RAT Iowa Update

[shadowtackle@att.net]

Dear All-in-all:

    In Iowa now. Much goodwill surrounds the event. I've 
matched shelter requests with shelter donations. This 
note asks a few favors. If you are coming and still need 
a place to stay, could you get in touch? All donated 
beds/sofas are spoken for right now, but I'd be happy to 
shake the tree again. Also, if you plan on coming and 
are willing to go double occupancy on a room - could you 
put your name on a list and circulate it here? This 
could yeild savings or provide a forum for generosity if 
you want to give the extra bed away. With rides - 
regardless of your point of origin, if you're 
able/willing to take passengers, could you post? Could 
we make a separate list of everyone who's pretty sure 
they're coming? This would help with hospitality - how 
much food to get, what sosrt of rooms to hold. Lastly, 
if you're flying and would like a ride from the airport 
(fly into Cedar Rapids) - get me your arrival time. If 
you want to make your own way in, the shuttle van from 
CR to Iowa City runs twenty bucks, takes about half an 
hour.

     Those renting rooms: the Iowa House is the most 
convenient - minutes away on foot. Not the cheapest; 
call and ask for their best rate. If they say they're 
full, ask for rooms held for under Theater Rat. These 
are smoking rooms with river views, $77 incl tax, single 
or double occupancy, two double beds per room. But if 
the hotel's not full, they have places that go for 
cheaper. City Plaza is also close; the B&B's are very 
nice and within  walking distance. List from original 
invite follows. If lodging is an obstacle to your 
coming, let me know - there always seems to be a way...

     The cold can be quite an adventure if you're not 
used to it. The building is nice and toasty - but you'll 
need a good hat, gloves, socks to get anywhere.
     

A draft schedule:

February 17-20

Thursday:
7:30 pm. Assemble in the lobby of the Theater Building. 
Dinner, introductions, orientation, set the agenda.

Friday: 
9-10 - Breakfast
10-1 - Session A, Argentina
1-2 - Lunch
2-5 - Session B - Northern Ireland
6:30-7:30 - Dinner
8-9 - Performance, Dah

Saturday:
9-10, Interfaith Reflection: Prayer, meditation and 
activism (food avail.)
10-1 - Session C, Yugoslavia
1-2 - Lunch
2-5 - Session D, Things Unsaid: Questions, Responses 
emerging from earlier sessions
6:30-7:30 - Dinner
8-9 - Performance, Kathy Randels
10-12 - Rat Cafe, open performance space

Sunday
9-10 - Breakfast
10-1 - Practicum: works created on site; 
writing/rehearsal methodology.
1-2 - Lunch
2-4 - What then must we do? Concrete proposals for the 
new theater. Also: the next conference.

Your thoughts? Sessions A, B, C are presentations + 
conversation before the whole group. Saturday afternoon 
and Sunday morning may involve separate, simultaneous 
meetings with a general report back to the full group. 
Sunday afternoon is all of us, and this projection into 
future action is quite important.

     Looking forward to the lists, and more, to your 
presence.

Reprise - a partial list of places to stay, assembled by 
R.A. Wray, a UI student helping us out on this project.

Hotel/Motel (Walking distance)

Alexis Park Inn, 319-337-8665; $34.95/ single – $59.95 
for a 3 bedroom per night
City Plaza, 319-337-4058. GROUP RATES. This is the best 
deal so far: $89.00 for 4 people per night provided we 
have a group of at least 20 there. (some haggle room in 
general, is the feel, ed.)
Iowa House, 319-335-3513.

B&B (Walking distance)

Golden Haug, 319-354-4284; $75-99.00 per night
Bostick Guest House, 319-354-2453
Brown Street Inn, 319-338-0435
Haverkamp B&B-319-337-4363-$40-45 per night.

Coralville Motels (A short drive)

Best Western, 319-351-0400-$99 per night I think.
Comfort Inn, 319-351-8144-$56.70 for single/$63.00 for 
double.



peace,


erik