Category Archives: Community Theater

Downriver Actors Guild gets a new home (and puts on a great Superstar)

Downriver Actors Guild in Wyandotte (that’s 38 minutes away to the southeast for you Ann Arbor folks) have much to celebrate in their new home — The Theater on Avenue at 2656 Biddle Avenue. Born in only 6 months in an abandoned warehouse (about 4 times the size of the Encore in Dexter), the theaterContinue reading “Downriver Actors Guild gets a new home (and puts on a great Superstar)”

The mess that is “Oliver!” at Encore (Review)

Against my better judgement (the larger the cast, the more I stay away from Encore productions), I went to see Oliver! last night, mostly to see my friends in the show. Here’s what I can say. The leads are all quite good. The secondary leads border on bad (with notable exceptions: and all of themContinue reading “The mess that is “Oliver!” at Encore (Review)”

Encore has Company (review)

Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s musical Company is now onstage at Dexter’s Encore, with some wonderful casting and a great vocal and acting performance by Steve DeBruyne. Seen at the final preview, the cast is strong, and they sound great. The couples work well together. Sonja Marquis and Greg Bailey are a fun Sarah andContinue reading “Encore has Company (review)”

Superb “Bonnie & Clyde the musical” at Peppermint Creek

Those who follow my reviews know how much I love Frank Wildhorn’s musical “Bonnie & Clyde”. I loved it on Broadway, and I love it in its current incarnation at Peppermint Creek Theatre Company in Lansing.   The story, told in flashback beginning with the deaths of Bonnie & Clyde, shows the couple’s meeting, relationship,Continue reading “Superb “Bonnie & Clyde the musical” at Peppermint Creek”

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…”

“Evil Dead the Musical” is a hilarious 2nd year hit at DCP in Dexter…(Mini Review)

Evil Dead, the Musical, makes a triumphant return to the Copeland Auditorium in Dexter Michigan by way of Dexter Community Players, who stage the show for a second year in a row — and it is tighter, better performed, and funnier all-around with three-times the blood quotient. Based on several of the Evil Dead movies,Continue reading ““Evil Dead the Musical” is a hilarious 2nd year hit at DCP in Dexter…(Mini Review)”

Rocky Horror Show at Croswell Opera House is a blast (Review)

The Rocky Horror Show, that bizarreness of a stage musical that became a cult hit in London in the early 70’s and a midnight-movie cult in the US, returns to the Croswell Opera House for its third incarnation in recent years, and its a big, sprawling, hilarious blast of musical theater mess. Once again directedContinue reading “Rocky Horror Show at Croswell Opera House is a blast (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”

Croswell’s “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is one of their best summer shows ever (Review)

I am starting with ticket information for Croswell Opera house — online at croswell.org, or by phone at 517-264-7469. Quit reading — go order tickets — then come back. Erin Satchell Yuen as Milly, and Steven Antalek as Adam (photo copyright Croswell Opera House) Croswell Opera House opened one of their finest musicals ever lastContinue reading “Croswell’s “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is one of their best summer shows ever (Review)”

Is Les Miserables the best high school musical ever? (Review kind of).

Having now seen two high school versions of LES MISERABLES, it begs to ask the question, is this the best High School musical ever? 25 years ago, I don’t think any of us would have ever thought that high schools might be doing this musical today. In fact, it seemed so “adult” and so “current”Continue reading “Is Les Miserables the best high school musical ever? (Review kind of).”