Sorry I missed this HS show, too, Les Miserables at Grand Ledge High School. I focus on promoting community theatre, not high school... and I don't have official contacts at the high schools. Once I mention one, I try to be fair; they are all doing some fantastic shows. (I WAS wowed by last year's Phantom; apparently that was not a one hit wonder.) Here's a mini review by Jan Lockwood.

"I don't know if you talked about this show, currently being done by Grand Ledge High School. It's about over, with a performance tonight and maybe tomorrow, I'm not sure. And it's probably sold out, justifiably sold out. It was truly amazing, Jane. To see high schoolers with that kind of talent is just mind boggling. The principals were stunningly good but no one was weak. Bill Henson took me; a number of his private students had lead roles and they were wonderful - they had even dedicated a page in the program to Bill which I thought was very touching. The orchestra was terrific, the sets and effects were terrific. If there is a better high school musical theatre program in Michigan, I would like to know where. Such a pleasure."

btw - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat continues at Okemos High School
May 3 & 4 - 7:30 pm -- good reports on that HS show, too!
This truly is a community event: a chorus of 60 Okemos 3rd-6th graders will be joining the high school cast. Get tickets at http://okemosdrama.net/

Sorry I wasn't able to see THE BEATLES SLEPT HERE at Riverwalk last weekend, but the new grandchild in North Carolina was a slightly bigger draw. Glad I didn't miss the show, however, because, as a true Beatlemaniac of the 60's, I got a kick out of every music clip, reference and pun. The All-of-us Express youth performers were full of energy, and well directed by Rick Dethlefsen. The chase scene, as always, was a hit -- and the addition of fan-screaming added to the fun.

All-of-us Express shows are a notch up in "commitment" from MMFT shows, which rehearse less oftenmaking it easier for first-timers, and welcomes adult performers. All-of-us Express, based at the Hannah Center (where all their other shows are performed) casts only youth 18 and under, and has a more rigorous rehearsal schedule.

The Beatles Slept Here was a fun romp, with 24 talented kids. Standouts included Ainsley Louagie as the conniving Clarabell, Austin Tanner as Sgt. JoJo Paprika, Breckan Erdman as Eleanor Diggby, Nick Cook as Mr. Mustard, Katie Lewis as Lizzie Belmont, Paige Scholten as Lucy Lawson, and Matt Thompson as Detective Johnny B. Goode.

The next show just started at Riverwalk at 4:30 today, so if you're reading this, you missed it. There's ONE MORE show at 2pm tomorrow, Sunday, April 28.

Parking can be difficult when Impression 5 is open during the day. Note that there is curb parking is available on Museum Drive and overflow parking beyond the turn-around loop at the end of Museum Drive. Also, if you park in the lot behind The Knight Cap etc., it's a short walk along the river to RWT's front door.

www.riverwalktheatre.com

Aesop? Who's Aesop? and A Walk in the Woods were a cute couple of shows demonstrating Mid Michigan Family Theatre's unique ability to enfold a large cast (34) of all ages into a somewhat uneven but beautiful bouquet of storytelling. This theatre is a great place to get kids started in theatre, and have the opportunity for parents/grandparents to act alongside them.

Aesop was a collection of the fables acted out under the premise of a diplomatic mom (Joy Bilbey) teaching the "morals" of the fables to her two scrapping kids (Stanley Bullard and Kadie McEvers) Aesop was well played by MMFT "veteran" Nick Vogel. One tiny 5-year old, who looked 3, did an excellent job, but the "ensemble" was not listed by character in the program, so...

A Walk in the Woods, by Debbie Metzler, was a funny, convoluted mash-up of Goldilocks, The Three Little Pigs, Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and a few spare nursery rhymes. Clever, I think, but a little complicated for preschoolers, and not every actor had good diction and volume (and I had alternate 4-year-olds jockeying for my lap, so I'm probably not the best judge of the script.) The highlight for my young audience was a chase-upon-chase scene in which every character with a reason to chase another character did so. I especially enjoyed the witch Stephanie Charlot; Goldilocks, Samatha (Samantha? could be a program typo) White; Jack Horner, Nate Bilbey; and the Wolf, Sam Bilbey.

This double bill continues at 3pm Saturday and Sunday April 27 & 28 - $5 for preschoolers; $7 for students and adultsAlfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center, 5825 Wise Road, Lansing 48911. Enter the southeast corner of the building.

www.mmft.net

FUNNY GIRL at MSU is an elegant and energetic musical celebrating Fanny Brice's career with its tragedy and triumph. It's a big musical with lots of scenes and characters - the kind that can plod if the many scene changes are slow -- but this production was beautifully directed and choreographed by Broadway Director Devanand Janki and the dance numbers and scene changes flowed like magic. Though the set brought an early 1900's classic look, the pieces floated and rolled and turned creatively to create scene after scene, (set designer Renee Suprenant) The show featured an 8 piece orchestra -- some of whom appeared on stage for "Cornet Man." (Music Director Ryan Mackenzie Lewis.) Orchestra and all were well miked, but a little too loud and shrill for me, at times. The costumes were plentiful and impressive from showgirl outfits to military uniforms (Costume Designer Lane Fragomeli) with 37 actors, I think ALL with multiple costume changes. (whew!)

Performers were all good, led by an impish, powerful, vulnerable, funny Zachera Wallenberg as Fanny Brice. I also particularly liked Jacqueline Wheeler as Fanny's mother and Zev Steinberg as Eddie Ryan. Eric Miller's outstanding tenor voice was showcased in "His Love Makes Me Beautiful." It was also good to see Ken Beachler — our "impresario" of Follies at Riverwalk — appearing as the grand Florenz Ziegfeld.

Funny Girl runs through the rest of the weekend Wed/Thu 7:30 pm; Fri 8 pm; Sat 2 & 8 pm; Sun 2 pm.  at the Pasant Theaatre in Wharton Center.Tickets are available at the Wharton Center Box Office (1.800.WHARTON or 1.800.942.7866) More information can be found on the MSU Department of Theatre website:  www.theatre.msu.edu
Adult tickets: $20, Senior tickets: $18, Student tickets: $15.