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Much Ado Cancelled, For Now

To All the Friends and Supporters of the Prenzie Players:

We are heartbroken to announce this, but after being forced to cancel our first weekend of Much Ado About Nothing performances due to a positive COVID test among the cast, we are now forced to cancel the remainder of the March 23 – 25 performances as well.

Although there is every chance that the entire cast will be at full performance strength by this weekend, the safety of our patrons always come first, and we don’t want to risk anyone’s health in the service of presenting a show – even one, such as Much Ado, that we’re so very proud of.

At present, we are hoping to be able to re-stage the production at some time in the coming months, both as thanks to our wonderful supporters who have waited since 2019 for a new Prenzie offering, and to our gifted and tireless cast and crew, most of whom have been working on the show since December.

We will make another announcement as soon as plans regarding Much Ado’s future are finalized. But in the meantime, thanks to everyone for all the well wishes, encouragement, and support, and we look forward to entertaining you again in the very near future!

The Prenzie Players

A NEW PRENZIE PLAY IS IN THE WORKS

SHAKESPEARE’S MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING OPENS IN MARCH!

Reservations: https://tinyurl.com/PrenzieMuchAdo

After a three-year hiatus, the PRENZIE PLAYERS are mounting a production this March.

Prenzie Veteran Jarrod DeRooi will direct Shakespeare’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. This comedy from Shakespeare’s middle period is one of his wittiest, with Benedick and Beatrice starting out with total disdain for each other that blossoms (with much help) into deepest love. Of course, everything that could possibly go wrong with this love story does, and the ways disaster is defeated are more than half the fun of this engaging work.

The cast is a Who’s Who of talent in the Quad-City area and beyond.

There are founding members of the Prenzie Players — J. C. Luxton playing the male lead (Benedick) and Denise Yoder as Dona Petra.

There are Prenzie regulars Jess White, Noah Stivers, Jen Brown, Mattie Gelaude and Kitty Israel in major roles.

People new to Prenzie include female lead Lily Blouin (Beatrice), who has participated in just about every other theater group in the QC area, and Iowa City actors John Smick and Ryan Elgin.

There are even some new faces to theater here. Mark Garden, who turned heads with his stunning work in his first-ever role in TWELVE ANGRY JURORS (Playcrafters) plays the ‘heavy’ Don John, and the troubadour Balthazar is to be the first role since high school for Davenport musician Jenny Lynn Stacy.

Jarrod DeRooi has been a Prenzie regular for 14 years and had the title role in CORIOLANUS in 2017.

This show promises to re-introduce the Prenzie motto: “Theater is not a passive experience.”

MUCH ADO will be playing at the Village Theatre (2113 E. 11th St, Davenport), March 17, 18; 23, 24, 25 [8:00 p.m.]; and a matinee on March 19 [2:00 p.m.]

Reservations: https://tinyurl.com/PrenzieMuchAdo

Auditions for Much Ado About Nothing

After three years, the Prenzie Players celebrate their return to the stage with Shakespeare’s joyous comedy, Much Ado About Nothing!

Auditions will be held at the Village Theatre (2113 E. 11th St, Davenport) on Thursday, December 1st (6:00PM-8:00PM), and Saturday, December 3rd (1:00PM-3:00PM), with callbacks on Sunday, December 4th (2:30PM-4:30PM). 

Performances will be the weekends of March 17th and 24th.

All ages, genders, shapes, sizes and levels of experience are welcome! Auditioning actors need not prepare pieces ahead of time. All auditions will be in the form of scenes read from the script.

If you have any questions or wish to audition but cannot make the audition dates, please contact derooi.jarrod@gmail.com

As always, keep in touch and follow us on Facebook for the latest!

AuditionS for “The Two Noble Kinsmen”!

Announcing auditions for “The Two Noble Kinsmen” by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher

Click here for the Facebook Event

Auditions for Prenzie Players’ production of “The Two Noble Kinsmen” will be held at Quad City Theatre Workshop at 1730 Wilkes Ave, Davenport, on the following dates:

Thursday, January 23 from 6–9pm
Saturday, January 25 from 2–5pm
Callbacks (if necessary): Sunday, January 26 from 6–9pm

Show dates: March 27–29 and April 2–4, 2020

Come ready to read from the script with your fellow actors. Everyone is welcome! ALL roles are open to anyone regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity.

