Pickleball seems to arise from the Dumb and Dumber end of the Jeff Daniels creative spectrum. His slapstick script fills the Riverwalk Black Box stage with pickleball fanaticism and laughter — and people. It was a full house — and I’m told that four of the remaining seven shows are close to sold out, as well. 

This somewhat surreal comedy celebrates and ridicules America’s fastest growing sport, as four below-average players face the challenge of Pickleball Goddess, the tortured, triumphant “Perfect” played with intimidating, statuesque style by Keara Hayes. 

Quinn Kelly plays lovelorn bachelor Larry with surprising acrobatics and grace, partnering with Billie (Amber Swisher) playing in memory of her deceased wife — and she is NOT up for a “tip” from Larry (cue the Good, the Bad and the Ugly theme.)  It’s my impression that the recorded sound effects and music (from rap to hymns) comes with the script from Purple Rose Theatre, where this show premiered.

Logan Nativig as Sheldon gets the award for the most animated choreography of butt pain. Spike vacillates between ambition and fear, well played by Jonas Greenberg. Welcome Jonas, Amber, Logan and director Amy Jo Brown, all new to Riverwalk Theatre.

Greg Pratt plays the angelic victim Ralph, and Caleb Liggett, though only briefly seen onstage, is the source of Spike’s terror as the offstage voice of Angry John and others.

This pickled experience is only about 85 minutes with no intermission. Get your tickets now at http://www.riverwalktheatre.com and arrive EARLY for best seats, since the Black Box Stage is general admission. Pickleball plays 7pm Thursdays, 8pm Fridays/Saturdays and 2pm Sundays through October 6.

It is clear that MSU’s P/A is devised and directed by a dancer/choreographer, not a playwright. It’s a collage of dramatic, modern dance interspersed with short songs, poems and speeches that do not seem to tell a “story” per se, but are inspired by women’s suffrage. The music is discordant, powerful, dramatic... hard to say where music ends and sound effects begin.

P/A is an “immersive” experience, and you will be asked to speak quietly if at all, as you enter the black-box of Studio 60 on the lower level of MSU’s auditorium building. There are about ten minutes of repetitive throbbing music as a motherly woman cares for the cast of women in fetal positions under a gauze fabric, circling, smoothing and tucking their cover. 

Alexandria Davis’s Director’s Note in the online program refers to the meaning of P/A as alluding to math: “Whether it’s an equation or a formula, the movement represents the variable of our embodied narratives.”  

The spoken parts of this conglomeration were brief enough I would have liked to have read them in the online program. They went by so fast that their weight was hard to absorb, as the dance commanded our attention. Many of the group were excellent trained dancers with solo dances, non dancers were put in motion in less demanding ways to express the moods.

The printed program says the show is 1 hour and 20 minutes. The online program is more accurate: 50 minutes — which includes the first 10 minutes of “immersion”. The show ends with the line of dancers literally pulling together on a long, gauze fabric gathered into a rope, a concept that felt true to the solidarity of the cast: Ava Ballagh, Ciara Dalton, Keana Dong, Zoe Dorst, Dide Karaboga, Tessa Littleworth, Akilah Moore, Jessica Pollok, Cecelia Powers, Ritu Singhal, Alex Spevetz and Zhanna Yakubova. 

P/A continues through September 29. Buy tickets at the box office on the Farm Lane end of the Auditorium building while they last (free parking next door on Auditorium road.) or buy them online at https://whartoncenter.evenue.net/events/WC-DOT-PA
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Here’s your chance to see a true world premiere. Williamston is the first theatre anywhere to perform Thirst, Terry Guest’s dystopian-future, twisted tale of greed and manipulation. 

In Traverse City, Michigan, a couple decades from now, the Great Lakes have been poisoned by a catastrophic spill. Jazz (Zahirah Muhammad) lives in low income Tablet Housing where the government provides tablets to fulfill the human body’s need for water. She is visiting the uber-wealthy opposite of that neighborhood to sell her services to Frank (John Lepard) the husband of famed Tablet inventor Florence Doyle (Janet Haley). (Adult content and situations, tasteful brief nudity.)

In 90 minutes without intermission, Director Tony Caselli’s talented cast spins a tale of twisting alliances and plots. Spencer (Jayla Fletcher) joins the other characters as the chauffeur employee of the wealthy Doyles, providing perspective and more twists. 

The script shines shifting lights on the corrupting privileges of great wealth and power, and the desperation and confusion of the have-nots. Best not to know too much before experiencing this surprising story.  

The impressive set shows a luxurious but cold luxury home, featuring an extravagant pool of water. Jennifer Maiseloff’s set is expansive and overtakes the usual audience-left seating section with an outdoor terrace and rocky hill, stretching the playing space. (Fewer seats; could sell out; reserve soon!) Projections by Will Myers provide stormy images of the world outside.

Thirst continues through October 20. Note that evening starting times are now 7:30 and there are new Thursday matinees as well as the usual Saturday/Sunday matinees.
Tickets at http://Williamstontheatre.org

In Pieces is a fascinating new musical evolving before our eyes and ears through the “New Musical Laboratory Program” where MSU students collaborate with professionals to develop shows aiming for Broadway. 


This has been a three-week workshop process with professional actors Julian Diaz-Granados and Stephanie Torns as well as composer/lyricist Joey Contreras and guest director Emily Maltby coming in for two weeks. A talkback after the show reveals what an ever-changing blitz this was, with scripts in hand for some parts, and a new song added only three days ago — yet it all came together in surprisingly smooth and well choreographed fashion. The ten student cast-members had beautiful voices/harmonies, and held their own with the pros.


The show began as a set of songs, loosely related, and gathered into a “Version One” during the pandemic and gaining a following on Spotify. The current evolution fleshes out stories of several relationships, centering around young (high school through early 30s) people in New York City, brought to life through witty, angsty, intriguing anthems reminiscent of Jason-Robert-Brown or Rent. Sample at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awqX7PTgECw My favorite song, and the one that perhaps sums up the “plot,” is titled “You Never Know”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnJnkTU43Zg

In Pieces is a no-intermission hour-and-fifty-minutes worth of wonderful, relatable music (Music Director, Dave Wendelberger on piano.) True to its title, it leaves with an unfinished puzzle, not unlike life. There is a talkback after each show, and an online questionnaire you can fill out (accessible by QR code in the Pasant Lobby at Wharton Center) if you want to contribute comments. 

ONLY TWO MORE CHANCES to see this show: 7pm Sat; 2pm Sun. It is general seating, so arrive early for best seats. https://www.whartoncenter.com/search?term=in+pieces
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