Okay, I hope all you musical lovers have gas in your cars, because after your westward trip to Grand Ledge for Zombies, now you have to drive northeast to Owosso for a sensational rendition of URINETOWN. Like Zombies, Urinetown is fun and campy - but it is also a "really big show," one of my favorite scripts - funny, entertaining, smart, irreverent and thought-provoking - (featuring music/dance homages to Fiddler, West Side Story, and Les Miz.) Wikipedia says it "It satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics." This is the fourth time we've seen it (first time on Broadway) and this production is up there with the best. The set, by Mistie and Michael Jordan and Dirk Rennick, was made largely of recycled trash - a nice touch.
We were very impressed with last year's Into the Woods at Owosso Community Players, directed by the same Garrett Bradley, a professional director/choreographer who has come back to his home town to direct a few shows in recent years. He obviously knows his stuff. The choreography is outstanding; the voices and characterizations are excellent. "Hope" (Aubrey Hengesbach) is like a brunette Kristin Chenowith; "Bobby Strong" (Vinnie Lindquist) is heroically wonderful; Mike Windnagle is a folksy, ironic Officer Lockstock, breaking the fourth wall with his sidekick "Little Sally" (Faith Halick) who displays cutting charm as a little girl who speaks the truth.Tim Ruwart is despicable (or IS he?) as Caldwell B. Cladwell, president of Urine Good Company. "Penelope Pennywise" the tough, funny "missing link" between the powerful and the poor is ably played by Anna Owens. It was good to see former Lansing actor Steve Shelton back on stage as the corruptible but conflicted Senator Fipp. The whole cast is strong, with great choral singing as well as super dancing. Kudos to music director Chris Sprink and his four musicians.
It's about a 45 minute drive to Owosso for us west-siders; less for you on the east side - and The Studio Theater 114 E Main St. is easy to find (right next to the famous Lebowsky auditorium that's being completely refurbished after its fire and hopes to be back in action in about a year.)
You can buy tickets online and actually choose your specific seat and print out your own tickets. And I'd do it SOON if I were you; this deserves to sell out. ($15 - and $7 - I think that's "student" not senior - can't find that on the website now, but anyway...)
Continues through September 15 - 8pm Fri/Sat; 3pm Sun.
www.owossoplayers.com
989-723-4003
We were very impressed with last year's Into the Woods at Owosso Community Players, directed by the same Garrett Bradley, a professional director/choreographer who has come back to his home town to direct a few shows in recent years. He obviously knows his stuff. The choreography is outstanding; the voices and characterizations are excellent. "Hope" (Aubrey Hengesbach) is like a brunette Kristin Chenowith; "Bobby Strong" (Vinnie Lindquist) is heroically wonderful; Mike Windnagle is a folksy, ironic Officer Lockstock, breaking the fourth wall with his sidekick "Little Sally" (Faith Halick) who displays cutting charm as a little girl who speaks the truth.Tim Ruwart is despicable (or IS he?) as Caldwell B. Cladwell, president of Urine Good Company. "Penelope Pennywise" the tough, funny "missing link" between the powerful and the poor is ably played by Anna Owens. It was good to see former Lansing actor Steve Shelton back on stage as the corruptible but conflicted Senator Fipp. The whole cast is strong, with great choral singing as well as super dancing. Kudos to music director Chris Sprink and his four musicians.
It's about a 45 minute drive to Owosso for us west-siders; less for you on the east side - and The Studio Theater 114 E Main St. is easy to find (right next to the famous Lebowsky auditorium that's being completely refurbished after its fire and hopes to be back in action in about a year.)
You can buy tickets online and actually choose your specific seat and print out your own tickets. And I'd do it SOON if I were you; this deserves to sell out. ($15 - and $7 - I think that's "student" not senior - can't find that on the website now, but anyway...)
Continues through September 15 - 8pm Fri/Sat; 3pm Sun.
www.owossoplayers.com
989-723-4003
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