Meadow Brook Theatre (MBT) officially kicked off its 2021-2022 season with the riotously funny Clue: On Stage, playing through November 7, 2021, on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, MI. Based on the 1985 cult classic film by Paramount Pictures and the beloved Hasbro board game, Clue: On Stage was written by Sandy Rustin, based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, with additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price, and original music by Michael Holland. This is one of my … [Read more...]
REVIEW: Armed with Wit, ‘Clue: On Stage’ is a Killer Good Time at Meadow Brook Theatre
October 17, 2021 by 1 Comment
REVIEW: Insightful and Intriguing, Oakland University’s ‘Passage’ is a Powerful Journey Worth Taking
October 8, 2021 by Leave a Comment
An attentive and appreciative crowd welcomed back live theatre to Oakland University (OU) for the opening night of Passage. Written by Chinese-American playwright Christopher Chen, this gripping and enigmatic play runs until Oct. 17 in the Varner Studio Theatre on the OU campus in Rochester, MI. The last time I sat inside Varner Studio Theatre was to review Macbeth on February 6, 2020, and it was a little sad thinking about those seniors who I never got to see take their final bow before … [Read more...]
The Father of Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence
September 27, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Rochester-Avon Historical Society will present “The Father of Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence” on October 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Rochester Hills Public Library as a part of the Smart Towns program series. Oakland University professor, Frank Cardimen, will discuss the life and genius of Alan Turing, the mathematician who broke the German Enigma Machine during World War II, and his impact on today’s technological revolution. Smart Towns is a lifelong learning program for everyone … [Read more...]
Christopher Chen’s ‘Passage’ Coming to Oakland University Stage
September 26, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Play leads audiences on a journey of self-exploration Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance will present Passage, a gripping and enigmatic play by Chinese-American playwright Christopher Chen, on Oct. 7-10 and Oct. 14-17 in the Varner Studio Theatre on the OU campus. Set in the fictional “Country X,” Passage engages audiences in an ideological debate about the precarious nature of political borders and the social divides that emerge in times of strife. Inspired by E.M. … [Read more...]
Meadow Brook Theatre to Hold Auditions for Children in ‘A Christmas Carol’
September 22, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Auditions are on September 27 on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. A favorite holiday tradition returns to Meadow Brook Theatre for the 39th year: A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and a handful of ghosts will once again grace the streets of London to deliver a message of unity. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, original adaptation and staging by Charles Nolte, will run at Meadow Brook Theatre (MBT) on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, MI … [Read more...]
REVIEW: ‘FANCY, a Country Jukebox Musical’ Sends a Strong Message of Moxie and Self-Sufficiency in World Premiere at MBT
September 9, 2021 by 1 Comment
Ladies and gentlemen, intermission is officially over! After 19 long months, Meadow Brook Theatre (MBT) came to life Wednesday evening for the delayed world premiere of FANCY, a Country Jukebox Musical, which runs September 8 through October 3, 2021, on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, MI. Wednesday night was the first preview performance, and you could feel the enthusiasm rippling through the audience and radiating from the actors. L to R: Larissa Klinger as "Fancy" and … [Read more...]
Meadow Brook Theatre Reopens with World Premiere of ‘FANCY, a Country Jukebox Musical’
August 23, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Inspired by Reba McEntire’s hit recording, FANCY is the story of a young girl turned out of her mother’s house with nothing but her guitar and the clothes on her back. Her dreams come true as she rises to country music superstardom, but at what cost? Originally scheduled to end the 2019-2020 season, the world premiere of FANCY kicks off Meadow Brook Theatre’s (MBT) return to live theatre. The chart-topping, crossover hits include “Mama, He’s Crazy,” “Before He Cheats,” “Take This Job and … [Read more...]
Detroit’s Lost Poletown with Author Brianne Turczynski
April 13, 2021 by Leave a Comment
Poletown was a once vibrant, ethnically diverse neighborhood in Detroit. In its prime, it had a store on every corner. Its theaters, restaurants, and schools thrived, and its churches catered to multiple denominations. The Rochester Hills Public Library (RHPL) presents “Detroit's Lost Poletown” with author Brianne Turczynski on April 29 at 7:00 p.m. on the library’s online Zoom platform. In 1981, General Motors announced plans for a new plant in Detroit and pointed to the 465 acres of … [Read more...]
Oakland University to present virtual, staged reading of playwright Kitty Dubin’s ‘The Marriage Spectrum’ on Nov. 20
November 16, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Play examines the impact on a marriage of having a child on the autism spectrum The Joanne and Ted Lindsay Foundation, Oakland University’s Center for Autism Outreach Services (OUCARES), and the Oakland University Department of Theatre will present a virtual, staged reading of The Marriage Spectrum at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20 on YouTube. The play, written by OU Lecturer and Award-Winning Playwright Kitty Dubin and directed by Assistant Professor of Theatre David Gram, The Marriage … [Read more...]
Drama ‘Mary Jane’ Shines a Light on a Mother’s Life with a Chronically Ill Child
March 3, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Running at Meadow Brook Theatre March 18 through April 12, 2020 Mary Jane loves her son, Alex. All she wants is for him to be healthy and happy. However, Alex is chronically ill, which makes life challenging. While Mary Jane is perpetually optimistic, she is also tired and scared. She needs to know she’s not alone. Sometimes support comes from unexpected places, and you learn family isn’t just the people you’re related to. Mary Jane, by Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog, runs March 18 … [Read more...]
