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Fanilows: This one’s for you

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Barry Manilow performs at the Amway Center in Orlando, FL on January 20, 2011. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel)

 

Hello. My name is Diana, and I’m a Fanilow.

I’ve been this way since “Mandy” hit the airwaves in 1974, smack dab in the middle of my high school years, continued through my disco days and right on through the five or so Barry Manilow concerts I saw in the ’80s and ’90s, including his last Cedar Rapids gig in 1997.

I’m not seeking a cure.

Manilow wrote the songs that made the whole world sing, and I’ll be happy to (quietly) sing them again June 22, when he makes his triumphant return to the U.S. Cellular Center, hot off his Broadway concert run. He says he considers his fans his friends, so he promises to play all the hits we want to hear, like “Weekend in New England,” “It’s a Miracle,” “Could It Be Magic,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “I Made it Through the Rain,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” and on and on through more than 50 pop hits, putting him in an elite league with Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Neil Diamond and Elvis Presley.

After singing all those songs around the dorm piano, my college BFF and will finally be seeing him together, and we couldn’t be giddier.

The details

My Millennial coworkers don’t get it. The Gen-Xers who sit by me can name some tunes. More than 100 of my Boomer friends, however, went crazy on Facebook, “liking” and commenting on my posts before and after my phone interview with him at the end of May.

In this dream job, I’ve interviewed a lot of international stars, which I try to take in stride. Sometimes, however, I just get squirrelly shortly before an interview. With Manilow, I was squirrelly all morning. (My editor reminded me that with Harry Connick Jr., I was squirelly for a whole year, which is a total exaggeration. It was just four months that probably seemed like a year to my colleagues.)

So why does Manilow — who turned 70 on June 17 — have such a hold on my heart? Because he did write the songs that made the whole world sing. Songs that were fresh and new on the ’70s and ’80s pop scene. Songs that stand the test of time and tell a story we still want to hear, because he listened so carefully to all the stories he heard as New York’s hottest accompanist in the ’60s. (He also wrote the jingles we all still sing, like “I am stuck on Band-Aids” … “You deserve a break today” … “Like a good neighbor” … and many others.)

“There were so many years before I made records, that I was a conductor and an arranger and a pianist for singers in New York City. I was the go-to piano player. I’m not that great of a piano player, like with classical music or flourishes, but I’m a great accompanist. I sound like a whole band,” Manilow says by phone from his home in Palm Springs, Calif.

“I played for everybody in New York when I was younger, and I learned from them. I played for singers that would sing in cabarets all over the city. I played for auditions for people who were great singers in Broadway shows, and I learned from them. I learned what I do from those people. I admired the great orchestra arrangers like Nelson Riddle and Don Costa. Those were my heroes, so when I wound up making music, those were the influences in my life,” he says.

“I took all of that and put that into the pop songs that I made for the radio. That was, I guess, a new sound for the pop radio — modulations, big endings, interpreting a lyric, writing a lyric that was more emotional than many of the other songwriters. … I don’t think the audiences knew that, but they knew there was something different about my records than the other guys’ records — and it was because of all those influences when I was younger.”

Growing up in Brooklyn, he learned to read music by playing accordion, the only instrument his family could afford. The turning point came in his teens, when his stepfather rented a piano.

“From that moment on, I was a piano player,” Manilow says.

He joined his school orchestra, where his talent flourished. After graduation, he worked as a mailboy at CBS by day so he could attend Juilliard by night for a couple of years.

Those pivotal beginnings sparked The Manilow Music Project, in which he invites audience members to bring unwanted instruments to his concert venues. They’re collected, refurbished and given to the host city districts to distribute to area schools.

He started the initiative about eight years ago, after one of his southern California friends said his daughter wanted to play sax, but because of budget cuts, the high school didn’t have instruments for the kids. Manilow did a little digging and was dismayed to learn that’s a problem sweeping the nation.

“They’re either cutting music and art classes, which is killing me, or the schools that do have music classes are running out of instruments,” Manilow says. “I thought, I just have to do something.”

The Manilow Music Project began as a fundraising initiative under his longstanding educational support organization, The Manilow Fund for Health & Hope, but this year, Manilow started asking audience members to donate instruments that are just collecting dust at home.

“We’ve been getting over a hundred instruments in every city, so I think maybe we’re making a dent,” says the Emmy, Tony and Grammy winner who is just paying it forward.

“I started off coming from the slums of Brooklyn, New York, and I don’t know what I would have done if didn’t join that orchestra class in my high school. I wouldn’t be talking to you today. That orchestra class showed me where I belonged. That might be happening to some young people right now, but if they don’t have music classes, then they may be in bad shape.”

He says teachers and principals tell him that when kids go to music classes, “their grades go up and they learn how to interact with other people.”

“They become better students in music classes. I know how important that it is — it’s not just playtime. So hopefully, we’re doing some good.”

To contribute, the public can trade a new or gently used musical instrument for free tickets to Manilow’s June 22nd concert. Donations will be accepted through June 21st.

The pop icon is also donating a Yamaha piano to launch a local instrument drive for the Cedar Rapids Public Schools.

“The Cedar Rapids Community School District appreciates the opportunity to be part of Mr. Manilow’s program in support of student arts programming, said Dr. David Benson, Superintendent. The donated instruments will benefit students in need across the District, allowing greater participation in our many fine instrumental music programs.”

The Manilow Music Project (MMP) is part of The Manilow Fund for Health and Hope. It was formed as a grass roots organization to assist local charities and programs. Its primary focus is to provide musical instruments to high schools and middle schools and to provide music scholarships at universities throughout the US, Canada, and the UK. More information on the Manilow Music Project can be found here.

“I’m thrilled to be able to help bring the gift of music to these kids,” states Manilow.

The Manilow Music Project

REVIEW: Cirque du Soleil brings magic of mind and body to ‘Quidam’

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Quidam performer Ardee Dionisio, known as The Target in the show captures a balloon in a cage above the stage at the end of the first act on Thursday evening, June 6, 2013 at the recently renovated U.S. Cellular Center. Thursday was opening night for the Cirque du Soleil show, it runs through Sunday, June 9. (Photo: Kelsey Kremer/Hoopla)

CEDAR RAPIDS – Cirque du Soleil’s “Quidam” is tres French, tres exotic — and equal parts fun and creepy.

At the forefront of bringing European-style circus to global audiences, the Montreal-based company staged a triumphant opening Thursday night (6/6) at the U.S. Cellular Center, drawing cheers, whistles and a standing ovation from the nearly sold-out crowd.

With the massive front- and backstage configurations, arena officials said capacity is a little over 3,000, and the opening night audience numbered just under 3,000. Performances continue at various times through 1 p.m. Sunday.

This is my third Cirque experience, and it’s very different from the previous outings. This one seems to have more of a “story” and fewer heart-stopping moments, but still plenty of “gasp” attacks and captivating feats of jaw-dropping artistry and skill.

What you need to know:

  • What: Cirque du Soleil presents “Quidam”
  • When: Through June 9, 2013; 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday
  • Where: U.S. Cellular Center, 370 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids
  • Tickets: $35 to $98

 

“Quidam” is the tale of a young girl bored with reality in her sterile, expressionless home. She journeys to an imaginary realm, shepherded by a tall, headless man carrying an umbrella and a blue bowler hat. Zoe’s other companions are  the clownish, wordless ringmaster named John and a completely fanciful, otherworldy imp named The Target, with spirals painted on his costume and nose.

It’s like they’ve landed on another planet, inhabited with gray zombie acrobats; strangely unnerving characters clad head to toe in white industrial jumpsuits, with only their eyes showing; graceful gazelles twisting through space; sculpted physiques displaying unnatural strength; contortionists with no bones; and Boum Boum, a huge, skeletal man with deathly hollow eyes, who creates thunder and lightning with the bash of his boxing gloves.

