Community Events
WORKING will be the 30th production of the New Era Dinner Theater. The show will be presented on Friday, October 10; Saturday, October 11; and Sunday, October 12 in the New Era Community Building at 3455 New Era Road in rural Muscatine, next to Wild Cat Den State Park. A meal will be served at 6:00PM on Friday and Saturday with the show starting at 7:00PM. On Sunday the show will start at 2:00PM, there will be no meal on Sunday. Reservations are required for meals.
WORKING is based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with American workers, this show paints a vivid portrait of the workers that the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the waitress, the millworker, the mason, and the housewife, just to name a few. The show’s strengths are in the core truths that transcend specific professions; the key is the way people relate to their work ultimately expressing essential aspects of their humanity and revealing timeless truths.
Nominated for six Tony Awards, this classic has been updated for a modern age, featuring new songs by Tony Award-winning Lin-Manuel Miranda (Moana, Hamilton), as well as favorites by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Children of Eden), Craig Carnelia, James Taylor, Micki Grant, and more. WORKING (2012 Revised Version) is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
The New Era production is directed by Bill Turner with musical direction by Sheryl Ringen. The cast includes Brooklynn Ash, Nicky Bibik, Pat Burr, Jordyn Carias, Jenni Colbert, Courtney Cooper, C J Gibson, Allyson Giovanazzi, Mo Kasim, Nathan Paulsen, Savannah Skidmore, and Adam Turner.
This year’s dinner will include the triumphant return of New Era Green Beans along with Ham Balls, Cole Slaw, Parsley Potatoes, Roll, Dessert, and Beverage. Proceeds will benefit World Central Kitchen and Lutheran Services in Iowa. Tickets for the meal and show are $30 for adults and $20 for children through age 10. They can be ordered by calling: Joan Dietrich, 563/299-4710 or Nancy Henke, 563/263-0881. Tickets may also be ordered by mail at WORKING Tickets c/o Joan Dietrich, 2854 Rolling Meadow Lane, Muscatine, IA 52761.
A Bit of History
The New Era church was built in the early 1890’s and hosted theatrical productions as well as worship services. In 1911, the first rural gymnasium in the state of Iowa was built at New Era. A stage was added to the gym in 1927. It was home to many productions as graffiti on the original scenery will attest. In 1994, Pastor Roy Rogers pulled together a dinner theater production of Godspell. It’s success started an annual tradition that continues today.
Past Productions
2024 – Cinderella
2023 – Godspell
2022 – Church Basement Ladies
2019 – Shrek the Musical
2018 – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
2017 – Pippin
2016 – Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2013 – Children of Eden
2012 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
2011 – Once Upon a Mattress
2010 – The Mystery of Edwin Drood
2009 – Guys & Dolls
2008 – Hot Mikado
2007 – Fiddler on the Roof
2006 – Little Shop of Horrors
2005 – Man of La Mancha
2004 – Annie Get Your Gun