The Mountaintop

May 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Performance Network presents The Mountaintop

Performance Network Theatre presents a series of community discussions regarding “The Mountaintop,” by Katori Hall – the current Performance Network production that is an imagined portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last night on earth.

The discussions will be held on Monday, May 13 at 6 p.m.; Sunday, May 19 at 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, June 2 at 4:30 p.m. The programs are open to the public to facilitate dialogue about the play’s innovative take on Dr. King’s final hours.

“The Mountaintop” runs on select dates through June 2.

 

The Baton Passes On: Community Discussion;  6 p.m. on Monday, May 13 at Performance Network Theatre – FREE

Performance Network Theatre invites the acclaimed Civil Rights historian Matthew Countryman and Associate Professor of Theatre and writer-in-residence at the University of Michigan OyamO (a.k.a. Charles F. Gordon) to lead a comprehensive discussion regarding the themes of “The Mountaintop”. Due to the complexity of “The Mountaintop”, Performance Network Theatre offers perspectives from both historical and theatrical sources. This event is perfect for the historic and/or theatre enthusiast who is interested in discussing and analyzing Katori Hall’s unique depiction of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last night on earth and the tools she used to create the story. It is not a requirement to see the production of “The Mountaintop” before attending the discussion as it may serve as a useful guide during an audience member’s viewing of the show. This event is first come, first serve: General admission.

 About the Panel:

Matthew Countryman is faculty director of the University of Michigan’s Arts of Citizenship program and is an associate professor of History and American Culture, where he teaches modern U.S. and African-American history and comparative race relations. Countryman is the author of “Up South: Civil Rights and Black Power in Philadelphia”, which won the 2006 Liberty Legacy Foundation Award from the Organization of American Historians for the best book on the subject of civil rights history. His research interests include African American social and political movements, comparative race and ethnicity, and United States politics.

OyamO’s plays have been performed in theatres across the country, including the Yale Repertory Theatre, the Manhattan Theatre Club, the Working Theatre, the Public Theatre, Negro Ensemble Company, the Arena Stage Theatre, the Goodman Theatre of Chicago, the Kennedy Center in D.C., and many more. He is also a past member of the NEA Professional Nonprofit Theatre Panel and was a 1998 panelist for the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund of San Francisco. He has received fellowships from the Berrilla Kerr, Guggenheim, Rockefeller and McKnight Foundations, as well as grants from the Ohio and New York State Arts Councils and three NEA fellowships. OyamO received his MFA in playwriting from the Yale School of Drama and is a member of PEN, Dramatistis Guild, New Dramatists (alumni), the Ensemble Studio Theatre, Writers Guild East, the O’Neill Playwrights Center, and the Black Theatre Network. With HBO, he has written an episode for the “Famous Black American Anthology” and a TV adaptation of “I Am a Man”. He was a site monitor for the NEA and is a former vice president of the board of directors of The Theatre Communications Group. He wrote a musical based on the history of Detroit, the research funds for which were provided by UM’s OVPR through its Arts For Citizenship program. The Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit commissioned him to write two plays, one on the Civil Rights Movement in Detroit, “City in a Strait”, produced May 2007, the other on the Fisk Jubilee Singers, “Sing Jubilee”, for a May 2008 production at the Detroit Institute for the Arts. Join Performance Network Theatre to explore “The Mountaintop” with these fascinating individuals.

 

Backstage Cafe: Where Artists Share Their Creative Caffeine; 4:30pm on Sunday, May 19 at Performance Network Theatre – $10/$5 for students and seniors

Join us in the Performance Network Theatre’s lobby for an in-depth conversation exploring the nuances of making theatre from the artist’s perspective while sipping complimentary coffee from Mighty Good Coffee and Roastery. Associate Artistic Director Carla Milarch interviews Brian Marable on portraying the historical icon, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Brian Marable does not imitate Martin Luther King, and thereby creates a solid, real character. In a final speech we hear the fiery skills that marked the career of, arguably, the greatest orator of the 20th century, but Marable has made it all his own,” John Quinn of Encore Michigan. Backstage Cafe is the perfect event for cultural gurus and aspiring theatre professionals. Only 20 seats! Reservations suggested.