If you want to play with us but are unable to make either audition date, let us know with as much notice as possible and we will do our best to accommodate you. Please contact director Catherine Bodenbender at prenzieplayers@gmail.com

Farewell, Wives…

The Merry Wives of Windsor

November 2019

Directed by Jake Walker

“…a feast of unstuffy pre-Thanksgiving goodness… definitely not a production to be missed” –Madeline Dudziak, River Cities’ Reader

Click here for a slide show of production photos (courtesy of TKPhotoCo) on Facebook

Kitty Israel, Emma Regnier and Mike Carron in Merry Wives of Windsor
Photo Credit: Mattie Gelaude

One bawdy knight. Two merry wives. Three sticky situations.

Falstaff Greets Mistress Ford
Photo Credit: TK Photo Co
Master Brook and Falstaff
Photo Credit: TK Photo Co

In one of the Bard’s most enduring comedies, one of the Bard’s most enduring characters (Falstaff), arrives in Windsor with the intent to swindle two prominent families out of their money. But when he matches wits with the wives of said families, he finds that he may be in over his head.

Quickly Speaks with Shallow and Slender
Photo Credit: TK Photo Co
Photo Credit: TK Photo Co
Photo Credit: TK Photo Co
Photo Credit: TK Photo Co

Program

Cast

Kate Farence
Shallow, a visiting justice of the peace

John Turner
Sir Hugh, a Welsh parson

Noah Stivers
Slender, Shallow’s nephew
John, servant to the Fords

Michael Carron
Sir John Falstaff

Mattie Gelaude
Bardolph, servant to Falstaff
Fenton

Josef Bodenbender
Robin, Falstaff’s page

Denise Yoder
Mistress Quickly

Mischa Hooker
Doctor Caius, a French physician

Kitty Israel
Mistress Page

Emma Regnier
Mistress Ford

Nathan Klaus
Master Ford

And Introducing…

Elliott Frieden
Master Page

Jenya Loughney
Pistol, servant to Falstaff
Rugby, servant to Doctor Caius

Robert Cheney
Nim, servant to Falstaff
Robert, servant to the Fords

Annie Mitchell
Anne Page
Host of the Garter Inn

Crew

Director: Jake Walker
Assistant Director: Aaron E. Sullivan
Artistic Director, Light / Sound Technician: Catherine Bodenbender
Set Design: Jake Walker
Set Construction: Catherine Bodenbender, Aaron E. Sullivan, Jake Walker, The Cast
Reservations Coordinator: Mischa Hooker
Publicity Photography: Mattie Gelaude
Graphic Designer: Nathan Klaus
Marketing Team: Mischa Hooker, Kitty Israel, Nathan Klaus, Denise Yoder

Special Thanks

The Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House
Dori Foster
Quad City Music Guild
Rockridge High School
Byron Walker
QC Theatre Workshop
Rock Island High School
Mike Turczynski
Peg Walker

We Wish You a Merry …

The Merry Wives of Windsor
By William Shakespeare

Directed by Jake Walker

One bawdy knight. Two merry wives. Three sticky situations.

In one of the Bard’s most enduring comedies, one of the Bard’s most enduring characters (Falstaff), arrives in Windsor with the intent to swindle two prominent families out of their money. But when he matches wits with the wives of said families, he finds that he may be in over his head.

Show Dates:
Opening Night – Friday, November 15 at 8 pm – Post-Show Audience Conversation
Saturday, November 16 at 8 pm
Sunday, November 17 at 3 pm – Bob’s Matinee

Thursday, November 21 at 8 pm
Friday, November 22 at 8 pm
Saturday, November 23 at 8 pm

Location: 1730 Wilkes Ave, Davenport, IA 52804

Tickets: General Admittance – Doors open 30 min before curtain

Inspired by QCTW’s vision of making theatre accessible to all, we are adopting the “pay what it’s worth” model. When you arrive at the theatre you won’t be asked for money. Once the show is over, however, we ask that you reflect on the experience, then stop out front on your way out and pay what you think it’s worth. No one should be unable to attend this show because of ticket prices; on the other hand, if you appreciate our work and have the means, we encourage you to be generous.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/458734658086964/
Reservations: https://tinyurl.com/PrenzieMerryWives
Email – prenzieplayers@gmail.com
Website – prenzieplayers.com
Unclaimed reservations will be released to general public five minutes before curtain.


