This isn’t quite “theatre” but it’s “theatre people” so, hey… Taking advantage of my one-woman-organization status and making my own rules. Many of you have enjoyed Jeff and Sadonna and Laura Croff’s theatrical projects and we hope you’ll join the fun to commemorate their sweet, departed daughter, Tori — for a good cause — AND check out Jeff and Sadonna's new Game Lounge!

Fun & Games to Raise Money for Christmas Gifts

(November 20, 2023; Grand Ledge, MI)-- Homebrew Tabletop Game Lounge located at 219 1/2 N. Grand Ledge, MI, is hosting "Tori Shares Christmas" December 10 from Noon to 8 PM to buy presents for kids in foster care. For more information call 517.775.4246 or email info@homebrewgamelounge.com.

Jeff and Sadonna Croff, owners of Homebrew Tabletop Game Lounge, are hosting a day of fun & games to buy presents for children served by Child & Family Charities. During the event all guests can enjoy unlimited game play as there will be no fees charged.  Guests will also be able to decorate cookies and enjoy performances by local performers, including a reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by local award-winning actor Daryl Thompson. Guests are encouraged to donate what they can or to answer specific requests from the children provided by Child & Family Charities.

"We're looking forward to restarting this event and encouraging folks to have fun during the holidays," says Jeff Croff. "This is meant to be a chance for everyone to laugh, recharge and in the process donate to make Christmas a little better for children in foster care."

Let's Play!

Sincerely,
Jeff Croff
Hetman of Games
Homebrew Tabletop Game Lounge
517.775.4246

LCC Presents Climate Change Theatre Action: All Good Things Must Begin

LCC is participating in the global Climate Change Theatre Action festival with two nights of short plays from different countries, poetry, art and information presented by a multidisciplinary group of students, staff and faculty on Dec. 1 and 2 in LCC’s Black Box Theatre.
Climate Change Theatre Action (CCTA) uses theatre to bring together community for art and actions about the climate crisis. The biennial festival features events worldwide from Sept. 17-Dec. 23 to coincide with the U.N. Conference of the Parties climate meetings. Founded in 2015, every other year the festival invites 50 playwrights to contribute five-minute plays on a theme, this year’s inspired by science fiction writer Octavia Butler’s journal entry: “all good things must begin.”
LCC’s production features five CCTA plays: Thunderbird by Jo MacDonald, an Anishinaabe playwright from Manitoba, Canada, A Hummingbird’s Ululation by Aleya Kassam, Kenya, That’s the Late Night Show by Vitor Jatobá, Brazil, Magical Fungi in Times Square by Chantal Bilodeau, Quebec, Canada/New York, The Polar Bears by Nicholas Billon, Canada, and a sixth play, Snails by Janet Colson, Detroit, Michigan.
The plays are directed by LCC Theatre alumni Anna Szabo, Doak Bloss and Nick Lemmer, and performed by a cast of 16 LCC Theatre students and one Theatre alum. 
Climate-themed poetry created by students through LCC’s Community-Generated Poetry Project and event posters by LCC Art and Design students will be displayed. Local environmental organizations and the Michigan Coalition of Science on the Ballot will have information tables.
LCC’s Climate Change Theatre Action is organized by producer Melissa Kaplan who produced the Lansing area’s first Climate Change Theatre Action in Nov. 2017 at The Robin Theatre. LCC poetry creation is led by English prof. Barbara Clauer and community outreach by Biology prof. John Doudna.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. both Dec. 1 and 2. There is no charge for admission. Donations will be accepted for LCC’s Theatre Scholarship Funds.
WHO:  Lansing Community College
WHAT:  Climate Change Theatre Action: All Good Things Must Begin
WHEN:  December 1-2 @ 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: LCC Black Box Theatre – 411 N. Grand Avenue, Gannon Building, Room 1422
FREE parking in Gannon Ramp
FREE Admission
Donations accepted for LCC Theatre’s Scholarship Funds


LCC’s Performing Arts Theatre and Music Programs are offering several free concerts and performances at the end of this fall semester.  A celebration of student achievement, these performances serve as capstone events for students enrolled in theatre and music classes. 
 
