Musical Theater

Auditions for 'The Hallelujah Girls' are next week (03/03/10)
Six women and two men are needed in the next Le Mars Community Theater's side-splitting comedy. Auditions for the "The Hallelujah Girls," are next week from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 9 at the Postal Playhouse. "The Hallelujah Girls" will run two weekends with a total of seven performances: Friday, April 23 through Sunday, April 25 and Thursday, April 29 through Sunday, May 2...

Actor's ghost takes the stage in 'I Hate Hamlet' (02/18/10)
Hollywood actor John Barrymore was known as "one of the greatest" to play Hamlet in the 1920s. Barrymore's ghost will return Friday with the opening of the Le Mars Community Theater's production of "I Hate Hamlet." Actor Andy Linn, of Pierson, has taken on Barrymore's persona which he says is different than delivering lines in a more modern style...

Practice, practice, practice for LCS large group speech students (01/21/10)
The winter weather has not been kind to Le Mars Community High School's large group speech students. "Given the number of times we've had to cancel for weather, I feel the kids have come through wonderfully, stepping up and practicing outside of our time together," large group speech coach Erin Ohrlund explained...

Try out for "I Hate Hamlet" comedy next week (12/21/09)
Auditions for the Le Mars Community Theater's production of "I Hate Hamlet" are next week. Tryouts are from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 28 and 29 at the Postal Playhouse, 105 First St. N.E., Le Mars. Three women and three men are needed for the cast, and no preparation is needed prior to auditions...

LCS actors draw from experience in 'I Remember Mama' (11/10/09)
The year is 1910. In the spotlight is a Norwegian immigrant family, just scraping by in America. But the Hansons are not your average family. Before the curtain falls on Le Mars Community School's fall play "I Remember Mama," the audience will get tangled in the family's wayward family tree...

Play brings Helmers back to the stage (11/05/09)
Marilyn Helmers began acting in Le Mars Community Theatre productions 30 years ago. "In the early years there was hardly a play I wasn't in," said Helmers, who moved to Le Mars in 1959. That was before a medical condition sidelined her performances a few years ago...

Auditions for "Twelve Angry Jurors" are next week (09/10/09)
Six women and six men are needed for the Le Mars Community Theatre's next production, "Twelve Angry Jurors." Auditions are 7 to 8:30 p.m. next Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 14 and 15 at the Postal Playhouse, 105 First St. N.E., Le Mars. Characters have varying personalities including being petty, meek, hesitant, naive, honest, loud, quiet, thoughtful, angry and bitter. They are young, middle-aged and elderly from all walks of life...

We're behind you, Paul Rust (07/20/09)
"Go get him, Hayden!" Seeing Hayden Panetierre grab Le Mars native Paul Rust and pull him in for a kiss on the big screen, one woman in the theater couldn't contain her enthusiasm. The applause that followed her comment told the story of the night in Le Mars...

Musical clues will help audience solve mystery (07/16/09)
Col. Mustard did it with the revolver in the ball room -- or did he? That's just one of the mysteries "Clue-The Musical" audience members will be asked to solve during the Le Mars Community Theatre's production starting Friday at the Postal Playhouse...

Arts Collage brings children to Medieval era (07/10/09)
Singing, acting, crafts, games. Children combined those activities and their imaginations to create and perform a Medieval-themed play during Arts Collage Camp this week at the Le Mars Arts Center. To capture the Medieval adventure, campers played games...

Municipal Band presents Fourth of July concert (07/01/09)
Foster Park will be filled with patriotic music 8 p.m. Saturday as the Le Mars Municipal Band presents its traditional Fourth of July concert. The band, under the direction of Jerry Bertrand, will open the concert with "Manhattan Beach," a march by John Philip Sousa. ...

Ice Cream Days - what a flavor of home (06/12/09)
"It's all about Ice Cream!" is the theme for the 2009 Ice Cream Days celebration next week in Le Mars. The Ice Cream Capital of the World is ready to roll out the ice cream carts, cones, scoops and sandwiches. You name it. "Cone Sculptures" at the Arts Center and root beer floats at the Plymouth County Historical Museum start the day off Thursday, June 18, with both open from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday...

Spring Concert Sunday at the Arts Center (06/05/09)
The Shining Stars Show Choir and the Le Mars Flute Choir will be in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at the Arts Center, 200 Central Ave. S.E. The Shining Stars Show Choir is a group of fourth, fifth and sixth graders who have prepared their music under the direction of Carol Hallberg. For this semester, the members also did all the choreography for their show...

