January 11, 2008 – “Ring of Fire – The Music of Johnny Cash” – The music of the man in black ignites the stage in this new Broadway musical featuring 38 signature songs from the legendary Johnny Cash. Join the Hometown Club travelers as we hear stories of passion, redemption, humor and salvation in this musical celebration!  Our evening meal will be served at Christopher’s.

February 10, 2008 – “Enchanted April” – This Sunday afternoon trip begins with lunch at the Iowa Machine Shed followed by the production at the Des Moines Playhouse.  This production is a feel-good show that shines with hope, joy, romance and yes, enchantment! 

February 14, 2008 – “Twelve Angry Men” – Get ready to eat Italian as Tumea & Sons Restaurant will host our lunch before this production at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines.  Twelve jurors. Twelve walks of life.  And only two ways to rule:  guilty or not guilty.  Come along and join the Hometown Club as we learn the shocking truth! 

March 14, 2008 – “Riverdance” – First Newton National Bank Hometown Club travelers will have the opportunity to see the thunderous celebration of Irish music, song and dance that has tapped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe.  Our evening meal will be served at Embassy Suites. This will be a popular one so sign up quickly! 

March 16, 2008 – “Cedar Rapids Follies” – Hometown Club travelers will be going to the Cedar Rapids Follies matinee show presented at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Follies 2008 is rolling out the red carpet for “Tony, Oscar & Emmy” with this twenty-nine year tradition, a cast of over 100 talented singers and dancers backed by a full orchestra.  Lunch prior to this performance will be at the Best Western Longbranch Hotel & Convention Center.  Like a variety show – sign up soon as this is a great show!

March 30, 2008 – “Sarah, Plain & Tall” – The Des Moines Playhouse will be presenting this heartwarming production as Sarah arrives from the East to become a mother and wife to a Midwestern farmer and his son.  Upon arrival, she brings song, joy and happiness back into their lives while learning to love her new home in Kansas.  The General Store Eatery will host our early lunch.  All ages will enjoy this wonderful family story!

April 9, 2008 – “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” – Our buffet meal will be at Forte’ before departing for the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines.  This Tony Award winning new musical comedy which six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser!  Guaranteed to be a bona fide crowd pleaser – so sign up soon!

April 23, 2008 – “The Honky Tonk Angels” – The Old Creamery Theatre will host the First Newton National Bank Hometown Club for a matinee show.  This production begins with three ladies who leave their everyday lives to pursue their dream of singing in Nashville.  Enjoy favorite songs like “Stand by Your Man”, “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, and “9 to 5” in this charming musical.  Our evening meal will be served family style at the Ox Yoke Inn.  The Old Creamery Theatre trips are always a favorite of our club so don’t wait to long!

May 1, 2008 – “The Pajama Game” – Our evening trip begins with a meal at Sam & Gabe’s Italian Bistro with a choice of three main entrees followed by the production at the Des Moines Playhouse.   Fun and romance, song and dance; everything included in this musical!  It is a delightful, sassy and fast paced show so bring along your appetites and get ready to laugh!

May 7, 2008 – “A Bench in the Sun” – The Timepiece Theatre in Brooklyn, Iowa will host the First Newton National Bank Hometown Club for a “home-cooked” meal before this production.  We will meet Harold and Burt which are longtime friends living in a retirement home and spend their time on a bench in the garden bickering.  They soon have a new neighbor which is something new for them to argue about until they find out that a new residence is in the future for them.  Our trips to the Timepiece Theatre are always sell-outs so sign up quickly to see this comedy show!

May 14, 2008 – “May Mystery Trip” – Like a variety trip?  Be sure to sign up for this one as our travelers head for the unknown!!??  Hints include:  artists from another country, a store owned by two ladies that are selling a product made by their pets, learn about herbs and a very “yummy” dessert before departing for Newton!  Get ready to explore and learn more about Iowa! 

June 4-6, 2008 – “International Mystery Trip” – Close your eyes and pretend that you are not at home, not in Iowa but somewhere far away like another country??  This mystery trip will whisk you away to: Germany, Ireland, Cuba, China, Sweden, Mexico, Scotland, Lithuania and Ukraine in just three short days!  First Newton National Bank Hometown Club will travel with Union State Bank Golden Opportunity Club on this trip so a limited number of seating is available.  What a great way to meet new friends – sign up soon!

June 11, 2008 – “Menopause the Musical” – Hometown Club travelers will lunch at Thymes Remembered Tea Room in Perry, Iowa before departing for Hoyt Sherman for this hilarious production!  The show begins with four women at a lingerie sale with nothing in common except for memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats and much more!  Bring along your appetite and get ready for an entertaining afternoon! 

