Love, Loss and What I Wore May 16th Michigan Theatre of Jackson

Charles Miller (2013)

Dr. Charles Miller

Dr. Charles Miller of Clarke Lake, MI joined the Celestial Choir, April 30, 2013. He passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his wife Constance, four children, 16 grandchildren and three great grand-children. Dr. Miller practiced family medicine in Jackson for 26 years. He delivered nearly 900 babies, each of which he considered a miracle. He was formerly the medical director for Jackson Hospice and the Jackson County Medical Care Facility. Dr. Miller received four degrees from Michigan State University including one Bachelor's degree, two Master's degrees and a Doctorate in Medicine. He was a U.S. Marine. Dr. Miller was active in Jackson area theater and vocal organizations including the Jackson Shakespeare Festival, Jackson Civic Theater, the Jackson Chorale and the Jackson Men's Chorus. He sang throughout his life and taught his family the glory of music. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Allegiance Hospice or the Jackson Men's Chorus. The family wishes to thank the Gayle M. Jacob Cancer Center at Allegiance Health for their knowledge, professionalism and abundant warmth and compassion. A memorial Mass will be held Monday, May 6th at 11:00 a.m. at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church in Jackson, Michigan. Guests can arrive an hour early to visit with the family.

Review of THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL

Here's a link to my review of THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL playing for one more weekend at The Fourth Wall on Page Avenue in Jackson, Michigan.

Winners in Regional III AACTfest

BREAKING NEWS

Escanaba places in Region III AACTfest competition!

After a great weekend of theatre and much gnashing of teeth, the winners have been announced for the Region III AACTfest, which will be held in Carmel, Indiana, June 17 - 23, 2013.

Although we didn’t win one of the two top slots, assuring progressing to the nationals, one of our Michigan entries (Escanaba) was “first runner-up,” so to speak. Our other entry (Ann Arbor) wowed the audiences and judges, winning several acting and technical awards. Michigan was very well represented with two spectacular plays and, if Escanaba for any reason goes on to Nationals, they will do us proud again!

Here’s a list of all the shows entered in the Regional AACTFest:

Michigan

Some Things You Need to Know Before the World Ends (A Final Evening with the Illuminati) (Alternate Representative to Nationals)- Players de Noc, Escanaba
Leaving Iowa - Ann Arbor Civic Theatre

Wisconsin

Cradle and All (Proceeding to Nationals) - Wisconsin Rapids Community Theatre
Macbeth - La Crosse Community Theatre
Illinois
The Dining Room - Stage Coach Players, DeKalb

Indiana

The Gifts of the Magi - Kokomo Civic Theatre
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Proceeding to nationals) - Elkhart Civic Theatre

Ohio

Jerry Finnegan’s Sister - The Drama Workshop, Cincinnati

(Reprinted from the CTAM Callboard.)

Do You Use a Tanning Salon?

Dan Risner, Shed Light Productions, Inc. is looking for actors that use tanning salons and have a tan. All ages. He needs them to deliver one line on camera. Would only take about ten minutes to film. Pay is $50.00 for this.

Send a message to dan@shedlightprod.com

Fred Pesetsky (1931 - 2013)

Fred Pesetsky

Fred Pesetsky age 81, died peacefully April 1, 2013, after years of confronting physical challenges. He was born in 1931 to Russian immigrant parents in South River, New Jersey. Fred earned degrees from Rutgers and Bradley Universities, and a PhD from Vanderbilt University. After coming to Jackson in 1961 he worked as a clinical psychologist for the Michigan Department of Corrections, held a professorship at Michigan State University and conducted a private practice. Additionally Fred will be remembered as a skilled and delightful actor with the local theatre groups. Left to mourn his loss is his wife, Sally, his daughter Anna Fugate, his son-in-law Andy, and his grandson Alec Ivan Fugate. A celebration of his life and a tribute to Fred will be held at a later date. Affordable Memorial Services 715 E. Michigan Ave. 517.998.3023

CSJ presents a FREE reading

The Fourth Wall presents. . .

The Fourth Wall presents The Red Dress Diaries, March 16, 8pm.

FOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

A Staged Reading of Selected Stories from:
The RED DRESS Diaries

By Coralie Cederna Johnson

A Play of Monologues & Ensemble Pieces ~
Women's Lives...
Confessions from the Heart

Adult Language

Mary Lou Blanchard, Mandy Stevens, Sandy Dicesare, Lori Pelham, Emily Caffery, Carrie Sayer, Devlin Giroux

Director: Carrie Sayer

There is no admission charge. We hope you will join us for dessert, and Donations to The Fourth Wall are appreciated.

Auditions for Croswell Summer Season

 Auditions for Croswell Opera House Summer season of musicals, March 9, 10, & 16. For more info, go to www.croswell.org

Purple Rose Theatre Apprentice Program

accepting applications 

APPRENTICE PROGRAM 

The Purple Rose  is accepting applications for their apprentice program for 2013 / 2014.

All application materials must be submitted by
March 30, 2013.

Click here to learn more!

 

 

 

 

Dramatic Publishing to Partner with AACT to Create New Play Anthology

During the month of January I was busy reading, reviewing, and ranking twenty full length plays as part of the first AACTNewPlayFest, which was launched to encourage new work.

I wasn't the only one reading plays. There were 200 entries but only six will be announced as winners in June. Those plays will enjoy premier productions around the country at already chosen community theaters and ultimately be published in an anthology by Dramatic Publishing!

