Friday, June 27, 2014

Update on the Situation at Performance Network #3


The Performance Network closed suddenly, mid-production, the end of May. Now the board has chosen new leadership to attempt to resuscitate the financially ailing professional theater. You can read a little about how the organization plans to move forward.

Earlier articles are HERE #2 and HERE #1.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Michigan Shakespeare Festival Opens 20th Anniversary Season July 17



Hamlet, Cymbeline & The Importance of Being Earnest to run July 17 - August 17, 2014

JACKSON, Mich. - The Michigan Shakespeare Festival will open their 20th Anniversary Season, July 17, 2014. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and Shakespeare’s romantic adventure Cymbeline will run in repertory for five weeks, July 17 - August 17, 2014.
 
Six discounted previews, sponsored by Jackson’s JTV and The Commercial Exchange, will begin each run, followed by Press Opening Night on the third performance of each production. Regular performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. All performances will be held at the Baughman Theatre, located in the Potter Center on the campus of Jackson College, 2111 Emmons Road, Jackson MI 49201. The 20th Anniversary Season is sponsored by the Weatherwax Foundation, the James A. & Faith Knight Foundation, the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, MACI Youth Fund, Experience Jackson,Consumers Energy, Comerica Bank, Jackson Community Foundation, Anethesia Business Consultants, Jackson College, Samuel Higby Camp Foundation, Louis Glick Memorial Trust, Jackson Art & Literary Association, and the Hurst Foundation. 
 

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Update on the Situation at Performance Network



The Performance Network closed suddenly, mid-production, the end of May. Now the board has chosen new leadership to attempt to resuscitate the financially ailing professional theater. You can read about it HERE.

You can read an earlier article for more background HERE.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Farmers Alley Theatre (Kalamazoo, MI) Announces 2014 - 2015 Season



Farmers Alley Theatre in Kalamazoo is also doing a production of Pasek & Paul's DOGFIGHT during their 2014 - 2015 Season. Guess I'l be seeing it twice this coming season! Here's the rest of their very interesting line-up.

THE SECRET GARDEN – September/October 2014Based on the beloved novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this whimsical and haunting tale tells the story of young Mary Lennox, orphaned and sent to live with her unknown relatives on the ghastly moors in England.  Once there, Mary tries to bring hope, life and spring back to the estate and her new family.  Book by Marsha Norman, Music and Lyrics by Lucy Simon & Marsha Norman.

AND THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND – December 2014Our Cabaret Series features the songs of one of the greatest songwriting teams in musical theatre history, the works of John Kander & Fred Ebb.  Composers of Cabaret, Chicago, New York, New York and many more, this evening is perfect for our intimate cabaret setup that has become our most popular time of the year.

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE February 2015The Tony Award Winner for Best Play in 2013, this hilarious comedy tells the story of a movie star sibling who comes home to her family with a brand new and much younger boyfriend.  From the twisted mind of comedic genius Christopher Durang, this riotous new work is a smart and savvy send up of the entertainment business while also a biting black comedy about family.

THE GLASS MENAGERIE – April 2015Farmers Alley Theatre’s first real foray into one of the classics of American Theatre is presented in season 7 with Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie.  Now more popular than ever after its successful Broadway revival, come join us as we bring these unforgettable characters – Amanda, Tom, Laura, and the gentleman caller, Jim - to life this spring.

DOGFIGHT – June 2015A new musical from University of Michigan graduates Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Dogfight’s recent off-Broadway run was nominated for nearly every award available.  On the eve of JFK’s assassination in 1963, three young soldiers are about to ship off to Vietnam.  One of the boys meets Rose, an awkward and idealistic waitress who rewrites the book of love and an unexpected love affair takes place.  Romantic and heartbreaking, this is a perfect show for audiences who love to be inspired and captivated.

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS MUSICAL – July/August 2015Head back to Armadillo Acres as your favorite rednecks celebrate Christmas in July!  One of our most popular shows in Farmers Alley history is back – with a holiday twist!  Betty, Lin and Pickles are on hand to treat audiences to an all-new sequel where the Trailer Park’s resident Scrooge needs to learn a lesson about neighborly love.  Featuring all the beer-swilling, lawn-chair throwing antics that made the original such a hit!

