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There are lots of AUDITIONS coming up. I’m trying to keep up putting them on the GLUT audition calendar https://www.greaterlansingtheatre.net/audition-calendar.html

Peppermint Creek’s The Minutes auditions tonight and tomorrow 7pm are at Sycamore Creek Church on South Pennsylvania — (NOT their new Stage One venue being renovated on Lake Lansing Road.)
https://peppermintcreek.org/auditions-being-held-for-the-minutes-by-tracy-letts/

Director Amy Rickett is having WAY EARLY auditions for the pivotal roles of Mozart and Salieri in Amadeus - 8/28 — and the show runs March 14-24. Other roles audition 1/21-22 at Riverwalk. https://www.riverwalktheatre.com/auditions.html

Dearth, not Glut? I’m missing Over the Ledge — which is out of commission due to the Fitzgerald Park venue being deemed “unsafe”. Now that MSU and LCC outdoor shows are over, we only have All-of-us Express (Frozen https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/allofus) and Williamston keeping summer on stage. Rumor has it that both Evolve and Starlight WILL be returning in the fall/winter (yay) but are still figuring out venues. 

Note that Williamston features a "pay what you wish" opening preview performance of Be Here Now, Thursday, July 13, 8pm
https://www.williamstontheatre.org/shows/2022-2023/be-here-now If your budget has kept you away from Williamston, this is a great opportunity to see this always-excellent professional group in their intimate venue.

The BARNEYS are Wednesday, June 28; snacks at 6, show and awards at 7, hosted by the ever-popular Matt Ottinger. If you were involved at Riverwalk in any way this past season, come on down. It’s free of charge. http://riverwalktheatre.com

I’m working on the whole local live season calendar in my patchwork way, and would appreciate any proofreading additions/corrections you may notice. https://www.greaterlansingtheatre.net/events-calendar.html 

​As you may know, the annual LSJ Thespie Awards appeared in the paper today, and are also available online at http://lsj.com. Thanks to Mike Hughes, scribe and referee of the Thespies for 43 years now! He told me, “The first year, I asked (Bob) Wyckoff to do it and the overall winner was BoarsHead's "Sizwe Bansi is Dead," so that would be 1980; the next year, we started having a committee.”

Mark and I are officially OFF the judging committee, but I help with organizational details. Mike deserves a purple heart for arbitrating and forcing votes at the decision meeting — which is always fun but a bit chaotic. Thanks to this season’s judges: Kathy Booth, Sandra Conn, Tim Donal, Cele Friestater, Mark Gmazel, Tom Klunzinger, Julie Linderleaf, Lance Norman and Liane Zimny.  
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Thespies have long been “just save the newspaper” in terms of tangible awards, but in recent years, Thespie Judge Tom Klunzinger has taken it upon himself to prepare Thespie Certificates, which he has delivered to the various theatre offices, as possible. Hope all winners will be able to pick up their certificates, or that theatre manager/directors will find a way to distribute. Questions? Contact Tom Klunzinger mailto:[email protected]

I have mixed emotions about Thespies and awards in general, since theatre is supposed to be about cooperation, not competition — but there’s a fine line between competition and attention/appreciation — and attention/appreciation for live theatre is a GOOD thing! As always, the winners are great…. but there are other “greats” who did not win and it’s all “apples and oranges.”

Here’s a link to Mike Hughes’s article:

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/life/2023/06/15/thespies-lansing-area-theater-michigan-state-bright-star-riverwalk-williamston/70313761007/

Below is the same list that was in the paper — with a few extra “special mentions” at the end that didn’t make it into the paper — which also added a special nod to our departed arts icon Ken Beachler. (btw - I got Ken's date wrong in the subject of my previous email. His memorial is June 24, not 23, as it said in the body of the email. June 23 is just visitation.)


FOR MUSICALS
-- Best musical: “Bright Star,” Michigan State University.
-- Director: Chad Swan-Badgero, “Daddy Long Legs,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Actor: Nick Kreider, “Music Man,” Evolve Theatrics.
-- Actress: Rachel Daugherty, “Daddy Long Legs,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Supporting actor: Jacob Squire, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Supporting actress: Lindsay Campbell, “Music Man,” Evolve.
-- Featured actor: Josh Sowers, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Featured actress: tie, Kat Koehn, “A Year With Frog and Toad,” Riverwalk; Elaina Coscarella, “Kinky Boots,” Riverwalk.
-- Music director: Dave Wendelberger, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Music director (non-professional): Kait Wilson, “Music Man,” Evolve.
-- Choreography: Brian Farnham, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk
-- Ensemble: The four-person cast of “Songs About Stuff,” Over the Ledge Theatre -– Anasti Her, Jeff Kennedy, Storm Kopitsch, Courtlandt Lyons. Coming close were the “angels” of Riverwalk’s “Kinky Boots – Drew Birchmeier, Dayfran Camacho, Drew Doman, Ben English.

