Elaine Mattingly

UNDER DEVELOPMENT—STRANDED IN STONE CITY, a new musical

Book by Elaine Mattingly, music by John Mattingly, with Elaine Mattingly

It's 1973 and the battle of the sexes is is in full swing, homosexuality is no longer an offical mental health disorder, the troops are home from Viet Nam and the village of Stone City, Iowa is preparing for the first-ever American Gothic Festival and the arrival of local celebrity Nan Wood Graham, the model for the sour-faced daughter in her brother's famous painting. Siblings Anna, Vince and David Mannville are at the center of it all as complications arrive, including a trainful of stranded passengers during an unexpected April snowstorm. How will residents of tiny Stone City handle the onslaught of stranded strangers? Will the show go on? What havoc will all that snow wreak? Find out in this new musical chockfull of references to the epic year that was 1973.

ONGOING PROJECTS:  

Grant Wood Country Forum, founder/director—January 2026 will mark the sixth year of this lively art-history-culture-creative-writing online free forum, in partnership with the Grant Wood Art Colony on the University of Iowa campus. Participants and observers experience opportunities to learn and converse, with all things Grant Wood and Grant Wood Country as springboards and muses. 

Grant Wood Country Chronicle, founder/editor—This publication, most recently sponsored by the Cedar Rapids Public Library and offered free on a limited basis, is a wonderful opportunity for readers to experience the life and legacy of all things Grant Wood and Grant Wood Country, as revealed by those involved in the annual Grant Wood Country Forum online series. Digital editions are available in the digital archives of The History Center (Cedar Rapids); use keyword phrase “Grant Wood Country” to access both editions that cover 2021 through 2025.

Grant Wood Country Loose Leaf Poems—A unique folio format allows readers to engage the twenty poems in this collection in a more hands-on way, enriching the experience. Sumptuous custom woodcut art by Margaret Chancellor Caldwell of Newton, Iowa. See Home page for more info or to purchase.

PAST PROJECTS: Theatrical 

I have been fortunate to receive many opportunities to develop and stage original work, from short sketches to full-length presentations. Much of my work has benefitted enormously from the stellar musical compositions of John Mattingly. Below are descriptions. 

PLAYS, SKETCHES, LIBRETTI, DOCUMENTARY: 

 • American Dream, a full-length original musical with environmental themes. Received Iowa Arts Council funding, and was presented in conjunction with a public education component, and a workshop by environmental artist Laurie Miles of Ipswich, Massachussettes. 

• Trees In Any Language, served as lead writer/producer for this artful public education video project offered by Trees Forever. The project was nominated for three Iowa Film Awards (Writing/Producer, Music Score [Robin Jons], Editing). It won one for Editing.

• Dinner By Moonlight— An elegant, amusing, and occasionaly eerie, evening of short theatrical varieties, live music, cocktail hour, charcuterie, an dessert. At Newton's Thunderdome venue.

• Emerging Spring, a revue show featuring original music and sketches, among other environmentally-themed fare. Included a piece entitled Nature Walk that was offered entered by high school speech students in competition. 

• A Day In the Life of an Urban Tree, original sketch written for 2nd Annual Alliance for Community Trees Membership Conference. 

Sugar Grove Presents Dinner Entertainment Series— 

Wrote and co-produced  Sugar Grove Presents dinner entertainment series which featured carefully orchestrated theatrical, musical and culinary arts, all held in a Silos & Smokestacks National Park Service Heritage Attraction venue (Sugar Grove Gatheringplace, Newton, Iowa). For more than five years, the series entertained public and private groups. Offerings included: 

• House of Iowa: Real Iowa Ghost Stories Brought Back To Life, based on historical research conducted by Chad Lewis and Terry Fisk in their publication The Iowa Road Guide to Haunted Locations (by permission). A musical theatrical odyssey through the haunted Iowa landscape, as told through the experience of a pair of unsuspecting newlyweds. 

• Dog Days of Winter, a campy send-up of a Mississippi Riverboat excursion, complete with down-on-their-luck Southern belles, gamblers, and even Mark Twain, whose authentic text is woven into the adventure. 

• The Ghouls Next Door: Class warfare never was so macabre, or campy, as in this all-original musical comedy. Oherworldly neighbors, stolen art, spoiled children, romance and bells, bells, bells were prominent 

• Magically Delicious, featured the rich and playful traditions of Ireland, which run headlong into a generous helping of fairy-tale-laced musical farce. A combination of familiar Irish tunes frolick through the show alongside surprising parodies of pop & Broadway tunes. Expect the unexpected on this visit to the Emerald Isle! 

• Sugar Grove Babies, a fast-paced music and comedy romp offered up original and classic quick bits, sketches and musical numbers inspired by great vintage comic traditions like Laugh-In, Hee-Haw, Saturday Night Live, Carol Burnett, Vaudeville, and other variety show favorites. Myriad props, costumes and shenanigans ensued.

• Diners On the Storm: This parody show played to acclaim, largely due to the enduring dramatic quality of music by The Doors. When their theatrical sensibility converged with supernatural elements and the sardonic send-up, it was time to Break On through to the Other Side. 

• The Raven’s Wrath. It’s time for the rest of the story. This all-original text/music romp envisioned a prequel to the classic Poe poem, complete with classic rock send-ups set in the Wild West, and the still-alive Lenore.