Grant Wood: Prairie Rebel

On Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Betty Strong Encounter Center auditorium, actor Tom Milligan performs as Grant Wood: Prairie Rebel. Admission is free, but freewill donations are encouraged. In this 45-minute, one-man show, Grant Wood chats with the audience as if talking to an old friend across the backyard fence, or maybe at his home at Five Turner Alley in Cedar Rapids. He tells us about his life and how he changed the art world forever with his work. It is the man behind American Gothic that we hear and see, and the story of how he took the moments, the memories and the people of our state to show the whole world the specialness of this Iowa. After the presentation, the audience is encouraged to ask questions about Grant Wood and his life. Tom Milligan has been a working theatrical professional for the past 45 years, working as an actor, director, scene designer, producer, and writer. Originally from Des Moines, companies credited to his resume include Charlie's Showplace Dinner Theatre, The Drake Opera, The Drama Workshop, and The Old Creamery Theatre. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center has received a grant award from Humanities Iowa, a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, in support of the Humanities Series programs.