REVIEW: ‘Shear Madness’ at Meadow Brook Theatre is Murderously Funny

Cut, color, and murder! Put all those years of watching “Law & Order” to use and help figure out ‘whodunit’ in Shear Madness running through June 22, 2025, at Meadow Brook Theatre (MBT) on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Written by Paul Pörtner, Shear Madness is the first show that MBT has remounted, apart from A Christmas Carol, since Travis W. Walter became artistic director 15 years ago. The 2017 production included two of this show’s cast members, Leslie … [Read more...]

Help solve the mystery in ‘Shear Madness:’ Rochester’s Hilarious Whodunit

Murder mystery runs May 28 through June 22, 2025, on the campus of Oakland University   There’s been a murder at Rochester’s newest salon, and the police need your help to figure out who the guilty party is. Did you see anything? Do you have any questions for the people in the salon at the time? Can you stop laughing long enough to help? Shear Madness gives audiences a chance to help figure out “whodunit” and determine the direction the show will take each night. Written by Paul Pörtner, Shear … [Read more...]

REVIEW: ‘The Rat Pack Lounge’ at Meadow Brook Theatre is the Cat’s Pajamas

Ring-a-Ding, baby! Join all the cool cats and see The Rat Pack Lounge, by James Hindman and Ray Roderick, with musical arrangements by John Glaudini, running through May 18, 2025, at Meadow Brook Theatre (MBT) on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. This melodious trip down memory lane begins in heaven, where God has summoned the three most well-known members of The Rat Pack – Sammy Davis, Jr. (Malik Jordan), Dean Martin (Javier Alfonso Castellanos, in his MBT debut), and … [Read more...]

Swing into ‘The Rat Pack Lounge’ at Meadow Brook Theatre

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr.—the RatMBTck—are up in heaven, but there’s unfinished business back on Earth. Vic, the owner of the Rat Pack Lounge, needs help, and Frank made him a promise he never fulfilled. The three singers are sent back to Earth to make things right. Hits include “My Way,” What Kind of Fool Am I?” and “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime.” Back Row L to R:  Eric Coles as Vic Candelino and Javier Alfonso Castellanos as Jeorge Rodrigues / Dean Martin   Front … [Read more...]

Join the Rochester Community Concert Band for ‘Americana’

The Rochester Community Concert Band (RCCB), under the direction of Paul F. DeRubeis, Conductor and Artistic Director, is proud to present its upcoming “Americana” concert on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. The performance will take place in Varner Recital Hall, 371 Varner Drive, Rochester, MI, located on the campus of Oakland University. Flutist Jennie Spenner Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Spenner This program … [Read more...]

REVIEW: Meadow Brook Theatre’s ‘Vanities: The Musical’ is an Honest and Humorous Coming-of-Age Chronicle of Friendship

Celebrating the power of friendship, the Michigan premiere of Vanities: The Musical, runs through April 13, at Meadow Brook Theatre (MBT) on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. With book by Jack Heifner and music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, Vanities: The Musical focuses on the lives of three best friends from a small Texas town. At first blush, a production with ‘vanity’ in the title might seem superficial. However, this musical has depth, which is uncovered … [Read more...]

Meadow Brook Theatre Announces 59th Season

Meadow Brook Theatre's 2025-2026 season has something for everyone. With a mystery, a comedy, true life stories, and Rock 'n Roll. This season is filled with fun, laughter, and tunes to make you tap your toes. "We are excited to be announcing our 59th season; our staff and guest artists are looking forward to bringing this season to life!" said Cheryl Marshall, MBT Managing Director. "We've got a wonderfully entertaining lineup, and our fundraising event this summer will be one to … [Read more...]

REVIEW: Have You Heard? ‘The Angel Next Door’ at Meadow Brook Theatre is Comedy Gold

The Angel Next Door is a love letter to the theatre where lovers are reunited, misunderstandings are untangled, and a happy ending is (mostly) guaranteed. Now at Meadow Brook Theatre (MBT) on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan through March 9, 2025 Written by Paul Slade Smith, The Angel Next Door is adapted from Ferenc Molnar’s three-act farce, The Play at the Castle (1924) and MBT is one of the first theatres to produce Smith’s version of the show. All the … [Read more...]

‘The Angel Next Door’ at Meadow Brook Theatre

Screwball Comedy Runs February 12 through March 9, 2025, on the Campus of Oakland University In 1948, a ritzy Newport mansion is populated by playwrights, actors, a young star-struck author, and the housekeeper who would like all of them to leave. When their weekend getaway goes horribly awry, only a play within the play can save the day. The Angel Next Door is a comedy that’s in love with theater, about people in love with theater, who know that, sometimes, even reality needs a rewrite to … [Read more...]

‘Footloose’ cuts loose at Meadow Brook Theatre

The collaboration with Oakland University’s School of Music Theatre, and Dance runs from January 8 through February 2, 2025, on the campus of Oakland University. One of your favorite movies explodes on the Meadow Brook Theatre stage. New songs join the powerhouse hits from the Top 40, Oscar-nominated score. Footloose celebrates the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom of listening to one another, and the power of forgiveness. Footloose runs January 8 through February 2, 2025, at Meadow … [Read more...]