Reservations: https://tinyurl.com/PrenzieMerryWives
Email – tickets@prenzieplayers.com
Website – prenzieplayers.com
Unclaimed reservations will be released to general public five minutes before curtain.

Email – tickets@prenzieplayers.com
Unclaimed reservations will be released to general public five minutes before curtain.

Oh, DROMIO, DROMIO…

The Comedy of Errors
Directed by Adam Lewis

Click here for Facebook Event

Two sets of twins separated at birth unwittingly inhabit the same city, resulting in the ultimate case of mistaken identity. As the siblings struggle with a series of misunderstandings, comedy thrives amid the chaos.

Show Dates:
Friday, Apr 5 at 8 pm – Opening Night, with Post-Show Audience Conversation
Saturday, Apr 6 at 8 pm
Sunday, Apr 7 at 3 pm – Bob’s Matinee

Thursday, Apr 11 at 8 pm
Friday, Apr 12 at 8 pm
Saturday, Apr 13 at 8 pm

Location:
1730 Wilkes Ave, Davenport, IA 52804

Tickets: General Admittance – Doors open 30 min before curtain. Reserve your seats in advance at tinyurl.com/coe-reservations.

Inspired by QCTW’s vision of making theatre accessible to all, we are adopting the “pay what it’s worth” model for this show. When you arrive at the theatre you won’t be asked for money. Once the show is over, however, we ask that you reflect on the experience, then stop out front on your way out and pay what you think it’s worth. No one should be unable to attend this show because of ticket prices; on the other hand, if you appreciate our work and have the means, we encourage you to be generous.

Auditions for THE Comedy of Errors!

AUDITIONS for Prenzie Players’ production of The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare will be held on Saturday, February 16 (1–4pm) and Monday, February 18th (6–9pm) at 1730 Wilkes Ave, Davenport, IA.

Click Here for the Facebook Event

Two sets of twins separated at birth unwittingly inhabit the same city, resulting in the ultimate case of mistaken identity. As the siblings struggle with a series of misunderstandings, comedy thrives amid the chaos.

Come ready to read from the script with your fellow actors. Everyone is welcome! ALL roles are open to anyone regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity.

If you want to play with us but are unable to make either audition date, let us know with as much notice as possible and we will do our best to accommodate you. Callbacks will be held on Monday, February 18th (6–9pm)

The Comedy of Errors performs April 5–13th, 2019, and will be directed by Adam Lewis.

For more information, please contact us at prenzieplayers@gmail.com.

macbeth doth come…

Prenzie Players Present…

Macbeth
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Catherine Bodenbender

This play needs no introduction. The story of ambition and murder set in medieval Scotland has earned a prominent place in many people’s imaginations and feelings about Shakespearean drama. But while the play is familiar, our production will draw you into the story afresh. This Macbeth will be an experience you will not soon forget!

We are especially excited for this show because this will be the first time in Prenzie history that we will be producing a play for a second time! Our previous production, in April 2005, was directed by Aaron Sullivan. The current production features Aaron Sullivan in the title role. We are delighted to revisit this tale in a fully reimagined, new presentation for 2019.

And in case anyone is wondering… Yes, there will be fighting.

Show Dates:

  • Opening Night – Friday, Jan 18 at 8 pm, with Post-Show Audience Conversation
  • Saturday, Jan 19 at 8 pm
  • Sunday, Jan 20 at 3 pm – Bob’s Matinee

  • Tuesday, Jan 22 at 8pm – an extra opportunity! (This show date is contingent on sufficient advance reservations.)
  • Thursday, Jan 24 at 8 pm
  • Friday, Jan 25 at 8 pm
  • Saturday, Jan 26 at 8 pm

Location:
1730 Wilkes Ave, Davenport, IA 52804

Tickets: General Admittance – Doors open 30 min before curtain

Inspired by QCTW’s vision of making theatre accessible to all, we are adopting the “pay what it’s worth” model for this show. When you arrive at the theatre you won’t be asked for money. Once the show is over, however, we ask that you reflect on the experience, then stop out front on your way out and pay what you think it’s worth. No one should be unable to attend this show because of ticket prices; on the other hand, if you appreciate our work and have the means, we encourage you to be generous.

That said, seating is extremely limited! We only have 32 seats available for each performance. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND making reservations. Unclaimed tickets will be released 5 minutes prior to curtain.

Reservations: tinyurl.com/macbeth-reservations
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prenzieplayers/