G.L.U.T. News - Greater Lansing Ubiquitous Theatre

Remember Jim Hoffmaster

5/30/2020

Jim Hoffmaster

This Lansing actor left the area nearly 20 years ago soon after playing Fagin in Riverwalk’s Oliver! He’s had some success and some struggles in L.A. since, and now plays a recurring, small, but notable role as barfly “Kermit” in Showtime’s Shameless, AND is having a documentary made about his life…https://www.actinglikenothingiswrong.com AND also just got laid off from his “day job” at Weight Watchers.

Now he’s getting all electronic on us in these new virtual times. You can purchase a “Cameo” personalized message from him for birthdays or any occasion, https://www.cameo.com/search?q=Jim Hoffmaster&nodeType=user&nodeId=5dcefa1eaa0dc401701bb3b0

AND he has just started a Podcast, which is free to listen to, but I think he may get some money from ads or such? https://anchor.fm/jim-hoffmaster/episodes/Artistic-Expression-vs-Entertaining-Myself-eemsod
So — check it out, if you remember Jim — or even if you don’t. He’s an interesting guy!

OnLive Theatre - Virtual Theatre for Kids

5/30/2020

After an inspiring two-week theatre workshop and the creation of a virtual afternoon of one-act plays, OnLive Theatre is moving forward with new projects that will bring theatre to more children and provide a unique performing experience to all.

We hope you will join us as we bring theatre to a new place during a time when we need it most. Theatre only stops if we don't keep it going!

We have some more workshops coming up in the next few weeks. We have a

monologue writing and performance workshop,
an improv and comedy workshop,
and a talent show workshop,

...each lasting one week. Rehearsals happen three times per workshop for 90 minutes and then culminate in a Saturday afternoon live showcase on Zoom. All of the information can be found on our website, https://onlivetheatre.wixsite.com/website/about

AWARDS, in spite of pandemic?

5/30/2020

Thespies WILL occur! Judges are meeting with Reporter/Referee Mike Hughes this Monday… and soon… the article will appear in the actual Lansing State Journal, on newsprint and online to honor the “best of” our truncated theatre season.

Rumor has it a “virtual Barney Awards” will forthcoming from Riverwalk. Stay tuned...

Tony Award show replaced by Grease Sing-Along

CBS will replace this year's Tony Awards telecast with a sing-along edition of the beloved movie-musical Grease. The Grease Sing-A-Long will air on Sunday, June 7 at 8:30pm ET.

The broadcast will feature onscreen lyrics for all of the movie's songs, including "Summer Nights," "You're the One That I Want," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," and the title song, among them. Directed by Randal Kleiser, the 1978 movie is based on the 1971 Broadway musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.

Grease stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, Didi Conn, and Jeff Conaway.

A new plan and date for the 2020 Tony Awards has not yet been revealed.

Audio Air Force now on Youtube

5/30/2020

At last, it’s available on Youtube — Audio Air Force’s May 15 fun comedy variety show — in pieces, but that’s okay, because it is a series of independent sketches. The whole thing was an hour and 45 minutes of fun, spoofy, silly, imaginative sketches written by director Dave Downing, featuring a wide variety of characters portrayed by the versatile cast of Jim Coyer, Angie Dill, Rachel Mender, Jeff Kennedy, Patti Spinner - also raising money for the Lansing Food Bank.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCutxI9MGrfhS3J9ha5LuXCg
The program was supported by Smokin' Sleddog Records, and Michigan State University College of Arts and Letters.

The Audio Air Force will be live on Zoom tonight at 7pm

5/15/2020

The Audio Air Force will be live on Zoom tonight at 7pm with the show that was originally scheduled to be at the Robin Theatre. The group does what's called 'audio theater' - or 'theater of the mind' The program is to help support the Greater Lansing Food Bank - and since Zoom is on the internet, will be asking people watching/listening to Zoom around the country to help support the food banks and food pantries near where they live.

Featured will be the cast and crew of Audio Air Force, and also live music from Siusan O'Rourke and Zig Zeitler (singing live from Saginaw) and also a cast member of the AAF, Rachel Mender, will be performing. Since this is audio theater, actors will be portraying more than one character by changing their voice. There will be live sound effects to help 'paint a picture' of what's going on.

The program is being supported by Smokin' Sleddog Records, and Michigan State University College of Arts and Letters.

Cast
Hollie Lane
Rachel Mender
Jeff Kennedy
Patti Spinner
Chuck Krafft
Angie Dill
Dave Downing
Jim Coyer

Live Sound Effects – Hollie Lane
Audio Air Force Music Coordinator - Chuck Krafft
Music Guests….
**Rachel Mender
**Siusan O’Rourke and Zig Zeitler
Technical Coordinator – Patti Spinner
Original material for tonight’s show written and directed by Dave Downing

Link - https://zoom.us/j/92717856479
Password - superman

Pre-show starts at 6:45pm
Program at 7pm

More info on the Audio Air Force Facebook page and at http://audioairforce.com

Zoom Comedy from Audio Air Force

5/9/2020

Audio Air Force is creating a new show on Zoom video at 7 pm Friday May 15: COMEDY NIGHT, featuring the Audio Air Force Cast and Crew also music from Siusan O'Rourke and Zig Zeitler, two favorites at festivals around the region, singing live. A regular cast member of the Audio Air Force, Rachel Mender, will also sing. The original material in the show was written by Dave Downing.

