‘You Can't Take It With You’ is a whimsical Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway play that was transformed into an Academy Award winning film, and now it comes to Lansing’s Starlight Dinner Theatre (April 22 – May 1). This is the story of the zany and carefree Sycamore household, presided over by Grandpa Vanderhof (Ed Baker), other household characters include:  Penny Sycamore (Linda Granger), Grandpa's daughter and husband Paul (Jim Thorp), who makes firecrackers in his basement with the help of permanent houseguest Mr. DePinna (Tracey Dolinar); their daughter, Essie (Angela Dill), who imagines that she's a ballerina and her teacher, Kolenkhov (Leo Poroshin), and Essie's husband, Ed (Greg Pratt), who'd rather play a xylophone than work.  The one normal member of the household is Alice Sycamore (Rachel Mender), who is in love with wealthy Tony Kirby (Jeff Kennedy). 

Naturally, when Tony’s stuffy and aristocratic parents (Dan Templin and Charlotte Ruppert) come to the Sycamores' for dinner, the event is a disaster, capped with the arrest of everyone in the household.  This production is highlighted with one madcap scene after another.  But in the end, after some careful self-examination and soul searching, everyone comes to the conclusion that you, indeed, ‘Can’t Take It With You’.

This iconic stage play is directed by Diana Lett.  The cast also includes: Susan DeRosa, Gail Dean, Dale Williams, Diane Kennedy, Steve Lett, Mike Ross and Gary Mitchell.

Dates:  April 22-23 and 29-30, and May 1, 2016.
Times: Fridays and Saturdays (dinner at 6:30 and show at 7:30), Sundays (dessert at 1:30 p.m. and show at 2 p.m).
Ticket Prices: $36 regular price, $33 for seniors/students, $15/$14 show only
Location: Waverly East Intermediate School 3131 W. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48917

*For additional information on Starlight Dinner Theatre shows, including starting times and ticket prices, call (517) 599-2779 or visit the website at www.starlightdinnertheatre.com

Starlight Dinner Theatre’s rollicking NUNCRACKERS is taking the show on the road to do one more performance at Homegrown Productions in St. Johns on Saturday, December 5 at 7:30 pm. Susan DeRosa (Nuncrackers Producer at Starlight) has taken over as director of this encore production. She and Beth Webb (Reverend Mother) are leaders of Homegrown Productions in St.Johns, and saw this as a great holiday opportunity to raise funds for their elderly building. The kids, and “stage manager” actors were not available for this extra show, but Beth and Susan are now training replacements! Laura Croff, Rick and Leann Dethlefsen and Diana Lett will reprise their stellar roles, along with Beth - and James Geer at the keyboard.
Nuncrackers will perform at the Wilson Center, 101 W. Cass Street, St. Johns.  It is directly behind (south of) the Clinton County Courthouse in an old school building. You can park in the Courthouse lot after 6 pm. There is also on-street parking on Cass and adjacent streets.  Please use either the main entrance or the one on the Auditorium (right ) end of the building. 

If any of your family or friends missed the Starlight performances, please let them know about this show.  Tickets are $25 because it is a fund raiser for auditorium renovations. They are raising funds for new lighting and controls for the Wilson Center.

11/13-15 - Too late to make FOOD reservations for Nuncrackers, but you are always welcome to walk-in for “show only” $18 ($17 sr. $13 kids 12 and under) 
Show starts at 7:30 Fri/Sat and 2pm Sunday - full-blown Catholic laughter/song and dance for all ages.
3131 West Michigan 48917, Waverly Intermediate School. Enter on the east side of the building (the last driveway, EAST of all the newly painted arrows.)
www.starlightdinnertheatre.com

I’m (Jane) directing Nuncrackers for Starlight Dinner Theatre (first two weekends in November) and we need 4 stuffed leopards, at least 12" long (so the back row can make out what they are) for one of the many silly jokes in this show. Does anyone have one to loan us? If not, please keep your eye out at second hand stores if you shop at them. Thanks!  Contact Producer Linda Granger if you have a leopard to loan. <[email protected]>