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Center Stage Jackson's Production of JOSEPH Opens


Introducing Michael Cicirelli as Joseph!

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. June 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 & 29 at Jackson College's Baughman Theater (in the Potter Center). Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students (with ID) and $10 for groups of 10 or more. Purchase tickets online at www.centerstagejackson.org or reserve over the phone at 517-796-2602!

Encore Musical Theatre (Dexter, MI) Announces 2014 - 2015 Season

Proudly announces their 2014-2015 Season! Check out their website HERE.

Spamalot! -The hilarious musical written by Monty Python alum Eric Idle - Opening September 18th, 2014!

A Christmas Caroled! A new Christmas Musical (conceived and written by Daniel C. Cooney and Dayle Ann Hunt), making it's World Premier on November 21st, 2014!

Guys On Ice: The Ice Fishing Musical Comedy (one for your favorite ice fishing guy or gal) - Opening January 29th, 2015!

On Golden Pond - The Tony Award Winning Drama comes to our stage! - Opening April 2nd, 2015.
South Pacific - A Classic of Musical Theatre! Opening July 23rd, 2015!

Auditions will be announced soon, so keep looking here for more information!

Friday, June 13, 2014

Breaking News from the Michigan Shakespeare Festival


Michigan Shakespeare Festival’s 2013 production of Twelfth Night, photo by Jeromy Hopgood
JACKSON, Mich. - The Village Theater at Cherry Hill is teaming up with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival (MSF) to expand its theatrical offerings by bringing special performances to Canton, MI next year. For three weeks in the summer of 2015, from July 29 - August 16, 2015, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival will present its 2015 Season lineup, which will consist of two Shakespeare plays and one classical comedy, to the Canton Community.

“I am thrilled beyond belief that the Michigan Shakespeare Festival will be expanding to the Canton Village Theater next year,” said Canton Arts Coordinator Jennifer Tobin. “The Festival will give our residents the opportunity to see professional Equity actors performing classic theatre in repertory - not an easy thing to find short of driving an hour or more. This will also be the opportunity of a lifetime for our resident arts groups to witness classical theatre being professionally produced - as they rub elbows with the best of the best in Michigan.”

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival’s official 2015 Season will be announced on opening night of the MFS's 20th Anniversary Season: June 19th, 2014. The Festival will begin the 2015 Season by rehearsing, previewing and opening performances at the Potter Center in Jackson, then moving the productions to The Village Theater at Cherry Hill.

“Our hope is that we develop a long term relationship with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival that serves to educate and enlighten our community,” said Canton Supervisor Phil LaJoy. “Ultimately, we would like to put Canton on the map as a Shakespeare lover’s destination and add this to our growing lineup of popular annual cultural offerings.”

“As the Michigan Shakespeare Festival, I think we have the responsibility to share these works with as many people as possible--and with the expansion of the 2015 Season to The Village Theater, we will be able to bring our amazing company closer to audiences in Southeast Michigan. We couldn’t be happier about our  partnership with Canton and The Village Theater at Cherry Hill,” said Michigan Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director, Janice L. Blixt.

Founded in 1995, The Michigan Shakespeare Festival has produced for twenty years in Jackson, Michigan. Starting as an outdoor festival in Ella Sharp Park, the company moved indoors to their current home at the Potter Center on the campus of Jackson College in 2003, thus allowing for higher levels of technical and professional performances, as well as audience comfort. That same year they received the designation as The Official Shakespeare Festival of Michigan by the State Legislature. The expanded season relies on a strong partnership with The Village Theater and connection to the Canton Township and outlying communities. The Michigan Shakespeare Festival looks forward to partnering with local businesses to weave itself into the fabric of Canton, while maintaining it’s longstanding loyalty to the Jackson Community that has been its home.

Ticket sales for the Canton performances of the 2015 Season, including season Flex Passes, will be announced this autumn and available through The Village Theater at Cherry Hill box office . A Flex Pass will include one ticket to each production, and show dates and times can be chosen at the time of purchase, or at a later date.

