March 29, 2024

Summer Stages

June 14, 2009
Summer Stages
Local players aim to zing with summer plays

By Kelsey Lauer 6/15/09

If you’re in the mood for watching a good musical, seeing a little Shakespeare or even listening to Garrison Keillor, you’re in luck. From the banks of the Boardman River to the stage of the Cheboygan Opera House, theatre groups will be putting on a wide variety of plays across Northern Michigan this summer. Here’s some of what will be available:

Cheboygan Opera House

The Northland Players Children’s Theatre will put on “Murder Twice Baked,” an original musical murder mystery written by Bruce Scigliano and George Krawcyzk. June 19 & 20 at 7 pm and June 21 at 2 pm Tickets: $15(series)/$6.
Appearing on Aug. 1 as a benefit for the opera house will be Garrison Keillor, the host and writer of “A Prairie Home Companion” and “The Writer’s Almanac,” which are heard on radio stations nationwide. Keillor is the author of books such as “Lake Wobegon Days” and “The Book of Guys.” Showings are at 2 pm and 7 pm Tickets: $100/$25 (“Afterglow” party only).


Bay View

A historic seasonal community located near Petoskey, the Bay View Association will be offering a number of musical selections:
“Broadway Our Way”: The musical revue features popular songs from many of Broadway’s most famous musicals. July 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10. Voorhies Hall. Tickets: $25/$20/$7.
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”: The first Broadway production with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the play tells the story of a slave who agrees to help his owner’s son to woo a beautiful girl in exchange for his freedom. However, chaos soon ensues. July 23, 24, 25. John M. Hall Auditorium. Tickets: $25/$20/$7.
“The Marriage of Figaro”: Accompanied by a live orchestra, this opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart recounts the tale of a single day of confusion and misidentification in the palace of the Count Almaviva in Spain. Presented in English with Spanish subtitles. Aug. 6, 7, 8, 9. Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey. Tickets: $25/$7.
For more information and tickets, go to: www.bayviewassociation.org or call 231-347-6225.

Little Traverse Civic Theatre
Petoskey

The Petoskey-based theatre group, in collaboration with The Association for Harbor Arts, will be producing Disney’s version of “Beauty and the Beast” this summer as a fundraiser for both organizations. With a cast made up of local performers, the show will run July 17, 18, 19, 21 and 22, with a preview showing on July 15. All shows start at 7:30 pm, except for a Sunday matinee at 2:00 pm on the 19th. Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $15/$10/$10 (preview night).
Visit www.harboraha.org or www.ltct.org or call 231-348-1850 for more details and ticket purchase.

Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre
Elberta, Benzie County

Returning to Benzie County for its seventh season, the theatre group will be performing William Shakespeare’s “Henry V” and “Love’s Labours Lost” on July 28, 29 and 30 and Aug. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7. Directed by Charley Sherman and Jeff Christian, respectively, the productions will include returning company members Brian Amidei, Christy Arington, Alex Coggin, Elizabeth Dowling, Tom Hickey, Michael Norton, Michaela Petro and Jillian Rafa.
Founded by professional actress Elizabeth Laidlaw in 2003, the Chicago-based group has returned to Benzie County every summer since to put on Shakespeare productions next to the water.
All performances take place at the Elberta Waterfront Park Performance Pavilion and begin at 7:30 pm, regardless of the weather. Admission is free, but a $10 donation is suggested. Folding chairs and/or blankets are also recommended.

Interlochen Arts Festival

Interlochen offers a broad line-up of events this summer that range from the traditional to the comedic:
“The Taming of the Shrew,” one of Shakespeare’s most popular romantic comedies. June 25-28 and July 2-5 at 7 pm Harvey Theatre. Tickets: $26.
Parsons Dance Company, a modern dance troupe that tours internationally on June 29 at 8 pm. Corson Auditorium. Tickets: $30.50.
Circo Comedia, a combination of comedy and daredevil stunts executed by Jean Saucier and Patrick Côté on July 17 at 7 pm. Corson Auditorium. Tickets: $17.50.
“Anything Goes,” a musical performed by Interlochen’s high school theatre company. July 31-Aug. 1at 7 pm, with a Sunday matinee on Aug. 2 at 1:30 pm Corson Auditorium. Tickets: $24/$20/$9.

Old Town Playhouse
Traverse City

Kids will be taking over the stage at the OTP, as a number of Traverse City Children’s Theatre productions get underway. Tickets cost $4 for kids, $8 for teens and $10 for adults. Their productions include:
“Babe: The Sheep Pig,” the farmyard tale that turned into a popular movie, on June 12 and 13 at 7 pm and June 14 at 2 pm.
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” a show based on Charles Schulz’s Charlie Brown comic strip, on Aug. 7, 8 and 9.
“Really Rosie,” a classic Broadway musical that will be produced in only a week, on Aug. 15.

Riverside Shakespeare
Hannah Park, Traverse City

Riverside Shakespeare will perform Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor” this year outdoors on the banks of the Boardman River in Traverse City. The show takes place on July 18, 19, 25 and 26. Admission is free, but remember to bring your own lawn chair or blanket to sit on and goodies to match, if so desired.

The Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theater

Created and directed by Dominic Fortuna, “The Tribute Show” will be playing on Fridays and Saturdays in June and Thursdays-Saturdays in July and August. College and professional actors will serve an interactive dinner made by Kelly’s Catering and follow up with high energy song and dance numbers.
Doors open at 6 pm, with seating at 7 pm Tickets: $44.95 (for the full meal with choice of four entrees)/$20 (includes show and desert).

Gaylord Community Productions

To celebrate its fifteenth anniversary, Gaylord Community Productions will put on a review of its past 14 musical productions, the titles of which include “Music Man,” “The Sound of Music,” “Annie” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” July 23, 24 and 25 at the Alan L. Gornick Auditorium, Gaylord High School. Tickets: $5.

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