The Studio Performing Arts Center students are performing at the MSU Arena Theatre May 16 at 7pm and May 17 at 2pm (542 Auditorium Rd East Lansing, MI 48824 downstairs); the dance company is performing excerpts from "The Tales of Beatrix Potter" (featuring the Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjammin Bunny, The Mouse Waltz and The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck with costumes by Mary K. Hodges-Nees); at the same performance, we will also present "The Two-Color Coat", An African Folktale by our Musical Theatre kids, and "The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza", a one-act comedy based on the Greek Myths by Don Zolidis (the author of last year's "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon") by our Acting company. 
Tickets are $10 at the door.

Also, in June we are presenting "Beyond The Path", a collage concert of actors, singers and dancers at Williamston High School on June 7 at 7pm (3939 Vanneter Rd, Williamston, MI 48895).  Again, tickets are $10 at the
door.  

P.K. Van Voorhees
The Studio Performing Arts Center
517-336-4088
www.dancesingact.com
[email protected]

If you are planning to come to "Nunsense the MEGA Musical" please reserve ASAP. This is selling BIG and we do not want to turn anyone away, so we will be setting up "show only" tables and chairs once the caterers have left. 
Please check out the web sitestarlightdinnertheatre.com for reservations or call 517 243-6040. 
(Insider's Note from "Sister Julia, Child of God" - I have a minor but funny role, but lemme tellya, some of these sisters have been blowing the roof of the rehearsal hall. This is show promises to be a hoot!)

Starlight Dinner Theatre presents SUPERSIZED
NUNSENSE THE MEGA-MUSICAL VERSION
 MAY 9, 10, 16 & 17 2014
Directed by Susan DeRosa     Musical Director:  James Geer    Choreographer: Fran Norton

Starlight Dinner Theatre presents Dan Googin’s Nunsense The Mega-Musical Version, May 9, 10, 16 & 17 at the Waverly East Intermediate School cafetorium.  The second longest running off-Broadway show in history has been “supersized” with seven additional characters, including Sister Julia – Child of God, a new musical number and enhanced dance numbers.  An unfortunate convent cooking accident causes most of the order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken to die of botulism.  In order to raise money to bury the four remaining sisters, temporarily stored in the freezer, what’s left of the Sisters and Brothers of Hoboken put on a riotous revue packed with hilarious, show-stopping song and dance numbers.
Nunsense the MEGA-Musical Version is directed by Susan DeRosa (St. Johns) with assistant director Jan Ross (Mason), musical director James Geer (Williamston) and choreographer Fran Norton (East Lansing).
“The voices, music and moves are heavenly; the story is down-to earth funny,” says director DeRosa. The cast includes Beth Webb (St. Johns) as Reverend Mother Mary Regina; Diana Lett (Laingsburg) as Sister Mary Hubert; Angela Dill (Lansing) as Sister Robert Anne; Leann Dethlefsen (Mason) as Sister Mary Amnesia; Amanda Kennedy (Lansing) as Sister Mary Leo. Roles added to the new version are Sister Julia – Child of God (Convent Cook) played by Jane Zussman of Lansing; Father Virgil played by Marty Underhill of Lansing; Sister Mary Wilhelm (Convent Nurse) played by Fran Norton of East Lansing; and Sister Mary Luke (Novice) played by Elizabeth Johnson (Delta Township).  The Brothers of Hoboken who also perform together in the Grand Ledge Barbershop Quartet, include Charlie Martin (Delta Twp) as Brother Brendan, Dan Templin (Grand Ledge) as Brother Daniel and Mike Barger (Grand Ledge) as Brother Michael.
Dinner before the show is catered by Creative Catering and includes roast beef, creamy mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetable medley, rolls, tossed salad, and strawberry or pecan pie. Vegetarian entrées are available and must be requested when making your reservation. For more information or reservations call 517.243.6040,       e-mail [email protected], or reserve through the website www.StarlightDinnerTheatre.

TIMES:  Lobby Box office opens at 6 pm. Dining Room opens at 6:30 pm.  Dinner service ends at 7 pm.  Show begins at 7:30 pm.

