Summer Stages

Summer Stages: What’ shaking ’round the region

By Ross Boissoneau

Theatre enthusiasts will have numerous options this summer, from
professional presentations to community theatre to student performances.

Williamsburg
The Williamsburg Showcase Dinner Theater, located on M-72 just east of
US-31 in Acme, hosts a performing troupe led by Dominic Fortuna. The three
different shows all boast a variety of songs from the ’60s through today.
Catering by Kelly’s provides the three-course meal, with your choice of
four entrees, while the audience is being entertained by the
singers/dancers/instrumentalists.
The shows run most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For a complete schedule
of the shows, as well as the menu or to
make reservations, contact the Williamsburg at (231) 938-2181 or go to
cateringbykellys.com.

Young Americans
Fans of the popular TV show Glee will have multiple opportunities to
catch the inspiration for the series. The Young Americans will be
performing at numerous venues, including the Cheboygan Opera House June
10 and 11; the Harbor Springs Performing Arts Center June 12; Bay View
Auditorium in Petoskey June 17; Boyne City High School June 18; and
Charlevoix High School June 19. Beginning June 24 and running through
Aug. 27, the group will be performing Monday through Saturday at Boyne
Highlands.
Founded in 1962, the group is often credited with being the first show
choir in America, mixing choreography with vocals. With the demise of the
Schussi-Cats, Brownwood Bees and Dill’s Golden Garter Revue, the Young
Americans are the last surviving college-age dinner theater in the region.
For ticket information, contact the individual venue, or visit the Young
Americans website at youngamericans.org.

Cheboygan
The Young Americans aren’t the only act appearing in Cheboygan. The
Northland Players Children’s Theatre presents Secret Agent Gram, an
original musical by George Krawczyk and Bruce Scigliano. It’s the finale
of a three week theatre day camp. Showtimes are 7 p.m. June 17 and 18,
and 2 p.m. June 19. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students.
Contact the Opera House at 231-627-5841 or 1-800-357-9408. The Opera
House Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday of each week, from 9:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Manistee
To the west, the Manistee Civic Players will present the popular musical
Oklahoma! The award-winning Rodgers and Hammerstein show will run June 24,
25 & 26 and again the following weekend, July 1-3. Showtimes Friday and
Saturday nights are 7:30 with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20.
They will follow that with William Inge’s Bus Stop Aug. 12-14 and 19-21.
The story is set in a diner in rural Kansas during a snowstorm from which
bus passengers must take shelter. Showtimes are 7:30 Friday and Saturday
night and 2 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $14. For both shows at the Ramsdell
Theatre, contact the box office by calling 231-723-9948.

Interlochen
Garrison Keillor’s always-popular A Prairie Home Companion, with its
original amalgam of storytelling, music, and theatre will return to
Interlochen Center for the Arts on Saturday, June 18, at the special time
of 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $50.50 to $33.50.
That’s far from the only theatrical performance at the famed arts camp.
The Interlochen Shakespeare Festival this year features the Bard’s classic
The Merchant of Venice, June 30-July 10 in the Harvey Theatre.
Shakespeare’s story, set in early 1930s in this summer’s production,
defies categorization with its mix of comedy, gravity and romance. Tickets
are $26.
Interlochen also hosts a number of student productions and workshops,
including the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance on July
29; Jane Eyre, a high school repertory theatre production, July 30-Aug. 3;
and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on Aug. 4 & 6. Other highlights include
Cats and Carousel. For tickets and additional information on these and all
the other theatre presentations, go to Interlochen’s website at
interlochen.org.

Tc Opera House
Let your hair down and shake your booty with Hairspray June 23-July 3 at
the Traverse City Opera House. Miracle Productions is staging this
singing, dancing broadway hit about teens trying to get along despite
their differences. The show is produced by Pat Gallagher and directed by
Erin Peck. Rickets are $25-$30.

Old Town Playhouse
At the Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City on July 15 and16 audiences can
see Hat Trick: Emerald City, a performing arts camp show, conceived and
directed by Kate Botello. This show will feature a talented cast of
students aged 12 to 20 who follow the adventures of advice-giver
extraordinaire, Edwina Spoonapple, as she directs the neighborhood kids in
number after hilarious number in her “Advice-A-Palooza” extravaganza.
Performances will be at 7 p.m. with an additional 2 p.m. matinée Friday,
and at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. on Saturday.
On Aug. 13 there will be two perform-ances on the Mainstage of Disney’s
Sleeping Beauty, based on the beloved Disney movie and featuring many
songs from the film. Performances are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Running from Aug. 19 through the 28th, Dear Edwina, Jr. by Marcy Heisler
and Zina Goldrich will be presented at the OTP Studio Theatre at the
Depot. Showtime for the Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop show will be 7
p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets for all the performances are $11 for adults and $6 for children,
12 and under. For ticket information, go to treatickets.com.
In addition, the playhouse will host workshops, classes and performing
arts camps. For more information, contact Mychelle Hopkins, Education
Director at Old Town Playhouse, at 947-2210 ext. 103.
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