 About the Artist

A native Detroiter, born and raised, Brian Marable is a graduate of Cass Technical High School’s Performing Arts Department, and attended Wayne State University as a theater major. Marable has appeared in productions such as “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Old Settler” with Plowshares Theatre Company, “Take Me Out” and “Piano Lesson” at Performance Network Theatre, “Superior Donuts” at the Purple Rose Theatre, and the award-winning Best Play of the Year (2003) “Jesus Hopped the A Train” with African Renaissance Theatre Company. Join Milarch and Marable to discover the genius behind his original portrayal of one of the greatest figures in American history.

 

 The Baton Passes On: Community Discussion; 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 2 (after the final performance of “The Mountaintop”) at Performance Network Theatre – FREE

Join diversity-centric children’s theatre personality, LaRon Williams, for the final community discussion for “The Mountaintop” at Performance Network Theatre. Williams will offer his extensive experience as a nationally acclaimed African American theatre professional to examine the play’s unusual plot devices and complex characters and how they affect the depiction of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last night on earth. This event is first come, first serve: General admission.

 About the Speaker:

LaRon Williams is a nationally acclaimed, award winning storyteller who has toured the country with his highly participatory music-spiced program of traditional and original tales crafted to improve literacy, foster cooperation, build self-esteem, and deepen our understanding of the ideal of American democratic inclusion.

Reservations are not necessary for the Baton Passes On: Community Discussions on May 13 and June 2. Backstage Cafe reservations can be made at the Performance Network Box Office at 734-663-0681, by email at boxoffice@performancenetwork.org, or at Performance Network Theatre (120 East Huron St., Ann Arbor, 48104) Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

 

Founded in 1981, Performance Network Theatre has grown from a fledgling company to Ann Arbor’s resident professional theatre. The Network reaches 40,000 theatre patrons and children each year through the year-round Professional Series and the Children’s Theatre Network. Performance Network also presents the Fireside New Play Festival and a series of classes on theatre-related topics. The Network provides uncompromising artistic leadership in the region and produces works that engage, challenge and inspire audiences and artists.

Filed Under: Community, Culture, History, Spotlight, Theatre, Who We Are, Words Tagged With: , , ,

Jamie and Jordan

May 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Performance Network Theatre presents Jamie and Jordan

The Children’s Theatre Network of Performance Network Theatre invites audiences to gather at the theater on Saturday, May 25 at 1 p.m. for the perfect family summer kickoff, “Jamie and Jordan,” a baseball-themed musical about health and friendships with book and lyrics by Kim Carney and music by Gene Gaunt.

Tickets are $7 for children, $10 for adults, and $20 for a family package of four. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at performancenetwork.org, by calling (734) 663-0681.

Details from Performance Network:

This hilarious musical tale teaches children about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and healthy friendships. Born in the same hospital on the same day, neighbors Jamie and Jordan are lifelong best friends. When a twist of fate (and an ankle!) separates them, they learn that healthy choices are worth the extra effort. Parents and guardians will love the educational content and the positive message, and kids will love the entertaining songs and humor, as well as the free milk and snack reception in the lobby after the show.

Children’s Theatre Network is committed to providing education and entertainment to children and families in a safe environment. Although the Children’s Theatre Network Saturday Series is coming to a close over the summer, the learning will continue with the Build-A-Play two week workshop from July 8-18. Suited for children ages seven to 11, students will learn improvisation, movement, and storytelling from Children’s Theatre Network Director Becky Fox and Writer/Actor Anne Rhoades.

In addition to its Saturday Series, the Children’s Theatre Network provides classes and workshops, engages in school outreach with the revolutionary “Get in the Game” program, and tours its shows to area schools and communities. For more information or to sign up, call  (734) 663-0681.

