Cache Is Not At The Posted Coordinates
Mr. Toot is the mascot not only of the North Iowa Band Festival, but also for Mason City as a whole. His image has appeared on everything from T-Shirts to business cards to city light poles. Now his image also appears on the geocaching map just south of Mason City Iowa. Each of these puzzles will include a fact or story in theme with the art series. Some may also include a question or two for you to answer correctly to find the coordinates.
The Music Man
Sunday afternoon’s performance of The Music Man at the Festival Theatre had a surprise ending.
Steve Ross, who plays the mayor of River City, Iowa in the musical, invited an audience member on stage at the conclusion of the matinee’s curtail call. The honoured guest was Bill Schickel, the mayor of Mason City, Iowa. River City, a fictional town, is based on Schickel’s city. The crowd clapped and cheered enthusiastically as Schickel was introduced.
Schickel presented a key to his city to Ross, who was in full costume as Mayor Shinn. Schickel also invited the fictional mayor and Blythe Wilson, who plays Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn, to visit.
“You really ought to give Iowa a try,” he said.
“We’re planning a road trip,” Ross responded, drawing a chuckle from the audience.
In response, Ross gave Schickel a copy of the Festival’s 60th anniversary publication.
“You can take a little bit of our history back with you,” he said.
In an interview with the Beacon Herald afterwards, Schickel said he’s seen the musical many times, but this was by far the best production he’s ever seen.
“It was just absolutely fabulous,” he said. “It’s just such a timeless story about love and overcoming obstacles, this was just an absolutely fantastic performance.”
The Music Man author Meredith Willson is a hometown hero in Mason City, he said. He’s honoured with The Music Man Square highlighting his work, a streetscape featuring several scenes from the play, and his boyhood home has been renovated.
“He’s a big tourist attraction,” he said.
As for Mason City, about a 10-hour drive from Stratford, it has about 28,000 residents.
“Similar in size to Stratford, just a little bit smaller,” he said. “A lot of similarities.”
The 67-year-old Ohio native and former journalist is currently starting his fourth term as mayor.
“I’ve always loved public service,” he said.
Sunday July 15, 2018 in Stratford Ontario