FOR PLAYS
-- Best play: “When I Come to Die,” Ixion Ensemble. Coming close was “The Hat Box,” Williamston Theatre.
-- Director: Tony Caselli, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Director (non-professional): Rose Jangmi Cooper, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion.
-- Actor: Ndegwa McCloud, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion.
-- Actress: Katherine Banks, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Actress (non-professional): Vanessa Mazhangara, “Fabulation,” Riverwalk.
-- Supporting actor: Doak Bloss, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion.
-- Supporting actress: Hallie Bee Bard, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Supporting actress (non-professional): Erin Hoffman, “Tartuffe,” Lansing Community College.
-- Featured actor: Joseph Dickson, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk.
-- Featured actress: Karen Sheridan, “The Hat Box,” Williamston.
-- Featured actress (non-professional): Janell Hall, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion. Coming close was Nakayla Morgan, “White,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Ensemble: “Magnolia Ballet,” Williamston. 
-- Ensemble (non-professional): “Everybody,” LCC.

FOR EITHER:
-- Original script: “A Very Williamston Christmas,” credited to the apparent pseudonym Robert Hawlmark, Williamston.
-- Set: Kirk Domer, “Mrs. Harrison,” Williamston. 
-- Set (non-professional): Tie: Aja Jenks, “Steel Magnolias,” Riverwalk; and Chad Swan-Badgero, “Daddy Long Legs,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Costumes: Chelle Peterson, “Tartuffe,” Lansing Community College.
-- Costumes (non-professional): Amanda Macomber, “Bell, Book and Candle,” Riverwalk.
-- Lighting design: Becca Bedell, “The Magnolia Ballet Part 1,” Williamston.
-- Lighting design (non-professional): Lilian Meyers, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Sound design: John Lepard, “Wild Horses,” Williamston.
-- Sound design (non-professional): Miranda Sue Hartman, “The Realistic Joneses,” Over the Ledge.
-- Hair and Makeup design: Lori Bailey-Smith, “Steel Magnolias,” Riverwalk.
-- Fight choreography Brian Farnham, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk.
-- Set dressing: Mara McGill, “Bell, Book and Candle,” Riverwalk
-- Props: Michelle Raymond, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Props (non-professional): Ray Louise Sunshine, “Charlotte’s Web,” MSU..
-- Scenography: Elisha Smith, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk.
-- Projections: Alison Dobbins, “A Very Williamston Christmas.”
-- Projections (non-professional): Nicklas Casella and Thalia Pearce, “Charlotte’s Web,” MSU.

SPECIAL AWARDS
The Robert Busby Award goes to Sam and Mary Austin, who have helped local theater immensely in both ways – as enthusiastic members of the audience and as financial contributors.
The Austins grew up on Depression-time farms in Wisconsin. Sam, a physicist, led the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. Since their retirement, they’ve been especially active in support. They gave the lead gift in the Williamston Theatre’s drive to remodel its theater and remove pillars and were lead donors in the campaign for a permanent home for MSU’s Summer Circle Theatre, first visiting every outdoor plaza in the area.
They also have helped theater at Riverwalk, Peppermint Creek, Lansing Community College and the Renegade Theatre Fetival, plus music programs with the Lansing Symphony and MSU. And as the pandemic receded, they were among the first to return to shows, encouraging others to do the same.

In addition, a special mention goes to Riverwalk Theatre, for its continued help for other theater groups. At various points, Riverwalk provided the home for two shows by Over the Ledge and one by Lansing Community College, plus a concert by the Sistrum chorus.. That was alongside its usual help with costumes and sets.
Other special mentions are for:

-- “Kinky Boots” at Riverwalk, for providing a fresh surge of local interest. The audience was larger, younger, more diverse and in a good mood.


-- The program for Lansing Community College’s “Queering History.” Not only was the design (by Ashleigh Taylor) beautiful, but it included a handy, two-page guide to people and places mentioned.


-- And, of course, Pepper in Riverwalk’s “Bell, Book and Candle.” Pepper is a cat (quite appropriate for the role of Pyewacket) and, among other things, showed an admirable ability to hiss on cue.

