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Iowa Vaudeville tour

Humanities Iowa and Iowa Business Growth presents 'The Nitch'

-Submitted photo Satyrus Jeering’s debut touring performance of “The Nitch” will be presented 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hawkeye Community Theatre in Fort Dodge.

A show featuring a rabbit, a fox and a badger trying to read a book will hit a local stage soon.

Humanities Iowa, in association with Iowa Business Growth, will be holding an annual vaudeville tour presenting Satyrus Jeering’s debut touring performance of ”The Nitch,” and for the first time they will be coming to Fort Dodge.

A vaudeville show is a variety of performances made up of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill. The types of acts can include popular and classical musicians, singers, dancers, comedians, trained animals, magicians, female and male impersonators, acrobats, illustrated songs, jugglers, one-act plays or scenes from plays, athletes, movies, and more.

This vaudeville show will be based around three masked players, who continually work to thwart each other’s attempt at reading the book, ”The Nitch,” to the audience. The cohort is comprised of a rabbit (Hairbrain), a fox (Vulpus), and a badger (Taxus), all of whom celebrate a 19th century fashion sensibility. The antics are of a comedic nature and the story invites a participatory sense of make-believe that is great for all ages.

“This is a family-friendly show,” said Zachary Mannheimer, vice president at Iowa Business Growth. “It will be a classic vaudeville show, and we hope everyone comes out and enjoys the show.”

-Submitted photo Legendary storyteller and facemaker Satyrus Jeering teams with the formidable acrobat Felicia Coe, musical guests Ryan Stier, Matt Woods, Brooks Strause, Tommy Boyron, and more, taking their variety show of veritable feats on the road with their Iowa Vaudeville Circuit tour. The debut show of the tour begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, at Hawkeye Community Theatre, 521 N. 12th St.

While the three masked players are trying to tell the story of ”The Nitch,” there will be plenty more entertainment for the audience to enjoy.

This vaudeville tour will include Iowa’s Fly Girl, Felicia Coe. Coe is Iowa’s premier aerial instructor, having established and operated Iowa’s first aerial teaching program in 2012, making her the state’s first aerial coach. She travels all over Iowa and the Midwest, performing and teaching her high-flying acts. Coe specializes in aerial silks, hammock, hoop (lyra), and partner acrobatics.

Des Moines own Portrait Studio will also be along for the ride and on-stage as part of a living backdrop.

“A lucky audience participant will have their likeness immortalized throughout the show,” said Mannheimer.

There will also be plenty of musical guests for the audience to enjoy. The vaudeville tour will feature musical stylings of an Iowa based singer, songwriters, including Ryan Stier, Matt Woods, Brooks Strause, Tommy Boyron, and many more.

-Submitted photo Promotional photo of Satyrus Jerings and the cast touring the Iowa Vaudeville Circuit. The group will share their debut tour performance of “The Nitch” with an audience at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hawkeye Theatre in Fort Dodge.

Mannheimer said, “We want to help bring economic development in Fort Dodge, and we are hoping it is a way to help keep the arts alive in the community.”

Lastly, Jeering’s masked cohort, Taxus, Vulpus, and Hairbrain, are planning pre-emptive stops to the town in which ”The Nitch” will play, to introduce the story and engage the students of local elementary schools in a comedic, yet educational bit.

Artists from the tour will be visiting Feelhaver Elementary School in Fort Dodge on Monday. The featured artist will be there to engage with the students and hopefully bring them into the performance of the show if they choose.

In the lobby before the show, Portrait Studio will be there to draw portraits of the guests. They will offer guest members a unique, abstract portraits that they will be able to take home with them.

The Iowa Vaudeville Tour will be coming to Fort Dodge on Saturday with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the show beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Hawkeye Community Theatre.

-Submitted photo Promotional photo of Satyrus Jerings and the cast touring the Iowa Vaudeville Circuit. The group will share their debut tour performance of “The Nitch” with an audience at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hawkeye Theatre in Fort Dodge.

Admission to the show will be $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, and children 11 and under will be admitted free with a paid adult. Tickets are only available at the door.

“Fort Dodge already has a wide variety of theater productions around the area, and we are hoping that the local theaters will pick up on the show and eventually start holding their very own vaudeville show each year,” Mannheimer said.

The Nitch

What: The Iowa Vaudeville Tour production of “The Nitch”

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Hawkeye Community Theatre, 521 N. 12th St.

cost: $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, children 11 and under admitted free with adult paid ticket

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