Late Breaking News: 
Director Amy Jo Brown is excited to announce that her directing debut at Rivrwwalk’s Black Box Stage, Jeff Daniels’ wacky comedy PICKLEBALL, has been SUCH a hit it’s almost sold out for all previously scheduled performances — so they are ADDING A SUNDAY 7PM SHOW this Sunday, October 6.

Get your tickets asap at:
https://www.riverwalktheatre.com/box-office.html

There are a FEW tix left for Thur/Fri/Sat — Sunday 2pm is totally sold out — Sunday at 7 … be there and get Pickled!

I’m writing a check to Riverwalk in memory of our recently-departed theatre mainstay, Mary K. Hodges-Nees. She worked mostly with Riverwalk (along with her super set-creator husband, Bob Nees) but also Lansing Civic Players, back in the day— and Starlight Dinner Theatre. 

I remember stifling giggles with her in the no-exit-but-onto-the-stage “upstairs” backstage cubbyhole during Opal’s Baby at Starlight. I also cherish her hilarious, Barney-Thespie-Pulsar winning performance as “Reptile Woman” in Riverwalk’s Sugar Bean Sisters. (Kudos to director Tom Ferris for helping her "bring on the crazy" in that role.) But mostly she was backstage working her magic. A favorite memory was watching her in the Riverwalk green room literally paint a cat’s body onto the leotard being worn by our 1996 Puss in Boots, Donna Green.

Despite her health issues and being scooter-dependent in her later years, Mary K. was a talented trooper and always participating as she could. Notably, she was director of the Ill-fated “Hotel on Marvin Gardens” that was closed by Covid in March 2020 after only one performance. Mary K. is one of the special “10-20-30” frequent contributors noted on Matt Ottinger’s wonderful database. Check it out http://lansingtheatre.org/Lansing/MaryKHodges-Nees

Riverwalk Theatre will continue to display Mary K’s beautiful floral arrangements in the Riverwalk lobby as a visual reminder of her lasting impact. If you want to join me in donating to Riverwalk in memory of Mary K. you can mail a check to Riverwalk with "I.M.O. Mary K. Hodges-Nees" on the memo line, to PO Box 12249 Lansing 48901 - or leave a check at the box office when you come see Pickleball?

Mary K’s memorial service will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, November 2 at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1315 Abbot Rd
East Lansing, MI  48823 with a light dessert reception afterward.

​October 2024 (with a dash of September; note recently added Hill House Auditions)

9/12 -10/20 - Thirst, directed by Tony Caselli - Thurs 7:30 is pay-what-you-can; first weekend:Thurs & Fri @ 7:30, Sat & Sun @ 2; remaining weeks: Thurs @ 2, Fri @ 7:30, Sat @ 2 & 7:30, Sun @ 2 - WT

9/26-29 & 10/3-6 - 7pm Thur, 8pm Fri/Sat; 2pm Sun - Pickleball, comedy, Director: Amy Jo Brown - Black Box Stage - RWT

9/23 & 24 - 7pm -Auditions for “Haunting of Hill House” at Edgewood Community Church; 469 Hagadorn, East Lansing - info - [email protected] - AAF

9/26, 7-9pm; 9/27, 6-8pm - Auditions for Cosplay - LCC Theatre - Directed by Paige Tufford; Black Box Theatre - Gannon Bldg. Room 1422 Enter at “Black Box Theatre” marquee door on Grand Avenue - LCC

10/4-13 - 8pm Fri-Sat; 2pm Sun and Sat the12th; 7:30pm Wed-Thu, Inherit the Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, Auditorium Arena Stage - MSU

10/11-12, 7pm - Snow White and the Seven Dudes - directed by Kallie Marrison, Black Box Theatre - LCC

10/8-13 - 7:30pm Tue-Fri; 2pm & 7:30pm Sat; 1pm & 6:30pm Sun - Les Misérables - Great Hall - WTN

10/11-13 &18-20 at 7pm Fri/Sat; and 3pm Sun - Turn, Turn, Turn collection of monologues from Ixion’s Wheel Writers Group directed by Steve Lee - IX

10/12-13 - 3pm Disney’s 101 Dalmations Kids Musical - AECT

10/15 - 7:30pm Tuesday - The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Barry Bostwick - screening of the original, unedited movie with a live shadow cast and audience participation. V.I.P. Meet & Greet option available - Great Hall - WTN

10/14 530-7:30 pm Auditions for She Kills Monsters directed by Ixion Artistic Director jeff croff with fight choreography by Tobin Bates. Script or more info: [email protected]. If unable to attend, request alternate time or video submission prior to audition date if needed. - IX

10/18-27 - 7pm Fri/Sat; 2pm Sun - The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical by Rick Riordan, Book by Joe Tracz Music & Lyrics by Rob Rokicki, Director: Kelly Stuible-Clark Dart Auditorium- LCC
10/19 - 7pm - I Couldn’t Have Raised  My Family Without My Bartender - staged reading of a new comedy by Roger Rochowiak, free of charge/donations accepted - directed by Tom Ferris - Black Box stage - RWT 
​10/25-26 - 7pm - The Haunting of Hill House radio show - Hannah Center - AAF