IMPROV SHOWCASE – Instructor Blake Bowen
December 5 @ 6 p.m.
LCC Black Box Theatre
Gannon Building, Room 1422
 
MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMANCES – Instructor Kelly Stuible-Clark
December 7 & 8 @ 8 p.m.
LCC Black Box Theatre
Gannon Building, Room 1422
 
LCC CONCERT CHOIR – Instructor Dr. Jon Ten Brink
VOCAL JAZZ & POP ENSEMBLE – Instructor Nada Radakovich
December 10 @ 3 p.m.
Okemos Community Church
4734 Okemos Rd.
 
LCC ROCK BAND – Instructor Christopher Rollins
December 10 @ 6 p.m.
The Avenue Café
2021 Michigan Ave.



The STEAM Plays: Using the Arts to Talk about STEM - at MSU FRIB

Throughout this fall semester MSU Theatre students have been working on, rehearsing, designing, and creating a new show called: The STEAM Plays: Using the Arts to Talk about STEM. The show looks at the necessity for the arts to be integrated into a STEM education. (science, technology, engineering, and math). The show has toured to numerous elementary schools throughout the local area over the past few weeks. 
We are offering two free public performances at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams Theatre (FRIB) at MSU on Saturday December 2nd. The free public performances are at 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM at the FRIB.  Preshow activities from MSU Science Theater, Post show activities from the FRIB Outreach team.  Appropriate for first grade students and above. Entrance under the canopy by Lot 116 of the FRIB Building on 640 Shaw Lane. Free parking at the Law Parking Garage across the street. 

Designed by Thalia Lara and embracing the future of design by using AI to create the media throughout the show. Songs and sound by MSU graduate Seth Burk. Kaite Clemons tour manager, musical director, and choreographer, Assistant director Reese Verlinde, Assistant choreographer Ava Ballagh. ​

Lansing Community College is looking for background actors for a 15-30-second TV commercial. 18+ only on this shoot
 
Opportunity for Paid Extras at LCC
10 a.m.- Noon, Thursday, Nov. 30
LCC Downtown Campus (600 N. Grand Avenue Lansing, MI 48933)
Gannon Building Gym
 
Age range: 18-35
Please wear a blue, white, black, or gray shirt with no logos.
Pay rate: $25/hour
 
If you’re interested, please register in advance at https://lcc1957.wufoo.com/forms/lcc-video-shoot/
 
Contact: 
David Barker, Marketing Manager
barkerd2@lcc.edu

__________________

As you may remember, Jeff Croff and family’s world was jarred to its foundation when his 8-year-old daughter Tori drowned, June 18, 2011. To remember and honor her kind and joyful spirit, they have created this event, filled with fun, laughter and a bit of silliness, featuring comedy music, art and play. 

Tori  Saves Christmas will be December 10th from noon to 8 PM at Homebrew Tabletop Game Lounge 219/1/2 N. Bridge St. Grand Ledge MI 48837.

Proceeds from the event will be used to buy presents for kids in foster care this Christmas season. 

To aid in the effort they are asking talented friends if they would like to perform in support of the effort — music, comedy, your talent for various entertainment segments throughout the afternoon/evening.

If you think you might like to participate with a short set or need more information, then please feel free to contact Jeff Croff  Phone: 517.775.4246 - jeffscroff@gmail.com.

​Riverwalk’s New Process for Selecting Season 36 - Deadline Dec. 1

The RWT Season Selection Committee and Board of Directors cordially invites directors to submit projects for consideration for our 36th season, taking place fall of 2024 through spring of 2025. 


VP Production, Shannon Bowen explains changes to the submission and selection process via video: https://bit.ly/rwtshows36

The video outlines the changes and the reasoning behind them. Half the shows are pre-selected by the committee (large “mystery musical,” Angels in America Part 1, Pickleball, Importance of Being Earnest) and half are  “show types” that can be filled by director choice — plus a “wild card” category.


Submissions will be accepted through noon, Friday, December 1, 2023. No late submissions accepted. 