“It’s scary, it’s scary,” a friend’s 3-year-old daughter told me afterward. But she was grinning from ear to ear, so I doubt that she had any bad dreams afterward. Another friend’s 5-year-old daughter liked it a lot, but she started to zone out during a lengthy adult-themed movie-making pantomime in the second half. This bit required audience participation from some very good sports, but was a little more ribald than I would expect in a family show. My mom-friends assured me the physical gestures that had the adults guffawing went right over their kids’ heads.

Street performers — on a boulevard all their own — peppered the first half with a carnival atmosphere mesmerizing Zoe and the audience. We’re reeled into a world of dazzling costumes and supreme artistry, from the somersaults in the giant rolling German Wheel to Chinese yo-yos and the intricate blur of rope jumping on the revolving stage floor, right up to the aerial contortions on silk panels and hoops hanging from the curved grid rafters.

The second half features physical strength and control that defy gravity and elicit gasps and applause at every turn. Slow and measured movements from hand-stands to neck-stands ripple through the female artist balancing on hand blocks atop canes and the male/female duo creating statues by morphing slow and measured movements into utterly impossible poses.

More aerial artists overhead and flying through the air from human pyramids on the ground bring the human circus full circle.

Every moment is a kaleidoscope of color, with the most wildly imaginative costumes, wigs, headpieces and lighting. Beyond a few primal voicings and choral washes of sound, no words are uttered. And none are needed, as a seven musicians propel the action through many moods and styles, from classical to avant garde.

Everywhere you look, your gaze falls on something fascinating — a twirling dancer in a Marie Antoinette wig or highly stylized clowns moving on the periphery — taking you on a most magical journey.

REVIEW: Lady A “Owned the Night”

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Lady Antebellum performs at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids on June 1, 2013. (Kaitlyn Bernauer/Gazette-KCRG9)

CEDAR RAPIDS — I thought Lady Antebellum was the wrong choice for reopening our renovated U.S. Cellular Center arena Saturday night (6/1/13).

I thought wrong. Lady A was the perfect band to welcome back the state’s second-largest concert venue, revitalized by an $85 million facelift that includes a convention center complex that ups our urban chic ante in a most glorious way.

Nothing looks familiar as you enter the new complex. Having the expanded concession area at the top of the main stairway and escalator makes for a bit of a bottleneck, but not a mad crush of humanity. Note for next time: as you go around the periphery to find your seating section, plenty more concession and beverage stands await.

Once you get inside the seating area, it feels like home again — just so much better. New padded seats in blue and gray are so much more comfy. But seriously people, do you really have to climb on them, over them and put your feet up on them already? Have you no manners, no respect? Can’t we have anything nice? I guess it’s all par for the course from the people who kept me hopping up and down all night, as they slid past me for beer after beer and the ensuing bathroom breaks. They should have just brought a keg and a bunch of straws.

But back to the music. I questioned the wisdom of bringing in a band that has made six trips to the region since 2008 — including a 2011 concert at the Great Jones County Fair in Monticello and a 2012 stop at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. But after seeing the show and the 6,500 fans’ reactions last night, the country crossover darlings could probably fill all the seats again next week, too.

Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and their band not only make great hits with no misses, they’re just really, really nice to their audience. Genuine, humble performers deserve to find their trajectory, catapult to stardom and stay there.

Scott, who is due to have a baby girl in mid-July, rocked some killer heels and serious bling. She looked gorgeous and strutted right alongside the boys, who were sweetly protective and affectionate with “our girl.” She seemed to be relishing one of their final concerts before they all take a baby break.

They launched their 90-minute hit parade with their latest chart-topper, “Downtown,” from the new “Golden” album. This upbeat, kicky crowd pleaser featured a very slick video mix of city scenes and live shots, with bands of yellow, fuchsia and teal bending in a diagonal sweep across the big screen behind the band. This mix of high tech and high talent exceeded my already high expectations from a band with seven Grammys and a gazillion other industry awards.

Next up was the slower, more emotionally intense “Goodbye Town,” the second cut off the new album, followed by a beautiful acoustic take on “Dancin’ Away With My Heart.”

Charles Kelley charms the crowd as Lady Antebellum reopens the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids on June 1, 2013. (Kaitlyn Bernauer/Gazette-KCRG9)

Tall, hunky Charles Kelley danced away with every female fan’s heart. He is the ultimate frontman, oozing sex appeal, charm, gorgeous vocals and just enough aw-shucks humility to keep that hot mix grounded. Dave Haywood brings his A-game harmonies, guitar, piano and mandolin to the trio’s endless talent pool.

Scott stepped into the solo spotlight next, standing at the front of the T-shaped stage and talking about our floods, Nashville’s flood three years ago, and the resilient spirit that keeps us coming back. She and her bandmates dotted the entire evening with this kind of personal connection through words and music, turning song after song into a giant singalong.

Some highlights:

* Gorgeous tight harmonies on “It Ain’t Pretty”

* The almost honky-tonk feel of “Perfect Day”

* The huge crossover hit, “Just a Kiss” (and later, a tender belly kiss from Scott’s husband, drummer Chris Tyrrell)

* An unplugged version of “Golden,” the new album’s title track, with lush harmonies that segued seamlessly into Stevie Nicks’ “Landslide” (most appropriate since the band just did a “dream” project with her)

* “American Honey,” with a sweet, nostalgic montage of the band’s childhood family photos

* An old-timey, a cappella  opening to “I Run to You”

* The raucous “last song,” “Lookin’ for a Good Time,” which of course, wasn’t really their last song. The deafening din of 6,500 unison screams brought them back with Haywood’s beautiful solo piano intro on “Need You Now”

* And the final final song, “We Owned the Night.” They did indeed.

The only slightly downside was the perennially problematic vocals v. instrumentals mix. While it’s really not unusual for instruments to drown out vocals in almost any arena setting, you really had to know the band’s music to grasp the lyrics. This sentiment was echoed by one of my colleagues, who attended the concert for local history’s sake.

But hey, it was a grand reopening, ushered in with a welcome from Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett, followed by a fascinating video look at the facility site’s footprint through the years, so we really did get a feel for the concert’s place in history.

The one truly unfortunate aspect of the evening was opening act The Last Ride. This Minneapolis band features lead vocals by Cedar Rapids native Tony Winkler. I swear he didn’t find a single correct pitch, making me anxiously await The Last Ride’s last song for a full 30 minutes. That was painful.

NEXT UP

Cirque du Soleil’s “Quidam” from June 6 to 9

Barry Manilow in concert at 7:30 p.m. June 22

WWE Live at 7:30 p.m. June 29

Details and tickets: uscellularcenter.com/events.html

 

 

Arts, culture groups prepare for flood

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VenuWorks and Paramount personnel move the Mighty Wurlitizer's new console out of its concrete basement bunker and onto its lift Thursday (5/30/13). The organ is now sitting on the Paramount stage, at the ready to move out of the building if floodwaters threaten its safety in the recently reopened downtown performing arts venue. (VenuWorks photo)

“The National Weather Service is now predicting that the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids will climb to 19.8 feet by midday on Saturday (6/1/13). At 10 a.m. Thursday, the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids had reached 15.22 feet.” — The Gazette/KCRG-TV9

Hoopla: When the rain starts falling and doesn’t let up, we get that awful flashback to the Floods of 2008, when we saw the Cedar and Iowa rivers swallow nearly all of our performing arts venues in the Corridor. Here’s where we are Friday morning (5/31/13), as culled from Facebook updates and news releases:

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF IOWA, Cedar Rapids

We will be closed Friday (5/31/13) due to the rising river. Stay safe out there, everyone. Fingers crossed for lower than anticipated waters.

CEDAR RAPIDS CITY PARKS

From Thursday (5/30): The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department has closed or will soon close the following parks due to flooding: Prairie Park Fishery, Cheyenne Park (including the off-leash dog area) and Seminole Valley. The Ellis gardens are flooding, all of the boat ramps have been closed and the Sac and Fox Trail remains closed.

