They travel from around the country to perform in Clinton. The Showboat’s producing artistic director, Patrick Stinson has had a busy few months making his way through several auditions finding the best talent from around the country to bring to Clinton. “This year we have such diverse roles available that it was harder than usual to cast. I needed to find actors that could cover many types of characters for all the different shows. I am really pleased with the group that I have coming to Clinton to perform.”
Jeni Noble is a new comer to the Showboat this season but not a new comer to the musical Rent, the Showboat’s first production of the summer from June 3 to 13. Jeni performed in the Chicago premiere of Rent as a featured soloist. This season she plays the role of Mimi along with several other lead roles throughout the summer.

“This next guy…” Stinson recalls, “slipped through the cracks last year. I called him back for a role, but in the end did not use him. But he left a great impression that I knew I had to use him this year.” Michael Detmer is from Breese, Illinois. He will perform in all five main stage shows this summer including the second show of the season, Noises Off from June 17 through 27.

Bradford Rolen is a musical theatre major at Southeast Missouri State University. Last summer he performed at the McLeod Summer Playhouse in All Shook Up. This summer Clinton is privileged to see him play Joe in Showboat from July 15th to the 25th. Audiences will melt when they hear his rendition of the classic “Old Man River.”

Nicholas Lee from Boston, Massachusetts is also making his Showboat debut! Some of his previous credits include LeFou in Beauty and the Beast and KoKo in The Hot Mikado. Nick is also a great violinist and will be showing off some of his skills in Big River the showboat’s 4th show of the season from July 29th through August 8th.

Returning this year is a showboat favorite, Nicole Horton. Nicole has performed in over 20 shows on the the Showboat’s stage including last season’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as the Narrator. Originally from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin Nicole has spent the past year traveling the country as the Evil Sea Witch in the tour of The Little Mermaid as well as working at Walt Disney World. Nicole will play the love interest of George, Dot, in Sunday in the Park with George which is the last show of Showboat’s summer season opening August 12th and running until August 22th.

This is just a small sample of the talent making their way to Clinton, Iowa this summer. Many more performers such as Antwaun Holley from Baldwin-Wallace in Ohio and Michael Curtin from Webster in Missouri as well astalented behind the scenes staff such as Shannan Osborn, our production Stage Manager and C.W. Bardsher the Showboat’s technical director will make their way from Oklahoma to be a part of 2010 sumer season.

You too can be part of the Showboat’s summer season. Season tickets are available for a discounted price at Clinton Printing, McEleny Auto, as well may others in the greater Clinton area. Tickets will be available online and in the Showboat box office starting May 1st. Check out www.clintonshowboat.org or call 563-242-6760 for more details.