JUNE 2019
5/9-6/9 - 8 pm Thur/Fri, 3 pm & 8 pm Sat, 2 pm Sun – New Releasesby Joseph Zettelmaier, directed by Paige Conway (World Premiere) - WT

5/14-6/2 - 7:30 pm Tue/Wed/Thur; 8 pm Fri; 2 pm & 8 pm Sat; 1 pm & 6:30 pm Sun - Hamilton- WTN 

6/1-2 - 7pm Saturday, 6pm Sunday - Once On This Island directed by Mark Ruhala, music by Jeff English, $18 all seats - RPAC

6/6-7 6:30 pm -Auditions for Gunsmoke & Lone Ranger “Western Night”at Downeaster Theatre 1120 N. Pennsylvania Ave. - Lansing 48906 Rehearsals will be June 17, 18, 19, and 20 - at 6:30pm at Downeaster Theatre
Performance - 7pm 6/21 at The Robin Theatre 1105 S. Washington, 48910 (one performance) - AAF

6/6, 7, 8 @ 8 pm and 6/9 at 4pm Mainstage #1 One Man, Two Guvnorsby Richard Bean, Directed by Rob Roznowski, Musical Direction by Dave Wendelberger, Some playful sexual innuendo and mild profanity. Appropriate for ages 10 and up - MSU Summer Circle Stage behind Auditorium- MSU

6/6-9 - 7 pm Thur/Fri; 2 & 4:30 pm Sat; 2 pm Sun - Charlotte’s WebDirected by Elijah Burton, adapted from E.B. White by Joseph Robinette - DE

6/6-9 & 13-16 - 8 pmThur/Fri/Sat; 2 pm Sun - Indecentby Paula Vogel, directed by Mary Job - PCTC 

6/6-9 & 13-16 - 7 pm Thur; 8 pm Fri/Sat; 2 pm Sun - HairsprayMusical, book by Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman, directed by Sarah Hayner - RWT

6/7, 8 14, 15 @ 6:15 pm Kids Show:Comic Timing, by Rob Roznowski, Directed by Kevin Craig Appropriate for all ages - MSU Summer Circle Stage behind Auditorium - MSU

6/7-8 - 7:30 pm - Ben & the Magic Paintbrush at 2/42 Community Centeron the Northeast corner of Bennett and Hulett Roads in Okemos - MMFT

6/8-9 - 12pm Saturday 7pm Sunday -Auditions: Great American Trailer Park Musicaldirected by Brian Farnham at Ledges Playhouse in Fitzgerald Park 137 Fitzgerald Park Dr, Grand Ledge (performing Sep 12-22) - OTL

6/13, 14, 15 @ 8 pm and 6/16 @ 4 pm, Mainstage #2 The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde, Adapted & Directed by Dan Smith, Appropriate for all ages - MSU Summer Circle Stage behind Auditorium- MSU

6/14-16 & 21-23 - 8 pm Fri/Sat; 3 pm Sun, Cabaret- OCP 
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6/14, 15, 21, 22 @ 10:00 pm Late Night: How to Make Friends and Then Kill Them,by Halley Feiffer, Directed by Ryan Welsh, Adults only - MSU Summer Circle Stage behind Auditorium - MSU

6/16 - 3-5 pmIxion Season Auditions - Sharp Park 1401 Elmwood Road, Lansing, Michigan 48917 - IX 

6/16-17 - 7 pm - Pippin AuditionsDirected by Meghan Eldred Woolsey - RWT

6/19-23, 7 pm - The Daily Life of Superheroes,two one-acts directed by John Lennox, Outdoor Amphitheatre - LCC 

6/20, 21, 22 @ 8pm and 6/23 @ 4pm Mainstage #3 Dames at Sea,Book and Lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller, Music by Jim Wise, Directed by Angela Wendelberger, Choreography Alisa Hauser, Musical Director Dave Wendelberger Appropriate for all ages - MSU Summer Circle Stage behind Auditorium - MSU

6/20-7/28 - 8 pm Thur/Fri, 3 pm & 8 pm Sat, 2 pm Sun – Popcorn Fallsby James Hindman, directed by Dave Davies - WT

6-21, 6 pm SCT Kids Camp PerformanceMSU Summer Circle Stage behind Auditorium - MSU
           
6/21 - 7 pm - Gunsmoke & Lone Ranger “Western Night” Tickets $10 general admission at The Robin Theatre 1105 S. Washington - AAF

6/28-29 - Friday 6:30; Saturday 3pm & 6:30 pm -Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr.at Bath Auditorium at Bath Middle School 13675 Webster Road - MMFT


