Iowa Theatre Artists Company (ITAC)

03/12/2026

Saturday! Still some space for a few more NICE Jammers🪕🎻🎶!!!

Wasn't sure what to expect with the weather on Saturday, March 14, so Ice Jam is becoming (N)Ice Jam with the hope of a beautiful, sunny above-average Spring-like day. Join Paul and Marc for a musical day camp that is sure to sharpen your skills on your favorite stringed instrument. Better Call Paul and reserve a spot. Enrollment is limited!

02/19/2026

It's time for (N)Ice Jam in March. Hope to see you there!!

Wasn't sure what to expect with the weather on Saturday, March 14, so Ice Jam is becoming (N)Ice Jam with the hope of a beautiful, sunny above-average Spring-like day. Join Paul and Marc for a musical day camp that is sure to sharpen your skills on your favorite stringed instrument. Better Call Paul and reserve a spot. Enrollment is limited!

02/18/2026

Wasn't sure what to expect with the weather on Saturday, March 14, so Ice Jam is becoming (N)Ice Jam with the hope of a beautiful, sunny above-average Spring-like day. Join Paul and Marc for a musical day camp that is sure to sharpen your skills on your favorite stringed instrument. Better Call Paul and reserve a spot. Enrollment is limited!

10/27/2025

Corrected email address for Paul! Still a few openings for this Saturday!!!

10/17/2025

A great day for Beginning and Intermediate Bluegrass musicians! Better Call Paul!

07/09/2025

ONLY PAUL Presented at Celebration Hall on July 12
July 3, 2025

When Paul Roberts (Sharon Center) was in the third grade at country day school, his teacher, Miss Bontrager, asked him to sing a solo in the Christmas program. The idea of singing in front of others was not something Roberts wanted to do. In 7th grade he was willing to take a failing grade rather than sing in front of others. On Saturday, July 12, Roberts will take the stage at Hillcrest Academy to perform “Only Paul” featuring his skill as a banjo player as well as playing and singing many of his original songs interspersed with personal stories that mark highlights in his journey to becoming a musician. In addition to Roberts, Mark Wilson (Hills) plays lead guitar and Marc Janssen (Solon) will be on mandolin and fiddle backing up Roberts in an original show that opened at the Amana Performing Arts Center in June.

Roberts is a natural storyteller as well as an accomplished musician and has delighted audiences over the years in bluegrass groups such as The Great Bluegrass Herons, Banjoy and Burlington Street Bluegrass Band among others. Performing bluegrass music eventually led to work on professional stages in Eastern Iowa including the Old Creamery Theatre and the Iowa Theatre Artists Company (ITAC), both located in Amana. At a bluegrass event a couple of years back, Tom Johnson, who co-founded and served as Artistic Director and Producer at both the Old Creamery Company and ITAC for many years, mentioned to Roberts that his stories and songs would make a great one-man show. Roberts' response mirrored his third grade reaction to Miss Bontrager. A one-man show was not something he felt comfortable doing. But, after giving it some thought over the next year or so, he began to think that maybe he could do something like that. Once that thought entered into his mind, he contacted Johnson and the two began to work together putting his stories onto the written page and weaving his original songs and music into a show to entertain local audiences. His stories tell the journey from his third grade teacher asking him to sing about a cow to writing songs and tunes that were often inspired by life on the farm.

On Saturday, July 12 at 7pm on the Celebration Hall stage at Hillcrest Academy, the question will be answered: Did Miss Bontrager convince Roberts to sing a solo in third grade? General Admission tickets are $15 and more Information and performance details can be found on the theater website: iowatheatreartists.org. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by visiting the Bad Angle Events website: https://www.badangleevents.org/

What: Wild Rosie’s Rip Roarin’ Radio Round Up

Only Paul – The Story of an Iowa Farm Boy and His Banjo

Where: Hillcrest Academy – Celebration Hall

1421 - 540th St Kalona

When: Saturday, July 12

Performance Time: 7:00 PM

Price: $15

General Admission – Tickets available through the following link: https://celebrationhall.ticketspice.com/only-paul

Paul Roberts (Center) with Marc Janssen (left) and Mark Wilson (right)

05/17/2025

A new musical r***e from ITAC. This original series of musical events is set in the fictitious radio station, WWOW, with Wild Rosie (Meg Merckens) broadcasting from a town “not far away and in a time not quite like our own.” The show within a show will feature real people sharing their own stories through words and music.