MAILING ADDRESS:   225 Leland Place, Lansing, MI 48917

LOCATION:  Performances take place in the Waverly East Cafetorium located at 3131 W. Michigan Ave.  Lansing, MI  48917. 

RESERVATIONS: Dinner reservations are required 72 hours before the show begins!

SEATING:  Tables seat 8 people per table.  The earlier the reservation is made, the better the seating

PRICES: Individual Musical Ticket Prices  Regular: $36.00
Seniors (62+) and students (13-22 years-old with student ID): $31
Children 12 and under:  $23
“Show Only” reservations: $18.00 for regular, seniors and students; $13 for children 12 and under.
VISA and Master Card accepted
HEARING ASSISTED DEVICES are available and must be requested when making your reservation
CANCELLATION: 72 hour notice required by phone (517.243.6040) to receive a refund. 

starlightdinnertheatre.com517 243-6040.

Note RIPPLES from Riverwalk Theatre attached waaaaay below. TELLING LIVES, exciting new Black Box Show at Riverwalk opens Friday!

What does it mean to come of age in the 21st century?  Millennials, like every generation, face their own set of challenges that will shape who they become. For this season’s Dark Nights in Billtown staged reading series, the Williamston Theatre will present three plays that explore how young people today survive in the age of mass shootings and online bullying.
Seating is limited for all readings. Reservations may be made now by calling the box office at (517) 655-7469 during regular box office hours.

Admission: Suggested donation of $10 at the door.

Thursday, May 1 at 8pm
Ride
By Eric Lane
Eric Lane’s poignant and hilarious play Ride takes three teenage girls on a life-changing road trip. While Carrie and Molly would never hang out together at high school, the two form a fragile bond during their job at a local farm stand. The girls are keeping secrets, which unfold over the course of their adventure. The girls’ true selves begin to emerge; their “ride” is both a physical and emotional one. Directed by Lynn Lammers. Featuring Julia Hays, Anna Morreale and Sara Anne Ostrowski.

Friday, May 2 at 8pm
Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them
By A. Rey Pamatmat
Three kids — Kenny, his sister Edith, and their friend Benji — are all but abandoned on a farm in remotest Middle America. With little adult supervision, they feed and care for each other, making up the rules as they go. Directed by Lynn Lammers. Featuring Amanda Harvey, Blaine Mizer and Caleb Wolfe.

Saturday, May 3 at 8pm
Evie's Waltz
By Carter W. Lewis
Clay and Gloria Matthews are living every respectable parent’s nightmare. Their increasingly distant son, Danny, has just been expelled for bringing a gun to school…and then the intervention barbecue is torpedoed by his fiery accomplice-girlfriend, Evie. As twilight falls and tempers flare, a precarious dance of cat-and-mouse is set in motion. Directed by John Lepard. Featuring Marley Boone, Alex Leydenfrost and Emily Sutton-Smith.
WILLIAMSTON THEATRE
122 S. Putnam Street
Williamston, MI 48895
Tel: (517) 655-SHOW (7469)
www.williamstontheatre.com

(from Ken Beachler) In light of Lane's involvement with--and creative contributions to Riverwalk Theatre, I thought you might like to share this item about him in the current (Spring, 2014) issue of the MSU Alumni Magazine.

LANE GLENN, PhD '94, vice president of academic affairs of Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill, MA, has been named the college's president. Before he joined the Northern Essex staff five years ago, he served as dean of academic and student services at Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills and on the faculty at Lansing Community College in Lansing.  His background in education and the performing arts includes nearly 20 years of teaching and administration, alongside work as an actor and director for the stage, television and films.

5/3 - The Adventures of Harlequin by William Glennon
7:30 p.m. Friday May 2 & Saturday May 3
Connie Curran-Oesterle directs the 2nd Semester Theatre Studio in a lively story about how Quino, a gifted youth and aspiring actor in 15th C Italy, evolves from an earnest amateur into the legendary Harlequin, a key member of the commedia dell’arte. A charming and imaginative comedy based on actual commedia history.
 