Further information and ticket reservations can be found online at www.performancenetwork.org or by calling  (734) 663-0681 during box office hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

Founded in 1981, Performance Network Theatre has grown from a fledgling company to Ann Arbor’s only resident professional theatre. The Network reaches 40,000 theatre patrons and children each year through its year-round Professional Series and its Children’s Theatre Network.

Filed Under: Fun, Jazz, Music, Popular, Spotlight, Theatre Tagged With: ,

Frog Belly Rat Bone

May 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Matrix Theatre Company presents Frog Belly Rat Bone

The Matrix Theatre Company’s School of Theatre presents The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone. Written by Timothy Basil Ering, the story follows the adventures of a little boy who takes a journey to discover a very special treasure which ends with new friends and a colorful, joyous world.

Told through puppetry, The Story of Frog Belly Rat Bone runs from Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2. All Friday and Saturday performances are at 7 p.m., and Sunday performances are at 3 p.m. Adult tickets are priced at $8. Students, seniors, and children are $5.

All performances are held at Matrix Theatre, 2730 Bagley in the heart of Detroit’s Mexicantown. Visit www.matrixtheatre.org to register online, or call (313) 967-0599. Call (313) 967-0999 for detailed information.

Frog Belly Rat Bone is a delightful fantasy about a very special boy who lived in a dull, gray endless place called Cementland. After much searching among piles of greasy toaster ovens and wet, smelly socks, he spies a box filled with hundreds of “tiny grey specks” and a wrinkled note that says: “Put these wondrous riches in the earth and enjoy.”

Horrified to learn that thieves are after his treasure, the boy scrounges the junkyard and creates a creature to stand guard – a scarecrow-like gardener with crooked bony arms, a giant belly, a jaunty crown, and preternatural wisdom: Frog Belly Rat Bone, king and protector of the specks. The story is full of surprises and an ending with an inspiring message on world beautification.

The Matrix Theatre Company’s School of Theatre, challenges and encourages students to become creators of their own work by writing and performing original works. They believe that everyone has a story to tell and that the best way to learn is by doing. Therefore, the School of Theatre at Matrix has its own season where students perform shows they have, in most cases, authored themselves.

 

Matrix Theatre Company

Celebrating 22 years as a non-profit community-based theatre, Matrix Theatre Company is located in southwest Detroit. By using the transformative power of theatre to change lives, build community and foster social justice, Matrix creates everything from scratch, from puppets of all sizes to more than 130 original plays. It provides creative opportunities for children, youth, adults and elders, especially those in isolated or challenged communities, to become creators, producers, and audiences of original and heritage theatre. For further information or to follow Matrix on Facebook, Twitter and Blogger, go to matrixtheatre.org.

Matrix’s Inclusive Theatre Initiative (ITI) strives to offer the transformative power of theatre to all. It aims to build a community for those with and without disabilities. It is a model of relating to people, rooted in the essential dignity and value of each person, offering ways to build deeper connections between people, places, and institutions.

 

Filed Under: Community, Culture, Fun, Spotlight, Theatre, Who We Are, Words Tagged With: , ,

My Name is Asher Lev

May 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Jewish Ensemble Theatre presents My Name Is Asher Lev

Jewish Ensemble Theatre and Performance Network Theatre present the story of Asher Lev. Based on a novel by Chaim Potok and adapted for stage by Aaron Posner, “My Name is Asher Lev” tells the story of a talented painter in New York City challenged to find balance  in his life and satisfaction in his work.

The drama is directed by David Magidson, artistic director of Jewish Ensemble Theatre. The production features performances by Mitchell A. Koory as Asher Lev, John Seibert as The Men, and Naz Edwards as The Women.

Performances run through May 25. Tickets are $38 to $45. For reservations, please call (248) 788-2900. For details, click here.

Aaron DeRoy Theatre is located on the West Bloomfield Hills campus of the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, 6600 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322.