Once you have reviewed the changes, please use either the Pre-selected Show Submission form or the Open Submission form to submit your project(s). Each show submission requires its own form. Forms are at https://www.riverwalktheatre.com/submit-a-play.html — or email Mike (mailto:rwt@riverwalktheatre.com) if you need the form or video link emailed to you.

Thanks to the Season Selection Committee for developing this plan to help Riveralk balance artistic freedom and theatre su$tainability.

Check out this issue of Ripples! 

The Trail to Oregon is opening this week!

Audition for Exonerated 11/29-30

New Play Selection process!

11/11 - It’s the 25th anniversary for Singers on the Grand. Vintage Vinyl features the hits we spun 1950s-1980s.

Come join us to listen and sing along to the music of the Beatles, Carly Simon, Huey Lewis & the News, Toto, Elvis, Peggy Lee, Chicago, the Eagles, and many more familiar artists. 

The performance is Saturday, November 11, St. Johns Middle School, $15 tickets, General Admission, 7:00 pm show, doors open at 6:30 pm.   
A discounted price of $10 is available to all SJMS students who attend.
Director Katy McDonaugh describes the show’s theme as referring to “the golden era of vinyl records, from roughly 1950-1988. We are excited to present our strong singers and dynamic band as we celebrate this beloved retro music for our 25th season.”

The Singers On The Grand voices are Joy Behrends, Kelly Bitz, Bill DeWitt, James Hall, Ellen Hoard, Charlie Martin, Katy Brandon McDonough, Rachel Paxton, Kelly Sandula-Gruner, Darryl Schmitz, and Dan Templin. Members of the Grand Band are Phil Barger, trombone, Douches, guitar, Dave Gruner, sax, Bill Holda, piano, Pete Murthum, drums, Bernard Schroeter, bass guitar, and Tyler Smith, keyboards. 

Tickets can be bought at the door, and are available online at https://sotg.bpt.me, from group members, or at the door. For more information, visit the event link on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/events/836730604908047

​

​November 2023

11/2-4 - 7pm Thur-Fri; both 2pm & 7pm Sat. - Finding Nemo - at Alfreda Schmidt Community Center - MTC

11/3-4 & 10-11 - 7 pm - Thornton Wilder's Our Town by Lansing Catholic High School - Tickets at www.ticketor.com/lchsdrama.  

11/2-5 & 9-12 - 7pm;  2pm Sundays - The Prom by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, Director Chad Swan-Badgero - Stage One 2200 Lake Lansing Rd., Lansing, MI  48912 - PCTC 

11/3-5, 10-12 7:30pm Fri/Sat; 2:30 pm Sunday  - Guys and Dolls, musical - 231 Maple St. Portland, MI 48875 - PCP

11/3-5 & 11/10-12 - 7pm Fri; 3pm Sat & Sun, Hannah Center - The Witch’s Princess - AECT

11/9-12 & 16-19 - 7pm Thu/8pm Fri-Sat/2pm Sun - Trail to Oregon by Nick & Matt Lang, Brian Holden & Jeff Blim, Director Ayden Soupal - Black Box stage - RWT

11/11 - 7pm - Vintage Vinyl concert of 50s-80s songs by Singers on the Grand chorus at  St. Johns Middle School, $15 tickets, General Admission doors open at 6:30 pm.   


11/10-19 - 8pm Fri; 2 & 8pm Sat; 2pm Sun, 7:30pm Wed-Thu - (NO 2pm show Sat. 11/11) Much Ado About Nothing by Wm. Shakespeare directed by Deric McNish  - MSU Auditorium, Arena, lower level - MSU 

11/10-12, 17-19 - 8pm/2pm Sundays - Sense and Sensibility by Kate Hamill Based on the novel by Jane Austen, Director Mary Job - Black Box Theatre - LCC 

11/15, 17-18-19 - 7pm Wed/Fri/Sat & 3pm Sun - Sondheim’s A Little Night Music - MSU Auditorium Fairchild Theatre - MSUO