CEDAR RAPIDS DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET

Friday (5/31): The meters are decorated with “no parking” signs, and folks at the Metro Economic Alliance say that as of Friday morning, Saturday’s Downtown Farmers Market is a go. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to noon.

CEDAR RAPIDS OPERA THEATRE

From Derek Easton on Thursday (5/30): Thanks to everyone who came down to help move the Cedar Rapids Opera’s props storage up to TCR’s storage on the 3rd floor (of the Cherry Building). While hopefully it won’t be necessary the small amount of water seeping in and the way the NewBo district currently looks is pretty scary to see. Lets hope that darn river stops at 20′. I’m guessing there might be more need for help tomorrow (Friday, 5/31).

CERAMICS CENTER, Cedar Rapids

Friday (5/31): Tonight’s 36-hour kiln firing at the Ceramics Center, 329 10th Ave. SE, has been postponed due to flood hazard. The event will be rescheduled for a drier date.

CRATOS, Cedar Rapids

Friday morning (5/31): For those interested and concerned in regards to the flooding — The Paramount Wurlitzer console has been moved to the main level and in safe storage on site. If the water continues to rise, there is a plan in place for console removal off site.

The Iowa Theatre is 4 feet higher than the Paramount. The Barton console is in its regular place in the auditorium, but Cedar Rapids Barton Incorporated has been in regular conversation with the Theatre Cedar Rapids staff and a plan is in place for the console to be placed on the stage if necessary. The shows at TCR are currently scheduled as planned.

CSPS, Cedar Rapids

FRIDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who helped with sandbagging and moving items this morning at CSPS Hall. We are prepared and don’t require any additional help at this time. Sandbagging is continuing at other locations in New Bo and the Czech Village, however.

From Thursday (5/30): And from the “hard to believe we’re going through this again” department: Staff, friends and volunteers will be sandbagging around CSPS Hall, and its tenants New Bo Books, Brewed Cafe and Studio U, Friday morning (5/31), starting at 8 a.m. We could use your help.

NATIONAL CZECH & SLOVAK MUSEUM & LIBRARY, Cedar Rapids

From Rob Merritt on Friday (5/31): The NCSML’s main building is fine. We moved our location 11 feet higher than in 2008. However, we are seeking volunteers to help remove things from the Kosek Building in Czech Village this morning, starting at 10 a.m.

Update: Calling volunteers! We need help moving items out of the Kosek Building, 87 16th Ave. SW in Czech Village, this morning (5/31). This is just a precaution as we continue to monitor river levels. Roads are still fine and the building is dry so far. The main NCSML building is safely out of harm’s way. We’ll start loading a truck at 10 a.m. Please help if you can.

NEW BO BOOKS, Cedar Rapids

Thursday (5/30): We at New Bo Books are preparing for flooding. We are open tonight but will probably not be open tomorrow (5/31/13). At this time we are moving everything not nailed down out. If you have extra boxes and are headed down to the neighborhood and have some we would LOVE them.

Thank you for anyone helping out, we appreciate ANY help and thank you to our great neighbors.

Friday (5/31): It is looking like we will be starting at 8 a.m. CSPS is looking for volunteers to help with the sandbagging and we could use help with loading boxes upstairs.

Thanks again for ALL the help, our volunteers are showing us that Cedar Rapids really is an extraordinary city.

NEWBO CITY MARKET, Cedar Rapids

Thursday (5/30): From KCRG: NewBo City Market will be closed (5/30/13) and for the rest of the weekend as a precaution for the expected flooding.

ORCHESTRA IOWA, Cedar Rapids

Friday (5/31): All systems are go here at Orchestra Iowa! All upcoming shows remain on schedule. Everything looks just fine here, and we will report with any updates if necessary.

PARLOR CITY, Cedar Rapids

Friday (5/31): Craig Erickson says: We are on for Parlor City tonight with The Interplanetary “bluesfunkreggae “Expedition. It is important to support the merchants and small business of the NewBo and Czech Village area at this time..Your business is appreciated and any help with sandbagging or moving stuff in the area that needs moved. But the food and refreshments and good music will be in the house at PC tonight!

RIVERSIDE THEATRE, Iowa City

Friday (5/31): Riverside Theatre in the Park rehearsals are continuing indoors at Riverhttp://www.riversidetheatre.org/side Theatre on Gilbert Street. We are working with the City to closely monitor the water situation in Iowa City’s Lower City Park, planning accordingly. The shows will go on, whether at the park or elsewhere, as will be determined as by the weather in the coming week. (“Hamlet” and “The School for Scandal” run in repertory June 14 to July 7.)

THEATRE CEDAR RAPIDS

Thursday (5/30): From Casey Prince, executive director: Our flood emergency plan does not kick in until the crest is projected several feet higher than it already is. So all is well at your community theater. If you’re having unsettling memories of TCR from 2008 and want to help, pay that community love forward to others that will need help long before we will, those to the west and south of us in downtown/New Bo/Czech Village and other near river neighborhoods and districts. Stay informed. Should things become more tenuous, we will post updates to this page. On with the show!

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ARTS CAMPUS, Iowa City

FRIDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The University of Iowa completed flood protection efforts around Mayflower Residence Hall Friday morning and is on track to close Theater Building and the Museum of Art building, which houses a portion of the School of Music, by the end of the day.

Crews will work over the weekend to encircle the arts campus buildings with HESCO barriers as further protection against possible flooding.

The arts campus will close today, Friday, May 31 as campus officials continue to monitor the river’s rise. Outflow from the Coralville reservoir is expected to peak by early next week.

Most of the mitigation strategies reflect new systems installed and lessons learned since the last major campus flood in 2008.

From Thursday (5/30): Installation of a flood wall around Art Building West (ABW) is ahead of schedule and that building is expected to be closed by the end of the day Thursday. The Theatre Building and former Museum of Art (part of which is being used by the UI School of Music) are still on target to be closed by 5 p.m. Friday.

UI Main Library staff members are moving materials out of the basement. The basement currently houses older and infrequently used items and for general storage and does not contain archives or special collections, which were permanently moved to upper floors after the 2008 flood.

The Art Library, located in Art Building West, will be closed Thursday along with ABW. Reserve materials for summer classes will be moved to the UI Main Library. Other materials may be requested via interlibrary loan.

The UI does not need volunteers and is reassigning staff to flood preparation duties. However, Iowa City plans to begin sandbagging operations Friday and is seeking volunteers to help from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Volunteers should check in at Montgomery Hall on the fairgrounds to sign up for a 15-minutesbriefing. Volunteers assigned to sites around the city are encouraged to keep their vehicles at the fairgrounds and use provided shuttle service. For the latest flood-related news from the City of Iowa City, visit www.icgov.org/flood

United Way of Johnson County has created a flood information blog at www.unitedwayjc.org/blog-entry/29-05-2013/flood-information-resources United Way has also established a Disaster Call Center that will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for people in need of help or seeking volunteer opportunities. The number is (319) 337-8657. After 8 p.m., people with questions can call 211 or 1-(866) -469-2211.

For ongoing updates, University of Iowa Communication and Marketing (UCM) has established an Iowa Now hub for the latest information about flood preparations at now.uiowa.edu/keywords/flood-updates-2013 Additionally, UCM is providing information via Twitter (hashtag #UIFloodUpdates).

U.S. CELLULAR CENTER, Cedar Rapids

Friday (5/31): Here’s a parking advisory, whether you’re heading to today’s 1 p.m. ribbon cutting and self-guided afternoon tours (5/31), tonight’s Slap ‘n’ Tickle free concert or Saturday night’s Lady Antebellum concert:

The best areas for parking for U.S. Cellular Center arena events will be the 5 Seasons Ramp, the Third Avenue Ramp and the First Street Lot. On-street parking will be available, but limited. More information and public parking maps are available on the Park Cedar Rapids website: http://parkcedarrapids.com/locations/map/

 

 

 

Bigger, better, back

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The U.S. Cellular Center was the first Corridor entertainment venue to reopen following the Floods of 2008, when an up-and-coming teenage Taylor Swift tossed out a $100,000 Red Cross lifeline that lasted long after her Aug. 8, 2008, concert ended.