Greater Lansing Ubiquitous Theatres

** AECT - All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre -  www.cityofeastlansing.com/allofus - 517-319-6957 - [email protected]


** AAF - Audio Air Force - radio shows - www.audioairforce.com - Dave Downing - 517-881-9746 


* IX - Ixion - ixiontheatre.com, [email protected],  517-775-4246 


LCC - Lansing Community College Arts - www.lcc.edu/showinfo, 517-483-1122 


MSU - Michigan State University Department of Theatre - www.theatre.msu.edu - 517-432-2000


RWT - Community Circle Players at Riverwalk Theatre,  www.RiverwalkTheatre.com, 228 Museum Drive 
517-482-5700


WT - Williamston Theatre - 122 S. Putnam St. Williamston 48895 - 517-655-SHOW (7469) www.williamstontheatre.org 


WTN - Wharton Center for Performing Arts at MSU - 517-432-2000 or 1-800-Wharton or www.whartoncenter.com

* Performs at Stage One, 2200 Lake Lansing Rd., Lansing, MI 48912
** Performs at E.L. Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road 
East Lansing, MI 48823

​See you in a theatre lobby soon?!

September:

9/6-8, 12-15, 19-22 - 7pm; 2pm Sun. & final Sat. - Beautiful: The Carole King Musical by Carole King, Gerry Geffin, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Directed by Meg Woolsey - PCTC

9/6-15 - 7:30pm Fri & Sat; 2pm Sat & Sun - Annie - LEB


9/8-9 - 7pm Auditions for Urinetown dir. by Brian Farnham - RWT


9/12 -10/20 - Thirst, directed by Tony Caselli - Thurs 9/12 @ 7:30 is pay-what-you-can; first weekend: Thurs & Fri @ 7:30, Sat & Sun @ 2; remaining weeks: Thurs @ 2, Fri @ 7:30, Sat @ 2 & 7:30, Sun @ 2 - WT


9/19-22 - 7pm Thu; 7pm Sat; 2pm Sun, In Pieces, anthology musical, Wharton Center Pasant Stage – MSU


9/24-29 - 7:30pm Tue/Wed/Thu; 8pm Fri; 2pm Sun - P/A devised protest performance inspired by women’s suffrage, MSU Auditorium lower level Studio 60 - MSU  

9/26-29 & 10/3-6 - 7pm Thur, 8pm Fri/Sat; 2pm Sun - Pickleball, comedy, Director: Amy Jo Brown - Black Box Stage - RWT



Greater Lansing Ubiquitous Theatres

LEB - Lebowsky Center for Performing Arts - 122 E. Main St., Owosso, MI - LebowskyCenter.com - 989-723-4003
​

MSU - Michigan State University Department of Theatre - www.theatre.msu.edu - 517-432-2000


* PCTC - Peppermint Creek Theatre Co. - www.peppermintcreek.org - 517-927-3016


RWT - Community Circle Players at Riverwalk Theatre, www.RiverwalkTheatre.com, 228 Museum Drive 
517-482-5700


WT - Williamston Theatre - 122 S. Putnam St. Williamston 48895 - 517-655-SHOW (7469) www.williamstontheatre.org  

WTN - Wharton Center for Performing Arts at MSU - 517-432-2000 or 1-800-Wharton or www.whartoncenter.com
* Performs at Stage One, 2200 Lake Lansing Rd., Lansing, MI 48912

For those of you that may not know me, my name is Aaron Wittbrodt and I am the new Secretary for Riverwalk Theatre and also the new Executive Liaison to the Promotions & Engagement Committee. Angie Schwab has also agreed to step in as the chair of the P&E committee. We are so excited about the future of Riverwalk and building great partnerships in the community for the theater.

One of the initiatives that we are introducing this year is promoting our shows and the theater at events in the Greater Lansing Area and some surrounding areas. We are looking for some wonderful volunteers to help us pass out flyers at some of these events. This is a great opportunity to help out the theater and also enjoy some fun events! If you would be interested in helping out with this initiative please send me an email and we will add your name to our list.

We are also looking for new members for the P&E committee! We have put together a fun and dynamic group of people. We are a small but mighty team and would love to add you in on the fun! If you are interested in promotions, social media, traditional media, events, partnerships or just want to know more, please reach out to me on Facebook or send an email to mailto:[email protected]
Thank you!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best,
Aaron
http://www.riverwalktheatre.com

​

August 2024

7/26-28 & 8/ 2-4 - 7pm Fri; 3pm Sat & Sun, Hannah Center - SpongeBob the Musical - AECT (sorry this is late; SpongeBob was great, btw)


8/4&5 - 7pm Auditions for Pickleball directed by Amy Jo Brown - RWT


8/10 - 7pm - Alice in Wonderland radio show - AAF


8/11 - 1:30 - 3:30 pm AUDITIONS for Turn, Turn, Turn directed by Steven Lee in the basement auditorium of Capital Area District Library. Cold reads from the monologues. Request preview scripts [email protected] - IX


