Category Archives: Ann Arbor

You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown – Ann Arbor Musical Theater Works

If you have your own blog, you might as well toot your own horn — so here goes: Ann Arbor Musical Theater Works (my company) presents the musical You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown on August 29-31st at the Children’s Creative Center Theater Space, 1600 Pauline, Ann Arbor, MI. Tickets are available online at AnnArborMusicalTheaterWorks.comContinue reading “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown – Ann Arbor Musical Theater Works”

2012 Musical Theater Season in SE Michigan – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly…

It’s hard to make a “best of” list in this area of the country, since the blend of collegiate, community, and professional often overlap and sometimes Community theater productions can be as good as (or better) than some professional productions, while at other times, college shows can look better than Broadway tours….nonetheless, here is myContinue reading “2012 Musical Theater Season in SE Michigan – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly…”

Scrumptious “Sunday in the Park with George” – University of Michigan Musical Theatre program (Review)

Continuing in a long string of the most professionally produced and technically proficient musicals in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan Department of Musical Theater presents a scrumptious “Sunday in the Park with George” at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater. Directed by Mark Madama, musically directed by Cynthia Kortman Westphal and Alexander Gemingnani (who also conducts),Continue reading “Scrumptious “Sunday in the Park with George” – University of Michigan Musical Theatre program (Review)”

Summer 2012 Musical Theater Scorecard – SE Michigan

So — now that the summer musical theater has pretty much ended in SE Michigan for the year, what was the scorecard? Best of the Best: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Croswell Opera House) Les Miserables Student Edition (Croswell Opera House) The Last Five Years (K&W Productions, Ann Arbor Musical Theatre Company) Avenue Q (CroswellContinue reading “Summer 2012 Musical Theater Scorecard – SE Michigan”

Superb cast in Encore’s GODSPELL (review)

GODSPELL arrived at the Encore Musical Theatre Company in Dexter last night, and it is a tribute to director Dan Cooney and his superb cast and musicians that this production ranks right up there among the best, and in some ways superior to the current Broadway production. This is an earthy revival of the showContinue reading “Superb cast in Encore’s GODSPELL (review)”

Season’s first must-see musical: Grey Gardens at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre

Ann Arbor has its first must-see musical of the season — and it is brought to you by way of Ann Arbor Civic Theatre and their production of GREY GARDENS at the Arthur Miller Theater at the University of Michigan. In a mesmerizing star-turn as Edith Beale/Little Edie Kathy Waugh turns on the charm andContinue reading “Season’s first must-see musical: Grey Gardens at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre”

“Noises Off” – University of Michigan Theatre – is hilarious fun (review)

Okay, so its not the first time you have probably seen Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off” in Ann Arbor  (it makes regular appearances on our various stages)– but its by far the best production you’ll see, thanks to John Neville-Andrews hilarious staging currently on-stage at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater, presented by the University of Michigan, DepartmentContinue reading ““Noises Off” – University of Michigan Theatre – is hilarious fun (review)”

Ain’t no doubtin’ you’ll have a good time at Performance Network this holiday season – Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Review)

Performance Network has brought Ann Arbor an early Christmas present with their current production of Ain’t Misbehavin’, the Fats Waller musical show. Winner of the 1978 Tony Award for Best Musical, (it surprisingly beat out On the Twentieth Century, not surprisingly The Act, Dancin’ and Runaways), the show revived musical reviews, and while it hasContinue reading “Ain’t no doubtin’ you’ll have a good time at Performance Network this holiday season – Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Review)”

Simply put, “The Light in the Piazza” at Encore is their best production to date (Review)

Take a superior score and script; add Encore’s strongest singing cast ever; stir in a new sound system and some terrific direction, and you have, quite simply, Encore Musical Theatre Company’s best production to date with “The Light in the Piazza”. I have to disclose that I am partial to this show to begin with:Continue reading “Simply put, “The Light in the Piazza” at Encore is their best production to date (Review)”

Outstanding “The Last 5 Years” at Encore (Review)

Steve DeBruyne (Jamie) and Thalia Schramm (Cathy) turn in two excellent performances in Encore’s current offering, Jason Robert Brown’s “The Last 5 Years”. These two performers sing-through 75 minutes of intermission-less ballads, pop songs, and story songs to tell the tale of a 5-year relationship;  her tale beginning at story’s end and working backwards, hisContinue reading “Outstanding “The Last 5 Years” at Encore (Review)”