Meet Your New Board of Directors

Mrs. Showboat is proud to present to you the new board of directors: Mr. Bill Thomas, Mr. Jim Mason, Mr. Brian Dagle, Mr. Jake Dodge, and the beautiful Ms. Kaitlyn Rosemore. They join Mr. John Schroeder as the keeper of the Showboat torch. They are also in search of  a few more members so if you are interested please get in ouch with them.

As for Mrs. Showboat... well she is about to find out what this thing called summer is all about. But fret not my brave Showboat followers, Mrs. Showboat still is saving the perfect seat for you, only now she will get to sit beside you and enjoy the show too.  And no worries, Mrs. Showboat will also bring the cookies, real cookies with frosting and chocolate chips.

Board Members Needed

Mississippi Melodie Showboat is currently looking for 6 new board members for a two-year term. Showboat is a local non-profit organization that produces a show on the Mississippi River the last three weekends in July. The show consists of singing, dancing, and some comedic skits. We would prefer individuals that have an understanding of our community and its needs, passion for our cause, willingness to commit time for board meetings, special events and someone who listens well, is thoughtful in considering issues. We are also in need of a treasurer (board member) and secretary (non-board Member) as well.

Showboat has been around for 56 years and has been through a lot of changes. The last three years, Showboat has been on an upswing with both show quality and audience participation. We are in search of individuals that will continue this progress with new ideas and practices. 

If interested please send a letter of consideration to cheri.wright@mchsi.com. It would be helpful to include why you would like to be a part of Showboat, what you think you can bring to the organization, and contact information. All applicants will be considered at the next Showboat Board Meeting.

The Simple Guys Need Our Help!!

Calling all Showboaters big and small... time to put on our Superman capes and help our very good friends the Simple Guys this Monday. Seems they have entered themselves into a talent show at the Reif Center in which the winner is determined by applause. And that is where we come in. We must go and clap until we get blisters, stomp our feet until we put holes in the floor, and scream until actual blood comes oozing from our throats (okay that was gross, but you get the picture).

The talent show is Monday August 22 at 7:30. Tickets are $15. Rumor has it that if the Simple Guys win, that fine speicman of a man Mr. Jim Cagle may even ask Mrs. Showboat out on a date.... oh that gives Mrs. Showboat the vapors just thinking about it!! SO BE THERE and help the men out, and Mrs. Showboat of course!!!

This is the Last Night!!!

Rain or Shine we will BE THERE!!! And Mrs. Showboat soooo hopes you will be too!! What can you look forward to?  What is on the ol' Showboat agenda??  A this point folks, who knows. The cast always seems more free the last night, more "and here we go". Tonight's show will be by far the best show of the season, hands down going away.. Promise.

The last show is always bittersweet. We are all so happy to finally get our summer's to ourselves, but we are sooo sad to be losing our Showboat family until next year. And, though Mrs. Showboat hates to admit it, we are a great big wonderful family. The type that fights and hugs and cries and laughs. The kind that you can not wait to sit around the dinner table with and shout over  each other with news and good tidings (Thank you Applesbees for putting up with us). Mrs. Showboat has know a lot of these people in the cast for years, and when Showboat ends a little piece of her curls up and hibernates. And yes, Mrs. Showboat is the first one to always start counting the days until Showboat is over, but she is also the first one to start counting the days until it begins again.

So tonight as you sit in the stands with your umbrella in your lap or in your rain poncho and see tears in the eyes of the cast as they sing "Roll On" for the last time this season... yes they are both tears of joy and tears of sadness (Or maybe it is just the rain, who knows). And that's what family is all about, and Mrs. Showboat would not change a thing!!!!

Last night!! Tickets are on sale at the door. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!!! And as always we have theperfect seat for you, right next to Mrs. Showboat so please bring some Klennex for her...she is going to need it!!!

And then the Captain Snorted

So were you there??? Last night was the perfect night for Showboat. It was just, may Mrs. Showboat say, the perfect temperature, perfect sky, just the perfect night all together. And as Mrs. Showboat was basking in the glow of the wonders of outdoor theater.... the Captain snorted. Not just a gaffaw at how funny he is. Not just a lite twittter. Not even just a gay giggle. IT was a gruntal snort. It came from somewhere down deep where only the best laughter hides. And it made Mrs. Showboat smile!!