 

Performance Dates and Show Times:

Thursday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 18 at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 25 at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

 

 

Filed Under: Community, Culture, Feature, Theatre, Who We Are, Words Tagged With: , , , , ,

33 Variations

May 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

PRT-p-33-Variations-i3

First off: Full Disclosure. I am a Beethovenophile, which is a pseudo-intellectually fancy way of saying I’m crazy about all things having to do with the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven: His music. His words. His story.

So, I met with great interest news that Purple Rose Theatre was going to present “33 Variations” by Moisés Kaufman. The drama will be performed on select dates through June 1 at the Purple Rose in Chelsea.

If you have the opportunity: Go! It is an outstanding play that explores important questions almost all of us present in the world may one day face. Even if you don’t care about the Ninth Symphony or the Moonlight Sonata, go! You will experience theater at its finest.

Personally, “33 Variations” represents a transformative experience that left me a better person. Why? I witnessed many of the ideas expressed through Beethoven’s music and life brought to life through the stage. In the process, I also learned new lessons that I will never forget.

Playwright Kaufman may be best known as a co-writer of The Laramie Project, a dramatization of a community’s real-life responses to the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, a young University of Wyoming student. Kaufman and his colleagues at the Tectonic Theater Project interviewed hundreds of people in the town of Laramie to create characters for the stage. Through a series of sketches, the community reveals a complicated tragedy and details its own unique response to hate.

The idea, perhaps, is to use the important lessons remembered by the people who knew Mr. Shepard and his attackers in order to create a better world for all. Similarly, we find lessons for us all in 33 Variations. The work illustrates how the very passions that threaten to overwhelm us can also save us. It is a rare theatrical treat, filled with surprises for the heart and mind.

33 Variations centers on an acclaimed fictional musicologist, Katherine Brandt, and the object of her professional passion: Ludwig van Beethoven. The story is set in two times: 19th century Vienna, where we experience scenes from the city where Beethoven lived most of his professional life; and 21st century Bonn, the city of Beethoven’s birth and home to one of the world’s great archives — the original manuscripts and sketch pads on which Beethoven composed and we today can discern “the Master’s” thoughts.

The lives of the great composer and an obscure music publisher come into our world as Katherine discovers the story behind some of the most sublime music ever created, the Diabelli Variations. After achieving fame as a composer, Beethoven in the story and in real-life wrestled for years with a commission he could not immediately complete: a variation on a simple waltz created by his music publisher and friend, Anton Diabelli, whom Beethoven, according to his biographer and secretary Anton Schindler, on occassion called “Diabolus.”

In the present day, Katherine struggles to unlock the mystery behind Beethoven’s obsession with the simple waltz. Unlike Mozart who composed in his imagination and transcribed his thoughts almost directly to paper, Beethoven committed his ideas to paper, writing and re-writing the musical ideas that often came to him in the natural splendor of Austria.

Using Beethoven’s own writings — the compositions he created, the quotes recorded by his friends and family, and the “Conversation Books” he used to communicate after he became deaf — Katherine explores the drive of the creative genius. The written record serves as a map that preserves his complicated music. What’s more, the documents reveal his thinking and his intentions.

It all sounds complicated. And it is complicated, as revealed in one remarkable scene where several characters speak simultaneously across the vast gulf of time and space and person. Yet, we in the audience understand, hearing the signal emerge loud and clear from the noise.

As she races against time and her failing health, Katherine discovers the true nature of Beethoven’s genius and gains insight into the other great mystery in her life: her daughter.

33 Variations premiered at Washington D.C.’s Arena Stage and later opened on Broadway in March 2009. The Broadway production featured Jane Fonda in the leading role and received five Tony Award nominations.

