Drop Dead! a Jackson Community College Production

A cast of has-been actors plan to revive their careers in Drop Dead!-- a potboiler murder mystery directed by "Wonder Child of the Broadway Stage" Victor Le Pewe (a psychotic eye twitching megalomaniac who is a legend in his own mind). The cheap producer, Sol has allotted a set budget of $35.00 and has cast his bubble gum chomping air headed girlfriend Candy (a former adult film star) in the play.

Among the other cast members are: Mona Monet—a has-been star of 80’s TV, Brent Reynolds—who considers himself “an actor,” Chaz Looney—star struck and young , Constance Crawford—an ancient actress that cannot see or hear well and Dick Shalit—brother to Gene Shalit and a TV repairman . The cast is rounded out by Phillip--the put upon stage manager and Alabama Miller--the wronged playwright. At the dress rehearsal the set falls, props break, and the producer and an actor are murdered. During the opening night performance, the murders continue. The remaining actors must save the show, their careers, solve the mystery and stay alive for curtain call. It is a clever play within a play—murder mystery within a murder mystery. Lots of laughs—good fun!

Auditions for Seussical the Musical

Auditions for Center Stage Jackson's production of Seussical the Musical will be held on Monday, January 28th and Tuesday, January 29th from 6PM to 8:30PM at the First Congregational Church, 120 N. Jackson Street...use the Pearl Street entrance. More details are available at the Center Stage Jackson website. Click here.

VIP Grant Received from Consumers Energy Foundation

On Wednesday evening just before the board and other members of Center Stage Jackson toured the historical Michigan Theatre in downtown Jackson, member Doug Meyers presented President Chris Gorton with a check for $750 from the Consumers Energy Foundation.

The check was part of the Volunteer Investment (VIP) Program recognizing organizations where employees and/or retirees have volunteered during the past 12 months. Doug and Don Mansfield filed the request on behalf of Center Stage!

The grant was doubled as a result of the Foundation's CEEPSACER Program. CEEPSACER (CMS Energy Employees Providing Service Around Children's Essential Resources) was established as part of Consumers Energy's commitment to America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth.

The money will be used to continue, strengthen, and extend the reach of the Youth Theatre program begun this past year. Earlier grants allowed Center Stage to lower ticket prices for young people making live theatre more accessible.

Miss Evers' Boys

Miss Evers' Boys, a fictionalized account of the Tuskegee Experiment by David Feldshuh, will be presented by the Riverwalk Theatre in Lansing on February 21 - 24 & 28 - March 2, 2008.

Monica Sanders of Jackson has the key role of Eunice Evers.

This warm, moving, surprisingly humorous play explores social and ethical issues at the heart of the infamous 40-year governmental TuskegeeStudy of Untreated Blacks with Syphilis. Doctors hid the true nature of their research and treated the men with placebos.

Tickets go on sale January 29, 2008. Visit the Riverwalk site for more informaton.

2008 Shaw Festival

The Shaw Festival box office is now open to the public to purchase tickets to the 2008 season. The festival has three theatres located in Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. The season includes An Inspector Calls, Wonderful Town, Mrs. Warren's Profession, The Stepmother, A Little Night Music, Belle Moral, Getting Married, The Little Foxes, After the Dance, The President and Follies: In Concert (limited engagement), as well as the Reading Series and a variety of activities including workshops and seminars.

For ticket information and brochures, call (800) 511-SHAW or visit www.shawfest.com.

Want to listen to show tunes on your computer?

Check out Jukebox. It will play all of your favorite songs from 1952 through 1982. There is even a section at the bottom that allows you to listen to show tunes, TV show themes, Movie themes and several others. It is free!

There is a separate volume control, which you should use in conjunction with your computer's volume control. One of the best features is that it will play in the background so you can be working and still listen to music. Check out Jukebox here or go straight to show tunes here.

Theatre in Video for FREE!

Do you have a Jackson District Library card? Visit the Jackson District Library website and look under ejdl in a list on the left hand side of the screen. If you don't have a library card, you might want to get one so you can use this incredible theatre resource. If you do have a library card, you can access Theatre in Video on your computer right now!

