Augustana College’s Brunner Theatre Center will be introducing a new theater company, Mississippi Bend Players, this summer.
The company, formed last fall during the opening of the Brunner Theatre Center, is managed by Broadway veteran Phillip McKinely, who graduated from Augustana. McKinley has worked on many productions, including “The Boy from Oz” starring Hugh Jackman.
“We’re excited to work with the Mississippi Bend Players to bring such a unique theater offering to the Quad Cities,” Sam Schlouch, Augustana’s senior communication director, said in a company press release. “This year, we truly will be bringing Broadway to the Quad Cities.”
The Mississippi Bend Players are hoping to bring mainstage theater to the students and community and will give others opportunities to work together on professional stage productions.
The company plans on producing both commercially proven works as well as original screenplays.
McKinley is directing the company’s performance debut, titled “Zombie Prom,” an upbeat musical about the golden-age of the comic book.
“The artistic staff of Philip McKinley, Jeff Coussens and Cory Johnson are well respected across the country and right here in our community,” Schlouch said of the creative team in the release. “Their expertise – paired with the talent they can draw – will bring a new experience for Quad-Cities audiences.”
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