The Purple Rose Theatre is, itself, one of the world’s artistic treasures. The house is an intimate experience, by which I mean every seat is outstandingly close to the action on stage. Seats surround an outcropping, a Yooper or Troll might say “a penninsula,” on three sides. A traditional stage connects along the back wall.The Purple Rose staff know how to treat the public, from Box Office Bob III to the kind intern thanking by name before the show each of the sponsors and supporters who help make modern, professional theater possible. Every one there treated guests better than gold – like human beings.

Let me add a word about the audience: They were world-class, too. During the 95-minute production, there was not one cough. No cell phones beeped. No one talked or even whispered. They were there for the performance.

Directed by Guy Sanville, the cast includes David Bendena (Chelsea, MI), Daniel C. Britt (Hamilton, OH), Lauren Knox (Macomb, MI), Richard McWillams (Dayton, OH), Michelle Mountain (Grass Lake, MI), Michael Brian Ogden (Berkley, MI), and Rhiannon Ragland (Flint, MI).

Tickets and reservations can be made by calling The Purple Rose Theatre Company Box Office at (734) 433-7673 or online at www.purplerosetheatre.org. Please know: This play contains adult language and content. Regular performances for the duration of the run are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
The Purple Rose Theatre
Founded in 1991 by actor and Chelsea native, Jeff Daniels, The Purple Rose Theatre Company is a leading American theatre dedicated to producing the new American play and creating opportunities for Midwest theatre professionals. The PRTC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit professional theatre operating under a Small Professional Theatre agreement with the Actors’ Equity Association. The PRTC promotes the development of new American theatre and its practitioners, provides valuable educational opportunities for young artists, and, through consistently high quality production values, has earned the respect of both local and national theatre communities.

The photo above includes Richard McWilliams, Michelle Mountain, David Bendena and Daniel C. Britt who will perform in the Purple Rose Theatre Company production, “33 Variations.” The image is a detail from a photograph by Sean Carter Photography.

If I believed in subjective rating scales, I’d give “33 Variations” at the Purple Rose Five Stars out of Five Stars. In memory of the great Siskel and Ebert, who I believe in for their appreciation of cinema and the narrative arts, I’d say: “Two thumbs up.”

 

Beethoven in Michigan
The stars of Beethoven have aligned in 2013 over Southeast Michigan.
This weekend, the Chamber Music Detroit presents two of the world’s most eminent classical musicians, cellist Lynn Harrell and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. They will perform three Beethoven cello sonatas in concert on Saturday, May 18 at the Seligman Performing Arts Center. The music begins at 8 p.m. A pre-concert conversation begins at 6:45 p.m.
We have been treated to the Michigan Opera Theatre production of Fidelio. Beethoven’s only opera, the work is considered a masterpiece for both its music and the themes of democratic justice and true love told through its story.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Leonard Slatkin, hosted a Beethoven Festival which included performances of the complete series of nine symphonies, the 32 piano sonatas and many other outstanding works. Unparalleled piano virtuoso Emanuel Ax performed a special one-night engagement with the DSO Civic Orchestra at The Max M. Fisher Music Center.
The Warren Symphony Orchestra performed Ta-Ta-Ta-Tum, the magnificent Fifth Symphony. Beethoven said the work evokes the Hand of Fate, knocking on one’s door.
Pro Musica Detroit presented Dr. Richard Kogan, M.D. and “Inside the Mind and Music of Beethoven,” in which the Juilliard trained virtuoso pianist and Harvard-trained psychiatrist performed three sonatas representing three creative periods in Beethoven’s life.
The Tuesday Musicale of Detroit is proud to present pianist Maria Meirelles. The world reknown artist performed “The Hammerklavier,” considered one of the most difficult pieces to perform in all music, as part of her recent program.
The good people who present Palmer Woods Music in Homes presented “Beethoven & Beyond,” a concert featuring pianist Pauline Martinand violinist Yehonatan Berick.
More stars and constellations are ahead. Please let me know of Beethoven and the others in the classic and jazz firmament you sight at dperforms@dptv.org. I’ll share them through Detroit Performs.
– Frank J. Bunker, editor, Detroit Performs
Filed Under: Classical, Culture, History, Music, Reviews, Theatre, Words Tagged With: , ,

F i d e l i o

April 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

MOT presents Fidelio

The Michigan Opera Theatre production of Fidelio was a  one-of-a kind masterpiece when it appeared on the stage of the magnificent Detroit Opera House.

