Monday through Thursday, June 22nd – 25th
9 am – 12 pm

Come one day or all four!
Day 1: DESIGN: Dress up, make believe, make costumes and sets for fairy tale fun!
Day 2: ACTING: Theatre games, spontaneous story telling, acting and improv!
Day 3: MUSIC: Singing, music games, songs, and music making!
Day 4: DANCE: Moving and shaking to fun tunes, dancing to your own drum!
 
The camp will be led by actors and designers from MSU’s Summer Circle Theatre.
 
FREE ...and snacks provided!
 They are capable of enrolling up to 50 campers, but are not yet near that goal. To enroll, fill out the attached WORD document application form and email to Sara Goeke at [email protected]
Questions? email Sarah at that same email address. 
The camp will be held in the Auditorium Building on MSU campus, 542 Auditorium Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824. 
They'll be doing pick up/drop off at the front of the building, on the corner of Farm Lane and Auditorium, since the driveway is nice and big.

For drop off at 9 am, camp supervisors will be waiting outside for kids, if it's raining, just inside the doors. For pickup at noon, the parents will pull up and have to provide a name that is included on the child's authorized pick up name list (See registration form) Children and the camp supervisors will be waiting outside. 

The registration form is an attached docx that can be filled out and emailed back. (Just showing up is fine as well, however the child will need to be registered by the parent dropping off to provide the necessary info about him/her.)

MSU DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE PRESENTS
SUMMER CIRCLE THEATRE – 2014
“MOVING FORWARD”

6/11 - 28 - MSU Summer Circle Theatre returns for its 54th season offering free professional theatre to mid-Michigan audiences.  We are excited to announce that Summer Circle is looking forward to getting a new permanent home! This year is special because it will be the last season that Summer Circle performs behind the Auditorium on the banks of the Red Cedar River! Through generous donations from audiences, patrons, the Friends of Theatre, current and retired faculty, The College of Arts and Letter and many more—the new outdoor theatre located in the courtyard between Kresge Art Center and the Auditorium Building is scheduled to open for the 2015 Summer Circle season. One thing is certain… Summer Circle is truly “moving forward.”

Our summer season offerings are eclectic in style but thematically linked by a sense of looking toward a brighter future. Shows offered include a world premiere, the latest contemporary drama, campy musicals, and family friendly fare. Please make sure to check the website for more information. All main stage shows begin at 8:00 PM weather permitting. Every Friday and Saturday there are late night performances at 10:00 PM (approximately) and children’s theatre performances at 6:30. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy free theatre in our new location. 

The season opens with A. R. Gurney’s gentle comedy What I Did Last Summer which takes place on the shores of Lake Erie in 1945. This coming of age tale explores the relationship between fourteen-year-old Charlie and his Bohemian teacher, Anna who tries to open his mind by teaching him about art and the world.   (Runs 6/11-6/14 @ 8 PM. Appropriate for ages eight and older) 

The second mainstage production is one of today’s most celebrated and controversial plays, Detroit by Lisa d’Amour. Ben and Mary see sudden signs of life in the deserted house next door.  When they meet the new neighbors they become caught in an urban nightmare adventure that will change their lives.  (Runs 6/18-21 @ 8 PM appropriate for mature audiences only.) 

The season ends with the hilarious musical Ruthless by Marvin Laird and Joel Paley. This campy musical spoofs “The Bad Seed”, “All About Eve”, “Gypsy”, “Valley of the Dolls” and more as it tells the story of possibly homicidal eight year old Tina Denmark and her desperation to play Pippi Longstocking in the school musical. (Runs 6/25-28 @ 8 PM appropriate for all ages.) 

The late night offering is The Weird by one of today’s hottest playwrights Roberto Aguirre Sacasa. It is a collection of short one-acts devoted to horror and suspense with visits from swamp creatures, vampires and Rosemary’s baby.  Spooky fun.  (Performs 6/13, 6/14, 6/20, 6/21, 6/27, 6/28  @ 10:00 PM approximately and is appropriate for ages 14 and older)

The children’s show is a new play by Rob Roznowski called The Summer Circle about friendship and theatre. A group of children meet one summer and learn about themselves through starting their own theatre… The Summer Circle Theatre.  (Performs 6/13, 6/14, 6/20, 6/21, 6/27, 6/28 @ 6:30 PM and is appropriate for all ages.)

 Join the MSU Friends of Theatre for "Setting the Stage," a gala event featuring dinner with wine, entertainment and a terrific silent auction with items that include a two night stay at Grand Hotel (with meals), art by Mark Chatterley and Craig Mitchell Smith (among others) and plenty of gift certificates for area theatre tickets. This Wednesday, May 7, 6-9 p.m., at Fairchild Theatre. $40. Evan Pinsonnault will emcee. 
Order online at http://theatre.msu.edu or call (517) 355-6691. All proceeds benefit construction of the new Summer Circle Courtyard.

