A western Iowa town’s annual celebration of the performing arts opened today.
The annual Donna Reed Festival in Denison, the hometown of the late actress, offers workshops for actors, singers and other performers.
Kenny Kahl, the festival’s coordiator, says entertainment for the general public begins Thursday night with a singing group. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cabaret Company will perform "Music and Moonlight" at the Donna Reed Theater. The group has several members who have received national awards, along with television and film credits.
On Friday, Kahl says there will be an adaptation featuring the works of one of the literary world’s greatest playwrights. It’s the complete-abridged works of William Shakespeare, a slapstick comedy which incorporates most of the bard’s fine works and sonnets.
On Saturday, the Donna Reed Theater is running a free tribute to its namesake, showing a collection of her TV and movie performances.
The festival wraps up Saturday with the younger acting students performing for an audience. The Children’s Musical Theater Showcase will feature "Jungle Book Kids," to be followed by the scholarship and awards program at the Denison Fine Arts Center at the high school.
For more details, visit www.donnareed.org .