For the first time at the Acorn Theater, Sean Masterson presents close-up magic, a full evening show of prestidigitation using not much more than cards, coins, a borrowed watch and a lot of audience participation. Magician Sean Masterson's Vintage Magic Uncorked recalls the Golden Age of Magic at the end of the 19th century when prestidigitators plied their art in cafes and saloons, performing up close while the audiences sipped potent wines, hearty beers and mystical absinthe. Continue..
The Whiting is pleased to present the pitch-perfect production of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. Directed by renowned British G&S specialist Richard Sheldon, this production, complete with sets, costumes, full chorus and orchestra, frequently plays to capacity houses and has won outstanding acclaim - "a first-rate performance, full of humor, beautiful music and sharp theatricality." Continue..
The UDM Theatre Company announces a special benefit production of Unheard Voices; Homeless Monologues. Conceived and directed by retiring faculty member Yolanda Fleischer and written by the UDM Theatre Community, it is a play that will address the issues and problems of the overwhelming epidemic of homelessness in Southeast Michigan. Taking place on University of Detroit Mercy's campus Feb. 26-28, Unheard Voices aims to present the lives, hopes, pains and spirits of the homeless community. Continue..
It was with great sadness that staff and artists at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival learned of the death of Lindsay Thomas. She was beloved by her fellow company members and all who came in contact with her at the Festival for her vivacious spirit, infectious smile and tremendous talent. Lindsay died Wednesday of cancer, at the age of 31. Audiences will remember Lindsay as the diminutive powerhouse who portrayed Ado Annie in the 2007 production of Oklahoma! That same year, she donned her tap shoes and danced up a storm, playing Anchovie in My One and Only. Continue..
The Purple Rose Theatre Company is proud to announce that its summer comedy will be Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti, adapted by Beverley Cross. The production will enjoy an 11-week engagement from Thursday, June 17 through Saturday, Aug. 28. The English adaptation of this French farce features Bernard, a self-styled Parisian Lothario juggling three fiancees, each beautiful airline hostesses with frequent layovers in Paris. Bernard's carefully constructed timetable runs like clockwork until unexpected schedule changes bring all three to his apartment at the same time, and his "ideal life" unravels all in one nonstop night. Continue..
Graduate students of the Hilberry Theatre Company are giving high school students an opportunity to discover the inner workings of live theater. This unique offering, Engage with the Stage, follows two matinee performances of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream on Tuesday, Feb. 9 and Tuesday, March 2 at 10 a.m. Continue..
The award-winning Beatles concert, Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles, makes its return to Grand Rapids' Devos Performace Hal for two shows only, March 5 and 6. In a show the Denver Post calls "the next best thing to seeing The Beatles," Rain boasts a repertoire of nearly 200 Beatlemaniac favorites, ranging from such beloved songs as Yesterday and Hey Jude to classic hits including Revolution and Come Together. Continue..
Click the link below for a list of Equity, non-Equity, film & video auditions, industry job openings and industry-related classes and workshops throughout the state. Updated 2/2/10 Continue..
Are you a subscriber of EncoreMichigan.com's FREE, twice-weekly e-newsletter, Curtain's Up? If not, you don't know what you're missing – including special discount ticket offers from many of the state's professional theaters made only to readers of Curtain's Up! So how can you subscribe? Click "continue" for full details! Continue..
Other Voices - News & Previews (posted 2/4/10)
Other Voices - News & Previews (posted 2/3/10)
Other Voices - News & Previews (posted 1/31/10)
By Donald V. Calamia
Battles of the sexes have probably been fodder for storytellers and thespians alike since the beginning of human history, so it makes total sense that author Rob Becker takes audiences back that far in time to explore the male perspective of the age-old debate. And the insight he offers in Defending the Caveman, now playing at Detroit's Century Theatre at The Gem Theatre, couldn't be sharper or funnier - at least from THIS male's perspective! Continue..
By D. A. Blackburn
Dexter's Encore Musical Theatre Company marked a significant milestone Thursday night — its first anniversary — and the company did so in grand form, with a near-full house and a delightful production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Since debuting off Broadway in 2005, the Bee has taken on a significant life, becoming one of the most frequently produced musicals of the last decade. Continue..
Read reviews of The Marvelous Wonderettes - The Gem Theatre (Feb. 7, 2010)
Read other reviews of The Lady with All the Answers - Tipping Point Theatre (updated Feb. 4, 2010)
Read other reviews of The Wizard of Oz - Fisher Theatre (updated Feb. 4, 2010)
Read other reviews of The Servant of Two Masters - Hilberry Theatre (Jan. 22, 2010)
Read other reviews of A Song for Coretta - Detroit Repertory Theatre (updated Jan. 31, 2010)
Read other reviews of K2 - Performance Network Theatre (updated Jan. 28, 2010)
Read other reviews of The Seagull - Hilberry Theatre (updated Jan. 6, 2009)