Founded in 1995, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit professional theatre company operating under a League of Regional Theatres Letter of Agreement with the Actors’ Equity Association. The MSF is dedicated to entertaining and educating a broad-based audience through professional performances of Shakespeare’s works and other classic plays.

The Village Theater, located at 50400 Cherry Hill Road, Canton, MI 48187, is a regional center for the arts that offers the magic of live theatre, soul-stirring music, the thrill of the dance, and the enjoyment of fine arts exhibitions and events, in addition to providing a home for serveral cultural organizations and community groups.

Peppermint Creek 2014 - 2015 Season Announced

Having loved Lansing's Peppermint Creek's production of Next to Normal (read my review), I was excited to see what their new season would be. No disappointments here.

What a challenging and original season! I am especially looking forward to Pasek & Paul's Dogfight. Other productions are Rajiv Joseph's Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Jason Robert Brown's Parade, and David Ives' Venus in Fur.

You can read details of the season HERE.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Center Stage presents. . .


Center Stage Jackson presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, June 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 2014 Jackson College. 


Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Summer Classes at the Ella


Among a fascinating array of summer classes being offered by the Ella Sharp Museum in Jackson, Michigan, are the following for those interested in theater! You can check out the entire list of classes, HERE.

Staging Stories
July 14–18
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Grades 1–6
Community Room
Member $135/Non-member $170
Register by July 7
Dive into fairytales and storybooks through the art of acting! Create characters and explore plot based on original stories. Perform for friends and family on the last day.

The Art of Improv
July 21–25
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Grades 7–12
Community Room
Member $135/Non-member $170
Register by July 14
Work as team to create original, live theatre through the art of improvisation and sketch comedy. Learn basic acting fundamentals and perform for friends and family on Friday!

Croswell presents. . .

 
The Croswell is proud to continue its 2014 Broadway Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical, Oliver! including an opening night gala which benefits the Croswell, and presents the Lenaweee Arts Award to Ken Thompson on June 13 at 8:00pm. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, at the Croswell Oliver! is directed by Betsy Lackey, with music direction by Wynne Marsh, and choreography by Allison Steele. The production continues with shows at 8:00pm on June 14, 20 & 21, and at 2:30pm on June 15, 21 & 22. Oliver! features seventeen area youth as workhouse kids and Fagin’s gang including George Mancy of Toledo, Ohio in the title role.

The perfect family musical, Oliver! is an unforgettable story of a remarkable boy looking for a place to call home. From the orphanage to the mean streets of London, the ever optimistic Oliver strives to survive meeting memorable characters along the way including the Artful Dodger (Paul Mallory), Nancy (Deveny Rosebrock), Fagin (Robert Yoman), Bill Sykes (Bryan Dryer) and Mr. Brownlow (Steve Antalek). Oliver! Memorable songs from the show include, “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two,” “As Long As He Needs Me,” and “Where Is Love.”

Others in the cast at the Croswell include: Tom Hodgman, - Mr. Bumble, Kayla Henry - Widow Corney, Alex Drews - Noah Claypole, Jesse Monte - Mr. Sowerberry, Libby Edwards - Mrs. Sowerberry, and Becca Nowak as Charlotte. Ensemble members include: Jeff Adams, Michael Allen, Mollie Cardella, Lauren Carlton, Margaret Clark, Debbie Corbin, Robin Donaghy, Keith Filipek, Sarah Hodgman, Mary Margaret Hollstein, Alison Hunt, Mark Hyre, Sarah Matlow, Brittani McComb, Meg McNamee, Ashley Price, Benjamin Rosebrock, Taieshia Tindall, Nathan VanAtta, Dale White and Andrea Wozniak.

Orphans, street urchins and workhouse boys are portrayed by: Cooper Adams, Jon Antalek, Matthew Antalek,
Brock Boze, Cole Carrico, Anthony Contreras, Jayden Donaghy, Dominic Duncan, Kyle Haeussler, Tommy Hodgman, Halle Horwath, Jacob Hyre, Lauren Kapnick, Cameron Kuhn, Grant Long, and Arielle Osstifin.

