Year of Arts & Culture | 2007-08

Being the foremost disciple of Ravi Shankar, Vishwa Mohan belongs to that elite body of musicians which traces its origin to the Moughal emperor Akbar's court musician Tansen and his guru the Hindu Mystic Swami Haridas. Creator of the mohan veen (modified slide guitar with 20 strings used in Indian classical music) and the winner of a Grammy Award, Mohan has mesmerized the world with his pristine pure, delicate yet firey music. Mohan's powerhouse performances have electrified audiences around the globe. Mohan has become the cultural ambassador of India by glorifying and popularizing Indian culture and music throughout the world.

Evan Wyler is a hot new young writer who is snatched up by a mysterious woman, Alexa Vere de Vere, who promises him connections, wealth and supreme success. As her promises never materialize, the writer investigates Alexa's past which holds secrets both dark and hilarious. This satire of fame, art and trendiness is an excellent introduction to the "Year of Arts and Culture."

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Discover what nearly 9 million fans worldwide are laughing about! This comedy musical follows four women at a lingerie sale with nothing in common but a black lace bra AND memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more. This joyful musical parody set to 25 classical baby-boomer songs from "Puff, My God I'm Draggin" to the disco favorite "Stayin' Awake, Stayin' Awake" will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles! It is definitely not the Silent Passage anymore.

The Tribute recreates one of the famous "Summit at the Sands" hotel shows, when the swingin' ring-a-ding group known as the "Rat Pack" was creating hipster legends with a free-wheeling, no-holds-barred nightclub act of Las Vegas' four favorite sons: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Joey Bishop. Uncanny vocal recreations, unbridled hilarity, and a swinging big-band send audiences straight to the coolest time in history, with all-time hits such as "Come Fly with Me," "That's Amoré," "Mr. Bojangles," and more.

This event celebrates excellence in arts and humanities outreach. Exhibits prepared by faculty and students in the College of Arts and Letters will illustrate the wide range of ways that MSU engages with communities throughout Michigan. Refreshments will be served. RSVP by September 14 to Bets Caldwell at (517) 432-2479 or caldwell@msu.edu.

This Fall Mike Birbiglia, comedian and author of the popular blog and syndicated radio segment "My Secret Public Journal," embarks on a 30-city tour with Comedy Central Live called My Secret Public Tour to promote the September release of his Secret Public Journal LIVE CD. Last year, Birbiglia released his Comedy Central Records debut Two Drink Mike to rave reviews. Esquire Magazine described Birbiglia as "Jerry Seinfeld if he were remotely conversant with hip-hop." AMG Music called Birbiglia "the arrival of standup's next big thing." And The New York Post called Birbiglia "on the cusp of comic greatness." With Secret Public Journal LIVE, Birbiglia delves deeper into storytelling, revealing his most painful stories in the style that has made him popular with all ages. The Boston Globe recently called Mike's new material "as honest as any Richard Pryor confession, and as engaging and inclusive as an old Bill Cosby record." My Secret Public Journal LIVE is an attempt to make what's "secret" into something "public" and the results are hilarious, closing with a couple of acoustic ballads entitled "The Medium Man on Campus."

To some, he's the Tony® Award-winning revolutionary from Evita who grew into a bona fide Broadway star in Sunday in the Park with George. To others, he's the Emmy® Award-winning Best Actor, for his portrayal of Dr. Jeffrey Geiger in Chicago Hope, or the star of the CBS drama Criminal Minds. To some, he's Madonna's piano man in Dick Tracy or the scholar who made Streisand swoon in Yentl. And to others still, he will always be Inigo Montoya, the swashbuckling swordsman in The Princess Bride. But whichever role you know him for, Mandy Patinkin's favorite is reaching out to live audiences with the power and passion of popular song. He belongs to the special breed of performers who don't merely dramatize songs, but incorporate them into their very being. His interpretations of popular standards, superbly accompanied by Paul Ford at the piano, come straight from the heart, mesmerizing audiences from coast to coast. Selections to highlight Rodgers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Harry Chapin, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter among others.

It burst onto the cultural landscape as a smash hit movie musical on The Disney Channel. Now, get ready for "the start of something new!" Disney Theatrical Productions, the producers of THE LION KING and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, have created a thrilling stage version of the phenomenal HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. It's the irresistible story of two teenagers – Troy Bolton, super-popular captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella Montez, super-smart transfer student and a genius in science class – who try to navigate the tricky currents of peer pressure to follow their dream and score the leads in the big school show. All the characters from the movie, every single song that propelled the soundtrack to the top of the Billboard charts – plus two new songs written especially for the stage – make HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL a top-drawer Disney production, and a must-see for every fan of the film and every theatre-goer. So "getcha head in the game!" And get ready for HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. Live on stage at Wharton Center.