Now just weeks from the fifth anniversary of the flood, the renewed and renovated U.S. Cellular Center arena will reopen again with several events Friday and Saturday.

The ceremonial ribbon cutting takes place at 1 p.m. Friday. At 6 p.m. Friday, local ’80s hair cover band Slap ’n’ Tickle will perform a free concert.

Saturday, Lady Antebellum takes the stage at what has been the site of Eastern Iowa’s biggest indoor concerts, sporting events, graduations, showbiz razzle dazzle and rodeos since it opened in 1979 as the Five Seasons Center at 370 First Ave. NE.

Liberace, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Beverly Sills, Vince Gill, Prince, Marilyn Manson, “Cats” and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus have performed there. Now, the center is back once again — bigger and better than ever — with 700 more available seats: 7,700 for reserved seating and 9,000 for general admission shows. It’s all part of an $85 million investment in a new convention center and arena renovation at the downtown complex, which also features $45 million for hotel renovation and $15 million for a new parking ramp and skywalk across First Avenue.

June is shaping up to be just as eclectic and electric as ever in the arena, with more summer shows to be announced shortly.

 

 

Lady Antebellum

LADY ANTEBELLUM

 

The hottest trio in country crossoverdom has not only scored legions of fans through hit after hit and Grammy after Grammy, but also through six trips to the region since playing the State Fair and Dubuque in 2008.

Lucky number seven lands in Cedar Rapids — one of the group’s few remaining gigs before Hillary Scott’s baby girl is expected to arrive in July. For now, Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood are basking in the “Golden” glow of their fourth album, released May 7. It’s already a hitmaker for the hitmaking machine that is Lady Antebellum, winner of seven Grammy awards and a gazillion others, from The Country Music Association’s New Artist of the Year in 2008 to the Academy of Country Music’s Jim Reeves International Award in 2013.

Lady A has topped country and pop charts with a string of hits, including “I Run to You,” “Need You Now,” “Just a Kiss,” “We Owned the Night” and the latest release, “Downtown.”

The details

 

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: QUIDAM

 

The sensory circus that is Cirque du Soleil is making its third trip to Cedar Rapids with “Quidam,” the story of a young girl who escapes reality by entering an imaginary world where 45 performers from 20 countries help her discover and embrace her individuality.

Ten acts — including aerialists, contortionists, clowns, trapeze artists and world-class street performers — combine feats of strength, balance and death-defying derring-do with beauty, artistry and music to make the story spring to life.

The details:

 

Barry Manilow

BARRY MANILOW

 

He’s spent five decades writing the songs that make the whole world sing. After spending the winter on Broadway, he’s taking that concert show on the road, landing for a return engagement in Cedar Rapids.

This member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame has not only brought us the jingles that immediately jangle through our heads (“Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there,” “I am stuck on Band-Aids” and “You deserve a break today” for McDonald’s) but songs that sustained us pre- and post disco: “Mandy,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “Can’t Smile Without You” and “I Made it Through the Rain.”

He’s won a Grammy, two Emmys, a Tony and even scored a 1978 Oscar nomination for “Ready to Take a Chance Again” from the film “Foul Play.”

The details

 

WWE LIVE

 

“Celtic Warrior” Sheamus, Randy “The Viper” Orton, Jack Swagger, Alberto Del Rio, World’s Largest Athlete BIG SHOW and World’s Strongest Man Mark Henry will be getting their smackdown when WWE Live hits the wrestling ring.

The details:

 

REVIEW: ‘Rock of Ages’ struts through the ’80s any way you want it

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The second national tour of Broadway's "Rock of Ages" brought the explosive energy of the 1980s to the Paramount Theatre stage in Cedar Rapids on May 23, 2013. (Scott Suchman photo)

CEDAR RAPIDS — “Rock of Ages” was so much more fun than I remembered.

The national tour of the musical that stormed Broadway in 2009 hit the Paramount stage with its best shot Thursday night (5/23/13). It took a wildly cheering sold-out crowd on a 2-1/2 hour wild ride back in time, when every day was Halloween in the flashy, trashy 1980s.

I saw the show in Des Moines in April 2011, and while my archived review indicates that I liked it, I didn’t love it as much as I loved last night’s production.

I thought perhaps the difference was having an Eastern Iowa native and University of Northern Iowa alum in a lead role, with Monticello grad Jacob Smith, 30, strutting through nightclub owner/stoner Dennis Dupree. However, the 2011 tour had Dubuque native/UNI grad Travis Walker in the flamboyant featured role of Franz.

So what made this production so much better? Maybe the Paramount’s more intimate, ornate 1,700-seat venue framed it better than the larger, more modern 2,735-seat Civic Center in Des Moines. I don’t know. I felt much closer to the action last night, but shows always feel special in Des Moines, too.

I think it comes down to energy. If the 2011 production possessed the same kind of electricity as last night’s ensemble, I would have remembered it more fondly and would have been more eager to see it again.

I can probably count on one hand the number of shows I really want to see again. Imagine my surprise when I was totally blown away by last night’s show. I didn’t see that coming.

Eastern Iowa native Jacob Smith, a graduate of Monticello High School and the University of Northern Iowa, strutted his way through the leading role of nightclub owner Dennis Dupree in "Rock of Ages" at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids on May 23, 2013. (Scott Suchman photo)

I loved everything about it. The music, the band, the strong principal actors, the high-kicking ensemble, the clothing, the hair, the wigs and makeup, but above all, the story.

Unlike other musicals built around the popular sounds of a band or an era, nothing feels contrived about “Rock of Ages.” This is one show that — refreshingly — feels like the story came first and the songs were chosen to fit, enhance and elevate the action, instead of vice versa.

I also think I liked the naivete of last night’s lead actor, Dominique Scott, better than “American Idol” star Constantine Maroulis in the role of Drew, the Detroit native working as a barback in Dupree’s seedy Sunset Strip club, The Bourbon Room. Maroulis is by far a better singer and exudes exotic sensuality, but Scott seems more like the shy boy-next-door dreaming of being a rock star, while slinging trash bags filled with vomit and writing dippy lyrics.

Shannon Mullen was infinitely adorable and sad as Sherrie, the Kansas innocent who steps off the bus in Hollywood hoping to land in a movie, but instead, lands in a downward spiral from Bourbon Room waitress to fading rock-star’s one-night-stand to pole-bumping lap dancer (Sherrie never quite got the hang of the pole, but her slutty twisted sisters did, indeed.)

It’s the classic story of boy meets girl, boy declares friendship instead of love, dreams are dashed then walk hand-in-hand in a new direction, set to a glam rock/metal soundtrack from Styx, Poison, Bon Jovi, Pat Benetar, Journey and more. Sherrie and Drew’s dating drama plays out against the demolition drama of zealots who want to tear down the city built on rock and roll and make the Sunset Strip respectable, in the way Times Square blossomed from seedy degradation to a tourist mecca wrapped in neon lights.

“Rock of Ages” is a costume designer’s dream, a sort of modern-day Renaissance faire of stock characters — the punk with a mohawk, the KISS wannabe, the wenches clad more scantily than Madonna, the acid-washed jeans, the sparkly T-shirts and the glittering lame.

The choreography is as incendiary and explosive as the music. Amazingly, for a big burly guy, Smith dances really well, leaping with a grace that belies his macho stature. Offstage, he’s not quite so big and burly, but the way he embodies his larger-than-life persona fills the stage. With a wild wig of nearly waist-length curls, leather fringed vest and bell bottoms, he struts like a young Ted Nugent.

