaganza is brought to life.

As with all of the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre plays the first Saturday of the run, July 11th, there will be an audience Talkback where several of the creative and technical aspects of the show will be explained and the audience will have a chance to ask questions of the creative team and the shows actors.  This happens after the performance and is free of charge with the purchase of Saturday evenings performance.

Tickets for Singin’ in the Rain can be purchased at the Clinton Showboat Tuesday through Sunday 11 – 7 or online at www.clintonshowboat.org.  Tickets are $18 for adults.  Showtimes are 7:30 Thursday through Saturday and 3:00 Wednesday and Sunday.

The Clinton Area Showboat Theatre is located on the western bank of the Mississippi in Clinton Iowa.  The Showboat is celebrating it’s 25th year of professional theatre in Iowa.