On opening night, join the Croswell for a very special event! The Great Big Night, sponsored by many local businesses, organizations and individuals, is really three parties in one.  The pre-show event, called The Big T’Do will take place from 5:30pm – 7:30pm under a tent behind Adrian City Hall. The Big T’Do features dinner and a bar, a live auction and lots of great fun!  Immediately after The Big T’Do, the party moves to the Croswell.  At 8:00pm Ken Thompson will receive the Lenawee Arts Award, followed by the opening night performance of Oliver!  After the show, a dancing-under-the-stars celebration wraps up the night.  Called The Big Finish, the after-party includes a midnight buffet, desserts, a cash bar, the opportunity to meet, and dance with, the cast and much, much more!

Tickets for Oliver! range in price from $15 - $35 for adults and are just $15 for students aged 15 and under. Tickets to The Great Big Night are available for $125 to participate in all of the events, or just $100 to attend the show and either one of the parties. For information about tickets, call the Croswell at 517-264-SHOW (7469), stop in to the box office at 129 E. Maumee, Adrian, MI, Mon-Fri, 9-5 pm or visit www.croswell.org

For more information about Oliver! The Great Big Night, or to schedule an interview with a member of the cast or artistic team, please contact Jere Righter at 517-263-6868 or at jrighter@croswell.org.

Sunday, June 08, 2014

Friday, April 11, 2014

2014 SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR KIDS/TEENS AT CROSWELL



CROSWELL OFFERS TWO EDUCATIONAL CAMPS FOR
THEATRE STUDENTS IN SUMMER 2014

Students aged 5 – 18 encouraged to participate in performance
based educational programs at historic theatre!

Give your student the opportunity to work with great instructors – developing movement, acting, and dance skills in a fun, interactive setting at the Croswell!  For 2014, the Croswell is offering two distinct programs, so beginners as well as those with a great deal of theatre experience can grow their skills and experience the magic of being part of a Croswell show. Both programs begin July 21 and run through August 3. Camp times vary by age and program.  

The Croswell Kids Performance Camp will produce Once Upon a Mattress in just two weeks! The Croswell Kids program is designed for theatre novices as well as those that like to have fun learning music, dance and lines for a show. All students ages 5 – 15 are invited to be a part of this great camp, and everyone will learn the songs, script and movement of the hilarious and fun Once Upon a Mattress.  The Croswell will provide a professional team of director, music director and choreographer to ensure that everyone has a great time and learns a lot! There are no auditions for this camp, but roles will be awarded based on skills and abilities as assessed in the first few days of camp.

The Croswell’s Summer Performance Intensive is a new two-week program designed for students aged 10 – 18 who have some performing experience and who are looking to advance their skills. Topics covered in the Performance Intensive include: professional auditions, singing, make-up application for the stage, movement for the actor and more. The Performance Intensive is for students who want to work on improving their performance skills, while learning more about the world of professional theatre. This group of students will be led by a director, and they will also have the experience of working with other theatre professionals throughout the camp sessions. This program will result in a Cabaret Performance over the weekend of August 1 – 2. Students will be admitted to the Summer Performance Intensive by audition only.

Registration for the Croswell Kids Performance Camp is open now through July 14, and all area youth are invited to take part in the camp. Tuition for the Performance Camp is $200/student, and any additional students from the same family are just $175.

Auditions for the Summer Performance Intensive will be held at the Croswell on June 23 from 6pm – 8pm and on June 28 from 11am – 1pm. Students only need to attend one of the auditions, where they should be prepared to sing 16 bars of music, as well as read from a script which will be provided by the director. Please bring your own sheet music. An accompanist will be provided. Tuition for the Summer Performance Intensive is $300, with additional students from the same family just $275.

Registration information, including the specific schedule for each camp can be found on the Croswell website, www.croswell.org, Facebook page, or by stopping into the box office located at 129 E. Maumee Street in downtown Adrian. Information about tickets to Once Upon a Mattress, or the Croswell Cabaret, can also be found at these locations, or by calling the Croswell box office at 517-264-7469.