His partner in duets, the ever-present narrator Lonny (played with gusto and gas by Justin Colombo) looks and acts like Jack Black — lewd, crude and hilarious.

The Paramount’s multigenerational crowd embraced every aspect of this rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza, clapping, dancing and screaming louder than the music. The entire evening was nothin’ but a good time, from beginning to end.

 

Related story: Broadway musical will “rock” Cedar Rapids

Summer Playlist

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Alexandra "Olenka" Gadzik of Davenport dances to music performed by Garaj Mahal during the Iowa City Jazz Festival on Saturday, July 5, 2008. (Jonathan D. Woods/The Gazette)

 

Whether your summer playlist bounces from chamber to country, blues to bluegrass, rock to rhythm, patriotic to pop, you’ll find ‘em all in Eastern Iowa from now through September.

We can’t wait for the U.S. Cellular Center to reopen, with a free sneak peek May 31, followed by Lady Antebellum on June 1 and Barry Manilow on June 22. Keep watching Hoopla as the concert announcements keep rolling out there.

Our other area venues keep the heat cranking all through the summer, too, from CSPS Hall and the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids to the Englert Theatre in Iowa City.

Head outdoors, and virtually every week, you can find music wafting through the air at summer celebrations, festivals and fairs, including some outstanding grandstanding at the Iowa State Fair and the Great Jones County Fair.

Here are “a few” of your choices. Get out your planners, map out your musical montage and plug into the summer scene right in your Eastern Iowa backyard!

May

 

♪ FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES, Iowa City

Through Sept. 27: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., local and regional bands on the Ped Mall, outside the Sheraton Hotel downtown. Free, bring seating. Rain site: Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, Washington and Gilbert streets, Summerofthearts.org

♪ SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES, Iowa City

Through Aug. 24: 6:30 to 9 p.m., local and regional bands, Ped Mall, outside the Sheraton Hotel downtown. Free, bring seating. Rain site: Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, Washington and Gilbert streets. Summerofthearts.org

♪ UPTOWN FRIDAY NIGHTS, Cedar Rapids

May 24 to July 26: 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays, Greene Square Park, Third Avenue and Fifth Street SE. 25th anniversary season: May 24: The Swing Crew; May 31: Super Size 7; June 7: Lonesome Road; June 14: Two Buck Chuck; June 21: Kantirocks; June 28: Large Midgets; July 5: Tricyclic; July 12: Skeeter Louis and the Cedar Rapids All Stars; July 19: Cedar Island Band; July 26: Jif and the Choosy Mothers. $5 ages 21 and older. Uptownfridaynights.com

♪ MUSIC ON THE VILLAGE GREEN, West Branch

May 24 to June 27: 7 p.m., Village Green, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, Parkside Drive and Main Street. May 24: Jazz and Pop, West Branch High School jazz band and a cappella singers, free popsicles; June 6: The Hollands; June 13: Kevin B.F. Burt; June 20: Scott Cawelti; June 27: The Feralings. Free; bring seating. nps.gov/heho

♪  SUMMER FEST, Swisher

May 24 to 26: Cedar Ridge, 1441 Marak Rd. NW, Swisher. May 24: 6 to 9 p.m. Do’s and Don’ts; May 25: 1 to 4 p.m. Lucrezio, 5 to 8 p.m. The Meer Cats; May 26: 3 to 6 p.m. Patchy Fog. Special food menu all weekend. Crwine.com

♪ NORTH LIBERTY BLUES & BBQ

May 25: Noon to 10 p.m., Liberty Centre, Penn Street and Liberty Way; music, food, games; free admission. Rain date: May 26. Northlibertyblues.org

♪ U.S. CELLULAR CENTER, Cedar Rapids

May 31: Slap N Tickle, ‘80s cover band, 6:30 p.m., free tickets required; June 1: Lady Antebellum, 7:30 p.m., $36.50 to $150; June 22: Barry Manilow, 7:30 p.m., $6.99 to $217. Tickets at U.S. Cellular Center Box Office, 370 First Ave. NE, (319) 362-1729, 1-(800) 745-3000 or uscellularcenter.com/events.html

June

 

♪ MARION BAR-B-QUE RENDEZVOUS

June 1: Noon to 9 p.m., Marion Square Park; food, music. Marionmetrokiwanis.org

♪ CR PRIDE FEST, Cedar Rapids

June 1: 4 to 8 p.m., Greene Square Park; entertainment, vendors, free admission. crpridefest.com

♪ ENGLERT THEATRE, Iowa City

Among the summer’s concerts: June 2: They Might Be Giants, 7 p.m., $25 advance, $27.50 door; July 5: Brandi Carlile, 8 p.m., $32.50 advance, $35 door; July 10: Arlo Guthrie, 8 p.m., $40 and $50; July 14: Dawes, 7 p.m., $20 advance, $23 door; July 19: Mavis Staples, 8 p.m., $35 and $55 (rescheduled from Feb. 21); July 27: Don McLean, 8 p.m., $40 to $65; July 30: John Hiatt & The Combo, 8 p.m., $35 and $45; Aug. 10: The Official Blues Brothers Revue, 8 p.m., $25 and $35; Sept. 6: Dweezil Zappa/Zappa Plays Zappa, 8 p.m., $25 to $60; Englert Box Office, 221 E. Washington St., (319) 688-2653 or Englert.org

♪ CORALVILLE FARMERS MARKET MUSIC

Mondays, June 3 to Aug 26: 5 to 6:30 p.m., Coralville Community Aquatic Center parking lot. Market is open Mondays and Thursdays, 5 to 7 p.m., through Oct. 3. (319) 248-1750 or Coralville.org

♪ CEDAR RAPIDS MUNICIPAL BAND

June 5 to Aug. 4: Various times, Cedar Rapids metro area parks and Hooverfest in West Branch on Aug. 3. Free, bring seating. Crmuniband.org

♪ MARION BY MOONLIGHT

June 6 to 27: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Marion Square Park, Seventh Avenue and 10th Street. Food vendors, 6 p.m. Bands, 6:30 p.m. June 6: 8 Seconds; June 13: The O’Connell Brothers; June 20: The Magnetos; June 27: Crazy Delicious. Free admission, bring seating. Uptownmarion.com

♪ CORALVILLE’S MUSIC IN THE PARK

Most Thursdays, June 6 to Aug. 8: 6:30 to 8 p.m., S.T. Morrison Park. June 6: The Tornadoes; June 13: Tallgrass; June 20: Iowa City Community Band; June 27: Extra Credit Project; July 18: New Broom; Aug. 1: Sugar Daddys Jazz Band; Aug. 8: The Beaker Brothers. Free admission; bring seating. Coralville.org

♪ IOWA ARTS FESTIVAL, Iowa City

June 7 to 9: Downtown Iowa City; 125 local and national artists, local and national musicians, Old 97’s at 9 p.m. June 8; kids’ activities, food. Summerofthearts.org

♪ HANCHER: PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND TOUR

June 7 to 16: Various sites, free concerts to commemorate fifth anniversary of the Floods of 2008. Des Moines: 8 p.m. June 7, Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater, opener at 7:30 p.m.; Council Bluffs: 7:30 p.m. June 8, part of Bluffs Bash, beginning at noon at River’s Edge Park; Muscatine: 7:30 p.m. June 11, Riverfront Park, opener at 7 p.m.; Cedar Rapids: 7:30 p.m. June 13, Brucemore Greenhouse Lawn; Davenport: 7:30 p.m. LeClaire Park Bandshell, opener at 6:30 p.m.; Iowa City: 4 p.m. June 15, Pentacrest; Dubuque: 3 p.m. June 16, McGraw Hill parking lot, part of America’s River Festival, opener at 1 p.m. Hancher.uiowa.edu

♪ MOLLY HATCHET, Riverside

June 8: 8 p.m., Riverside Casino Event Center, 3184 Highway 22. $15 to $22, Casino Gift Shop or Riversidecasinoandresort.com

