It’s a split bill with our East Lansing Theatre and Dance Company featuring 12 dancers ages 5-18 presenting five different “Tales of Beatrix Potter”, with original choreography set to the music of John Larchberry and costumes by Mary K. Hodges-Nees.  The Acting company, featuring stories of the Greek Myths in the fast-paced hilarious “Greek Myths Olympiaganza”, by Don Zolidis  Also on the bill is “The Two Color Coat”, an African folktale about how shortsighted we can be, especially when it comes to friends.  
 
A lot of fun for all ages! Tickets are $10 at the door; showtimes are 7pm on Friday, May 16 and 2pm on May 17 at the MSU Auditorium Building Arena Theatre (blackbox theatre space in the basement) 542 Auditorium Rd, East Lansing, 48824.  Parking can be accessed across the street.  For more information, please call 517-203-8324.

It’s a split bill with our East Lansing Theatre and Dance Company featuring 12 dancers ages 5-18 presenting five different “Tales of Beatrix Potter”, with original choreography set to the music of John Larchberry and costumes by Mary K. Hodges-Nees. Take a timeless walk back one hundred years ago to the charmed and enchanted animal world of Beatrix Potter, and join in the antics of Squirrel Nutkin, Jemima Puddleduck, Peter Rabbit and others. The Acting company, featuring stories of the Greek Myths in the fast-paced hilarious “Greek Myths Olympiaganza”, by Don Zolidis (author of last year’s Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon), will present such tales as Jason and the Argonauts, Eurydice and Orpheus, The Illiad (in five condensed minutes), Chronos, Rhea and of course, their Therapist.  Also on the bill is “The Two Color Coat”, an African folktale about how shortsighted we can be, especially when it comes to friends.  

The Tales of Beatrix Potter features Katie Knox as “Squirrel Nutkin” and “The Fox”, Kaleel Van Voorhees as “Jemima Puddleduck” and “Squirrelina”, Theo Van Egeren as “Mother Rabbit”, Mohini Mukherjee as “Chatty Squirrel” and “Tom Thumb Mouse”, Mikaela McWethy as “Hunca Munca Mouse” and “Nutty Squirrel”, Emily McWethy as “Timmie Willie Mouse” and “Chestnut Squirrel”, Parker Van Voorhees as “The Owl” and “Mr. McGregor”, Fiona Magyar as “Tillie Mae” Mouse, Lisa Kong as “Peter Rabbit”, Caroline Ley as “Benjamin Bunny”, Clara Craig as “Flopsy”, Maureen Rojewski as “Mopsy”, Alyssa Forsyth as “Cottontail” and Brandon Townsend as “The Narrator”.  

The Two Color Coat features Linda Webster as “The Narrator”, Laura Stanton as “The Trickster”, Erin Ruster as “Friend 1” and Lauren Kreuer as “Friend 2”.

The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza features Callie Reichel as “Narrator 1” and “Apollo”, Linda Webster as “Narrator 2”, Parker Van Voorhees as “Cronos”, “Hercules”, and Actor 2 ((Hera/Aphrodite/Athena/Helen/Menalaus/Achilles/Greek/Odysseus), Danielle Holloway as “Rhea”, and “Pollux”, Jessica Caicedo-Olaya as “Uranus”, “Police Officer”, “Zombies”, “Hades”, “Korinne Salisbury as “Man” and “Jason”, Ayana Crayton as “Woman”, “Castor” and “Charon”, Brandon Townsend as “Zeus” and “Orpheus”, Kaleel Van Voorhees as “Pandora”, “Medea/Sirens/Single Lonely Women/Harpies” as well as “Actor 1” who plays Paris/ The Advisor/Trojans/Hector/Helen and Porsha Lipsey who plays “The Therapist”, “Atalanta” and “Eurydice”. 

A lot of fun for all ages! Tickets are $10 at the door; showtimes are 7pm on Friday, May 16 and 2pm on May 17 at the MSU Auditorium Building Arena Theatre (blackbox theatre space in the basement) 542 Auditorium Rd, East Lansing, 48824.  Parking can be accessed across the street.  For more information, please call 517-203-8324.

