Acting Out (Taylor, MI) Presents 9 to 5, the musical

Acting Out Productions Presents  9 To 5:  The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, based on the seminal 1980 hit movie.  This entertaining show is being Directed by Kelly R. Lomas of Trenton, Assistant Directed by Mary Jo Hunt of Riverview, Vocal Directed by Sarah Leonard of AllenContinue reading “Acting Out (Taylor, MI) Presents 9 to 5, the musical”

Croswell Opera House presents “How I Became a Pirate”

The Croswell Opera House will hoist the Jolly Roger and sail off to adventure with “How I Became a Pirate,” a children’s musical that opens March 4. Based on the popular book series by Melinda Long, the musical is about a child who joins up with a band of friendly, bumbling pirates. Director Chris Sancho saidContinue reading “Croswell Opera House presents “How I Became a Pirate””

Acting Out Productions presents “Legally Blonde Jr. the Musical”

Acting Out Productions in Taylor presents the musical Legally Blonde Jr. with an all-student cast on February 12th, 13th, 19th and 20th @ 7:30 p.m. with a 3:00 p.m. Matinee on February 14th.  Tickets are $15 for Adults and $12 for Students 18 and under.  Friends and Family can take advantage of $10 tickets by visitingContinue reading “Acting Out Productions presents “Legally Blonde Jr. the Musical””

Top Notch “Avenue Q” by Stagecrafters, Royal Oak (review)

You know, just when you think you’ve seen the ultimate regional production of Avenue Q (and I’m talking about the Croswell Opera House two years ago) along comes a near perfect gem at Royal Oak’s Stagecrafters proving one wrong. What a thrill when everything comes together just right for a show: gorgeous set work; perfectContinue reading “Top Notch “Avenue Q” by Stagecrafters, Royal Oak (review)”

Unmissable “Sondheim on Sondheim” at Encore Musical Theatre Company (Review)

The educational theater person in me wants to scream “SEE THIS SHOW” for you to better understand what goes into the craft of writing musicals and music for musicals. The Sondheim lover in me wants to scream “SEE THIS SHOW” for the remarkable (and rare) video footage of Sondheim talking about his craft, his colleagues,Continue reading “Unmissable “Sondheim on Sondheim” at Encore Musical Theatre Company (Review)”

Real Life Cinderella Story at The Full Monty, Downriver Actors Guild (Review)

When the actor normally playing a role ended up in the emergency room hours before the second show of The Full Monty at Downriver Actors Guild, Denny Connors was faced with the ultimate decision many of us directors are faced with: do I cancel? In steps small-character part cast member Thomas J Koch II, who withContinue reading “Real Life Cinderella Story at The Full Monty, Downriver Actors Guild (Review)”

Very strong cast in Dexter’s Hilarious “Avenue Q” (Review)

There is a very strong cast in Dexter Community Player’s Avenue Q, now running at the Copeland Auditorium in Dexter, Michigan. Ok, I thought, I’ve now seen so many productions of this show, what could another add to the canon? Well, it is a strong, hilarious cast that makes this production soar. Under the fast-pacedContinue reading “Very strong cast in Dexter’s Hilarious “Avenue Q” (Review)”

AACT’s “Company” is solid, entertaining (review)

Love it or hate it, Sondheim and Furth’s musical “Company” makes a solid and entertaining appearance at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre this weekend. Tinkered with more than any other of Sondheim’s shows, the current version of the script isn’t necessarily the best, but it is what MTI has chosen to license. Ann Arbor Civic TheaterContinue reading “AACT’s “Company” is solid, entertaining (review)”

Newsies is spectacular at the Detroit Opera House (Tour) – Review

Those who know me already know that I love Newsies. In fact, I was sorely disappointed when Once (which I did not like) won the Tony for best Musical in 2012. Newsies walked away with Tonys for Best Choreography and Best Score, though it should have won for Best Set, Best Direction, Best Costume Design,Continue reading “Newsies is spectacular at the Detroit Opera House (Tour) – Review”

“The Light in the Piazza” – University of Michigan (Review)

This is going to be a really short and bitter review of University of Michigan School of Music Musical Theatre Program’s “The Light in the Piazza”. In short, the student cast is remarkable, although the show doesn’t work well without actors of the correct ages playing the parts. But without mentioning a single name ofContinue reading ““The Light in the Piazza” – University of Michigan (Review)”