5/6 - Improv!
7:30 pm. Tuesday May 6
A showcase of student-created stories through improv, directed by Andy Callis
 
5/9-10 -Women versus Men—Parents versus Children—Dog versus Bear?!
7:30 p.m. Friday May 9 & Saturday May 10
A collection of one act plays performed by the 1st Semester Theatre Studio directed by Mary Matzke
Journeys of life and love are explored in these short plays and monologues.
 
For all performances:
Admission:          Free
Location:              LCC Black Box Theatre, room 168 Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Ave., Lansing

Jeff Croff reports: We're into the final twenty-four hours for The Four Disgracers Kickstarter. We're still about $1600 away from our goal. As in all Kickstarter projects, this project will not fund if it doesn't reach the full goal by its deadline. 
If you haven't pledged, please consider doing so. If you have, please consider sharing the link with others who support the arts in Lansing.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1149284117/ixion-presents-the-four-disgracers

The Four Disgracers was conceived by Ixion Artistic Director jeff croff. “As we looked at scripts and thought of ways to launch, it struck me that maybe the inspiration for our name could also inspire our first production,” observes Croff. “ The name of our troupe was inspired by a trip tothe Detroit Institute of Art, where I encountered Friederich Goltzius's engraving set named TheFour Disgracers. The engravings featured four figures from Greek mythology: Icarus, Phaeton,Ixion and Tantalus. After reading Goltzius’s Latin interpretation of the Ixion myth, I had a name forthe new troupe. So I thought why not take the inspiration provided by art and see if it could inspire new art?” Croff then recruited four local playwrights to develop short plays, each derived from a different Greek myth. After months of writing and rewriting, The Four Disgracers took shape with “Distance from the Son”; “Tantalizing Menu”; “Empty” and “Icarus Flying”.
“Distance from the Son” by O.G. Ueberoth transforms Phaeton into Pate, a manchild struggling to find himself and deal with his daddy issues. Helios has become a cantankerous old soldier, who is helping out with conflicts as well as his usual duties.
“Tantalizing Menu” by Sarah Hauck takes us front and center with a family dinner filled withbackbiting, acrimony and new menu items. Tantalus becomes a nervous and edgy host hopingthat everyone appreciates his time in the kitchen.
“Empty” by Brad Rutledge transforms the tet a tet between Zeus and Ixion into a meeting of amafia don with his lieutenant. Tough guys talk and get a little nervous as truths come out.
“Icarus Flying” by A. S. Freeman offers a fresh take on the myth. We enter a totalitarianworld and learn Icarus’s mom’s perspective.
The Four Disgracers is slated to open May 15, 2014.

5/2-3 Janet Colson reports The Seussical The Musical Jr is at Holt Jr. High. I think it's going to be a great show (and I'm not just saying that because my daughter Adele is playing The Cat in the Hat!) and it should be fun for an audience of all ages with singing, dancing, and more! 

Seussical the Musical Jr. at Holt Jr. High School, Directed by Seth Burk who was last seen music directing Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and In The Heights with Peppermint Creek Theatre Company as well as Fantasticks, Adrift in Macao and Baby with Summer Circle Theatre. 

May 2nd 7 PM and May 3rd 2 PM and 7 PM.Holt Jr. High School
1784 Aurelius Rd., Holt
Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased at the door

5/1-3 - Colleen Bethea reports: Not sure if you covered this already but "Oklahoma" opens at Mason High School at 7:00 p.m. next Thursday, May 1st through Saturday, May 3rd, starring Chris Bethea as Curly and Cameron Bethea as Mr. Carnes.
This is Chris's last high school show and probably his best, so please pass on the word.
I was able to find the other information you requested for Mason High School's "Oklahoma" on the MasonToday.com | The Latest News And Events In Mason Michigan website - www.MasonToday.com

direction and choreography by Mark Ruhala
8 pm Friday
7 pm Saturday
2pm Sunday
St Martha Parish Hall - $7 at the door.
1100 W Grand River Ave, Okemos, MI 48864