5/16-17 - The Studio Performing Arts students are performing at the MSU Arena Theatre May 16 at 7pm and May 17 at 2pm (542 Auditorium Rd East Lansing, MI 48824 downstairs); the dance company is performing excerpts from "The Tales of Beatrix Potter" (featuring the Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjammin Bunny, The Mouse Waltz and The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck with costumes by Mary K. Hodges-Nees); at the same performance, we will also present "The Two-Color Coat", An African Folktale by our Musical Theatre kids, and "The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza", a one-act comedy based on the Greek Myths by Don Zolidis (the author of last year's "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon") by our Acting company. 
Tickets are $10 at the door.

The Studio Performing Arts Center students are performing at the MSU Arena Theatre May 16 at 7pm and May 17 at 2pm (542 Auditorium Rd East Lansing, MI 48824 downstairs); the dance company is performing excerpts from "The Tales of Beatrix Potter" (featuring the Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjammin Bunny, The Mouse Waltz and The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck with costumes by Mary K. Hodges-Nees); at the same performance, we will also present "The Two-Color Coat", An African Folktale by our Musical Theatre kids, and "The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza", a one-act comedy based on the Greek Myths by Don Zolidis (the author of last year's "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon") by our Acting company. 
Tickets are $10 at the door.

Also, in June we are presenting "Beyond The Path", a collage concert of actors, singers and dancers at Williamston High School on June 7 at 7pm (3939 Vanneter Rd, Williamston, MI 48895).  Again, tickets are $10 at the
door.  

P.K. Van Voorhees
The Studio Performing Arts Center
517-336-4088
www.dancesingact.com
[email protected]

 We have 5 sewers to help, but need someone to “design” the costumes and instruct the sewers on what to do. This production is slated for end of April or possibly early-mid May.
 Approximately 16 costumes needed (Jemima Puddleduck, The Fox, Squirrel Nutkin and three “girl” squirrels, Benjamin Bunny, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, Peter Rabbit, Mother Rabbit, Four Dancing Mice, and possibly two more mice for our performing division (East Lansing Theatre And Dance Company) for our ballet company.  Also need to make a “two-color coat” (one side red, one side blue) for a middle school-sized child for the play, “The Two Color Coat”, and some instruction for the high school acting company members on how to put together Greek Togas for a production of “The Greek Mythology Olympiganza”, a comedy in one act. All these shows will be performed together at the same time in late April-early May.  Please contact P.K. Van Voorhees, Artistic Director of The Studio Performing Arts Center at 517-203-8324 or [email protected].  

Thanks in advance for your help!
Best,
P.K. Van Voorhees

The Studio Performing Arts Center is offering a 10-week Adult Acting Class on Saturdays  from 12-1pm starting November 2, 2013. 

Taught by P.K. Van Voorhees, Founder and Artistic Director of The Studio, the class will include Improvisational exercises to help with emotional flexibility, Meisner exercises to help with spontaneity and listening/answering/observation skills that help one “stay in the moment”, among other things. 

P.K. received her B.F.A. From U of M and studied in NYC with (among others) Freddie Kareman, a Sanford Meisner protégé and acting coach for Francis Ford Coppola.  She has directed locally and in Los Angeles, taught acting at LCC, the BoarsHead Summer Conservatory, the Studio Performing Arts Center and was Director of Theatre for Waverly High School and East Lansing High School.  Her students have signed with agents in Chicago, appeared on television and film, been accepted to collegiate theatre programs and starred locally in community and professional theatres.

(Jane's note: P.K. is also the mother of super-kid-actor Kaleel, "Young Bonnie" in Bonnie and Clyde, "Axel the Elf" in No-Hole Holiday; understudy to Annie.. and more.)

Cost is $120 for 10 weeks and reservations are suggested prior to start of class, as the class size is limited to 12 -- and there are still a limited number of slots available. 

Call 517-336-4088 for more information and to reserve your spot!

Friday, May 17 at 7pm and Saturday, May 18 at 2pm at the MSU Arena Theatre (in the MSU Auditorium Building, 542 Auditorium Rd., East Lansing on campus).  Fairy Tales and Other Stories features two plays:
 “Beauty Shop”, a slow day at the Fantastic Frills Salon, the “in” place to go for all princesses, luminaries and other fantastical beings. One this day, Goldilocks, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Briar Rose and Alice (from Wonderland) are all looking for a “do-over”. 
In “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon”, a troupe of actors is attempting to portray all 209 Grimm Fairy Tales in one hour, weaving the tales together in one giant family history; mayhem and antics ensue when all of the actors are taken ill by the catering and only two are left to carry on!  