Interns add new perspective in print (05/28/09)
The Daily Sentinel will have two more writers on staff as college has concluded and interns have been hired. Newcomer Kelsie Anthony, of Le Mars, and second-year intern Luke Widbin, of Sioux Center, can be seen and read all summer as they hone their newswriting skills...

Dull has passion for community theatre (05/27/09)
One might say that Bonnie Dull has a love affair with the Le Mars Community Theatre. The 87-year-old Le Mars resident has been involved with the local theater group since its inception more than 40 years ago and just completed directing the latest production, "The O'Conner Girls."...

Love and war: Paul Rust on the big screen (05/18/09)
What do a lovestruck high school nerd and a fighting Jewish-American soldier have in common? They're both roles played by Le Mars native Paul Rust. The 28-year-old actor scored parts in two films hitting the theaters this July.

The Browns host MusicFest Midwest Friday in Sioux City (05/14/09)
The Brown Family of Merrill will take to the stage at the Sioux City Convention Center Friday evening, May 15 at the 2009 Spring MusicFest Midwest featuring Gospel music. "We are really excited to be back home and to present this concert," said Shelly Brown...

Seasoned actor debuts in Le Mars as grieving widow (05/14/09)
Le Mars Community Theatre's production of "The O'Conner Girls" is sure to mix tears with laughter. The dramatic comedy takes place in 1997 in Minnesota over the Christmas holiday. Tim O'Conner has died, and his wife and children have reunited to go through his personal effects. Those items lead to squabbles among family members and unusual insight into the life of the patriarch...

Dinner theater draws visitors by the busload (05/11/09)
A jewel thief turned out to be a good catch for Le Mars last week. More than 200 out-of-town visitors spent last Thursday shopping Le Mars and getting to know the city, thanks to the spring mystery theater fundraiser "Sherla Combs and the Case of the Great Jewel Robberies" hosted by the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Main Street Mentors...

Seven LCS seniors recognized at Foundation Honors Banquet (04/22/09)
Seven Le Mars Community High School seniors, the top 5 percent of the graduating class of 2009, were recognized for academic excellence at the 14th Annual Foundation Honors Banquet April 17. Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt made the presentation of the students, who he said are not only outstanding students, but also involved in so many activities that make Le Mars Community, in his opinion, one of the the top high schools in the area...

LCS music department earns three 'Outstanding in Center' at state contest (04/14/09)
The Le Mars Community High School Music Department participated in the State Solo & Ensemble Contest Saturday, March 28, at Spirit Lake High School. Three entries in the contest were named Outstanding in Center. In the band division, Jessica Kelly was named Outstanding in Center with her timpani solo...

Kurth gives Ice Cream Days logo bold look (04/07/09)
With only two pages to turn on the calendar, Le Mars' annual Ice Cream Days celebration will be geared up and ready to go. The dates, June 18-20, are packed with activities and plenty of opportunities for ice cream and fun. Gehlen Catholic High School junior Angie Kurth kicked off her Ice Cream Days early as the 2009 Ice Cream Days logo design winner...

Theatre recruiting actors for play (03/26/09)
The Le Mars Community Theatre needs actors with a sense of humor and a sentimental side for its next production. Auditions for "The O'Connor Girls" are from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Postal Playhouse. Two women in their late 40s, one in her late 60s and one of any age along with a younger male are needed...

Students auction services at LCS Music Booster supper (03/25/09)
A spaghetti dinner, silent auction and live student service auction will be featured at the Le Mars Community Music Boosters annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser this Friday, March 27, at the Le Mars Community High School cafeteria. The spaghetti dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. and features spaghetti with choice of sauce, red with or without meat or alfredo, lettuce salad, garlic bread, ice cream and beverages...

Piano students tickle ivories for high ratings (03/12/09)
Fingers flew across the black and white keys on the piano keyboard during the 2009 State Piano Festival held last month at Hull Western Christian High School. Four Le Mars Community High School students, Megan Dunn, Nathan Young, Jessica Kelly and Kristen Ahlers, participated in the competition. which is under the direction of the Iowa High School Music Association...

Middle school choirs present March concert (03/11/09)
The Le Mars Community Middle School choirs want you to tune in to their March concert "RadioMemories" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, in the Middle School Auditorium. The concert revolves around radio and the influence it has had on the music people listen to...

Crimson & Black takes on the competition (03/10/09)
"Awesome" is how director Randy Ewing describes this year's Crimson & Black Show Choir at Le Mars Community High School. Since performing at the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce dinner in late January, the show choir has kept a busy schedule with the state contest and invitationals...

