Author Archives: ronannarbor

Wharton Center (East Lansing) announces 2010-2011 Musical Theater Season

Wharton Center in East Lansing has announced their 2010-2011 Season. Mary Poppins – November 3 – 21 9 to 5: The Musical – December 15-19 Stomp – January 21-23 Shrek The Musical – February 8 – 13 Chicago – April 8 – 10 Jersey Boys – Sept 28 – Oct 16 (2011) – Which technicallyContinue reading “Wharton Center (East Lansing) announces 2010-2011 Musical Theater Season”

“101 Dalmations” musical posts closing notice

“101 Dalmations” the musical, has posted a closing notice. It will continue with its current tour, which opens in NYC at Madison Square Garden in a few weeks, and will close on 4/18. All further national tour dates have been cancelled. This is a shame — I’ve previously written a blog entry on the show.Continue reading ““101 Dalmations” musical posts closing notice”

Miller Auditorium (Kalamazoo) announces their 2010-2011 professional musical theatre tour season

Miller Auditorium, on the campus of Western Michigan University, announced their professional musical theatre tour season for 2010-2011 this past week: The Color Purple – Tues Sept 21, 7:30 Legally Blonde – Thurs Oct 14 7:30, Fri Oct 15 8:00 Spring Awakening – Thurs Nov 4, 7:30 Wicked – December 1-12 Blue Man Group –Continue reading “Miller Auditorium (Kalamazoo) announces their 2010-2011 professional musical theatre tour season”

Broadway in Detroit announces 2010-11 Season

Broadway in Detroit has announced their professional tour season for 2010-11. This is the only local professional tour season announced so far this year. I will list the other theatres as they announce their seasons in the coming months. The Detroit season is as follows: West Side Story – Fisher Theatre – Sept 30 –Continue reading “Broadway in Detroit announces 2010-11 Season”

“Young Frankenstein” the musical, Wharton Center East Lansing (Review)

It is what it is, and that is all that it is. Funny and entertaining, Mel Brooks’ musical adaptation of his own movie of Young Frankenstein is now playing at the Wharton Center in East Lansing — and if you missed it here (it closes Sunday evening) it rolls into the Detroit Opera House inContinue reading ““Young Frankenstein” the musical, Wharton Center East Lansing (Review)”

“The Marvelous Wonderettes” (Gem Theater, Detroit) is a delightful, colorful, tuneful treat (Review)

Approaching The Marvelous Wonderettes at the Gem Theatre (Fresh from New York City where it closed off-Broadway in January) is like dipping your hand into one of those Valentine’s Day bags of printed candy hearts….colorful, funny, and overall quite tasty. It’s also a bag full of sugar — and sugar is what you get inContinue reading ““The Marvelous Wonderettes” (Gem Theater, Detroit) is a delightful, colorful, tuneful treat (Review)”

Hilarious and Winning “Spelling Bee” is Encore’s best…

“The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee”, which opened tonight at the Encore Musical Theatre Company in Dexter is simply their best production to date. The 25th Annual company: Chris Shewchenko, Christine Bunuan, Jeffreu James BinneySteve DeBruyne, Thalia Schramm, Sonja Marquis, Colleen Elizabeth Meyer, Evan Williams, Elizabeth Jaffe, Tobin Hissong The seam between professional andContinue reading “Hilarious and Winning “Spelling Bee” is Encore’s best…”

“The Wizard of Oz” musical tour – non-Equity

As a point of reference, the current NETworks (MSG tours) musical of “The Wizard of Oz” is non-equity. As a member of SDC, the directors and choreographers professional theatre union, I can not in good conscious review this production as a professional musical theatre tour in Detroit. I can not comment on the quality ofContinue reading ““The Wizard of Oz” musical tour – non-Equity”

Defying Gravity (DVD) television series

One of my favorite series from last year, DEFYING GRAVITY, finally came out on DVD this week — that means viewers can see the five episodes that ABC never aired. As a spaceship hurtles toward Venus and some type of mysterious project, they relive their relationships and friendships in flashback and onboard the spacecraft. OriginallyContinue reading “Defying Gravity (DVD) television series”