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and can be purchased at the door prior to the show.  

Important notes:  Because of construction in the building, there is no handicapped access; the Arena is in the basement of the Auditorium building on the Farm Lane side.  Also, the East Lansing Art Fair will close down streets adjacent off of Grand River so theatre goers coming from the east will have to enter campus via Grand River at Bogue Street to Auditorium Rd. turn right, go to where road comes to a “t’ and is blocked (at Physics Rd.) turn right, and find the parking lot on left.  Drive through the parking lot (at Physics Rd,) to the end of the lot (directly across from of the Auditorium Building) and walk across the lot to the theatre.  The Physics parking lot is located on the north side of the Auditorium Building and directly across from the front of it.  (Jane adds: I'm assuming those of us coming from the west can enter campus from the south at Trowbridge or Shaw Lane off Harrison and turn north on Farm Lane to get to the Auditorium building which is on the corner of Farm Lane and Auditorium Rd.)

5/17 - 18 - Fairy Tales and Other Stories by The Studio Performing Arts Center, will NOT be at Hannah Center May 4-5 (as previously reported) but WILL be in the Arena Theatre at MSU (in the basement of the Auditorium Building) May 17 @7pm and May 18 @2pm.

The show  features two plays; a “playlet” entitled “Beauty Shop” which features Cinderella (Sarai Chavira), Rapunzel, Briar Rose (Jillian Kingdon), Goldilocks and Alice (Linda Webster) going to Fairyland’s “Fantastic Frills Salon”  to meet Olivia, the salon owner (Lauren Kreuer) and her assistant, Hilda (Laura Stanton) for a new style.  (These are our youngest actors ages 8-13 and this play runs about 15 minutes.)  
The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon by Don Zoldis is a full-length two-act play featuring our High School/Middle School actors in all of the roles from the Grimm’s Fairy tales recapped into one play.  The play portrays a troupe of traveling actors that attempt to perform all 209 of the Brothers’ Grimm fairy tales as one giant story. The production starts out with the stories of The Dirt Merchant and Rumpelstiltskin as “The Girl”, a naive and foolish girl sells her soul for her immediate wellbeing and happiness.  We later find that she has to give up her daughter, “Rapunzel”, as the consequence. This story leads into more well-known tales such as Snow White, Little Red Cap, The Fishergirl,Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella, and later to lesser known tales such as The Devil’s Grandmother and The Talking Fish.  Comedic and upbeat, this fun play has interesting comments about our society and our values.

Actors include Robin Harris as “The King”, Korinne Salisbury as “Narrator 1” and “Prince 3”, Parker Van Voorhees as “Narrator 2”, “Hansel”, “The Host” and “The Wolf”, Brandon Townsend as “The Actor”, “God Voice”, “Wicked Stepmother and Stepsisters”, Kaleel Van Voorhees as “The Girl”, “The Princess”, “and “Little Red”; Holden Santi as “Devil 1”, “Prince 2” and “The Talking Fish”; Alex Kingsley as “Prince 1”, “The Frog Prince” “Walt” and “The Woodcutter”; Callie Reichel as “Rumpelstiltskin:, “Crab Person 2”, “Dwarf 1” and “The Doctor”; Jessica Caicedo-Olaya as “The Dirt Merchant”, “The Cobbler Elf”, and “Snow White”; Danielle Holloway as “Rapunzel”, “Witch 2” and “Cinderella”; Breana Scates as “The Girl Without Hands”, “Crab Person 1” and “Devil 2”; and Alicia Herbst as “The Enchantress” and “The Devil’s Grandmother”.  Playgoers will get a chance to see how all of the characters and stories are interconnected in a whirlwind ride with ever-changing actors and a hilarious journey to the end.  Show times are May 17 at 7pm and May 18 at 2pm at the MSU Arena Theatre (Black Box theatre) in the basement of the MSU Auditorium building; (dress lightly as it tends to be a little hot down there.)  Tickets are $10 per person to help defray the cost of the production.