We’re looking for volunteers:

Did you know that in August the 10th annual Renegade Theatre Festival returns to Lansing’s Old Town? (Can you believe it’s been 10 years?) We're so excited about this year's Festival!

The Renegade is always looking for motivated, enthusiastic people to help the whole show run smoothly. In addition to the volunteers needed in such areas as the Information Tent and House Management, this year we are also looking for a few ‘tech support’ folks to assist our musicians in set-up and break-down.

If you’re not sure how you’d like to volunteer – or need more information, or to sign up for volunteering -  please contact Katie Doyle: [email protected] , or Miranda Hartman: [email protected] .

Come enjoy the Renegade Theatre Festival which takes place August 13, 14 and 15, 2015, in Lansing's Old Town.

Check out our website for more details: www.renegadetheatrefestival.org

8/21 - We are in luck, because one of the best-received shows from Renegade Theatre Festival is doing a repeat performance by popular demand, at 9 pm Thursday, August 21 at the MICA gallery, on Turner, near the Grand River intersection. Like the Renegade, admission will be free, but the basket is passed for donations to support this wonderful annual August festival in Old Town.

9 pm is COCK, by Peppermint Creek Theatre, is a powerful script, beautifully directed and acted, exploring the struggles of a gay(?) man who falls in love with a woman - and the guilt and conflicting emotions involved. The show is at times funny, and very thought provoking, directed by Shannon Bowen and starring Scott Laban, Devin Faught, Meghan Malusek and Michael Hays.

This show is ADULT themes and language. All brave, grownup and thoughtful theatre fans are encouraged to attend. The MICA gallery is a small space, (70 seats) so coming a bit early might be a good idea. It's very near the parking lot at the corner of Turner and Grand River.

(There was talk of repeating the also-very-popular LCC show "Boomer and the Imaginary Friend Revolt,"  at  7pm  but that seems to be NOT happening due to some actors not being available. You might want to check the Renegade Facebook page. At the moment, it does announce Cock, but NOT the LCC "Boomer" show, so... )

8/14-16 - All theatre lovers, meet up for fun and theatre at the RENEGADE THEATRE FESTIVAL Thursday through Sunday in Lansing's Old Town - all around the corner of Grand River and Turner Streets, northwest of downtown.
More details are available in the State Journal article:

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014308090015

This Wednesday's  City Pulse issuehttp://npaper-wehaa.com/citypulse
has the schedule of events which is also available at:
www.renegadetheatrefestival.org

Music is at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and performances are at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The schedule repeats on Friday with the addition of a 10:30 p.m. cabaret at Zoobies, organized by Joe Quick and Kelly Stuible.
Saturday’s festival starts at 11 a.m. with Renegade Kids and Renegade Teens. The Old Town Commercial Association also is holding an Arts Feast with Renegade from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. that will include sidewalk sales, arts exhibits and a food truck rally.
If you would like to volunteer to be a "house manager" and pass out programs at the event and make announcements, go to www.renegadetheatrefestival.org  - go to the "about" tab and click "volunteer."

8/14-16 - RENEGADE THEATRE FESTIVAL = all sorts of theatre all over Lansing's Old Town (around the intersection of Grand River and Turner) Go to renegadetheatrefestival.org for more info. See you there!
ALSO - don't miss the following "after hours" event:

8/15 - RENEGADE CABARET - Friday, August 15 at 10:30pm
Zoobie's Old Town Tavern
611 E Grand River Ave, Lansing, Michigan 48906

Are you itching to hear what's new in the New York Cabaret scene? No need to head to 54 Below or Joe's Pub, we have it for you right here in Lansing!

Featuring #LansingFavorite vocalists Scott Laban, Mary Maurer, Joe Quick, Racheal Raymer, Kelly Stuible, and Adam Woolsey, and accompanied by #EverybodysFavorite John Dale Smith.

Head over to Zoobies after the last Renegade shows for great drinks, truffle oil popcorn, and some exciting new music.

**Please note that Zoobie's is 21+ and they do card at the door. Please respect their policy, and we apologize if any of our underage friends can't see this one. There will be more :) **

Wednesday, June 18 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
 
MICA Gallery (PLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE from Absolute Gallery)
1210 Turner Street
Lansing, Michigan
 
Free!
 
The Renegade Theatre Festival has created a new series called Renegade Readings to showcase the work of local playwrights and lead to the annual free Renegade Theatre Festival, this year running August 14-16.
 