♪ IOWA CITY COMMUNITY BAND

June 9 to July 14: Various sites, times. Iccband.org

♪ FIVE SEASONS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL, Cedar Rapids

June 10 to 15: Paid workshops and free concerts. June 14: Harps and flutes, 5 p.m.; strings, piano and brass, 7 p.m.; June 15: Faculty ensembles and festival orchestra, 7 p.m., Mount Mercy University, 1330 Elmhurst Dr. NE. June 16: Josef Zak, violin, and Anna Sedlackova-Zakova , voice, 3 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 220 40th St. NE. Fiveseasonschambermusic@gmail.com or Mtmercy.edu/five-seasons-chamber

♪ MARION COMMUNITY BANDS

June 11 and 25: 7 p.m., Marion Square Park, Seventh Avenue and 10th Street. Jazz and Concert bands. Free, bring seating. Rehearsals (all ages invited to perform): Concert band, 7 to 8:15 p.m. May 28, June 4 and 18; Jazz Band, May 30, June 6, 13 and 20, Vernon Middle School Band Room. Marioncommunitybands.us

♪ MUSIC IC 2012, Iowa City

June 13 to 16: Chamber music festival, downtown venues. Main concerts: 7:30 p.m. June 13 to 15; 2 p.m. June 16. Free admission. Uiowa.edu/musicic

♪ ROCKIN ON THE RIVER MUSIC FEST, Cascade

June 14, July 12: 6 to 11 p.m., Cascade Riverview Park. Various bands, food vendor; $5 all ages, bring seating, coolers allowed.

♪ DOWNTOWN FRIDAY NIGHT, Dyersville

June 14, July 12, Aug. 9: 6 to 9 p.m., entertainment, food, games for all ages, firemen’s waterball fights. Dyersville.org

♪ AN EVENING WITH FRIENDS, Cedar Rapids

June 20: 5:30 p.m., 127 Cottage Grove Ave. SE. Kingston Hill outdoor benefit concert by SPT Theatre and friends. Gates open 5:30 p.m., opening band, 5:45 p.m., concert, 7 p.m.; bring seating, picnic. Rain date: June 27. Tickets: $20 advance, $25 gate, (319) 362-1382 or Kingston-hill.com

♪ IRISH DISTRICT MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL, Cedar Rapids

June 22: 1 to 9 p.m., 700 16th St. NE. Family fun with music, dance, art, food, games; bring lawn chairs and coolers, $5 adults, free ages 12 and under with an adult. Headliner: Family Groove Company of Chicago. Irishdistrictfest.com

♪ PARAMOUNT THEATRE, Cedar Rapids

June 23: Styx, 7:30 p.m., $49 to $75; June 25: Merle Haggard, 8 p.m., $35 to $55; Sept. 14: John Prine, 8 p.m. $50 and $60 (rescheduled from March 16); Paramount Box Office, (319) 366-8203 or Paramounttheatrecr.com

♪ LINN COUNTY FAIR, Central City

June 26 to July 1: Grandstand: Alien Ant Farm with Helforstout, 7:30 p.m. June 27, $10 advance, $15 gate; Tracy Lawrence, 7:30 p.m. June 28, $18 advance, $20 gate. Thelinncountyfair.com

♪ PAULA COLE, Cedar Rapids

June 28: 8 p.m., CSPS Hall, Legion Arts, 1103 Third St. SE; $25 advance, $30 door, (319) 364-1580 or Legionarts.org

♪ RIVERSIDE CASINO SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

June 28 to Aug. 24: 9 p.m., outdoor stage, 3184 Highway 22. Bring chairs, no coolers. June 28: Pistol Annies, $35 to $70; July 3: Bad Company, $30 to $70; Aug. 24: Creedence Clearwater Revisited, $25 to $55, Casino Gift Shop or Riversidecasinoandresort.com

♪ CORALVILLE 4thFEST

June 29 to July 4: S.T. Morrison Park. 5K run/walk, carnival, entertainment, contests, food, July 4 parade and 10 p.m. fireworks. Free concert July 3: The Beaker Brothers at 6:30 p.m., 38 Special at 8 p.m. Coralville.org

♪ CEDAR RAPIDS FREEDOM FESTIVAL

June 29: Music Night at NewBo, Simpleton & Cityfolk of Chicago, 8 p.m., NewBo City Market, 1100 Third St. SE; June 30: Patriotic Pops, Orchestra Iowa, 4 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE. Free admission with $3 festival button. Freedomfestival.com

July

 

♪ IOWA CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL

July 5 to 7: Downtown Iowa City. Well-known jazz musicians, up-and-coming artists, food, kids’ games, fireworks July 5, Saturday headliner Dr. Lonnie Smith. Summerofthearts.org

♪ PRAISE IN THE PARK IOWA, Cedar Rapids

July 6: 3 to 11 p.m., Veterans Memorial Stadium, 950 Rockford Rd. SW. Multiple bands, headliner Jeremy Camp, fireworks; $25 to $40, food donations for Feed the 5,000. Praiseintheparkiowa.org

♪ DELAWARE COUNTY FAIR, Manchester

July 8 to 14: Fairgrounds. Concerts: Sidewalk Prophets, 7:30 p.m. July 10, free, Festival Area; Country Night, 7 p.m. July 11, headliner Justin Moore, 8:30 p.m., grandstand, $35, $50; VIP Night, 7 p.m. July 12, headliner The Beach Boys, 8:30 p.m., grandstand, $60. Delawarecofair.com

♪ CAMP EUFORIA, Lone Tree

July 12 and 13: Two-day music festival’s 10th anniversary celebration, 5335 Utah Ave. SE, rural Lone Tree. Local and regional bands, food, yoga, camping. Headliner: Euforquestra. $85, Midwestix.com Details: Campeuforia.com

♪ NORTH LIBERTY BIRTHDAY BASH

July 13: 11 a.m., North Liberty Park. Community festivities end with evening concert by Hairball, $5. nlbirthdaybash.com

♪ GREAT JONES COUNTY FAIR, Monticello

July 17 to 21: Grandstand: Sheryl Crow and Gary Allan, 8 p.m. July 18, $25, $35; Motley Crue and Tesla, 8 p.m. July 19, $35, $45; Keith Urban, Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch, 7:30 p.m. July 20, $40, $50; TobyMac, Jamie Grace and Capital Kings, 7 p.m. July 21, $20, $25. Greatjonescountyfair.com

♪ UGANDA CHILDREN’S CHOIR, Cedar Rapids

July 19: 6:30 p.m., African American Museum of Iowa, 55 12th Ave. SE. Blackiowa.org

August

 

♪ UPTOWN GETDOWN, Marion

Aug. 1 to 22: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, Marion Square Park, Seventh Avenue and 10th Street. Food, 6 p.m.; live music, 6:30 p.m. Free admission. Marioncc.org

♪ JAZZ UNDER THE STARS, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 1 to 22: 7 p.m. Thursdays, Noelridge Park, 4900 Council St. NE, Cedar Rapids. Aug. 1: Al Naylor and the I-380 Express Reunion; Aug. 8: Brass Transit Authority; Aug. 15: Steve Grismore Trio; Aug. 22: Dennis McMurrin and The Demolition Band. Free admission, bring seating, food available. Kcck.org

♪ 319 FEST
August, date and location TBA, $10 early bird tickets, $15 June 1 to Aug. 2, $20 at the gate. 319Fest.com. One day, six stages, 80 performers, 25 artists.