The music was divine, with some of the most difficult vocals written performed beautifully by Christine Goerke as Leonore on the night I attended, Saturday, April 20. Ileana Montalbetti also performed the demanding roll. John Mac Master performed Florestan and Carsten Wittmoser was Count Pizzarro. Click here for the full cast.

His only opera, Beethoven is said to have remarked the work took him an entire creative lifetime. The work mixes two moods, one the playful joy of love that Beethoven’s heart pursued in life and the bitter struggle between absolute power and justice.

Representing the apogee of creative genius, Fidelio, unfortunately is rarely staged. Thanks to David DiChiera, we got to enjoy a story about justice, freedom and love, as well as an orchestral score and aria that shine among the most beautiful in all opera. Christian Badea was conductor of the MOT Orchestra, which sounded sublime.

Click here to hear a conductor John Pascoe take us through Beethoven’s Fidelio. In the podcast, we discover just how amazing it is to sing while lying down on the job.

From MOT:

FIDELIO

18th century Spain sets the scene for this dramatic tale of the nobleman Florestan, wrongly condemned to die in prison after exposing the political corruption of the tyrant Pizarro. That is until Florestan’s wife Leonare, disguised as a male prison guard named Fidelio, gains employment at the prison. Under the watchful eyes of husband’s captors, Leonare ultimately risks her life in an attempt to save her husband’s. Ludwig van Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio is a stirring story of heroism, justice and love that is not to be missed.

 

Fidelio

Opera by Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Libretto by Joseph Sonnleithner and Georg Friedrich Sonnleithner

Based on the drama by Jean Nicolas Bouilly

Premiered in Vienna, 1805

Final revision premiered in Vienna, 1814

Sung in German with English translations projected above the stage

Running time about 2½ hrs

 

Performances:

Saturday, April 13, 7:30p

Wednesday, April 17, 7:30p

Friday, April 19, 7:30p

Saturday, April 20, 7:30p

Sunday, April 21, 2:30p

The image above is a detail from a photograph by John Grigaitis. The image includes Angela Theis (Marzellina), on the left, and Christine Goerke (Leonore) of the Michigan Opera Theatre production, Fidelio.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Art & Design, Classical, Music, Reviews, Theatre Tagged With: , , , ,

Marat/Sade

April 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The Hilberry Theatre presents Marat Sade

The 50th Hilberry Season concludes with The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade, or simply, Marat/Sade by Peter Weiss. The drama opens Friday at the Hilberry Theatre, located on the campus of Wayne State University. The drama runs on select dates through May 11.

From the Hilberry Theatre Company:

While an inmate at France’s infamous insane asylum, Charenton, the libertine and seductive author the Marquis de Sade directs fellow inmates in an intense re-creation of the breathtaking murder of Jean-Paul Marat. This fact-based play-within-a-play is total theatre. Philosophically problematic, it engages the eye, the ear and the mind with every imaginable dramatic device, technique and stage picture.

For tickets, call (313) 577-2972 or visit the Wayne State University Theatre Box Office at 4743 Cass Avenue on the corner of Hancock. Click here for tickets online.

About the Hilberry Theatre Company

The Hilberry Company is unique in that it is the nation’s only graduate theatre company staffed by young up-and-coming professionals that also runs on a rotating repertory schedule. About forty graduate students are selected in national competition to receive fellowships to work in this theatre and study for advanced degrees. The company performs an annual season of six plays, including high school matinees for nearly 6,000 students. Through the years four Hilberry productions have been selected to appear at the American College Theatre Festival.