The timeless story of a lowly flower girl who is transformed by the distracted Professor, Henry Higgins. Eliza Doolittle sells flowers in London. Henry Higgins is the professor who will transform this young lady from a cockney guttersnipe to a fashionable high society lady. His work is complicated as unexpected and unexplainable feelings emerge. This classic tale by George Bernard Shaw contains some of his most vibrant wordplay.

"Saltimbanco" is a Cirque du Soleil signature performance, inspired by the urban fabric of the metropolis and its colorful inhabitants. Decidedly baroque in its visual vocabulary, the show's eclectic cast of characters draws spectators into a fanciful, dreamlike world, an imaginary city where diversity is a cause for hope.

One of the most popular and highly recognized stand-up comedians on the road today has also made quite an impression in the feature film and television arena. D.L. is currently starring in the Aaron Sorkin drama series for NBC-TV "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." The comedic drama shows the behind-the-scenes politics of a fictional broadcast network's flagship late-night comedy series. D.L. stars as long-standing cast member "Simon Stiles" alongside an all star ensemble cast that includes Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet and Steven Weber. Next up for D.L: he will shoot a one-hour comedy special for HBO entitled "Maybe Its Just Me." The special will shoot in June and is scheduled to premiere on HBO this September.

The Bob&Tom Comedy All Stars featuring Bob Zany, Chick McGee, Donnie Baker, Drew Hastings, Greg Hahn&Patti Vasquez. Heading straight from your radio and coming to a theater near you, The Friends of the Bob&Tom Show Comedy Tour brings laughter along with your favorite comedians! Featured on the syndicated radio show, the Friends are finally on-stage and in-person. Featured guests include everyone's favorte sports reporter and author of the Zany report. The comics are regularly featured guests on the show, stars of the newly released DVD and are ready to crack you up with new material&old favorites you've heard on the Bob&Tom show.

Tomás and the Library Lady, a play with music adapted by José Cruz González from the book of the same name by Pat Mora, has been an enormous success in theaters and in schools. This timely story inspires children to look beyond the confines of poverty, language barriers, and cultural intolerance to find joy in reading.

A twin fears her sister was lost in the 9/11 disaster. In this funny and philosophical play, Craig Wright explores the question of whether our lives are shaped by free will or random unconnected events. It is September 12, 2001 and Waverly has a blind date. She is also concerned that her sister has been killed in the World Trade Center disaster. As Waverly's concerns grow, her life becomes more complicated by her date, her neighbors and a visit from Joyce Carol Oates….played by a sock puppet. The Department of Theatre at Michigan State University and the Williamston Theatre have entered into a historic collaboration to celebrate the

Tales of Christopher Robin's friends and their adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood have delighted children of all ages for generations. Join Eeyore, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo, and of course, everyone's favorite bear of very little brain, Pooh, in this enchanting musical based on A. A. Milne's stories.

Lou Diamond Phillips stars in this magnificent new production of Lerner and Loewe's timeless masterpiece. King Arthur's enchanted kingdom, Camelot, is a place where honor and chivalry reign. But can this idyllic land survive when Queen Guenevere falls in love with Sir Lancelot? The splendid, memorable score includes the romantic and haunting "If Ever I Would Leave You," the captivating "How to Handle a Woman" and the majestic "Camelot." Rediscover the grandeur of one of history's greatest love stories.

Tony® Award-winner Brian Bedford is one of the finest Shakespearean actors in the world today. Over the course of three decades, Bedford has played leads at the Stratford Festival in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," "Richard III," "Measure for Measure" and "As You Like it," Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya," Molière's "The Misanthrope," Noel Coward's "Private Lives" and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot," among many others. More recently he appeared as Bottom in Richard Monette's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Don't miss this unique opportunity to see arguably the Stratford Festival's finest actor perform his unique one-man show entitled, "The Lunatic, The Lover and The Poet," which explores the emotion and psychology behind Shakespeare the man, as well as Shakespeare the playwright.

A hit on Broadway, "A Year With Frog And Toad" was nominated for three Tony Awards® including Best Musical. Now for the first time, an all-new production based on the Broadway hit will tour across North America. Arnold Lobel's beloved characters hop from the page to the stage in Robert and Willie Reale's musical, "A Year With Frog And Toad." Developed by Lobel's daughter, Adrianne Lobel, the stage musical remains true to the spirit of the original stories as it follows two great friends, the cheerful and popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad, through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the spring, they proceed to plant gardens, swim, rake leaves and go sledding, learning life lessons along the way, including a most important one about friendship and rejoicing in the attributes that make each of us different and special.

In collection of original scenes ranging from the hilarious to the disturbing, this premiere explores censorship and snobbery involved in judging the artistic. From early Greek architecture to Christina Aguilera—nothing is safe from this biting and incisive new work.