Middle school choirs present March concert (03/10/09)
The Le Mars Community Middle School choirs want you to tune in to their March concert "RadioMemories" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, in the Middle School Auditorium. The concert revolves around radio and the influence it has had on the music people listen to...

LCMS, Gehlen Catholic students selected for BVU Honor Band Festival (02/25/09)
Students from Le Mars Community Middle School and Gehlen Catholic Schools will take part in the 28th Annual Buena Vista University Honor Band Festival this Saturday, Feb. 28, in Storm Lake. The following students from Le Mars Community Middle School have been selected to perform in the festival: Ben Meis, oboe; Yashila Permeswaran, bassoon; Emily Ellefson, clarinet; Zach Kooistra, trumpet; Rodrigo Cobian, trumpet; Evan Richards, trombone; Karter Ewing, trombone; Tim Fett, baritone and Rebecca Luksan, percussion. ...

Salesman stuck in the middle of comedy (02/25/09)
Curt Sitzmann becomes an unwilling counselor in the Le Mars Community Theatre's production of "The Marriage Counselor." The comedy, which starts Friday, is the story of a traveling vacuum salesman, Sitzmann, who wanders into a marriage counselor's office by mistake and gets stuck between an arguing husband and wife...

LCHS band to present winter concert (02/18/09)
The Le Mars Community High School Big Red Band will present its annual Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the middle school auditorium. The Jazz Ensemble will begin the concert with "Lady Bird" by Tadd Dameron which will feature the saxophone section, Megan Dunn, alto saxophone, Nathan Young, trombone, Kim Ohrlund, trumpet, Michael Sauer, vibes, Alec Johnson, guitar, Jacob Stonesifer, tenor saxophone, and David King on baritone saxophone...

Gehlen's one-act advances to All-State Speech Festival (02/16/09)
Gehlen Catholic High School's One Act Play has earned a spot in the All-State Large Group Speech Festival set for Saturday. The ensemble earned straight "I" ratings at the Iowa State Large Group Speech competition Feb. 7 to receive the All-State nomination...

LCMS presents winter band concert Feb. 12 (02/10/09)
The Le Mars Community Middle School Music Department will hold its winter band concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in the middle school auditorium. The middle school Jazz Band participated in the NWIBA Jazz Festival last week and it will open the program with "Live A Little," "Back and Forth," "Every Sunrise is a Bonus," "Senorita Fajita" and "Carry On Wayward Son."...

LCS students gear up for large group speech contest (01/23/09)
Le Mars Community High School is one of 16 schools across Iowa serving as a district site for the Iowa High School Speech Association Large Group Speech Tournament Saturday, Jan. 24. Le Mars Community High School students have been preparing for this tournament since mid-November, according to coach Erin Ohrlund...

LCS band director Ohrlund receives Karl King award (01/20/09)
Le Mars Community High School band director Curt Ohrlund has been honored with the Karl King Distinguished Service Award (Active) by the Northwest Iowa Band Masters Association. The honor was presented to Ohrlund at the Northwest Iowa Band Master's Honor Band Concert Saturday evening, Jan. 10, at Morningside College in Sioux City. NWIBA president Kurt Schwarck of Spencer presented the award...

Two Gehlen Catholic seniors selected for NW Iowa Honor Band and Honor Orchestra (01/09/09)
Gehlen Catholic seniors Emily Hutchins and Elias Niebuhr have been selected for the 2009 Northwest Iowa Band Master's Association's Honor Band and Orchestra. Honor Band will be held this weekend, Saturday, Jan. 10, at Eppley Auditorium at Morningside College in Sioux City...

Gehlen music students present Advent Concert (12/17/08)
Students in the Gehlen Catholic Schools 7-12 vocal and 5-12 music department will present their Advent Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, in the school gymnasium. The 64-voice mixed junior high choir will sing four selections including "Give Me Wings," "Noel, Noel," "When Peace Shall Come" and "Down, Down The Chimney." The junior high girls will sing "Sleep, Little Baby, Sleep" and the junior high boys will sing "The Shepherd's Spiritual." The junior high is directed and accompanied by Beverly Evans.. ...

Let her sing, let her sing: Portz wins radio contest (12/17/08)
Danika Portz, a Remsen St. Mary's alum, won a radio contest's top prize for her holiday duet with a fellow Drake University student. By popular acclaim, she and Grant Cornish, of Cedar Rapids, were picked Des Moines' "Holiday Idols." Portz and Cornish, both members of the Drake University Choir, garnered the most votes from listeners for their rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in the contest sponsored by Lite 104.1 (KLTI-FM)...