The show was originally going to be their regular audio theater show at the Robin Theater in May - before the virus kicked in. They decided to go ahead with the show on Zoom in support of the Greater Lansing Food Bank. During the show they'll be asking people to donate or volunteer to the food bank. And since the show will be streamed live on Zoom and people outside of mid-Michigan can watch/listen, they're also asking people to donate to the food bank or food pantry near where they live.

The show is being supported by Lansing-based Smokin' Sleddog Records, with tech support from Michigan State University's College or Arts and Letters.

Log-in information for free access to the show on Zoom will be posted on the Audio Air Force Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/audioairforce/, and also at http://audioairforce.com.

From Peppermint Creek

5/7/2020

From Peppermint Creek:
Theater isn't very good with social distancing. Our specialty, in fact, is the opposite: social inclusion. In more normal times, the heart of our job is bringing a group of strangers together, rubbing elbows and breathing the same air, and telling them stories that make them feel less alone, less an isolated individual, and more part of a larger community. That's our mission at Peppermint Creek.
These are not normal times. The physical and civic stability and safety of our bodies and our society depends on our collective discipline.

So Peppermint Creek has made moves to adjust to our current reality in regard to our current season, and we have found a new and creative way to bridge the gap between now and whenever we can gather together again. We wanted to keep you updated on what’s going on at PCTC (from home).

First, our final production of the 2019-2020 season, the musical “Fun Home”, has been postponed until next season. We are so happy we won’t have to completely cancel this production and that you’ll be able to experience this gorgeous and groundbreaking show on our stage sometime in the Fall. Your 2019-20 season subscription will be honored for “Fun Home”, and we’ll keep you posted when more definitive dates have been set.

Second, we’ve created a digital database of online theatrical and performing arts offerings so that you can get your theatre fix from home. This database, in the spirit of the Ghostlight Project we hosted in 2017, is intended to keep the flame of the theater alive while we wait out this moment. You can find that database on our website under the “GET INVOLVED: Be A Light – Find A Light” tab.
http://www.peppermintcreek.org/be-a-light---find-a-light.html

The theater has survived crises before. We will survive this. We will come back together, and the theater will be here, to tell stories of loss and grief, and stories of joy and celebration. We will be here because the theater is necessary. We will be here because we will need, and want, to be together again.

So as we officially wrap up our 2019-20 season, in a manner we definitely didn’t expect, my immense gratitude goes to all of you, the members of the Peppermint Creek Family: our dedicated Board, our casts and crews, our donors, and our audience. I am so proud to be one of you. And I can’t wait to see you at the theatre again next season.

Sincerely,
Chad Swan-Badgero
Artistic Director, Peppermint Creek Theatre Company

Virtual Theatre in NY

5/7/2020

Eileen O’Leary has alerted us that Irish Rep is mounting a virtual production

Just FYI: the Irish Rep in New York is streaming a production of "Molly Sweeney" by Brian Friel from May 12 through the 15, free (they hope for a donation, but it isn’t necessary). Reservations on their site, Irishrep.org. Thought you’d be sick of quarantine and looking for something different!
Stay well!
Eileen

Curtainless Virtual Prometheus

5/7/2020

Lansing's THE CURTAINLESS THEATRE Facebook Live free reading of Aeschylus' classic play PROMETHEUS BOUND on Friday, May 8 at 8 pm (ET)!

(I got and email “invite”’; I’m not sure, passing this on, but I think, if you search The Curtainless Theatre on Facebook, you will find the link or it will just BE there. It’s nice to see SOME semblance of “live theatre” can still happen under quarantine! - Jane)
https://www.facebook.com/events/541459496742045/

Synopsis: As punishment for his compassion and gifts to mankind — including the all-important gift of fire — Zeus chains his former friend and ally Prometheus to a cliff, dooming him to suffer interminable torment for all eternity, or so he thinks. As friends and enemies visit the imprisoned Titan, he reveals his vision of the future, of his eventual release, and of the downfall of the newly crowned king of the gods, brought about by Zeus himself through his pride and hubris.

Come explore this classic story of compassion, pride, greed, and destiny with us.

Cast/Crew:
Director: Dale Wayne Williams
Tech Director: Cody James Skalmowski

Prometheus: Kameron Going
Hephaestus: Tim Edinger
Kratos: Chris Didur
Bia: Monica Holland
Oceanus: Joe Clark
Io: Ellie Wiess
Hermes: Robert Mueller