Spoken Word features a number of performers, each presenting poetry and story via performance. Spoken Word has been described as many things; fundamentally, it is poetry or stories that are meant to be performed rather than read from a page, or read out loud. And generally, the topics are personal explorations and commentary, though not limited to non-fiction. Each Spoken Word artist has a different style – come and enjoy the diversity and variety! Artists scheduled include musician, performer and hip-hop artist Solo, and writer/story-teller Suban Nur Cooley.
 
MICA Gallery presents a wide range of contemporary art in changing exhibits. It is one of the programming activities offered by the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art. Others include Lansing JazzFest, Old Town BluesFest, Burning Desires, and the recent Grand American Fish Rodeo. 
 
Contact: Melissa Kaplan
                   517-281-7732, [email protected]

 Wednesday, June 18 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Absolute Gallery, 307 E. Grand River (near Turner intersection in Old Town)
Free!
 
The Renegade Theatre Festival has created a new series called Renegade Readings to showcase the work of local playwrights and theatre artists, and lead to the annual free Renegade Theatre Festival, this year running August 14-16.
 
Spoken Word features a number of performers, each presenting poetry and story via performance. Spoken Word has been described as many things; fundamentally, it is poetry or stories that are meant to be performed rather than read. And generally, the topics are personal explorations and commentary, though it is not limited to non-fiction. Each Spoken Word artist has a different style – come and enjoy the diversity and variety! Artists scheduled include musician, performer and hip-hop artist Solo, and writer/story-teller Suban Nur Cooley. A sneak preview may be heard on the weekly radio talk show, “So Much More: Michigan Arts and Culture,” co-hosted by Melissa Kaplan and Chad Badgero, on WLNZ 89.7 FM. The Spoken Word episode will air Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. and repeat Friday, June 13 at 8 a.m.
 
The eclectic Absolute Gallery, a regular location during the August theatre festival, has graciously opened their doors for the Renegade Readings this year. The store will be open early for shopping and there will be light refreshments.

SHOP TALK - four original one-acts, set in "shops"
Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Absolute Gallery
307 E. Grand River
"Old Town" Lansing, Michigan
 
COST: Free!
 
The Renegade Theatre Festival has created a new series called "Renegade Readings" to showcase the work of local playwrights and whet your appetite for the annual free Renegade Theatre Festival, this year running August 14-16.
 
Shop Talk is the brainchild of playwright Bill Helder: four short plays by local playwrights that all tell stories of life in “the shop.” Plays include The Beauty Shop by Roger Rochowiak, The Coffee Shop by Jane Zussman, The Flower Shop by Eileen O'Leary, and Helder’s own The Costume Shop.
 
Bob Robinson directs and the cast includes Ken Beachler, Sue Chmurynsky, Katie Dufort, Chanae Houska, Diana Lett, Jeff Magnuson, and Amy Rickett.
 
The eclectic Absolute Gallery, a regular location during the August theatre festival, has graciously opened their doors for the Renegade Readings. A second reading is being planned for mid-June and will feature spoken word artists including Suban Nur Cooley and Janet Colson.

Tuesday, April 15, 7:30 pm
Free Renegade Reading presents
SHOP TALK
A collection of short plays directed by Bob Robinson

The Beauty Shop by Roger Rochowiak
The Coffee Shop by Jane Zussman
The Costume Shop by Bill Helder
(The Flower Shop) Say It With Roses by Eileen O’Leary

Tuesday, April 15, 2014, 7:30 p.m. 
at Absolute Gallery in Old Town 
307 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing • FREE of charge

Let this evening of original one-act plays whet your appetite for the Renegade Theatre Festival coming August 14-16 to Old Town, Lansing!

NOTE that August 14-16 are the correct dates for Renegade. I had 14-17 in the printed Ripples.... anyway, probably too far off to cause TOO much confusion at this point! ;-}
As an author, I'm excited to see/hear these readings! And grateful to BIll Helder for keeping the first three scripts alive that were written about 15 years ago, around the time Tim Bogar inspired us by doing theatre in coffee shops. Thanks to Eileen O'Leary for joining the "shop" pack. (Hers was not written for this "shop assignment," so it has its own "unshop" title - but still fits the bill of being set in a "shop.")
This is a small example of the diverse and unique examples of theatre, readings and full performances that are the Renegade Theatre Festival. As you plan your summer vacations, plan to be here August 14-16 for a "theatre vacation" in Lansing's Old Town.