Tempo

  With the pandemic turning lives into a never-ending stream of Zoom connections, the Open Book Theatre Company examines the odds of forging a human bond online during its final one-to-one virtual theater event, “Making New Friends During the Zombie Apocalypse.” Written for OBTC by Michigan playwright Joseph Zettelmaier, the play reflects the present without being about the pandemic. In the production, Julia Garlotte plays Tessa, a woman in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula who is trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. She … [Read more...] about OBTC continues one-to-one virtual shows with ‘Making New Friends During the Zombie Apocalypse’

  Whether she was in the spotlight or behind the scenes, Diana Reynolds, who passed away Feb. 12 at age 79, was a beloved member of the Players Guild of Dearborn for more than 50 years, with four generations of her family active members. Guild President John Sczomak said Reynolds shared her talents both on stage and off, and was a costumer for many productions. “We will all remember Diana’s loving nature, her willingness to help wherever needed, her ready laugh and her love for the Guild and its members,” he … [Read more...] about Final curtain call: Diana Reynolds remembered for warm heart, memorable roles

  Travel far away from politics and the pandemic as actors from the Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center take audiences over the rainbow Feb. 26 to 28 with a virtual, streaming production of the young performers’ edition of “The Wizard of Oz”. The cast features MacKenna Tocco of Brownstown Township as Dorothy, Madison Ganzak of Dearborn Heights as the Wicked Witch and Miss Gulch, Allison Hilliard of Lincoln Park as Auntie Em, and Landon Johnson of Wyandotte as Uncle Henry. Featured Riverview residents include Alexandra … [Read more...] about DYPAC goes over the rainbow with a virtual ‘Wizard of Oz’

  William Shakespeare, arguably the greatest playwright of all time, whose works are performed worldwide more than 400 years following his death, is more often performed on the professional and academic stage than at the regional, community or youth theater level, much to the frustration of the Bard’s fervent fans. For those who have discovered and love Shakespeare’s magic, without being forced to dissect and analyze the challenging language in a dry classroom setting, one can seldom get enough of the entrancing prose and … [Read more...] about Performing Shakespeare at the local level – a passion too seldom realized

When a theater professional with a commitment to social justice sets her sights on bringing Shakespeare to incarcerated people, the result is Frannie Shepherd-Bates’ remarkable Shakespeare in Prison program. As a staff member of the Detroit Public Theatre’s Signature Community Program, Shepherd-Bates, 36, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Wayne State University, has spent the past 15 years directing, teaching, doing sound design and choreography, and working for several non-profit organizations and theaters on the … [Read more...] about The Bard from behind bars: Shakespeare in Prison helps with ‘shaking off the shackles’

For an out-of-this world experience, connect beyond the bounds of earth with the Trenton-based Open Book Theatre Company’s virtual one-to-one presentation of playwright Joe Zarrow’s “Love Space.” The 10-minute original work, commissioned for OBTC, takes place in outer space, where Captain Talosi, played by Jeremy Kucharek, is under attack by aliens, and reaches out to an earthly contact to make a vital human connection. Artistic director Krista Schafer Ewbank said that while Trekkies and sci-fi fans will appreciate some of the … [Read more...] about ‘Love Space’ takes virtual theater where it has never gone before

With adaptability and resiliency, Theatre and Dance at Wayne has created a way for its dance students to perform in pandemic time, with its virtual “Dynamic Perspectives,” a showcase of student fall semester work, offered online. “Dynamic Perspectives” is a virtual storytelling event that combines fall student work, using dance and dialogue, to explore themes of healing, collective humanity, and awareness in the present moment. “Through adaptability in our field, we were ability to produce this display of resilient student … [Read more...] about Adaptability and versatility: WSU offers virtual dance performance in pandemic time

  Women represent half the population, yet they are under-represented in the directorial ranks, from Broadway to community theater, for reasons ranging from financial to outdated mindsets. A study published in 2018 by the Wellesley Centers for Women found multiple causes, ranging from cultural bias to financial limitations. It noted that selection committees are biased toward choosing men for leadership positions, and stated that work-life balance is difficult to achieve in a field that requires long, irregular hours and … [Read more...] about Enter stage right: Women fight for equitable representation in directorial ranks

Providing a glimpse into the life of a pandemic helper is the focus of Open Book’s next virtual one-to-one live theater offering, “Home Less,” available Mondays and Thursdays, Jan. 7 to 25, via Zoom. The fourth of six offerings in the Trenton-based Open Book Theatre Company’s season, the 10-minute play is performed live for each unique subscriber, providing the immediacy of live theater without the viral risk of being in the same room. Playwright Emily Rosenbaum, who wrote OBTC’s 30-minute summer driveway theater production, … [Read more...] about OBTC continues 1-to-1 virtual theater season with ‘Home Less’

  Whether one is escaping into a character or learning more about one’s self through a role, theater has always provided the opportunity for growth, learning, self-expression and forging friendships. For Dan Johnson, an actor familiar to patrons of Trenton’s Open Book Theatre Company, theater has become an experience characterized by transcendence and remembrance. “As an actor, I approach theater instinctively, trying to erase myself to take on a particular character – how they move, breathe and see the world,” he … [Read more...] about Transcendence and remembrance: How theater has changed lives