“Setting the Stage” Kicks Off Fundraising for the
Summer Circle Courtyard Project

(East Lansing, MI) – WLNS/6 morning news anchor Evan Pinsonnault, also known to local theatre audiences as an actor who has appeared in numerous community theatre performances, will emcee “Setting the Stage,” the kickoff event for the Summer Circle Courtyard Project sponsored by MSU Friends of Theatre.

The event will take place Wednesday, May 7 at MSU’s Fairchild Theatre from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $40 and include dinner with wine, a preview of the upcoming Summer Circle season and a silent auction. One of the big silent auction items is a two-night stay at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Food for the event will be catered by Grand Grillin’, voted as Lansing’s Favorite Food Truck in a FOX/47 news poll and appearing on Food Network’s “Food Court Wars” on May 25, 2014. Reservations are now being taken for the event at (517) 355-6691and online at theatre.msu.edu.

All proceeds from the event will go toward the construction of the Summer Circle Courtyard, the new permanent home of the MSU Department of Theatre’s free summer festival. This year’s festival includes five shows, including a children’s production, a musical and others suited for the family.

Pinsonnault most recently starred as Paul Sevigne, the bumbling inspector in Riverwalk Theatre’s “A Shot in the Dark.” He also is host of the “Evan Michael Show,” which appears periodically on local television channels. The program highlights the region’s vibrant arts scene.

“We’re thrilled that Evan Pinsonnault will be joining us at Setting the Stage,” says event chair Chris Knapp. “He also served as last year’s emcee and we received many favorable comments from guests after the gala about his participation. We appreciate his support as we begin this venture is a tremendous boost and we appreciate his sharing his time with us in this way.”

Now in its 54th year, Summer Circle provides free productions throughout the month of June, allowing community theatre fans an outdoor venue for performance.

“The Courtyard Project is funded completely by the community, with the Friends of Theatre committing to raise $100,000 of the total cost through personal donations and through special events such as this one,” says Jacqie Babcock, president of Friends of Theatre. The organization is dedicated to supporting the Michigan State University Department of Theatre in general and Summer Circle in particular.

“We know the community enjoys the free productions each year at Summer Circle,” adds Babock. “Supporting the Courtyard Project by attending the gala or joining other generous donors who are acting as sponsors or donating silent auction items will help all our patrons have a more enjoyable theatrical experience when the Courtyard opens.”

Those wishing to support the event through sponsorship or silent auction donation, as well as reserving tickets, may contact Dionne O’Dell at (517) 355-6691.

The Courtyard will be located between Fairchild Theatre and the Kresge Art Center on the MSU campus and will seat over 400 with adequate room for portable lawn chairs and picnickers. Unlike the recent Summer Circle location on the banks of the Red Cedar, the area will be more easily accessible to handicapped patrons and because it is off the flood plain, more comfortable following a rain. In addition, because it is farther from the water, it is possible that fewer mosquitoes will be part of the theatre experience..

Additional events are planned by the Friends of Theatre to help raise funds for the Courtyard, including a wine tasting at Burgdorf’s Winery in late May.

 All proceeds will support the new Summer Circle, which will be on the courtyard between Kresge and Fairchild. We have a lot to raise to get it going for 2014 -- but with your help we can do it! Please feel free to use all or part -- and thanks so much for any help you can give us.

Glass artist Craig Mitchell Smith will demonstrate his skills in art glass and support the Michigan State University Friends of Theatre in a special fundraising event held at Mitchell’s Meridian Mall studio. “A Magical Evening with Craig Mitchell Smith” will take place Thursday, December 5, from 7-9:30 p.m.
Smith will create a unique piece of glass that evening in his demonstration that will be raffled off during the event. In addition, the artist will donate 10 percent of sales to the Friends of Theatre.
 
Proceeds from the event will go toward the Friends’ commitment to raise $100,000 for the new performance space for Summer Circle Theatre, a free summer festival held each June on the MSU campus. The new stage will be located on the courtyard between Fairchild Theatre and Kresge Art Center, near Summer Circle’s original Red Cedar location.
 
Event tickets are $30 each and advance reservations are required by Tuesday, December 3. Reservations can be made by calling (517) 355-6691. For additional information, email [email protected]. Credit cards are accepted.
 
About Craig Mitchell Smith
 
Artist Craig Mitchell Smith is a Lansing, Michigan native. Strongly influenced by nature in his work, he has been keenly aware of nature from his childhood, with his first painting depicting a lily. While engaged in a career in theatre design, he owned a flower store and worked in such areas as wedding planning and interior design. He returned to Lansing, continuing his work in set design. After taking a class in fused glass, he realized the process came easily to him and that he could “paint with glass.”
 