Tuesday, April 01, 2014

Center Stage Jackson announces auditions for staged readings

CSJ Header
Correction:
Staged Reading Series Auditions
ONLY on Saturday April 12th, 2014

Auditions for the Staged Reading Series will be held ONLY on Saturday, April 12th.  April 5th auditions have been cancelled.

Audition Date: 
Saturday April 12, 2014
Audition Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm
Audition Location: The Ella Sharp Museum
3225 Fourth St. Jackson, MI 49203

Show info page: Click here
Show Type: Staged Reading
Performance Dates: May 10 (In the Next Room) or June 7, 2014 (Art), other show dates TBD
Performance Location: Jackson Symphony Orchestra
Contact: Susan Murphy at   sgmurphyslaw@comcast.net
 

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

The Encore Musical Theatre Summer Programs 2014

WELCOME BACK CAMP DIRECTOR  THALIA SCHRAMM!!

THALIA SCHRAMM (Program Director) is returning to the Encore Summer Camps for the fifth year. She created the programs in 2009, and has had a blast teaching kids about how fantastic theatre can be since then. Thalia as appeared on The Encore stage since 2009 in many, many shows including Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), Sweeney Todd (Johanna), Little Woman the Musical (Meg), The Last 5 Years (Cathy), The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee (Olive), and Evita in Concert (Eva Peron). She has also been seen at Performance Network Theatre in Ann Arbor in A Little Night Music (Anne) and Jerry's Girls (Mabel), and in Evil Dead the Musical (Linda) with Olympia Entertainment at the City Theatre in downtown Detroit. Thalia has served as the Associate Artistic Director at The Encore, and as the Publicist for Two Muses Theatre.

For more details visit the Encore website.

August 18 - 20: Three Day Master Class with Naz Edwards (Ages 14-20, Capacity 12, $250)

Monday, March 24, 2014

World Theatre Day March 27, 2013

Celebrate
World Theatre Day 

March 27, 2014 

World Theatre Day has been celebrated
on March 27 since 1961, created by the International Theatre Institute (ITI),
an international non-governmental
organization founded in 1948 by
UNESCO and the international
theatre community.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Center Stage Jackson announces auditions. . .

CSJ Header
Announcing Auditions for
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Show Page: Click here
Show Type: Main Stage-Musical
Performance Dates: June 20, 21, 22 & 27, 28, 29, 2014
Performance Location: The Baughman Theater @ Jackson College's Potter Center
Audition Dates:
April 7 and 8 - Teens and adults 12 and up
April 9 - Children under 12
April 10 - Call Backs
Audition Time: 6:30-8pm
Audition Location: First Congregational Church
120 N. Jackson St. Jackson, MI 49201
Callback Info: Callbacks will be arranged if necessary

Other information: 
Use the Pearl St. entrance to the church.
Auditions will consist of singing and dancing only.
Accompaniment and cd player will be available. If computer is needed, please bring your own.
Please dress nicely, but comfortably.
Contact:  deweber54@yahoo.com or 517-962-2357.


Saturday, March 15, 2014

2014 Spring Theatre Classes at The Purple Rose


CHELSEA, Mich. The Purple Rose Theatre Company is now taking reservations for the next class session, Voice and Movement. The first class begins on Saturday, April 5 and continues through Saturday, May 17 (There will be no class on April 26.) Each session meets from 10AM until 1PM.


All skill levels are welcome. Students must be 18 years of age or older to participate. The fee is $350. Class size is limited to 10. 
 
Registration for Voice and Movement is available by phone at 734.433.7782 and online at http://www.purplerosetheatre.org/education/classes.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Auditions for CSJ's Cabaret

CSJ Header
Announcing Auditions for
Villains of Broadway Cabaret

Show info page: Click here
Show Type: Cabaret
Performance Date: April 18, 2014
Performance Location: Jackson Symphony Orchestra

Audition Date: Tuesday March 18, 2014
Audition Time: 5:30-6:30pm
Audition Location: First Presbyterian Church
743 W. Michigan Ave. Jackson, MI 49201

What to Prepare: A song that fits the theme "Villains of Broadway"

Contact: Director Lisa Ykimoff at 517-581-2344 or lisacykimoff@gmail.com