Greater Lansing Ubiquitous Theatres

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

DE - The Downeaster Theatre -1120 N. Pennsylvania Ave. - Lansing 48906; www.thedowneastertheatre.com; 517-763-8045 - downeasteroffice@gmail.com

*IX - Ixion - ixiontheatre.com, ixionensemble@gmail.com, 517-775-4246 

LCC - Lansing Community College Communication, Media & the Arts - www.lcc.edu/showinfo- 517-483-1488 / 517-483-1122 

MMFT - Mid Michigan Family Theatre - 517-339-2145 - www.freewebs.com/midmichfamilytheatre

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

OTL - Over the Ledge Theatre Company - Fitzgerald Park, Grand Ledge, www.overtheledge.org- 517-318-0579

OCP - Owosso Community Players - www.owossoplayers.com- 989-723-4003

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

RPAC - Ruhala Performing Arts Company - reservations 517-337-0464, 1846 Haslett Road, East Lansing - ruhalacenter.com

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

WT - Williamston Theatre - 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 Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington, 48910

I was saddened to get the death notice of this sweet, droll, cheerful lady who lent many a helpful hand backstage and wrote reviews for Ripples newsletter “back in the day.” Mara McGill reports, “I am heartbroken to report that Mary passed away on Friday afternoon. Please let folks know who might be interested. Many of us worked with Mary at Lansing Civic Players and Riverwalk over the years, and she was a big supporter of RWT."


Mary Volakakis
January 25, 1934 – May 17, 2019

A long-time resident of East Lansing, Mary was born more than eighty years ago in Jackson, Michigan, to Ella and Alexander Volakakis.  As she grew up, she was never to forget that she was Greek.  It became a treasured part of her American identity.

Mary entered the working world following graduation from high school.  Several years later, in 1959, she began her long career with the State of Michigan.  As a young working woman, she also gave some thought to what would really be important in her life, and she realized that earning a bachelor’s degree was her dream.

Determined to make this a reality, Mary enrolled in Lansing Community College, where she got high marks and was awarded and associate’s degree cum laude.  She followed this success by transferring to Michigan State University, and, in 1981, she achieved her goal, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.  Going to college was a decision she never regretted.

Over the years, Mary traveled the world, flying to England, Spain, France, China, Brazil, Austria, Italy.  She found her trips to Greece and the Greek Isles especially memorable, reflecting a natural interest in her Greek heritage.

The theater held a special fascination for Mary.  She participated behind the scenes in local productions as an assistant director.  Among other projects, she worked on props and in writing reviews for the community theater paper.  She particularly enjoyed reviewing the children’s plays.

Along with the theater, Mary appreciated opera.  She devoted many a Saturday afternoon listening to opera on the radio, and she also attended productions at the Wharton Center.  Carmen was a favorite.

Some may not know this, but Mary belonged to a writing group.  And much of her writing captured her warmth, her caring, her love of life and her wonderful sense of humor.  None of the real joys or ironies of life escaped Mary’s delicate turn of phrase.

She had a circle of loyal friends who appreciated her talents and abilities.  with her innate kindness as well as through her writing and her other interests, Mary created a genuine sense of welcome for all who were privileged to know her.

Mary was preceded in death by her older brothers, George and Nicholas, and her older sister, Joann.  She will be remembered by her many friends.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1701 E. Saginaw St., Lansing, with interment to follow in East Lawn Memory Gardens.  Visitation will be from 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, with a Trisagion Service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in memory of Mary Volakakis.

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Riverwalk’s HR committee wants to build Riverwalk's tech volunteer base. RWT board member/actress/mom Shannon Bowen has been assembling experienced volunteers to lead workshops this summer on weekends in July for volunteers who would like to build their skills in these areas: 
    lighting
    set building
    scenography (artistic set painting)
    props
    stage management
    etc….?
Please email Shannon which of these workshops you’d be interested in— and/or suggestions for other workshops. As we always say, “There’s a role for YOU at Riverwalk” — and this will help the those who “wouldn’t be caught dead on stage” to partake in the Theatre Family experience, learn new things, make new friends… the whole deal! 

REPLY TO: Shannon Bowen mailto:pessimisticallychipper@gmail.com

WE MISS DIANA LETT! 
She’s far away but still doing theatre if you’re up for a road trip...

Diana says:
I know I’m far away but if anyone would love to take a trip to Traverse City, I’m doing the Terence McNally play, Mothers and Sons. Our dates are May  24-26, 30-31 and June 1,-2, 6-8.  Thursday through Saturday performances will be at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2.  It’s at the Studio theater at the Depot on Railroad Place.  Tickets can be gotten through oldtownplayhouse.com or 231-947-2210.  I hoping we warm up by then and people might like a mini vacation!  Love to see some Lansing area theater friends here. ​