Next stop: Hollywood. Cedar Rapids native Kelsey Madsen, 20, won a coveted golden ticket in the Orlando auditions for Fox TV’s “American Idol.” Even though viewers caught just a glimpse of her on tonight’s episode, they got to hear judge Kara DioGuardi proclaim “You’re great,” then see ...

Tune in to "American Idol" tonight at 7 p.m. (Jan. 20) to see how Cedar Rapids native Kelsey Madsen fared in her Orlando audition. Madsen, 20, is a 2008 graduate of Linn-Mar High School in Marion and attends college in Chicago. She is the daughter of ...

By Diana Nollen Conor Hanick is training for a race that he’ll run sitting down. At a grand piano. The Iowa City native is returning home to make his debut appearance with Orchestra Iowa next weekend. He’ll be performing Prokofiev’s 3rd Piano Concerto, which will put the fire in ...

By Diana Nollen CEDAR RAPIDS — “The Laramie Project” is theater at its best, capturing a true moment in time, analyzing it from all angles and letting audience members react on a visceral level. Theatre Cedar Rapids’ production at TCR Lindale allows the words and characters to ...

By Diana Nollen A new grass is growing under Alaskan bluegrass band Bearfoot. These five music camp counselors explore the more gentle, introspective side of bluegrass rhythms under pop, ballad and rootsy tunes on their lovely debut disc, “Doors and Windows.” The collection begins with a gentle, romantic ...

By Diana Nollen CEDAR FALLS — Musically, “Salome” is a crowning achievement for the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre and Orchestra Iowa. Stylistically, it just didn’t work for me. The 90-minute opera by Richard Strauss opened Friday at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center and repeats Sunday, Jan. 17, at ...

By Diana Nollen CEDAR RAPIDS — Tom Arnold has come home. And his journey back to his standup roots is a complete success. The Ottumwa native and die-hard Hawkeye fan had a sellout crowd of 200 laughing constantly Thursday night at Penguins Comedy Club in the Clarion ...

TCR Lindale has issued this information for all the folks planning to form a Wall of Angels to counter the Fred Phelps group planning to picket opening night of "The Laramie Project" at TCR Lindale on Friday night, Jan. 15: This information is intended for the ...

By Diana Nollen  “‘The Laramie Project’ is not about Matthew Shepard, homosexuality or Laramie,” says Director Jason Alberty, 40, of Cedar Rapids. “It’s about hate and the effect of a single act of hate on a community.” On Oct. 7, 1998, gay college student Matthew Shepard was lured ...

By Diana Nollen Day of Fire’s fans will be happy to hear Josh Brown can still growl. The Nashville-based hard rockers have taken a more introspective turn on their latest CD, “Losing All.” But they haven’t forgotten Brown’s crunchy metal roots. It’s an interesting mix that serves the ...