A SONG FOR CORETTA OPENS FEBRUARY 15TH

CENTER STAGE JACKSON presents
A Song for Coretta
Opening February 15^th for two weekends

Center Stage Jackson is pleased to announce the opening of A Song for Coretta by playwright Pearl Cleage, to be performed February 15-17 and 22-24, 2013 in the George C. Kiesel Auditorium at the Middle School at Parkside. Curtain times are 7:00pm on Friday and Saturday performances, 2:00pm on Sundays.

Synopsis: On February 6, 2006, people began lining up at dawn outside of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church to pay their respects to the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King, widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose body lay in state in the small sanctuary. By mid-morning, the crowd wound down the street and around the corner of the old red brick building. People of all ages stood patiently for hours, waiting to say goodbye. Sometimes they murmured to each other quietly. Sometimes they shared memories of Mrs. King's extraordinary life and expressed sorrow at her passing. When a cold rain began to fall at sunset, those who had thought to bring umbrellas shared them with those whose resolve was the only thing not dampened by the drizzle. At close to midnight, the crowd had dwindled to a determined few. The five fictional characters in this play are at the end of that long line of mourners.

Starring:
Alaina Kerr
Diane Neely
Mae Warnsley
Khyra Kimble
Melissa Paschall

Artistic Director: Janet Meyer
Producers: Chuck Thor and Tony Krupa
Technical Director: Richard Fifelski
Stage Manager: Katie Meyers.

General admission: $10 for adults and $5 for students.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at centerstagejackson.org. 

Find out more about "A Song for Coretta"

Visit the facebook event page

Youth Theater to Hold Auditions February 7 & 8

CSJ Youth Theater is holding auditions for Twinderella, the musical, on Wednesday, February 6 at 4:30 pm and Thursday, February 7 at 4:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 743 W. Michigan Avenue, Jackson.

Auditions are open to all third through ninth graders. Participants need to attend only one audition, unless called back. No special preparation required.

For more information, contact Doug Meyers at 517-783-1468.

Patti Clark December 23, 1957 - January 26, 2013

You will be missed.

Patti Clark 1957 - 2013

THE ENCORE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY'S 5TH SEASON 2013

THE ENCORE MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY'S 5TH SEASON 2013 

 

Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 

February 7-March 3 

Lend Me A Tenor 

March 28-April 14 

Les Miserables 

July 11-August 11 

Company 

September 26-October 20 

White Christmas 

November 22-December 22 

 

*season subject to change

 

located in Dexter, Michigan. You can visit their website at http://theencoretheatre.org/

 

 

 

Great Deal from The Purple Rose

$22 tickets

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY DISCOUNTS

Save $5 per ticket to any Wednesday or Thursday performance of The Meaning of Almost Everything, a world premiere comedy by Jeff Daniels!
Valid until February 13, 2013.

Good for up to 4 tickets, this offer may not be combined with other discounts.

Mention code MOAE-5E when ordering. 

 GET TICKETS NOW or call 734.433.7673

Welcome 2013!

Purple Rose Theater Offering Winter Classes

Interested in getting some top-notch instruction from professionals close to home. Check out this article about classes being offering this winter at the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea. Highly recommended!

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 5TH ANNUAL YOUTH SINGING COMPETITION

Want to prove to Jackson that you can sing?  Center Stage Jackson – Jackson’s community theatre group - is hosting the Fifth Annual Youth Singing Competition for 13 years old up through 12^th grade on Friday, January 18, 2013 and for young people through 12 years old on Saturday, January 19, 2013.  The competition will be held in the Michigan Theatre of Jackson, 124 N. Mechanic St., Jackson, MI. Performing fee is $20 whether for an individual or a group.  There will be cash prizes for the top performers or acts in each age group!

Participation is on a first come – first serve basis and the number of participants is limited.

The entrance form, guidelines and judging criteria are available online at centerstagejackson.org or call Amie Pierce at 517-769-4802 and have them mailed. But don’t delay! The postmark deadline for entries is Friday, January 11, 2013. Back up CDs may be dropped off at Michigan Theater by Friday, January 11th or a $5 fee will be assessed on the night of the event, however, no application or fees will be accepted at this location. (If all slots are not filled, it may be possible to register at the door for $25.)

Come out to see the show and support our young people!  Admission fee for spectators is $5 with no additional charge for entrants.

Doors open at 6:30 pm and the competition begins at 7:30pm. The purpose of this competition is to have a great time chasing away the winter doldrums while giving students the opportunity to show off their vocal talent.

Master of Ceremonies is Connor Pierce, a junior at Jackson High School. Carly Brake, a sophomore at Lumen Christi and previous winner of the event, will be co-hosting.

Center Stage Jackson is Jackson’s community theatre group.  Formed in 2001 when Jackson Civic Theatre and Clark Lake Players merged, Center Stage Jackson is a non-profit production company dedicated to presenting quality theatrical productions in the Greater Jackson, Michigan area, performing at Jackson Community College, a proud sponsor of CSJ, located at 2111 Emmons Road, Jackson, Michigan, and other venues in the Jackson area.  For more details please visit www.centerstagejackson.org.

 

Christmas in the City 2012

Date/Time:                        December 14, 21 and 22, 2012, 8:00 p.m.

Location:                           The Michigan Theatre

Address:                           124 N. Mechanic Street, Jackson, MI

Ticket Price:                      $20/person

Call:                                  517-783-0962

Participants:   Roxanne Bruner, Kerrie Manders,Justin Marcero, Kent Marcum,   Lori Pelham, Sandy Sykes, Allen Tuttle and Sherra Zuck

                                       

7^th Smash Year!  Embrace the spirit of the season in a fun and festive cabaret-type setting.  You won’t want to miss this entertaining evening with your favorite holiday classics and always some fun surprises!