The birthplace of Iowa actress Donna Reed is holding its annual performing arts festival and workshop, which opened today (Wednesday) and runs through the weekend. Pat Fleshner is coordinating the events in Denison, which offer to teach everything from all degrees of acting, improvisation, singing, career counseling and screenplay writing.
There’s a writers’ workshop this year featuring Michael Zack, a current Hollywood writer. Other instructors include: Eddie Foy, a former casting director for A-B-C and N-B-C: Gigi Perreau, an M-G-M child star who appeared on shows ranging from “The Brady Bunch” to “Gunsmoke;” and Tony Owen, the award-winning photographer and son of Donna Reed.
Fleshner says this year’s kid-specific activities have been modified and the children’s musical theatre workshop is already underway. Instead of two age groups, as in the past, the students are being divided into three groups this year, ages 5-8, 9-11 and 12-14.
Fleshner says a new play will premiere at this year’s festival and a nationally-known children’s theatre playwright will be in Denison for the event. The play “The Nitnoid Wars” takes place in California around 2015 and follows a group of young survivors of a natural disaster who are rebuilding their lives. Playwright Gail Erwin will be available for questions and answers after the Thursday night performance.
The Donna Reed Festival runs through Saturday. For more information, call (712) 263-3334 or surf to “www.donnareed.org”.
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Donna Reed Festival info