8/15-18 & 22-25 - 7pm Thur/Fri/Sat; 2pm Sun - Angels in America, drama,  Director: Bob Robinson
Main Stage - RWT


8/19-8/20, 6:30-9:30 pm - AUDITIONS - The Lightning Thief - directed by Kelly Stuible-Clark, Dart Auditorium LCC  8/21 - 6:30-8:30pm - Audition Workshop to prepare for Puffs and 101 Dalmations - $15 members; $20 nonmembers - AECT


8/22-23 - 6:30-8:30pm AUDITIONS for BOTH 101 Dalmations (Grades 2-5) and Puffs (Ages 9-18) - AECT  8/26-27 - 7pm - Auditions for Descendants  - Performances are   11/8-10, 15-17  - PCP


8/28, 6-30-8:30 pm & 8/29, 7:30-9:00 p.m. - AUDITIONS for Snow White and the Seven Dudes - directed by Kallie Marrison, Black Box- LCC

​Don’t miss this free show. Light board operator Tim Lewis reports it’s a must-see.

Emerging Playwrights 2024 Competition Winners will have their scripts produced as full productions or staged readings at Riverwalk Theatre’s Emerging Playwrights Festival on Saturday, August 3 at 7 pm on Riverwalk Theatre’s Black Box Stage — free of charge — but donation$ are gladly accepted.

The playwrights will have an active role in bringing their scripts to life on Riverwalk Theatre’s Black Box stage.   “There is a lot of talent out there in our high schools,” said Tom Ferris, member of Riverwalk’s Emerging Playwrights committee. “We are excited to give area high school students a chance to show off their work.”  More information is available on the Riverwalk Theatre website www.riverwalktheatre.com/emerging-playwrights

Five high school students have been named 2024 Emerging Playwrights winning $1000 prizes for writing short plays. This is the second year that Riverwalk Theatre has invited high school students in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton Counties to compete in this contest. Students throughout the tri-county area submitted scripts vying for one of the five $1000 prizes. A panel of judges reviewed the scripts and selected the following students as winners of the competition:
• Evan Bywater, 12th grade, Lansing Eastern HS with the script Buddy’s Pizza
• Olivia Quiroga, 12th grade, Holt HS with the script Butterfly Grief (Olivia Quiroga was also named an Emerging Playwright in 2023.)
• Ella Reid, 12th grade, Dewitt HS with the script Strangers Like Us
• Paulina Rivet, 12th grade, Dewitt HS with the script Roses are Red
• Abigail Triantaflos, 11th grade, Ovid-Elsie HS with the script Women at Housework

Bill Gordon let me know about a message from a friend about a program to help survivors of school shootings, etc. A police officer in Charlotte is putting together a training session at Charlotte High School which includes a re-enactment and they are looking for 30 additional actors. He is asking me to reach out to young actors in grades 8 - 12 that might be interested.


This training scenario will take place Thursday, August 1st at Charlotte High School at door 49. Participants will arrive at 7:30 for registration. This will be and active shooter training and fake injuries will be applied using makeup, Lunch is also included.

Participants must sign this waiver:

Eaton County Active Violence Team

Voluntary Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability

Please initial were required and sign on page 3 of 3. If you are under 18 years old please initial and have a parent or legal guardian initial next to your initials indicating they understand and the parent or legal guardian will have to sign on page 3 oF 3 as well.   
I, ________________________________________, HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE that I have voluntarily agreed to participate in an Active Shooter training scenario at Charlotte Schools on August 1, 2024.  The training scenario is being hosted by the Charlotte Police Department and the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office.  I understand that I will be participating in an active and dynamic training scenario and agree to abide by the Rules and Regulations regarding my assigned role and will conduct myself in an appropriate and respectful manner in order to accomplish the training objectives.  I understand that the privilege and authorization which is granted to me by the approval of this waiver agreement may be revoked at any time.       INITIAL:  _______ I am aware that this training scenario is intended to simulate a true active shooter scenario. This event will create challenges for School Officials, Emergency Dispatchers, Law Enforcement, Fire Personnel and EMS responders at the school.  The Training scenario will involve participants to have mock injuries that will require emergency responders and medical personnel to treat and possibly transport participants. I AM AWARE THAT BY ITS VERY NATURE, IT CAN AND WILL IN ALL PROBABILITY INVOLVE SOME POTIENTAL FOR INJURY due to many factors that exist in an active shooter scenario.  INITIAL:  _______
I understand that as a participant that I may be treated and evaluated by emergency responders for mock injuries that would have been sustained in the active shooter scenario. By signing this form, I am providing permission for all participating staff, school officials, emergency responders, hospital staff and any air care services that may participate treating and evaluating me as part of the active shooter scenario.
I also understand that by signing this wavier, if I am 17 years or younger, I am providing trained emergency responders and if necessary, hospital staff to treat me in the event that I sustain an actual injury while participating in the active shooter scenario.  INITIAL:  _______



The contact person is Roxy Fronckel! She is an officer with Eaton County. mailto:[email protected]