Performance Times:

  • Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, April 24 at 2 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m.
  • Friday, April 26 at 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 27 at 8 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 2 at 8 p.m.
  • Friday, May 3 at 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 4 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 9 at 8 p.m.
  • Friday, May 10 at 8 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 11 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Fun, History, Spotlight, Theatre, Words Tagged With: , ,

Shakespeare anniversary at the Elizabeth Theater

March 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ET presents Measure for Measure

Prepare for some law and order, neo-feudal style as The Elizabeth Theater celebrates its Second Annual Shakespeare Fest with Measure for Measure. The tragi-comedy by William Shakespeare runs on select dates through April 27.

When the Duke of Vienna decides it is time to restore order and morality to his city, which has for fourteen years lacked just that, he leaves his strict deputy, Angelo in stewardship of the city while he “sets off” on undisclosed business. Angelo begins his charge of cleaning up the city, specifically fornication, quickly when he sentences Claudio to death for getting his fiance Juliette pregnant. Claudio’s sister Isabella pleads with Angelo on her brother’s behalf in hopes of changing his mind. The entire situation gets more complicated when Angelo finds himself lusting after Isabella. All the while the Duke watches over what’s happening in his city and pulls the strings, disguised as a Friar.

Performances:

  • Friday, March 15 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 16 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, March 22 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 23 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, March 29 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 30 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, April 12 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 13 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, April 20 @ 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 21 @ 2 p.m.
  • Friday, April 27 @ 7:30 p.m.

 

For Tickets: ElizabethTheater.com. Also available at BrownPaperTickets.com.

For more info, call (313) 454-1286.

Elizabeth Theater is located above The Park Bar, 2040 Park Ave. Detroit, MI 48226.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Detroit Inspires, Fun, History, Theatre Tagged With: , , ,

The Meaning of Almost Everything

February 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Purple Rose Theatre presents The Meaning of Almost Everything

The Purple Rose Theatre presents the world premiere of “The Meaning of Almost Everything,” a new comedy by Jeff Daniels. The work runs through March 9 at the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea.

Directed by Guy Sanville, the cast includes Matthew Gwynn of Farmington (Our Town, Growing Pretty) and Michael Brian Ogden of Berkley (Superior Donuts, White Buffalo, Escanaba in da Moonlight).

From the Purple Rose:

The Meaning of Almost Everything begins in previews January 10

CHELSEA, Mich. — The Purple Rose Theatre Company is proud to announce the world premiere production of a new comedy by Jeff Daniels. The Meaning of Almost Everything will enjoy a nine-week engagement from Thursday, January 10 – Saturday, March 9, 2013. Eight low-priced previews will be performed Thursday, January 10 – Thursday, January 17, with Press Opening on Friday, January 18, 2013. Regular performances for the duration of the run are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 3:00 PM, Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM, and additional Thursday matinees at 3:00 PM. (Editor’s Note: A complete performance schedule including pricing can be found on page 3). Underwriting support for this production comes from The Helppie Family Charitable Foundation, Domino’s Pizza and Ruth R. Glancy.

Season support comes from The Ford Motor Company Fund, The Hamp Family, Sage Foundation, Matilda R. Wilson Fund, The David A. Brandon Foundation, Craig & Donna Common, Peter & Patti Feeney, The William B. Holmes Family, The Dawn J. & Jeffrey S. Williams Charitable Gift Fund, Curtis & Curtis, P.C., Chelsea Comfort Inn and Village Conference Center, Chelsea State Bank, Classic Turning, and Excelda. Additional support is provided by media partners WJR and Michigan Radio. All performances will be held at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea, Michigan 48118.

The 15th play penned by PRTC founder Jeff Daniels, The Meaning of Almost Everything is perhaps one of Daniels’ most personal, and yet, most whimsical pieces to date. With elements of slapstick, vaudeville, tragedy and farce, this exuberant romp of a play explores the pain and the joy of human existence.