Arts icon Ken Beachler died at home of cardiac complications on June 6 at the age of 87. Well known as the founding Executive Director of MSU’s Wharton Center, he was also active in area theatre, and a longtime supporter of Community Circle Players both at the Okemos Barn and at Riverwalk. 
Beginning in 1971 at the Barn, he directed Riverwind, Godspell, Follies,  Loot, Dylan, Boys in the Band, then at Riverwalk beginning in 1994, Just the Two of Us, Little Mary Sunshine, La Cage Aux Folles, Later Life, Conditional Love, Master Class, Equus, Lonely Planet, Dracula, Prelude to a Kiss, Far East, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom (RWT at Creole/black box), The Ritz, Miss Evers Boys, Fortinbras and Follies. 
Ken was also an actor (search his name on Matt Ottinger’s Database www.lansingtheatre,.org) most recently performing on our stage as Mr. Dussel in The Diary of Anne Frank. His mellifluous voice was legendary and impressive as the Voice of God in Spamalot (also as the climactic recorded Voice of Lord Rancour in Starlight Dinner Theatre’s Something’s Afoot.)His final role was the irascible Henry Wendell in The Vote special-event at Riverwalk in 2020.
I have very fond memories of the five Beachler-directed shows in which I appeared — and in my years of program editing, I note that Ken was always the first to donate to Riverwalk in memory of anyone he knew who died. So I’m writing a check to RWT in Ken’s memory http://riverwalktheatre.com— though his family reports that memorial contributions can also be made to the Kenneth C. Beachler Arts Management Internship Fund, Wharton Center, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824. Ken established this internship fund for arts management students. 

Public Celebration of Life visitations and services will be held at The Peoples Church, 200 West Grand River Ave, East Lansing. Visitations on Friday, June 23, 5:30 - 7:30 pm and Saturday, June 24, 10 - 11 am. The Celebration of Life service at The Peoples Church will be held June 24 at 11 am with a luncheon following at the University Club of Michigan State University. 

Here’s a link to the full obituary and memorial service info. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/east-lansing-mi/capt-kenneth-beachler-11325502

Here comes SUMMER — and remember, you can donate salable non-clothing items to Riverwalk’s Big Indoor Moving Sale any Wednesday or contact Sandy for special arrangements mailto:[email protected] — and plan  to attend the sale and BUY STUFF July 14-15. (The Costume Shop is moving; not Riverwalk Theatre.)


June 2023

5/18-6/18 - 8pm Thu/Fri, 3pm & 8pm Sat, 2pm Sun – Alabaster directed by Tony Caselli – WT

6/1-11- 8pm Thu-Fri-Sat and 2pm Sun - White, by James Ijames, Directed by Joshua Powles at the Lansing Art Gallery, 300 S. Washington Sq. Suite 100, Lansing, MI 48933 —(in the “Knapp’s Center”) - PCTC

6/9-18 - 8pm Fri/Sat; 3pm Sun - Anything Goes -  LEB

6/13 - 18 - 7:30pm Tue/Wed/Thu; 8pm Fri; 2pm & 8pm Sat; 1pm & 6:30pm Sun - Jesus Christ Superstar - Cobb Great Hall - WTN
6/15, 16, 17 at 7 pm & June 18 at 6 pm Schoolhouse Rock Live! -Directed by Katherine Clemons-Choreographed by Stefon Funderburke-Music Direction by Dave Wendelberger - MSUSC https://theatre.msu.edu/sct/

6/18 and 25, Sundays 5:30 – 6 pm in the SCT Courtyard. Greater Lansing Ballet Company preshow performance  - MSUSC

6/21-25 - 7pm - Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare, directed by Mary Job - outdoor amphitheatre - LCC

6/22, 23, 24 at 7 pm & June 25 at 6 pm - A Midsummer Nights’s Dream by William Shakespeare - Directed by Thalia Pearce - MSUSC https://theatre.msu.edu/sct/

Greater Lansing Ubiquitous Theatres:

LCC - Lansing Community College Arts - summer shows in outdoor courtyard amphitheater behind Dart Auditorium  www.lcc.edu/showinfo - 517-483-1122 


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

MSUSC - Michigan State University - Summer Circle Courtyard Stage behind MSU Auditorium Building https://theatre.msu.edu/sct/

PCTC - Peppermint Creek Theatre Co. - multiple locations; see website - www.peppermintcreek.org - 517-927-3016


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


WT - Williamston Theatre - 122 S. Putnam Street, 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
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