♪ BLUESMORE, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 3: 3 to 10 p.m., Brucemore lawn, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids. Music starts at 4 p.m.: LCBS All Star Band, The Scott Holt Band and Lucky Peterson featuring Tamara Peterson; $13 and $15 advance, $20 gate. Food and beverage vendors, bring seating; no pets, coolers, outside food. Brucemore.org

♪ CABARET IN THE COURTYARD, Cedar Rapids

Aug. 8 to 17: 7:30 p.m., gates open 7 p.m., Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids. Aug. 8 to 10: Singer/actor Christopher Johnstone; Aug. 15 to 17: boogie woogie pianist Chase Garrett. Tickets per show: $18 and $20 advance, $25 gate, (319) 362-7375, Brucemore Store or Brucemore.org

♪ IOWA STATE FAIR, Des Moines

Aug. 8 to 18: Fairgrounds, East 30th Street and East University Avenue. Grandstand concerts: Casting Crowns, 8 p.m. Aug. 8, $30; Happy Together Tour, 8 p.m. Aug. 9, $25; Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller and Kevin Nealon, 8 p.m. Aug. 10, $38; Dierks Bentley, 8 p.m. Aug. 11, $39; Victoria Justice with Pentatonix, 8 p.m. Aug. 13, $29; Toby Keith, 8 p.m. Aug. 15, $49; Train, 8 p.m. Aug. 16, $39; Carly Rae Jepsen and The Wanted, 8 p.m. Aug. 17, $35; Alan Jackson, 8 p.m. Aug. 18, $39. Iowastatefair.org

♪ FRY FEST, Coralville

Aug. 30: Iowa River Landing area. Hawkeye celebration with food, trade show, car show, pep rally, 7 p.m. outdoor concert with Chris Cagle and Dustin Lynch. Fryfest.com

September

 

♪ BRUCEMORCHESTRA, Cedar Rapids

Sept. 8: 7 p.m., front lawn, Brucemore, 2160 Linden Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids; gates open 5:30 p.m. Orchestra Iowa season opening concert; bring seating, picnics. Rain site: Paramount Theatre. Ticket details to come, Orchestraiowa.org

♪ DIVAPALOOZA, Cedar Rapids

Sept. 13 and 14: Theatre Cedar Rapids mainstage, 102 Third St. SE. “Estrogen Force Field” concert with Janelle Lauer, Jane Pini, Lynne Rothrock and band. Details to come, Theatrecr.org

♪ IOWA SOUL FESTIVAL, Iowa City

Sept. 13 to 15: Downtown, free admission. Dance, music, food and art of the African and African-American communities. Headliner: Hancher presents Buddy Guy, 8 p.m. Sept. 13. Summerof thearts.org

♪ IOWA WOMEN’S MUSIC FESTIVAL, Iowa City

Sept. 27 and 28: Various venues, Iowa City. Details to come, Prairievoices.net

♪ LANDFALL FESTIVAL, Cedar Rapids

Sept. 25 to 28: World music festival presented by Legion Arts/CSPS Hall. Details to come, Legionarts.org

♪ THE MUSIC MAN, Cedar Rapids

Sept. 26 to 29: Concert version by Theatre Cedar Rapids and Orchestra Iowa, at the Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE. Ticket details to come, Orchestraiowa.org

Source: Event/organization websites, HooplaNow.com/events, event press releases

Audience members applaud Australian musician Claude Hay during the CR Amphitheater Music Fest on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, at Greene Square Park in Cedar Rapids. The event, which featured musical acts from a variety of genres, children's activities and food vendors, was a fundraiser for a new amphitheater downtown. (Dan Williamson/Freelance)

Broadway musical will “rock” Cedar Rapids

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Jacob Smith by any other name would be — Dennis.

The last time we saw the Monticello native onstage, he was a Dennis. Next week, we’ll see him be a Dennis again.

But neither of these Dennises are menaces. Smith was knightly Sir Dennis Galahad when the national tour of “Monty Python’s Spamalot” played at his alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa, in January 2012. This time, he’s Dennis Dupree nightly in the national tour of “Rock of Ages,” coming to the Paramount Theatre on May 23.

“This Dennis is very, very different from the other Dennis,” Smith, 30, now based in New York, says by phone from a recent tour stop in Shreveport, La. “Dennis Dupree is basically a relic from late ’60s and early ’70s. He’s seen it all, he’s done it all, he’s been around the block a few times. He’s the owner of the bar where ‘Rock of Ages’ takes place, and really, really likes to indulge in the extracurricular activities, if you know what I mean.”

Enlighten us.

“He’s a big pot smoker; I show that a little bit in the show,” Smith says. “But for the most part, though, he’s a really cool guy. He’s very down to earth, he’s very chill — he’s not somebody you necessarily want to cross or upset, but for the most part, he’s really easy-going — a real stereotypical ’70s hippie kind of guy, like ‘Hey man, how ya doin’, what’s goin’ on.”

What’s going on is a rock ‘n’ roll trip through the music of Smith’s childhood — the overindulgent ’80s where big hair and sparkly clothes ruled both sexes, and musicians proved their mettle from glam to metal.

Built on  hits from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, Pat Benatar, Poison and their ilk, the 2009 Tony-nominated musical takes audiences back to 1987 on the Sunset Strip, where a naive girl with stars in her eyes steps off the bus and quickly finds out she’s not in Kansas anymore. Instead of landing a big role in Hollywood, she lands a job waiting tables at Dupree’s seedy club and hooks up with the busboy, a wannabe rocker. Their dreams and their loves harden their hearts until they just can’t fight their feelings in the heat of the moment.

“It’s a good time, it’s not deep theater,” Smith says. “You’re not going to see ‘Hamlet,’ you’re not going to see ‘Camelot.’  You’re going to see some of the most awesome rock songs from the ’80s with a great script, a lot of humor. It’s a great show for especially guys who aren’t necessarily into musical theater or haven’t really seen a lot of theater, because of the humor. The girls are gorgeous and the songs are just awesome.”

The details

But he warns that parents should think twice before bringing kids younger than 12 or 13 to this event filled with ‘80s excesses.

“There’s drug use in the show, there’s some very scantily clad ladies, there’s some foul language and a lot of sexual references that are really not appropriate for young kids. Everybody else going to have a blast,” he says.

He’s been a little worried about having his family see the show — including parents Joel and Sally Smith of Troy Mills. His mom saw it in Chicago and survived, so now he’s looking forward to seeing other familiar faces in the Cedar Rapids crowd, including his dad, and having them see “a really, really fun show.”

“It’s going to be a  bit of an eye opener for them, because I’ve never really done a role like this,” he says.

“When my mom came to see it for first time, I had to warn her, ‘Mom, I say some bad words on”stage and I smoke pot onstage. I don’t really smoke pot, but it looks like I smoke pot. And the girls are strippers. I’m really sorry, but this is my job.’ She was totally cool with it. She was fine, but I wasn’t prepared for that — to have my mother see me do something like that.”

 

Related:

 

♪ “Rock of Ages” Trivia:

 

♫ On July 1, 2009, after a matinee performance of “Rock of Ages,” the Broadway cast set a new Guinness World Record for what?

— It broke the Guinness World Record for the Largest Air Guitar Ensemble. A total of 810 participants, including audience members and fans make this record happen. It shattered the previous record of 440 people playing air guitar simultaneously.

 

♫ During the 2009 Tony Awards, what rock star was injured while performing with the Broadway cast of “Rock of Ages?”

— Bret Michaels of the band Poison was knocked down by a set piece that broke his nose.

 

 ♫ What Broadway star originated the lead role of Sherrie in the original Los Angeles production of “Rock of Ages?” Hint: She also played the lead in the Broadway production of “Legally Blonde.”

— Answer: Laura Bell Bundy.

 

♫ Chris D’Arienzo, the author of the book for “Rock of Ages” is also an actor. He appeared in a couple episodes of this popular 1990s sit-com. Name the TV show. Hint: The show is named after the first name of this gay comic and actress.

— Answer: “Ellen”

 

♫ “Rock of Ages”was made into a New Line Cinema film directed by Adam Shankman. What other film musical based on a hit Broadway show did he direct?