After renovating his Frank Lloyd Wright-style home, he was contacted by HGTV. His glass work was featured on television and he began his career as a glass artist in earnest. His work has been seen throughout Lansing in venues that include Michigan State University and Cooley Law School Gardens, as well as Dow Gardens, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, Disney Epcot Center, Orlando International Airport and more.

BABY the musical - opens tonight at MSU Summer Circle
Book by Sybille Pearson
Score by Richard Maltby and David Shire
Directed by Lynn Lammers

A musical about three couples each about to have an addition to their family. This heart-warming musical traces their various journeys to parenthood. This infectious score in combination with the touching book will make for an evening of family fun. APPROPRIATE FOR ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHERE BABIES COME FROM
June 19– Jun 22 8:00 PM
…and is preceded at 6pm by
STOP COPYING ME!
By Dionne O’Dell
Directed by Dionne O’Dell

An original show for children explores the imaginative world of 8 year old Lucy, who struggles with the perils of moving to a new state, the fears of being an oddball and the joy of making friends. ALL AGES
June  21 & 22, 2013 6:00 PM

…and FOLlowed by COMFORT FOOD
By Rob Roznowski
Directed by Rob Roznowski

Comfort Food examines the intersection of food and history in a play created from the extensive historical cookbook collection in the archives of the MSU Library. ALL AGES

June 21 & 22, 10:00 PM

"Main" shows are at 8 pm Wednesdays through Saturdays, and change weeklyThe early show, Stop Copying Me, for families with kids is at 6:30 Fridays and Saturdays all three weekends.Late shows of Rob Roznowski's charming historical sketches based on cookbooks that was well received at last year's Renegade Theatre Festival is at 10:30 June 21-22 only.

It's always good to get there EARLY and bring blanket/chairs/food and try for a spot in the center - but there's lots of room on the surrounding bleachers, too. Microphones have been added so bleacher folks WILL hear everything.

MSU Summer Circle - FREE (donations accepted)
6/5-8 - Charley’s Aunt June 5-8 by Brandon Thomas 8 pm
6/7-8, 14-15, 21-22 - Stop Copying Me! by Dionne O’Dell 6:00 pm
6/12-15 - Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw by Jeffrey Hatcher In Rep with: Little Brother: Little Sister by David Campton 8 pm
6/19-22 - Baby - Book by Sybille Pearson, Music by David Shire Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. 8 pm
6/21-22 - Comfort Food by Rob Roznowski 10:30 pm

MSU Summer Circle is next to the Auditorium building on the corner of Farm Lane and Auditorium Rd. at MSU. LCC is in the outdoor amphitheater between Dart Auditorium and the Gannon Building, between Capitol and Grand Avenues. LCC shows have the option to duck into Dart auditorium in case of rain. MSU... cross your fingers!  Inish is technically indoors, but not "temperature controlled" so you need to dress for the weather in any case. It gets chilly when the sun goes down!

If you prefer to avoid these weather-dependant shows in favor of a  warm, dry, cozy, comic musical romp indoors - remember Riverwalk's  swashbuckling MY FAVORITE YEAR continues this weekend June 6-9 7pm Thursday, 8pm Fri/Sat, and 2pm Sunday 482-5700 - $18/$20 and tickets available at the door. www.riverwalktheatre.com

5/8 - MSU Summer Circle Theatre: A gift to the community
For over 50 years, the Department of Theatre has provided free theater for three weeks on the banks of the Red Cedar. Students and faculty from the Theatre Department, along with local theater professionals, join together with one goal—FREE summer entertainment for all.  The cost of this is shared by the University and you, the public.  And that’s why we invite you to our annual fund-raiser--

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SUMMER CIRCLE THEATRE.

Wednesday, May 8, 3013, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
New Location: the Scene Shop on Harrison Road, just south of Kalamazoo St.
(old site of the Michigan State Police Headquarters)

Hosted by Evan Pinsonnault of TV6, the program will include scenes from the 2013 Summer Circle season, presentation of the Friend of Theatre of the Year award, country dancing to the music of Laura Stein’s string band Oh! Contraire, with Mike Clark as caller, a silent auction including tickets to area theaters and many other tempting items, and of course an extensive array of hors-d’oeuvres and wine.  CASUAL DRESS is suggested.

This is an evening not to be missed.  Call the Theatre Department at 517-355-6691 to reserve your tickets.  $45 each, credit cards accepted.  If you can’t attend, donations can be made at

http://theatre.msu.edu/index.php/alumni-donors/friends-theatre/2013-sct-gala/