LCHS musicians present Holiday Concert Dec. 15 (12/12/08)
Students at Le Mars Community High School will present their Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, in Carey Gymnasium. This concert features the concert choir, chamber choir, orchestra and concert band in a variety of holiday selections. The concert choir will open the evening program with "Do You Hear What I Hear?" They will continue with "Carols Around (And a Round)" and end their portion of the program with "Sleigh Ride."...

Three Gehlen students take part in Drake Honor Band Festival (12/05/08)
Three Gehlen Catholic High School students have been selected to take part in the 2008 Drake Honor Band Festival this weekend in Des Moines. Senior Elias Niebuhr will be performing for his fourth year in a row; senior Emily Hutchins will be performing for her third time at Drake and sophomore Matt Klein will be performing for his first time at Drake...

LCHS students selected for Northwest Iowa Honor Band Festival (12/03/08)
Thirty-two Le Mars Community High School band members will join with students from 44 area high schools to combine their talents for the 55th annual Northwest Iowa Honor Band Festival. The festival will be held Jan. 10, 2009, with a concert at 7 p.m. in Eppley Auditorium on the Morningside College campus in Sioux City. Approximately 225 high school musicians were chosen through auditions held Nov. 1 in Storm Lake from among 450 entries...

"Fireproof" movie may impact marriage (11/20/08)
The movie "Fireproof" is coming to to the Royal T III theater this weekend. The independent film debuted nationwide Sept. 26, but it showed on limited screens, according to Patrick Johnson, Royal T III manager. "We've been trying to get it since day one," Johnson said. "Since people seem to want to see it, we tried to get it as fast as we could."...

Suspense, love, thugs: 'Anything goes' with LCS musical (11/13/08)
Intrigue and romance on the high seas -- no it's not a new pirate movie, it's the musical at Le Mars Community High School: "Anything Goes." The show, which runs tonight (Thursday) through Saturday, tells the tale of a banker's assistant named Billy Crocker (David King) who, after a brief encounter, has fallen for Hope Harcourt (Breeanna Pierce), a debutante who is out of his league...

Students selected for All-State Music Festival (11/12/08)
Seventeen Le Mars Community High School students and one Gehlen Catholic High School student have been selected to participate in the 2008 All-State Music Festival at Ames. Emily Hutchins, a senior at Gehlen Catholic, earned a place on the percussion section of the All-State Band...

Nebraska brothers to rock out at free concert (09/26/08)
A piano-driven rock band with powerful vocals, intense stage presence with almost acrobatic moves, and harmonies that could make you weep. And they're from Nebraska. Meet Remedy Drive, the band of four brothers from Lincoln who will be rocking the stage at Le Mars Assembly of God Church at 6:30 p.m. Sunday for a free concert...

Actors wanted: Auditions for "The Turn of the Worm" coming soon (08/28/08)
Looking to make the stage in a live theater production? Come out and audition for the comedy "The Turn of the Worm," a production by the Le Mars Community Theatre with run dates at the end of October. Five actors, three men, two mature and one young, and three females, two mature and one young, are needed to help bring the characters to life...

Dream Program helps Happy Siesta earn governor's quality award (08/26/08)
A wish to ride in an airplane, watch a play in a theater, take a fishing trip, hear an auctioneer cry -- all came true for Happy Siesta Health Care Center residents. Happy Siesta's Dream Program and other activities earned the center, in Remsen, a Governor's Award for Quality Care in Iowa Health Care Facilities for 2008, presented Monday...

Theater fundraiser takes trip down musical memory lane (08/18/08)
"Hello Dolly," "If I Were a Rich Man," "Prepare Ye the Way." Those familiar tunes and others will be featured in the Le Mars Community Theatre's "Musical Memories" biennial fundraiser Friday and Saturday. "We went through all the musicals in the past and looked at the ones that had songs that would be fairly familiar to the audience," said Marlene Fitzpatrick, co-producer of the fundraiser. "We asked people who have been in musicals in previous years (to perform)."...

Le Mars composer makes musical notes come alive (07/30/08)
David Moore began writing melodies as a teenager. "I started dabbling when I was in high school just kind of messing around," the Le Mars man said. "I actually did a couple of arrangements for my jazz band experimenting a little bit." Since then, a band instructor by day, Moore has composed full concert band and smaller solo, piano and ensemble pieces...

Help ahead for 102-year-old Akron opera house (07/29/08)
Akron's opera house has weathered many changes since it opened in 1906. Now another phase is planned for the building that towers over the town's main street. "My head spun for two weeks just thinking about this," Akron Community Theater President Doug Olson said Monday evening while discussing upcoming plans for the theater...

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