— Answer: “Hairspray” starring John Travolta.

 

♫ “Rock of Ages” was first produced in Los Angeles at what type of venue?

— Answer: At a Los Angeles night club called the Vanguard Hollywood in 2006.

 

♫ Name two songs in “Rock of Ages” that were first introduced by Pat Benatar.

— Answer: ”Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” and “Shadows of the Night”

Rope jumper skips merrily through ‘Quidam’

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CEDAR RAPIDS — The aerialists will spin and float among the rafters. Other artists will have their feet on the ground — sort of.

Adrienn Banhegyi (pronounced “bahn/edgy”) stands on the cutting edge of rope jumping. She gave area media reps and VIPS a sneak peek today (5/21/13) at the fancy footwork that raises her athletic artistry light-years above the playground and into the realm of Cirque du Soleil’s elite performers.

She and her super troupe will bring Cirque’s “Quidam” extravaganza from June 6 to 9 at the renovated U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids.

The details

We’ve been dazzled by Cirque’s shows before: “Alegria” in March 2010 and “Saltimbanco” in April 2008.

“Saltimbanco” — my first Cirque experience — left me breathless: “If you enter this world … be prepared to buy a pop and hold your breath,” I wrote in my 2008 review. “You’ll need the pop to soothe your throat from all the cheering and gasping, and you won’t be able to breathe through all of Act 2. … This is the best circus you’ll ever see. And perhaps the most spectacular show of any kind you’ll ever see.”

I also called it “the hottest ticket that’s ever been in town.” I was right. That show remains the highest grossing ticket-sales event in the Cell Center’s history.

I was equally dazzled by “Alegria” in 2010: “All of the feats are amazing, from the sheer power of the hand balancing and the fluid finesse of the contortionists to the dizzying whirl of the performer spinning around the stage in a giant silver wheel. But it’s the death-defying acts that stir you to the very core,” I wrote in my review. “… Behind all this action are magnificent musicians and singers, joining forces with all the other elements to create a circus to the maximus.”

I have high expectations for “Quidam,” as well. The producers say it “pays tribute to individuality; to the uniqueness of each human being. It relates the story of a young girl who feels ignored by her parents. To escape her reality, she slides into an imaginary world where she meets characters who help her discover her true personality.”

Those characters include aerialists, acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, world-class street performers and niche skill artists like Banhegyi, 29, who has been skipping rope at a high level since age 9.

Her father, a physical education teacher and professional soccer player in her native Hungary, saw a film featuring double-dutch jumping and thought it would be a good way to build balance and muscle control for his students with special needs. He encouraged both of his daughters to get involved, as well.

“First, it was just a family activity to work on our coordination and conditioning a little bit, then we found out that there is a federation not only in Hungary, but also internationally, for jump rope, and then we started to attend competitions,” she says.

When federation officials found out Cirque was looking for professional jump rope artists, they emailed Banhegyi, encouraging her to hop onboard. So about 8 years ago, she sent in an audition video to Cirque’s headquarters in Montreal. She and her sister were invited to a formal audition in France, to demonstrate their flexibility, strength and skipping routine.

About 3 1/2 years ago, Banhegyi was offered a performance contract and joined a Cirque show in New York, then moved to the “Quidam” cast in April 2011. She is one of two solo jumpers, who also join forces with other artists to create the group rope jumping segments of the show.

“We have the pleasure to work with the acrobats and incorporate them into our jump rope act,” she says. “You can see all sorts of variations, combined with acrobatics, speed manipulation, long rope, double-dutch, single rope, so it’s a whole different level. It’s just playground — what you can actually see in the real life, but at a very professional level.”

And in a colorful velvety costume and stylized makeup that takes her 45 minutes to apply.

She and the “Quidam” troupe tour year-round, taking two-week breaks every 10 to 12 weeks. She’s now based in Prague, and is looking forward to checking out Czech Village during her Cedar Rapids stay.

Being part of a traveling troupe is “an interesting life,” she says. “There are challenges, but most of the time, it is fun.”

She enjoys her fellow artists and is hoping to stay with Cirque as long as her body allows. She also enjoys sharing her artistry with the children she meets along the way.

“It’s a nice inspiration for them to see how much more you can get out of it,” she says. “Probably they go home and grab a jump rope and try a couple of the tricks that they saw.”

Related: Cirque Du Soliel coming to Cedar Rapids

REVIEW: ‘SPANK!’ makes sold-out Paramount audience cry with laughter

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Danielle Trzcinski is all wide-eyed innocence as virginal Tasha Woode in "SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody," which had female fans swooning Friday night (5/10/13) at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids. (Timn Greenway photo)

CEDAR RAPIDS — A full house of (mostly) female fans yelped and screamed throughout “SPANK!” last night (5/10/13) at the Paramount Theatre.

They weren’t in pain — although some of the singing and writing was purposely painful. Instead, this “Fifty Shades of Grey” theatrical parody makes its audience writhe in laughter.

I see no Tony Awards in its future. It’s more like a two-hour “Saturday Night Live” sketch with plenty of bumping, grinding and naughty bits, punctuated by pop songs with “new” trashy lyrics. “Tainted Love” is the perfect theme song for this show — a bit of fan-fic based on the wildly popular fan-fic trilogy that swept pop culture off its feet last spring and summer.

The play follows the path of E.L. James’ books, quickly dubbed “mommy porn,” in which brainiac college virgin Anastasia Steele’s educational path deviates when she trips and falls into the arms of Christian Grey, a debonair, dominating megamogul billionaire with an appetite for S&M whips and chains.

As with many parodies, the stage version isn’t endorsed by James or her publishing company, so the names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent. The play’s onstage writer is E.B. Janet and the characters she creates are Tasha Woode and Hugh Hanson. Same basic plot, same grey silk necktie binding the lovers in knot after naughty knot.

Anne Marie Scheffler is hilarious as author Janet, a bored housewife determined to make the most of her weekend free of her husband and kids, kicking back and cranking out a sex fantasy trilogy. What could be so hard about that? Apparently, singing and dancing. Janet isn’t good at either, but I suspect the highly trained actress with an extensive comedy resume was trying to be bad, in which case, she was good, if not great. Especially hilarious were the moments following the steamy scenes, in which she batted her eyes with wide-eye innocence and simply said, “You’re welcome.”

Gabe Bowling sets plenty of hearts afire in "SPANK!" (Mills Entertainment photo)

Gabe Bowling was a hunka hunka burning love, dressed and undressed, gyrating through Hanson’s 50 shades of shadowy grey, blurring the lines of bad-boy goodness, kindling Woode’s fire. Danielle Trzcinski is his match as Tasha, adding spunky spark to their burning fires of passion.

The dialogue is as awful as in the books, which is no easy feat. It’s hard to write badly, unless you’re a bad writer to begin with — then it’s easy. This is hard.

Anyway, back to the story. Boy opens door, girl falls into his arms, he shows up at the hardware store where she works, buys some rope and duct tape, asks her out, ties her up, binding her heart and her hands as time goes on. They navigate his jet-set lifestyle in helicopters, hovercrafts, jetpacks and hang gliders, landing time and again in his Red Room of Pain.

It ain’t Shakespeare, but the Bard was bawdy in his own right, it’s just that he really could write, right?

“SPANK!” is trashy, flashy fun — two hours of escapism embraced by a mostly young audience ready to cut loose in best bachelorette party fashion. Even my inner goddess was ready for a cigarette at intermission, and I don’t smoke. This show does.

Miss it last night or desiring more tonight? It’s playing three times this weekend in Dubuque. Laters, baby.

FAST TAKE

What: “SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody”

When: 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday (5/11) and 2 p.m. Sunday (5/12)

Where: Mississippi Moon Bar, Diamond Jo Casino, 301 Bell St., Dubuque:

Tickets: $29.75 to $39.75, (563) 690-4758 or Diamondjo.com

Show website: Spankshow.com