The story follows two men, “A” and “B,” who exist in an undefined place and time, a place of safety and comfort, but also a place where nothing happens. One man wants to remain. The other isn’t so sure. Through their feats of daring (and sometimes cowardice), they stumble through the darkness to find the big answers to life’s big questions. This comedy questions the nature of our world and the absurdity of it all. The Meaning of Almost Everything contains adult language and content.

When asked about the impetus for The Meaning of Almost Everything, playwright Jeff Daniels explains, “I’ve never been one to think whatever may come after this life will be better. One can always hope and pray and believe, sure, but given the choice between the known and the unknown, frankly, it seems a lot of us would rather just stay put, thank you very much. That’s the ‘What if…?’ that drove the writing on this one. How do we turn this life of ours into an everlasting one? Forget leaving a legacy or living on in other people’s memories, I mean staying put. Right here, right now, forever and ever. That it doesn’t work that way is the conflict in the play. And in us.”

Directed by Guy Sanville, the cast includes Matthew Gwynn of Farmington (Our Town, Growing Pretty) and Michael Brian Ogden of Berkley (Superior Donuts, White Buffalo, Escanaba in da Moonlight).

The Purple Rose Theatre is located at 137 Park Street, Chelsea, MI 48118. Telephone : (734) 433-7673.

Founded in 1991 by actor and Chelsea native, Jeff Daniels, The Purple Rose Theatre Company is a leading American theatre dedicated to producing the new American play and creating opportunities for Midwest theatre professionals. The PRTC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit professional theatre operating under a Small Professional Theatre agreement with the Actors’ Equity Association. The PRTC promotes the development of new American theatre and its practitioners, provides valuable educational opportunities for young artists, and, through consistently high quality production values, has earned the respect of both local and national theatre communities.

Tickets are available for purchase now. Ticket reservations can be made by calling The Purple Rose Theatre Company Box Office at (734) 433-7673 or online at www.purplerosetheatre.org.

 

Filed Under: Fun, Reviews, Theatre, Words Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Happy Prince

February 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

MOT Children s Chorus p The Happy Prince

A great story is told through beautiful music when the Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus presents “The Happy Prince,” an allegorical children’s opera by Malcolm Williamson, based on the story of the same name by Oscar Wilde.

The public performance will be held Sunday, April 28 at the Detroit Opera House from 2:30-3:30 p.m. A dress rehearsal for students and senior citizens takes place Friday, April 26 from 11 a.m. to noon.

A great story contains a message that is unforgettable and Wilde’s words are relevant to us today in content and import. This allegorical children’s opera teaches the importance of charity and sacrifice. Through music, audiences are taught the lifelong lesson of learning to love our fellow human beings. The production is intended for elementary and middle school students.

In the story, a once-wealthy and proud city has erected an exquisite statue of a departed prince bedecked in gold and fine jewels. One day, a migrating swallow stops at its feet to rest. Surprised to feel itself getting soaked, the bird discovers the statue is shedding tears. The statue is actually inhabited the spirit of the prince, who asks the bird to strip its jewels and take them to the poor and hungry people of the city.

Using a metropolis very much like Detroit as its setting, the story is designed to delight, to move, and—especially for the maturer souls in the audience—to raise important questions on the present and future of our city. Enduring the pangs of poverty and class struggle, the City’s destiny can be changed through the efforts of a few noble souls who take it upon themselves to effect real good and undertake acts of self-sacrificing loving-kindness.

The Happy Prince features more than 70 young performers, ages 8-16, from metropolitan Detroit. The production will be directed by Michael Yashinsky and conducted by Dianna Hochella. The MOT Children’s Chorus will be directed by Suzanne Mallare Acton.

The Happy Prince is produced and performed by the Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus. The production is sponsored by the Worthington Family Foundation.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students 15 years of age and under. For tickets and more information, click here or call (313) 237-SING.

 

Filed Under: Classical, Community, Culture, Music, Reviews, Theatre Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Older Posts