11/16-12/23 - Thu-Fri-Sat 8pm; Wed-Sat-Sun 2pm - Murder for Two: Holiday Edition, Directed by Rob Roznowski; (No show 11/23 Thanksgiving); Additional 2pm show 11/24; Sat. matinees begin 11/25; Wed. matinees 12/13 & 20: Additional 8pm show 12/20 - WT

11/28-12/3 - 7:30pm Tue/Wed/Thu; 8pm Fri; 2pm & 8pm Sat; 1pm & 6:30pm Sun - Hairspray - Cobb Great Hall - WTN

11/29/30 at 7pm - and by appointment - AUDITIONS for The Exonerated, Director Alan Greenberg. Contact alanbgreenberg@gmail.com for appointment if can’t attend Wed. or Thur. - RWT

11/30-12/3 - 7:30pm Thu; 8pm Fri; 2 & 8pm Sat; 2pm Sun, MSU UnScripted (New Student Improv Comedy) Director: Sarah Hendrickson - MSU Auditorium Studio 60 lower level - MSU

The Lansing Theatre Community has lost one of its many memorable characters. 

Tim Beam, participated in a lot of shows, often serving as firearms consultant — and acted in local movies. He was also a karaoke fanatic, making the news for record-setting consecutive days of karaoke singing. 

He was also that motorcycle guy who was always smoking. I figured one of those habits would do him in, and it seems it was the smoking. 

I have fond memories of his onstage antics falling off the operating table in Young Frankenstein and growlingly funny as Blog of Blondania in Thunderhoof… and his ominous portrayal of Walter Cunningham in Riverwalk’s To Kill a Mockingbird.

Check out Tim's local theatre resume at Matt Ottinger’s wonderful database (where you can all search all local shows/names; it’s a treasure!)
http://lansingtheatre.org/Lansing/TimBeam

Visitation will be this Wednesday, November 1st 2023 at 12:00 PM at the Christ Community Church (227 N Capitol Ave, Lansing, MI 48933) with funeral to follow at 1:00 PM at the same location. More info at:
https://estesleadley.com/obituaries/tim-beam/

​Please join the MSU FRIENDS OF THEATRE returning this fall with a class on Shakespeare’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn more about the MSU Department of Theatre productions, featuring the MSU Department of Theatre Production Directors, Faculty, and Students. Facilitators are Carol Bryson, Sam Austin, and Joan Mattson.

We will be offering three events throughout the 2023-2024 academic year.

All Behind the Scenes events will have three sessions:

    First session: An open discussion of the play and related historical and cultural context led by MSU faculty or a community expert.


    The Play: The “Behind the Scenes” package includes a ticket to the production at MSU on the day and time of your choosing.


    Second session: After the play, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with the faculty and students involved in the production.

First up:

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

by William Shakespeare

First session: Professor Jyotsna Singh, MSU Department of English
Second session: Director Deric McNish, MSU Department of Theatre, and students from the production

Thursday, Nov 9, 3-5pm and Wednesday, Nov 29, 3-5pm Hannah Community Center, Room 144
Cost (includes a digital copy of the script and a show ticket) $40 (members of Prime Time), $45 (non-members)

To sign up for “Behind the Scenes,” call Prime Time at (517) 337-1113.

Note from the Director, Deric McNish
Acclaimed as one of Shakespeare’s most delightful comedies, Much Ado About Nothing delivers witty tongue-lashings and fast-paced farce. As the diabolical Don Gianna devises a scheme to shatter the wedding of young lovers Claudio and Hero, the friends of Beatrice and Benedick conspire to trick them into admitting their much-denied love for one another. Shakespeare shapes the light-hearted deceptions with cleverness and charm while keeping the laughter coming.

Meet our Guest Lecturer
Professor Jyotsna Singh is a world-renowned expert on early modern literature and culture, including Shakespeare, as well as travel writing, postcolonial theory, early modern histories of Islam, and gender and race studies. She has published widely and lectured extensively on these subjects. For a list of her extensive research and popularity as a guest lecturer and visiting fellow, please visit the MSU Dept of English website (http://english.msu.edu/faculty/jyotsna-singh/). Most recently, Professor Singh was an invited speaker at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada, where she gave a post-production talk following the performance of Much Ado About Nothing.