Theatre in Video contains more than 250 definitive performances of the world's leading plays, together with more than 100 film documentaries, online in streaming video. Hundreds of leading playwrights, actors and director are included. See landmark performances such as The Iceman Cometh, King Lear, Awake and Sing, Long Day's Journey into Night, and Othello. You can bookmark specific scenes, monologues and staging.
Whether you are a student, theatre instructor or researcher, or just love great theatre, you need to take a look at this valuable site.

Remember Mark Hisler?

Did you finally notice that Mark Hisler's Potboiler Productions aren't around anymore? Mark says he is happy and well and has been living in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the last 4 months. He didn't waste any time getting acquainted with the theatre community there and has already finished a 4 week run played Sergeant Trotter in The Mousetrap for the Santa Fe Playhouse.

Mark, who worked for J-Town Clubhouse on West Avenue in Jackson, took a similar position with the Santa Fe Clubhouse, New Mexico's first clubhouse. A Clubhouse is a community intentionally organized to support individuals living with the effects of mental illness. They are found throughout the world.

Mark hopes to remount Lobby Hero (by Kenneth Lonergan) as director with the Santa Fe Playhouse next year. The picture is from the Jackson production (from left to right) Emily Patton, Ann Holt, Mark Hisler, Tom Foley, and Eric Duvall.

JTV is now ONLINE!

Now you can watch JTV, Jackson's premier television station, anytime, anywhere. JTV is America's first and only station streaming 100% of its programming 24/7.

Check it out by clicking here. Help us spread the word!

~ Welcome 2008 ~

Auditions at Croswell

The musical Two by Two by Richard Rogers and Martin Charnin is auditioning on January 5 and 6 from 2 pm to 4 pm each day and on January 6 from 6 to 8 pm. The show, a musical retelling of the story of Noah, will be performed in March at the Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

Roles available include Noah, his wife Esther, their three sons and their sons' spouses.

You should be prepared to sing and bring your own sheet music. There will be no taped music or a cappella singing.

For more information, call 517-263-6868 or visit www.croswell.org.

Cast of Miracle Worker is Announced!

Director Denise Weber has cast "The Miracle Worker", which will be presented at the Middle School at Parkside March 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 with two daytime assemblies on the 13^th and 14^th.

A Doctor – Daniel Bishop
Kate Keller – Breeda Miller
Captain Keller – Steve Dietrich
Helen – Carly Brake
Aunt Ev – Sand Richards
James – David Fuller
Mildred Keller - Cameron Oulch
Annie Sullivan – Sarah Weber
Anagnos – Doug Meyers
Viney – Melissa Turner
Martha - Angelia Scott
Percy - D'Angelo Brown
Belle - Hailey Miller
Blind Children – Theresa Bishop, Alicia Brown, Emily Hill,
Giordan Nazaruk, Kailey Nazaruk, Grace Patton,
Merina Perrin, Jason Weber-Boling
Boy’s Voice (Jimmie) – Dustin Schonhard
Man’s Voice/Doctor's Voice – T.R. Krupa
First Crone – Marina Perrin
Second Crone – Theresa Bishop
Third Crone – Grace Patton

Happy Christmas to Center Stage Jackson's Christian readers.

And to everyone, peace on earth and goodwill towards all.

ACAJC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOB DESCRIPTION

The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Jackson County (ACAJC) is seeking its first Executive Director to enable the ACAJC Board to meet the goals of the Jackson County Community Cultural Plan and its various other initiatives. This position requires strategic thinking, creative problem solving, strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to deal with multiple complex projects. A bachelor’s degree is required, although an advanced degree is preferred. Previous experience should include 1 to 3 years of program management with an emphasis on nonprofit and public organizations. Submit resume, cover letter and salary requirements by January 31, 2008, to: ACAJC, P. O. Box 1463, Jackson, MI 49204. Go to acajc.org for details.

Auditions at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre has scheduled auditions for January 6 and 7 at 7 p.m. both days for the comedy Moon Over Buffalo. The auditions are being held at the theater's rehearsal studio, 322 W. Ann Street.

Auditioners will be asked to read from the script and participate in theater games. If callbacks are needed, they will be on January 9 at 7 pm. There are roles for four men ages 25-65 and four women ages 20 to 80.

Moon Over Buffalo is a romantic farce about a theater troupe in Buffalo, NY in th 1950s. The show will be presented at the University of Michigan's Arthur Miller Theatre March 6 - 9.

For more information, visit the website or call 734-971-2228.