Now Mrs. Showboat has known the Captain for a loooong time. Ever since he arrived on her doorstep with a rope around his waist from where his mother tried to tie him to a tree in order to better contain him. (It must be said the knot she used was the basic bowtie and not the classic nautical knot the Captain now uses to tie the boat down.) So, anywho, Mrs. Showboat was soo enamored by the little tike that she took him under her wing and started him from the ground up... scrubbing floors and making breakfast. And now look at the ol' guy. All smiles, and jokes, and, well, a little sarcastic piss and vinegar!! Makes a woman proud... sometimes. Not sure what Mrs. Showboat means??? Well lucky for you there are two shows left. Two shows to watch the old dog charm the pants off the audience (not literally, trust us!!). Two more days to see the best show this side of the Mississippi.

You know the best part of the Captain is that he laughs at his own jokes, he dances like a white man, and he steers the boat like no one can. The best part about Mrs. Showboat's cast is that they simply are the best. They are loud and in charge on that stage and trust Mrs. Showboat, well worth the $10 price tag for each ticket (or $9 for seniors and lets not forget $6 for kiddies). Every time Mrs. Showboat looks on that stage night after night her heart just fills with pride at such gorgeous wonderful talented people who she is lucky enough to not only know, but spray bug-spray on, put make-up on, and yell at like she would her own kids. Mrs. Showboat is just plain lucky.

So this is it!!! Two more shows!!! YOU need to be there!!! YOU need to visit us and see the real reason Mrs. Showboat gushes so hard about her cast and crew! And YOU need to support local quality theater!!  And as always we have saved the perfect seat for you (but only for two more night!!).

Last Thursday of the Season

This is the last Thursday this season, The last day to have your kidlets mosey on into the Showboat gates for free. Last Thursday the concession stand will be selling brownies and root beer floats (they seem to have a lot of ice cream left over from last Saturday... so help them out!!). Last Thursday that the boat will be parking at the dock this season (if he can make it). Yeah sure there are two more show days... but this is the last Thursday. THE LAST THURSDAY!! Seems like only two weeks ago we started and now we are on the brink of ending. It just moves too fast.

Have you taken the time to come on down to the shores and see our little production??? Are you hmmm and hahing?? IF so you need to get on down to the landing right now. Yes, you need to sit in your car and wait until the ticket people show up and buy your tickets NOW!! In fact you should buy tickets for all three nights as punishment for not coming out sooner. And you should have to bring cookies!! Real cookies with frosting!! And orange soda!! Mrs. Showboat loves her orange soda!! Almost as much as she loves her cast and audience. Okay, she loves y'all more...maybe...kind of, only if you come and buy a ticket tonight...with a Million Dollar check, and don't ask for change... then Mrs. Showboat will love you long time! Promise!!

So don't delay, Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $6 for kids...OH wait today is THURSDAY..kids as FREE thanks to Paul Bunyan (who's better then them)!!! YAY!! And as always... we have the perfect seat just waiting for you!!

We Should Have Known When the Boat Kept Going

Saturday's show was one of the funniest shows Mrs. Showboat has ever seen. There is a reason live-outdoor theater is sooo awesome and Saturday's show proved it. First, due to the extreme amount of wind, the boat took two tries to land. Not sure that has ever happened before, but it sure threw the cast for a loop, they weren't sure whether to sing "Here Comes the Showboat" or "Roll On". Once the boat was docked, the show became even more interesting; from flying props (the Barker's cart got some righteous air) to the costume's flying about (the Captain actually got in a catcher's stance to stop things from going into the river). The best though, was when the Captain's script flew into the river and he was suddenly dumbstruck with how the show should continue.... everything from forgetting the next act to his wife's name (it's Helma by the way not Helga), and no the Barker was not any help to him. Mrs. Showboat has to say that though the comedy of errors could be considered tragic, it was by far the best show this little gal has ever seen on the banks of the Mississippi River (in fact Mrs. Showboat laughed so hard she might have peed a little).

So again... what are you waiting for? I know you meant to come Saturday but it was 53 degrees and wind-y, and because of your hesitation you missed one heck of a show. Don't let that happen again!!! Three shows left for the season, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Only three more times to watch the Captain try to remember his wife's name (he has promised to print out a new script). Only three more shows...and then we are done. It makes Mrs. Showboat a little sad to think about it, but what would make the pain a little less hurtful is seeing your shining, smiling face this weekend. Give the cast a hug, wish the Captain good luck, and don't forget to give the background folks a little pat on their sweaty backs.

So we'll see you there right??? Remember Thursday is free kids thanks to Paul Bunyan. And Saturday promises to be a sad/exciting show as the Captain sings a final farewell to the cast and crew. Mrs. Showboat has heard he may be starting a dance studio (check out his wicked moves on the sidelines during the show). As always we have the perfect seat just waiting for you. And yes it is away from the knife thrower, but he's getting better... we promise!!