It’s a challenge writing reviews for Lebowsky’s musicals in Owosso because I run out of superlatives. Another amazing hit: Billy Elliot the Musical wowed us with a fabulous and touching experience. Lebowsky's magical combination of talent, resources, hard work and strong direction produces stage magic.

This complex, upsetting and uplifting show began with historic film footage of the 1984-85 coal miners strike in northern England, the backdrop against which widowed miner’s son, Billy, aspires to dance lessons in place of the expected boxing lessons. The rustic, practical set below the screen echoed the real-life miners’ surroundings. (Set design Dirk Rennick, Dan Wenzlick)

Of course, choreography is key — done by both Erica Bradley and Garrett Bradley, who was also the overall director. He has a personal understanding of a boy in dance class as explained in his director’s note. I was impressed by the quality and quantity of dance and the range of emotions expressed, from total cuteness of young, silly ballerinas to some real anger and violence. I particularly liked the number where ballet and the miners' strike were literally combined. 

7th grader Isaac Feldpausch was excellent as Billy, navigating some rocky emotional territory as well as dancing up a storm. Alissa Britten was both gruff and loving as the dance teacher who believes in Billy, both inspiring and evoking the memory of his deceased mother - the angelic Mary Catharine Maurer. I needed a kleenex for the lost-mother scenes/songs.

Lebowsky favorite Michael Windnagle played the full range of Billy’s Dad, angry and macho, but reachable… and Anthony Mandalari was a force as Billy's older brother. All the miners presented a believable community of threatened men, not the “ballet type” but still… Anna Owens was a fun Grandma and Micah Dahlgren was adorable as the Michael, the friend who likes to dress in women’s clothes. The clothing-partnered choreography for him and Billy was a real treat.

Billiy Elliot the Musical runs through March 5. Tickets at http://lebowskycenter.com Definitely worth the drive to Owosso!

​The absurdist caricature that is Do You Feel Anger? at LCC’s Black Box is funny, in its extremities, but contains enough grains of truth that you feel a little guilty laughing. Mara-Nelson Greenberg’s satirical script sets up an empathy training course taught at a collection-agency populated by clueless men and convoluted women. 

Director Paige Tufford leads an earnest cast - with “Eva’s” role very well substituted by stage manager Molly Sullivan (hardly noticeable book in hand) since actor Mikaela Orlowski was in a recent auto accident. (Mikaila hopes to be back onstage for the following performances, but if she’s not, Molly was a very able stand-in.)

An authentic looking office set filled the Black Box Stage, with a well engineered bathroom addition for the final scene (designer Ranae Selmeyer, assistant professor of scenic design at MSU.) In this realistic environment, the challenged empathy trainer (Anasti Her) patiently (?) dealt with the delightfully oblivious Boss, Doak Bloss, the weirdly troubled “Eva,” and the two good-ol-bros whose antics probably instigated the call for empathy training in the first place. (Trey Sylla and Zach Sherman)

Zach was particularly believable in his chauvinist pig role, and Trey was uniquely obnoxious as an unwelcome poet? Many absurdities piled up, involving an “Old Man” boyfriend, Nicholas Holzwart, Danni Bolt lurking in the bathroom and Sandy Callis on the recorded phone, as Anasti’s mother, offering another layer of plot absurdities.

Note that this is “adult” in some of its references and language and not for the Charlotte’s-Web crowd — but if you’ve always wanted to experience the FUN side of a toxic workplace, come on down to LCC’s Black Box. (park on Grand Avenue; the Black Box Stage door is on the south side of the Gannon Building, across from the park.)

This production had to cancel its first two performances due to the ice storm, but performed Friday and is set to go on Saturday night at 8pm and 2pm Sunday — with an ADDED 7PM SHOW SUNDAY which will be a pay-what-you-can, cash-only fundraiser to replace the opening night fundraiser for LCC theatre that got “iced out.”

Charlotte’s Web is a family friendly tale of a special pig and his quest to avoid becoming pork chops. This sweet script was adapted by Joseph Robinette from E.B. White’s novel and directed by Ann Folino White (any relation?) It addresses some challenging truths, but ultimately offers a heartwarming tale of friendship, bravery and selfless love.

MSU’s Fairchild stage was filled with rustic, rolling farm/barn components that artfully reconfigured to become the neighboring farm and the county fair (scenic design Thalia Pearce) enhanced by artful lighting (Lauren 
Spiegel) and media projections (Nicklas Casella) — plus dramatic sound design (Bunni Gutierrez) — which made for fun fireworks, sky, and baby-spider effects. The costumes (Kasee Arnett) were delightful conglomerations of “animal” and “people clothes.” Spider Charlotte’s furry leggy outfit was a masterpiece.

Andrew Brown was a chirpy, endearing Wilbur the Pig, bubbling with energy and porcine emotion. Of course devoted Fern (Cayla Hadaway) had to rescue him from being culled as the runt of the litter. Mysteriously noble Charlotte the Spider became Wilbur’s exotic and devoted friend, spinning words into her webs to save her friend. (I believe her assorted word-webs must have been constructed by “properties artisan” Ray Louise Sunshine.)

All the animals were cute in their creatively animal/human costumes, and displayed appropriately animalistic manners of movement and voice — with my favorites being Kim Martin as Mama Sheep, Ben Barber as Father Gander, and especially the exuberantly selfish, but ultimately helpful, Zach Deande, scurrying and munching with rodent zeal, as Templeton the Rat.

Note that this hour and a half show (no intermission) starts at 7pm, not the usual 8 — so you can bring children/grandchildren without pushing bedtime too much. There is also a creative coloring-book program for young audience members. 

Ticket buyers can sign up for one of three free presentations and tours at the MSU Bug House, the MSU South Campus Animal Farm, or backstage at the Fairchild Theatre. Tours run on Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The matinee performances on the Feb. 25 and 26 also will include interactive pre-show activities from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. featuring “Meet and Greet A Michigan Farmer” along with chicks and lambs, plus “Become an Animal” stations. 

Tickets at https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/charlottes-web

We are appropriately recovering from a “miserable” night at Riverwalk Theatre, as Ayden Soupal’s directorial debut gave us MISERY, adapted by William Goldman from Stephen King’s novel. Ayden has wisely chosen not to have an intermission in this thriller to maintain the momentum of desperation escalating throughout.

Holly Sleight-Engler plays Annie Wilkes, “number one fan” of author Paul Sheldon (Scott Pohl.) After having rescued him from a car wreck, she exuberantly adores and terrorizes him into writing a new novel, resurrecting her beloved heroine, Misery Chastain. Holly bubbles with fan-girl energy and simmers with menace as the Scott’s desperation builds. Scott was particularly convincing portraying the physical pain of his character. Jules Overfelt was charmingly folksy as the sheriff.

Kudos to fight choreographer Dale Wayne Williams and intimacy coordinator Amanda Tollstam for engineering some violent moments, while assuring the actors survive for subsequent performances! The set was practical but I would have liked to have seen more “decor” reflecting Annie’s unique character.

Note that - due to lack of intermission - refreshments ARE allowed into Riverwalk’s Black Box theatre. Also note that this particular performance was sold out!  So best to reserve ahead of time (517-482-5700 http://www.riveralktheatre.com) and arrive early, both for snacks and to secure the best seats, since Black Box shows are general admission. Tickets available at the door while they last.

Tickets $15/$12 student, senior, military - and $12/$10 on Bargain Thursdays, which are ALSO social distancing days, where only half the house is sold and attendees wear masks.