JUDY VANZO 1933 - 2007

Judy Vanzo appeared in Something's Afoot as Miss Tweed, directed by Ann Holt for the Clark Lake Players in 1984. Once you saw her on stage or met her in person, you never forgot her. She was a very special person - as compassionate as she was talented and funny.

For 36 years Croswell Opera House was her home. Judy was a cast member for Barefoot in the Park, the very first show produced by the Croswell after it was transformed from a movie house back into a performing theater as it had been in its early days. She was an integral part of the Croswell from that summer of 1968 on. Among her theatrical credits highlights were roles in Mame, Picnic, Steel Magnolias, Show Boat, You Can’t Take It With You, Noises Off, The Trip to Bountiful, The Gin Game, and her last show Rumors in 2004.

JUDITH ANN “JUDY” VANZO, age 73, of Adrian, died December 11, 2007, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. She was born December 28, 1933, in Anderson, Indiana to Ivan and Elsie Marie (Baker) Hale. Judy retired in 1995, from the LISD, where she was a Speech Therapist. She dearly adored her grandchildren. Judy loved plays and the theater. She began acting as a child, and throughout her life, acted in too many roles to list, in a number of cities. Judy was an extensive traveler. She collected owls, was an avid knitter and movie fan. Judy is survived by one son, Mark Steven Vanzo and his wife, Annette of Germany; one daughter, Michele Marie Vanzo and her husband, Tom D’Angelo of Brighton, MI; two sisters, Trish Everman of Anderson, IN and Daphne Hoppes of Noblesville, IN; six grandchildren, Amy, Michele, Lilly, Tim, Nicholas and James. She was preceded in death by her parents and her step-father, Keith Mills. Funeral services for Judith will be held on Monday, December 17, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian with Sister Helen Walling IHM officiating. Burial will be in Maple Shade Cemetery in Onsted. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian. Memorial contributions may be made to the Croswell Opera House. Envelopes are available at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian.

GET YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!

Help Welcome Bill Chapin

Even if you've already had the opportunity to meet him, please join us at The Nomad Bookhouse, Mechanic Street in downtown Jackson on Friday, December 7th, 5:00PM till whenever, to meet Bill Chapin, the new Arts and Entertainment writer for the Citizen Patriot.

The Jackson District Library and the Nomad Bookhouse hope to host a great representation of our artistic community. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served. Please spread the word to all you might think interested.

Auditions for The Miracle Worker

Center Stage Jackson announces auditions for the play The Miracle Worker to be directed by Denise Weber. Auditions will take place on Monday and Tuesday, December 10^th and 11^th from 6:30 p.m. through 8:30 p.m. at the administration building by the circular drive at the Middle School at Parkside, 2400 Fourth St., Jackson, Michigan. Production dates are March 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 with two daytime assemblies on the 13^th and 14^th. All will take place in the auditorium at the Middle School at Parkside.

The Miracle Worker tells the story of blind, deaf and mute Helen Keller, whose dark world is opened by her teacher, Annie Sullivan, who had been born blind, but gained her sight after operations on her eyes. Helen is spoiled and almost animal like, as her family has not known how to get through to her. Annie teaches her, not only manners, but the gift of communication, opening up the world to Helen’s curious mind. A stirring dramatization packed with emotions.

The cast includes 7 males ranging in age from 10 - 70 and 7 females ranging in age from 6 - 70. All ethnicities are encouraged to audition, as racial diversity is prevalent in this play. For more details check out the CSJ website.

The March 7th performance will be interpreted for the deaf and the March 9th performance will be interpreted for the deaf, as well as the deaf/blind. For information regarding the deaf/blind interpretations, as well as the auditions, please contact Denise Weber at 517.841.2287.

Peter Pan at the Croswell Opera House

Caitlin Dunlap of Brooklyn is playing Wendy in the Croswell's holiday production of Peter Pan. Caitlin was in CSJ's production of High School Musical this past summer.

Production dates are Friday through Sunday (11/30 - 12/1) and December 7 -9 with shows at 8:00 pm on Fridays, 3:00 and 8:00 pm on Saturday and 3:00 pm on Sundays. Ticket prices range from $10 to $25.

The Croswell Opera House is located at 129 E. Maumee Street in Adrian. For more information call 517-264-7469 or visit www.croswell.org.