First up in the series is Paul Roberts of Sharon Center, a popular professional musician in Eastern Iowa. Coming from a farming background, Roberts began playing banjo over forty years ago and performs regularly with numerous bluegrass groups in the area. Joining Roberts on stage will be Marc Janssen (Solon) on fiddle and mandolin, and Mark Wilson (Hills) on lead guitar.

*Six performances at three different locations on June 6, 7, 21, and July 12, 2025. See flier for details! Ticket information will be posted soon. For any questions, please contact [email protected].

02/06/2025

Another fun One-Day Bluegrass Camp coming up!!! Call to enroll or if you have any questions!

11/05/2024

SHARON CENTER: A one-day bluegrass jam camp will be offered on Saturday, November 16 at the Sharon Center United Methodist Church in rural Sharon Center. The camp will include two work sessions and an old-time jam taught by instructors Marc Janssen of Iowa City and Paul Roberts of Sharon Center. This is a group-instruction camp for acoustic string musicians in the beginning and intermediate skill levels.

The Saturday schedule begins with check-in at 9:00 am and a first instructional session is scheduled from 9:30 - 11:30 am. A second class runs from 12:30 – 2:30 pm. An old-time bluegrass jam for students and area musicians will follow the second session and will run to 3:30 pm. The jam is open to the public and is free admission.

Marc Janssen teaches fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, dobro, and steel guitar, and is an active member of the Iowa City traditional music scene. He performs his original country and folk music with Marc Janssen & the Locals, traditional bluegrass with The Burlington Street Bluegrass Band, old-time string band music with The Splinters and Janssen & Mehaffey, and traditional jazz with Dandelion Stompers. When not performing or teaching, Janssen operates a violin shop at his rural Solon farm.

Paul Roberts has been playing bluegrass music since 1978. He plays banjo, bass and guitar, and is a singer-songwriter. He has done a great deal of performing with two of Eastern Iowa's theatrical groups, Iowa Theatre Artists Company and The Old Creamery Theatre. Roberts has been teaching students to play banjo, guitar, bass guitar, and the big bass fiddle for more than 20 years through private lessons and has been an instructor at Strawberry Jam Camp for 15 years. Paul performs with The Great Bluegrass Herons, Burlington Street Bluegrass Band, Banjoy, the McPunk Brothers, the Prairie Plinkers, and his church band Sharon Praise. He likes to pick!

Cost for the one-day camp is $75. Pizza lunch will be provided. For more information and enrollment, please contact Paul Roberts: (319) 683-2222 or email: [email protected]. Enrollment is limited.
At A Glance:What: One Day Bluegrass String Camp
For: Beginning and Intermediate Bluegrass Acoustic String Musicians
Event Sponsor: Marc Janssen and Paul Roberts
Event Location: Sharon Center United Methodist Church 2804 520th St SW, Kalona, IA 52247 (rural Sharon Center)
When: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: 9 am – 3:30 pm
Cost: $75
Pre-Registration is Required
Contact/Phone: Paul Roberts – (319) 683-2222
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]

07/05/2023

This coming Sunday ~ July 9! Come join the fun at the Koru Berry Farm in Homestead! Picnic (serving until Sold Out!), Farmer's Market and terrific bluegrass music by The Anderegg Family! See you there ~ (poster design: Blair Gauntt)

06/24/2023

This summer on SUNDAYS from 4-7pm (July 9 - August 6) over at the Koru Berry Farm in rural Homestead. Free Bluegrass Concerts along with a Farmer's Market and a Picnic meal available! Great Music, Good Food, Fun Beverages, Beautiful location... join us and celebrate summer in Iowa! (Poster Design by Blair Gauntt)