Category Archives: Plays

Odd, Funny, 70’s comedy “Murder at the Howard Johnson’s” at the Dio (Review)

  Molly Cunningham, Joshua Brown, and Dale Dobson. Photo Credit Michele Ankiker. The Dio’s current offering “Murder at the Howard Johnson’s” by Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick is far and away the oddest local theater offering of the young season – and it is a hoot. You might be in mind of a mystery, maybeContinue reading “Odd, Funny, 70’s comedy “Murder at the Howard Johnson’s” at the Dio (Review)”

Very Funny Wacky-doodle “The Explorers Club” at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre (Review)

Ann Stoner, Jimmy Dee Arnold, Adam Peterson, Charles Sutherland, Christopher Tiffany, and Thomas Underwood in “The Explorers Club” photo Lisa Gavan Men’s clubs of late 1800’s London display their wackier side in Nell Benjamin’s farce “The Explorers Club” (Broadway production 2013) at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre which opened last night and runs through January 14thContinue reading “Very Funny Wacky-doodle “The Explorers Club” at Ann Arbor Civic Theatre (Review)”

Clever Creepy Cool “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” at the Dio (review)

The Dio has a delicious Christmas treat in store for you this year (and I’m not just talking about Chef Jarrod’s holiday-themed pre-show meal!) in the form of Tom Mula’s adaptation of his own book, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol. It’s an entirely different take on the familiar Dickens Christmas tale, and it is fun, cleverlyContinue reading “Clever Creepy Cool “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” at the Dio (review)”

“The Family Digs” at Croswell Opera House — a great way to inaugurate new studio (review)

Terrence Hissong’s very funny new family comedy “The Family Digs” opened this weekend to inaugurate the new Croswell Opera House studio theatre (which also doubles as a rehearsal space and you would be hard-pressed to recognize the place). The production is co-produced by Croswell Opera House and Westfall-Hissong production company. Doug Miller’s spot-on direction andContinue reading ““The Family Digs” at Croswell Opera House — a great way to inaugurate new studio (review)”

Very Funny “Criminal Hearts” at Ann Arbor Civic Theater (Review)

Cami Fussey has directed a very funny production of Jane Martin’s “Criminal Hearts” at Ann Arbor Civic Theater, and you have one more chance to catch it as it only plays this one weekend (the usual Ann Arbor Civic Theater dilemma). Telling you much about the plot would ruin the twists and turns, but asContinue reading “Very Funny “Criminal Hearts” at Ann Arbor Civic Theater (Review)”

Almost, Maine – terrific theater at AACT (Review)

This past weekend, Ann Arbor Civic Theatre presented John Cariani’s play ALMOST, MAINE – and it was COMPLETELY, PERFECT. I wish I had been able to get a review out after opening night, but I was opening my own show this past weekend so I didn’t get a chance to see the play until itsContinue reading “Almost, Maine – terrific theater at AACT (Review)”

Stratford Festival 2016 – A sampler (Reviews)

The Stratford Festival (Stratford, Ontario. Canada) has grown from a small theater-in-a-tent company to one that is the largest, longest, and most varied theater festival in North America. Every year, the company now produces 15 shows in repertory, 4 shows each day from May through October. Unless you are the heartiest of theater goers, oneContinue reading “Stratford Festival 2016 – A sampler (Reviews)”