June 19, 2008 – “Leading Ladies” – Our evening begins with a meal at Chuck’s Italian Restaurant before traveling onto the Des Moines Playhouse.  This production is a side-splitting comedy of mistaken identity and harebrained schemes by Leo & Jack which are two actors down on their luck!  Sign up soon to know the rest of the story. . . .

June 24-July 1, 2008 – “Path to Freedom” – First Newton National Bank Hometown Club travelers will be visiting the Gettysburg and Washington DC areas.  Highlights for this trip include:  Gettysburg Visitor Center, Boyd’s Bear Barn, Arlington National Cemetery, evening memorial tour, National Cathedral, Bureau of Engraving, United States Naval Academy, Maryland State House, Smithsonian Institute, National Archives and lots of fun along the way!  What a wonderful way to build new friendships! 

July 10, 2008 – “Brett Family Singers” – This very popular and talented family group coming from Branson is a favorite of our Hometown Club.  Their love of each other, for their audience and for great music shines through every minute of this power packed show.  After our matinee performance our evening family style meal will be at the Ronneburg Restaurant.   Come along and enjoy the great harmony of this group!

July/August 2008 – “Tearoom Trip” – This annual trip plans are not completed at this time – please call or check the Hometown Exclusive newsletter for more details. 

August 13, 2008 – “Goin to the Fair” – Join the First Newton National Bank Hometown Club friends for a wonderful day at the Iowa State Fair.  Don’t need to worry about parking far away or the cost to park or getting and admittance ticket which is inclusive in the trip cost.  Enjoy the day strolling along, view the various attractions or shows or just take a seat on the many benches to watch other fairgoers! 

September 25-28, 2008 – “Cranberries and More” – It is fall and time for the cranberry harvest!  This trip will take the First Newton National Bank Hometown Club to Minnesota and Wisconsin to visit/tour the following attractions:   Watkins Vanilla Museum, stained glass studio tour, Cranberry Festival and bog tour, Railroad & Doll Museum, City Brewery at LaCrosse, luncheon cruise aboard the LaCrosse Queen and an apple orchard stop on the way back to Newton.  Mark your travelin’ calendar to join us!

October 7-10, 2008 – “Autumn Interlude Tour” – If it didn’t work in your travelin’ calendar for the September trip to Wisconsin here is another opportunity for a great fall trip!  Places that First Newton National Bank Hometown Club travelers will be visiting are:  Old Mill Restaurant (a favorite of our group), L.A.R.K. Toys, Cabin Ridge Rides for a horse-drawn wagon ride, “Hysterically Historical” tour of Eau Claire with a costumed guide, Paul Bunyan Logging Camp, Chippewa Valley Museum, comedy performance by the “Jail Bailers”, Fanny Hill Theatre, cheese factory, National Eagle Center and the Anderson House. Wow!  Sounds like a busy and quite a variety type trip – so pack your bags and get ready for lots of fun!

October 22, 2008 – “Whose Wives Are They Anyway” – This matinee performance will be held at the Old Creamery Theatre in Amana and by the name of this production you will have figured out that it will have a funny, zany, story line.  These two actors (David & John) will have to be quick if they’re going to keep up with the ever-growing chaos in their life. Sounds like a great show!

November 3-11, 2008 – “Tuscan Vacation” – First Newton National Bank Hometown Club will be taking a motor coach to/from Chicago O’Hare International Airport for our Italy getaway!  The following cities will be visited:  Venice, Florence, Pisa, Siena, Lucca & San Gimignano.  We will be driving through the heart of the wine country over the rolling hills, walking down the narrow streets and past the medieval towers and walls to a beautiful scenic spot overlooking the Tuscan landscape. Many memories of adventure, discovery and experience will be gained on this “Tuscan Vacation”. 

November 17-20, 2008 – “Christmas in Branson” – Join the First Newton National Bank Hometown Club travelers as we will be Branson bound in November!  This trip offers two brand new shows at theatres that are being built and will be open in time for our upcoming trip.  The shows/stops we will be visiting are:  Presley’s Mountain Show, SIX Holiday Show, 14 Karat Country Show, holiday light tour, Miller Pecan Farm, Clay Cooper Country Holiday Show, Great American Wild West Show, Noah – the Musical, Country Barn Stop – what a great way to get into the holiday season early!

December 10, 2008 – “Opal’s Husband” – Hometown Club members will have another opportunity to travel along to Brooklyn, Iowa for a meal and show at the Timepiece Theatre.  This story line features Opal looking for a husband for her friend, Rosie.  What Opal finds is a ninety-five year old escapee from a nursing home and suddenly Rosie changes her mind and Opal is the new bride.  The bride groom has his own agenda and soon the plans go astray for these individuals.  This trip will be a popular one so don’t hesitate to sign up soon!  

    **Trips/events subject to change

    **Trips/events can be added at anytime.