Wow.

Jesus Christ Superstar has not lost its punch. 

Director Josh Martin gives Riverwalk an updated, rock-concert version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s masterpiece. It features frenetic choreography (Karyn Perry) wild costumes (Amanda Macomber and Ashley Hampton with help from the Lansing artist community) immersive, dramatic lighting (Ellison Hall) and innovative phone video (the cast). It leaps climbs and swirls around a timeless, graffiti-framed stairway-platform set (Tom Ferris with scenography by Rachel Daugherty) that houses a small but mighty band “Metatron”: music director/keyboard/conductor Kait Wilson, John Dillingham keyboard, Yoshihiro Fukagawa guitar, Carin McEvoy bass, and Ty Schalter drums.

Superstar was a must-have album when I was in college amid the chaos of Vietnam war protests; this version nods to the current protests and unrest in our country. The September 1984 Okemos Barn production is legendary for a fully-immersed audience member who stepped onstage at one performance to try to stop the 39 lashes. No such interruption opening night but the show IS an immersive experience, wrapping the entire audience in the question, “Jesus Christ, Superstar, do you think you’re who they say you are?"

Gender-blind casting gives us a powerful, provocative, female Judas, the talented and tormented Meghan Malusek — as well as a flashy King (Queen?) Herod, Elle Bergan. 

Quentin Villa embodies our misunderstood Jesus, coping with his fame and destiny with an impressive voice. Kelly Stuible-Clark, another winning voice, was the nurturing, questioning  Mary Magdaline. Lewis Elson was Pontius Pilate, the politician caught between his common sense and the rule of the mob. 

Superstar was full-ish opening night and deserves to sell out. Make your reservations soon  http://www.riverwalktheatre.com/ 
Thur-Sun through March 8. 

Note that on SUNDAYS — often difficult parking days when Impression 5 is open — Riverwalk has arranged free parking available to RWT and Impression 5 patrons in the large parking lot off Museum Drive between Riverwalk and Michigan Ave. If you park there, you can walk along the river walk trail boardwalk to RWT’s front door. Effective for March 1 and March 8 performances only. 

The Lebowsky Center Brings Enchantment and Emotional Power to Disney's Frozen
The Lebowsky Center has delivered a truly magical production of Disney’s Frozen, proving once again that community theatre can rival professional stages in both heart and spectacle.
From the moment dancer Isaac Feldspauch flipped onto the stage (prompting my own kiddo to whisper, “Oh, this is going to be good!”) it was clear we were in capable hands. The cast and creative team masterfully balance the show’s dazzling theatricality with its deeply human story of sisterhood.
Recent MSU Department of Theatre graduate Madison LeMieux brings commanding vocal power and emotional depth to Elsa, earning spontaneous audience cheers and mid-song applause. Jazlyn Dingfelder shines as Anna, infusing the role with warmth, humor, and boundless spirit. As the younger version of the sisters, Nelly Aste and Olivia Dahlgren deliver pitch-perfect “tornado in pigtails” energy, setting the emotional stakes from the very beginning.
Josh Holliday delights with impeccable comedic timing as Olaf, while Matt Apostle’s exuberant Oaken is a scene-stealing crowd favorite. Jake Pryzbyla and Michael Windnagle deftly embody the villains, grounding the story’s conflict with nuance and presence.
Technically, the production sparkles. Luis Antonio Guzman’s media design does some serious heavy lifting, enhanced by inventive special effects and a touch of signature “Lebowsky Magic.” The scenic design by Dirk Rennick and Dan Wenzlick transforms the stage into an immersive winter wonderland, beautifully illuminated by Adam Gordon’s atmospheric lighting and complemented by stunning, character-defining costumes. Under the direction of Matt Meeuwse, the live orchestra delivers a rich, full sound that elevates every musical moment.
A particular highlight is professional puppeteer Zae Clark’s embodiment of Sven, bringing remarkable physicality and heart to the beloved reindeer.
At its core, Frozen is a story about love, courage, and self-acceptance — and the Lebowsky team delivers all three in abundance. This production is a joyful reminder of the power of community theatre to bring people together and create something truly enchanting.
The show runs for three weeks, through March 8, but tickets are already in short supply — don’t sleep on this one. Tickets and information can be found at: https://www.lebowskycenter.com
THANKS to Reviewer Abbie Tykocki

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What a refreshing change of pace from our previous two excellent-but-serious shows! 

LCC’s The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon is pure fun. Blake Bowen’s madcap cast romps through Don Zolidis’s fairy tale spoof script, juggling pop culture references and slapstick comedy. It’s a no-intermission hour and a half of fairy-tale fun.

Kudos to Blake for action packed blocking that kept actors moving and turning to play to the audience in the round. Two castle/magic house entrances and a Rapunzel tower framed a “wood” floor with two all-purpose trunks that served as prop containers and mobile set pieces. Cheers to the many people who helped with costume and prop construction, fueling the quick costume changes including fun masks, beards, wigs… even puppets.

The entire cast was funny and fast-paced. (Amirah Abaalkhail, Ally Estrada, Denise Huguez, Robert Jacob, Avery Martin, Rachel Ngasala, Zander Pearce, Isaac Samara, and Gavin Taylor) The show opened with narrator Isaac overwhelmed by manic ringmistress Ally, hawking the “spectaculathon” complete with acrobatics. The women (and occasionally the men playing women) would occasionally get shrieky-high-voiced to the point where some lines were lost. 

Blake’s interesting program note describes the origins of fairy tales and their warnings about coping with a dangerous world, as well as portraying archetypal evil-doers to help confront fears. Modern-day female identity issues and other “updates” brought laughs and perhaps a little perspective. 

Blake says, “What you’ll see tonight isn’t about presenting perfect stories, but about the joy of telling them together.” This production is full of joy, and even breaks the fourth wall a bit to include the audience in the synergistic joy.

The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon continues tomorrow, Sunday at 2pm and next Friday and Saturday at 7pm at LCC’s Black Box stage 1422 Gannon Building. Enter at the stage door facing Grand Avenue and follow the hall to the box office to get a FREE voucher to attend. It’s general seating and a smallish space of only 100-ish seats, so get there early to assure admission.

This show comes with a rave and a warning. It is a beautiful production of an ugly script. Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman rants and raves through fun subjects such as torture, child abuse and murder. A very dark comedy.

Director Adam Carlson has assembled an exceptional cast centered around Heath Sartorius as Katurian, a writer being interrogated in a totalitarian state because his gruesome stories mirror recent murders. Heath is the broken heart of the show. His fate becomes increasingly unclear as he clings to the hope that his stories will survive him. 

Good Cop/Bad Cop Jeff Kennedy and Brian Farnham put Katurian through the wringer. We meet his beloved “special needs” brother Michal, and experience a series of stories and memories featuring Mothers/Fathers/Boys/Girls well played by Liv Challa, Edric Haleen, and Neysa Nohara.
Brian and Jeff were “badder” than I've ever seen them on stage — and Lansing newcomer Sam Johnson was a disarming, childlike presence as brother Michel, a great addition to our theatre community.

The momentum, pace, intensity and passion of this cast is impressive. The script layers fictional stories upon traumatic memories and revelations shedding light and turning tables on the characters, exploring themes of trauma and the relationship between fiction and reality. 

The Pillowman is an Ixion Ensemble show and plays at Stage One at Sycamore Creek Eastwood on Lake Lansing Road (same place as Peppermint Creek) It runs two and a half hours which includes two intermissions. It runs through March 1.
General admsiion tickets at https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ixion-ensemble/6977f28e43ecef104ea7dd5d