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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Iowa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-ANAMOSA-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Iowa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-ANAMOSA-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Iowa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-ANAMOSA-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Iowa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-ANAMOSA-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Iowa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-ANAMOSA-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Iowa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-ANAMOSA-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Iowa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-ANAMOSA-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. 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Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area.
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Uptown Coffee Company
Marion, IA
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT
Zoom
Online Event
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Iowa Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP<br />Iowa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:IAAARP@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IAAARP@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Iowa</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-us-2/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-ANAMOSA-IA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aarpiowa" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarp_iowa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Starlighters II Theatre - Anamosa, IA"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. 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Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ' $title_for_layout = 'Place Detail - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = '' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/anamosa-ia/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Anamosa, IA</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/anamosa-ia/things-to-do/">Places</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? 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Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ' $title_for_layout = 'Place Detail - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = '' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/anamosa-ia/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Anamosa, IA</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/anamosa-ia/things-to-do/">Places</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Ron's desire to" name="description"/> <meta content="Starlighters, II, Theatre, Anamosa, IA" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.americantowns.com/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="place"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Starlighters II Theatre"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ', 'title_for_layout' => 'Place Detail - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Starlighters II Theatre</h1></header> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6 left module-spacer"> <p> <div> <div>136 East Main Street</div> <div> <span>Anamosa</span>, <span>IA</span> <span>52205</span> </div> </div> </p> <div> <i class="fa fa-external-link-square"></i> <a href="http://www.starlighters.org/" target="_blank">Starlighters Theatre</a> </div> <div><i class="fa fa-phone-square"></i> 319-462-4793</div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 module-spacer"> <iframe width="100%" height="220" frameborder="0" style="border:0" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed/v1/place?key=AIzaSyCU5aZylcrTOLke9e3U0F2mXovlZ4bL8yk&q=Starlighters+II+Theatre%2C+136+East+Main+Street%2C+Anamosa%2C+IA+52205" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer clearfix"> <p>Starlighters II Theatre came into the world in the spring of 1974 in Monticello, Iowa as the brainchild of high school student Ron Ketelsen. Ron's desire to have more opportunities for individuals to participate in theatre in the community of Monticello led him to his decision to try to start a community theatre. Such a move would expand theatre in Monticello beyond the walls of the high school auditorium. Ron's first move was to enlist the support of Bob Furino, a senior at Upper Iowa University, who was student teaching at Shannon Elementary in Monticello. At the time, Ron was also working at Shannon school as a teacher's assistant, a program developed to give a taste of teaching to high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Having written a musical theatre production and radio theatre presentations that had been performed at the university, Bob found himself immediately interested in Ketelsen's plan, and the two shared ideas on how to make the theatre idea become a reality. The move turned out to be a fortuitous one, as the combined membership made for a strong and progressive new group. During the six years to follow, under the strong and imaginative leadership of Hoffman and Smith, Starlighters II staged twenty-six productions beginning with "The Sound Of Music," the theatre's first musical. It was the first show to be presented in both Anamosa and Monticello. The production weekend for "The Sound of Music" proved to be a monumental undertaking, never duplicated by the theatre since then. The show was staged at the Monticello High School auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights. The set was struck after the Saturday night performance. Sunday morning the set was transported to the Anamosa Junior High School auditorium and reconstructed. A full-scale dress rehearsal was performed Sunday afternoon, and the production was staged Sunday and Monday night, with the set being struck and returned to storage after the Monday night show. Starlighters II reached another milestone on February 15, 1979. On that date, the troupe achieved non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the U.S. Code of Law. This was culmination of a long quest to attain the level of a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. Starlighters II, Inc. was born! From 1978 to 1983 Starlighters II moved ahead at a frantic pace, producing an average of nearly five shows a year. Towards the end of this period of expansion, however, the theatre suffered a tragic loss with the sudden death of Emil Prull. Some time before that, Ron Ketelsen had been lured out of Iowa by a job opportunity, and the other founder, Bob Furino, had seen his involvement severely curtailed by the expansion of his job commitments helping to build a fast-growing computer program at Monticello's elementary schools. In 1983 the Board of Directors also suffered the loss of its visionary leaders of the last half-decade, Tom Hoffman and Ron Smith, whose occupational promotions took them out of the area. </p> </div> <div class="reportthis" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"> <form method="post" action="/anamosa-ia/report/place/starlighters-ii-theatre-anamosa-ia.html"> <button type="submit" class="btn btnregister pull-right" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Flag This Place</button> </form> </div> <div class="report_button_message">Please use "Flag This Place" to alert us about content that is inappropriate or needs immediate attention. Nothing you submit will be shared with other site visitors. </div> <style> .report_button_message { color: #333; font-size: 12px; clear: both; } </style> </div> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-PLSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <div class="pull-right"> <a href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS"> <img style="width:30px;" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/icons/aarp_event_icon.png" alt="Upcoming AARP Events" /> </a> </div> <h2 class="visible-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> <h2 class="hidden-lg">AARP Events for Anamosa</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-listing snippet"> <ul class="list"> <li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-cedar-rapids-ia-111924-k4nxlq3n8cg.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Scooter's Coffee</p> <p class="loc">Cedar Rapids, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-aarp-coffee-connections-marion-ia-111924-65nf8699skf.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-AARP-COFFEE-CONNECTIONS">AARP Coffee Connections</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Uptown Coffee Company</p> <p class="loc">Marion, IA</p> </li><li class="item" data-pageindex="1"> <h3 class="topic">Featured Event</h3> <h2 class="title"><a href="/aarp-event/aarp-ia-intro-to-spotify-virtual-ia-120324-3fnwprqcwl3.html" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-EVENTS-INTRO-TO-SPOTIFY">Intro to Spotify</a></h2> <p class="time">Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CT</p> <p class="venue">Zoom</p> <p class="loc">Online Event</p> </li> </ul> <p><a class="link-red" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/" data-formelementid="LOCAL-BTN-CLK-SEEALL-EVENTS">View All AARP Events<i class="ml-1 fas fa-chevron-right"></i></a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-ANAMOSA-IA">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? 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Ron's desire to"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/template/thumbs/generic-icon.jpg"/> <meta property="place:location:latitude" content="42.108398"/> <meta property="place:location:longitude" content="-91.284103"/> ' $title_for_layout = 'Place Detail - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = '' $highlighting = '' $location = '<a href="/anamosa-ia/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Anamosa, IA</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/anamosa-ia/things-to-do/">Places</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/anamosa-ia/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/anamosa-ia/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to Things to Do', 'slug' => 'things-to-do' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 PlacesController::display() - APP/Controller/PlacesController.php, line 501 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? 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