Shakespeare in the Open

May 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Water Works Theatre presents Henry V

Audiences in Royal Oak experienced William Shakespeare’s heroic king lead the charge against the invading foe when Water Works Theatre Company presents Henry V. The drama was performed on the greatest stage of all — the great outdoors, in the open air, this weekend at Starr Jaycee Park in Royal Oak.

Water Works Theatre also presented Shakespeare’s comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The production is a fun hour for the whole family, directed by Barton Bund and starring five actors who play all the roles. Performances are Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets are $6.

Audiences also enjoyed “Summer Sonnets” by Water Works Theatre, a magical hour in the park with the Bard’s legendary poetry set to a modern tale by playwright Audra Lord and directed by JM Ethridge. These performances were free and open to all.

Starr Jaycee Park is on 13 Mile Road between Main and Crooks, two miles east of Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak, Michigan (click here for map/directions). Our theater is just a short walk from the free parking areas in Starr Jaycee Park. Free parking is also available at the Royal Oak Board of Education lot north of 13 Mile Road, just off Marais.

Click here for details.

Filed Under: Detroit Inspires, Reviews, Theatre, Who We Are, Words Tagged With: , , ,

Arts, Beats, Eats and More

March 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Work in Glass by Collette Fortin

There are three words you need to know about Arts, Beats and Eats. It. Is. Fun.

See what we mean when the celebration of art, music, cuisine and humanity returns to downtown Royal Oak Labor Day weekend, Friday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 3.

The festival will offer more than 200 performances on ten stages, a juried fine arts show, local restaurants with some of the finest cuisine in metro Detroit and international, regional and local attractions. Click here for full details.

There will be music almost non-stop. Headline musicians include Morris Day & The Time, Travis Tritt, The Guess Who and REO Speedwagon.

The visual arts also are well-represented with paintings, sculpture, drawing, 2-D and 3-D mixed media, ceramics, glass, photography and more. The ceramic works above are Stephanie M. Pierson-Hutson of Fishers, Indiana.

Admission is $3 per person.  The fee supports the festival and community as follows: .25 to Arts Advocacy, .25 to the City of Royal Oak, and 50% of the remaining admission fees to 13 local charities after gating costs. For a list of non-profit partners that will share our admission fee, click here.

To date, over $2 million raised by Ford Arts, Beats & Eats has been donated to charity.

Filed Under: Art & Design, Community, Fun, Music, Painting, Photography, Reviews, Sculpture, Who We Are Tagged With: ,

Suzuki Royal Oak Celebrates 20 Years

February 13, 2012 By
Suzuki Royal Oak Students

Suzuki Royal Oak Students in Concert

More than 50 years ago, Shinichi Suzuki created his famous violin teaching method based on the belief that very young children can learn an instrument as easily as they can learn language.  And you know what?  The method works.   Just ask the many young musicians and proud parents who have passed through the doors of Suzuki Royal Oak Institute of Music, which celebrates its 20th birthday this year.

“The Suzuki method really is a journey that can change lives,” said Suzuki Royal Oak Founder and Director, Mark Mutter.  “We have seen our students go on to accomplish great things both musically, academically and socially.”

Among the celebratory events this month is the Ferndale Suzuki and Strings Workshop on Saturday, February 11, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, at Ferndale High School, 881 Pinecrest in Ferndale. All levels of violin, viola and cello will be taught and each student will have four classes that day: a repertoire class, a technique class, alternative styles class and either orchestra or general music, depending on age and level.

The second big event a Faculty Concert at 5 p.m., Sunday, February 12 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 E. Fifth St., in Royal Oak.  Enjoy an afternoon of music featuring solos, chamber music and a violin concerto.  Donations will be accepted after the program with proceeds supporting Suzuki Royal Oak faculty continuing eduation.

Suzuki Royal Oak Institute of Music is a non-profit community music school located in the Churchill Community Education Center,707 Girard Street, Royal Oak.  The school has expanded to include instruction in violin, viola, cello and classical guitar and has an enrollment of over 170 students ages 3-18 from around Metro Detroit.

For questions about the 2/12 workshop, contact Jon Traines at 248.543.7435 or jtraines@comcast.net.  For more information about Suzuki Royal Oak, visit http://sites.google.com/site/srowebsite/

Filed Under: For Students, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,