Wild Swan Theater: “Shipwrecked!”

Wed, 03/06/2013 - 12:51pm by annevm

Wild Swan Theater presents "Shipwrecked!" March 14-16 in Towsley Auditorium in the WCC Morris Lawrence Building. This original play, appropriate for kids in about grades 3-8, was written by accomplished local playwright Jeff Duncan. The story is a coming-of-age drama set during a fierce storm on Lake Huron in 1893. Twelve year-old Aaron Buchanan is sailing with his parents on their small schooner loaded with Christmas trees. Aaron's mettle is tested when a fierce gale hits "Shipwreck Alley," and he helps rescue his family. The play is based on historical accounts of the time and should give young people a good chance to learn some of the history, geography, music and maritime heritage of Michigan and the Great Lakes. For those families who may want to learn more about shipwrecks before going to the play, AADL has some great resources.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Thu, 02/28/2013 - 5:01pm by annevm

The Encore Musical Theatre Company presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat through Sunday March 3. This is the pop rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The story is based on the biblical story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers but nonetheless rose to power. For more information on the show and how to get tickets, click here.

Performance Network: Good People

Sun, 02/10/2013 - 7:14pm by annevm

Performance Network will show Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire Feb. 21 through March 31. David Wolber directs this Michigan Premiere of a 2011 Tony Nominee for Best Play. The PN website describes the play as "a touching and funny look at American's great economic divide." Ticket information is here. Lindsay-Abaire also wrote Rabbit Hole which was made into a 2011 movie.

Anne Of Green Gables Scriptwriting Workshop

Sun, 01/27/2013 - 4:15pm by hillary dorwart

Sunday February 3, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Calling all writers in Grades 4-12! The Ann Arbor Civic Theatre Junior Theatre Company is performing an original adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables". Help write an original scene that will be performed during their May productions.

Participants should be familiar with the book and have read chapters 1-3. The workshop will also discuss the process of adapting a classic book into a play.

All workshop participants are also encouraged to attend auditions.

Wonderful World Languages # 1

Fri, 01/18/2013 - 3:18pm by krayla

Movie goers, musical fans, and book lovers alike have fallen in love with the new film “Les Miserables,” which premiered on December 25 of this past year. Already “Les Mis,” as it is affectionately called by fans, has earned 8 Oscar nominations. To complement seeing the film, try checking out some related materials, including other movie adaptations, broadway performances, complete and abridged books, and sheet music. If you have the gift of understanding French, AADL even has the original novel and a French version of the movie.

For more information about the new movie, please visit their website for photos, production notes, trivia, videos, and more.

Performance Network: "Brill"

Mon, 01/07/2013 - 8:06pm by annevm

Performance Network in downtown Ann Arbor is staging Brill, a comedy by David Wells from Jan. 10-Feb. 10. Music is by Frank Allison. The play is a comedy set in 1959 when a Big Band songwriter facing the arrival of Rock n'Roll meets a young woman who has a guitar, secrets and dreams. The title "Brill" refers to a building in Manhattan. More information and tickets are here.

Purple Rose: "The Meaning of Almost Everything"

Mon, 01/07/2013 - 7:38pm by annevm

Jeff Daniels' new play The Meaning of Almost Everything will show at Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea Jan. 10-March 9. Directed by Guy Sanville, the comedy "questions the nature of our world and the absurdity of it all," the PRTC web page says. Ticket information is here.

YPT: "Fiddler on the Roof"

Mon, 01/07/2013 - 6:57pm by annevm

Young Peoples Theater is staging Fiddler on the Roof Jan. 10-13 at U-M Lydia Mendelssohn Theater. The show is based on the book by Joseph Stein with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Block. Ticket information is here

Ann Arbor Goes to the Movies

Wed, 12/19/2012 - 7:31pm by oldnews

In 1908, 5 cents would get you into a movie at The Casino. The Theatorium on Maynard, built on a former skating rink, showed one-reelers. The Majestic, a W.S. Butterfield theater, opened on December 19, 1907, quickly followed by the Whitney on Main Street the next January. The chain also operated the Michigan, the State, the Wuerth, and the Orpheum.

On Saturday afternoon September 11, 1915, 2000 Ann Arborites poured into the new Rae Theater (capacity 385) on Huron Street to see Pearl White in the Iron Claw. But the big hoopla occurred on Sunday September 12, when the first legal and public showing of a motion picture took place on a sabbath day in Ann Arbor history, and it took a special election to accomplish that.

The Old News team has digitized many of the news articles on the early history of Ann Arbor's movies theaters.

Performance Network: A Little Night Music Runs through Dec. 30

Wed, 12/19/2012 - 11:04am by annevm

Performance Network in Ann Arbor is showing A Little Night Music, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The book is by Hugh Wheeler -- and the romantic musical is a six-time Tony winner. The show is "a rollicking tour-de-force of love, lies, and liaisons," the PN website says, with "an amazing musical score, including. . . Send in the Clowns." Here is the plot summary: "Desiree Armfeldt is an enchanting Swedish actress. While on tour in a country town, she runs into former lover Fredrik, who has brought his young wife to the theatre. Reminiscing in Desiree's dressing room, their passion rekindles. The two seek to continue their affair at a gathering for several guests at Fredrik's country home, setting in motion a hilarious and flirtatious weekend for all." Ticket information is here.