Retelling the tragic story of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank to the bottom of Lake Superior along with its crew 30 years ago. Gales of November features music and excerpts from the hit play "Ten November." Prudence Johnson, known for her unmistakable voice and her work with Garrison Keillor on "A Prairie Home Companion," leads the stellar cast. Claudia Schmidt and Ruth MacKenzie round out the powerful trio, singing of love, loss, and life on the lakes. Peter Ostroushko on mandolin and violin; Dan Chouinard on accordion and piano; Eric Peltoniemi on guitar; and Jeff Willkomm on electric bass; make this an unforgettable musical experience. Kevin Kling returns to Wharton Center to deliver a narrative that shifts between reality and fantasy, as he spins tales of Great Lakes lore and stories of the tragedy.

Gioacchino Rossini's rollicking comic opera based on the classic fairy tale of the girl who rises from the ashes to wed her Prince Charming. Fully staged. Sung in English.

Raphael Jimenez, conductor
Melanie Helton, stage director

A preview lecture will be held 45 minutes before each performance. Reserved seating only.

A collection of scenes and monologues that will showcase all freshman actors and designers in the Department of Theatre. This new event was designed to introduce our newest members so that audiences may chart their growth during their time at MSU.

"Oh, the thinks you can think" when Dr. Seuss' best-loved characters and stories hit the stage in a musical adventure by Broadway veterans Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. In this new production, the noble Horton the Elephant, the one-feathered bird Gertrude McFuzz and the antics of the Cat in the Hat steal the spotlight in this unforgettable show for the entire family!

In the Tony® Award-winning new musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. Spelling Bee has been hailed by the Wall Street Journal as "perfect in every possible way – that rarity of rarities, a super-smart musical that is also a bona fide crowd pleaser." This tuneful, offbeat and at times heartwarming show offers audience members the opportunity (strictly voluntary) to become part of the action as on-stage spellers. The New York Times calls Spelling Bee, "irresistible, riotously funny and remarkably ingenious – gold stars all around."

In this 1921 play, Pirandello explores the lines between fact and fiction and the real and imaginary as a rehearsal at a theatre company is interrupted by a group of characters whose tragic story unfolds before the stunned theatre company. This play within a play unfolds comparing the tale of these imaginary characters who seem more real and heartbreaking than the real actors.

This contemporary blockbuster film with Nicole Kidman juxtaposes recent rock and pop hits with a tragic romance that takes place in Paris in the late 1890s. Among the musicals colorful cast of characters is artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who introduces lead character Christian to the scandalous cancan and other decadence of the Montmartre Moulin Rouge, a dancehall, theatre, and brothel. In fact, Lautrec lived in the area, frequented its night life, and often portrayed the cabaret dancers and customers.

After a sold-out performance in 2005 at Wharton Center, Five By Design is back with their latest show Stay Tuned. From top hits to cool riffs, from classic skits to comedy bits, Five By Design takes you back to the small screen legends with their newest production, Stay Tuned. Presented in the style of the television variety show, Stay Tuned is a musical journey through the early days of television, full of memorable songs, commercials, and sketches, all presented live and in living color.

A marriage is one of the greatest institutions that are universal. Our culture today is designed to create some futile experiences that are hard to overcome in marriage. The #1 urban playwright in the country introduces his newest stage production, Tyler Perry's The Marriage Counselor, to profile relationships that put the quest to the test and tells the story of how in the end "love conquers all" (or makes you smarter). The tenth production by Tyler Perry is truly a must see event with new extraordinary singing talent that is in fact amazing. Don't miss the 10th stage production! Mr. Perry, a writer, music composer, producer, director, actor, and filmmaker extraordinaire has had 9 successful stage productions and 2 collaborations since 1997! AND...4 hit movies; and one TV sitcom.

DanceFest 2008 under the Artistic Coordination of Sherrie Barr – a collection of new works commissioned for the MSU Repertory Company. DanceFest, the 2008 main stage Repertory Dance Company concert, will be celebrating the creative energies of the MSU Dance Program. The concert, showcasing the artistry of the dancers, will highlight the premiers of dances choreographed by guest artists. Through creating these new works, choreographers will be sharing their artistic knowledge for dance making with the students. A unique feature of DanceFest will be the appearance of Vincent Thomas, artistic director of VT Dance based in Baltimore, Maryland. Acclaimed as a charismatic solo performer, Thomas will be dancing one of his signature solo works, accompanied by a cellist from the MSU College of Music. DanceFest promises to be a celebration of all the arts.

Defending the Caveman, the longest running solo play in Broadway history, is now a worldwide rock-solid tour de force that has won the hearts of millions in over 30 countries, and it's sure to win yours. The "outrageously funny and surprisingly sweet exploration of the gender gap" (Chicago Sun Times) has made Defending the Caveman "a comic phenomenon." (New York Times) A hilariously insightful play about the ways men and women relate, Caveman has both sexes roaring with laughter and recognition. Affectionate nudging between audience members occurs during the performance as they recognize themselves in the stories being told on stage.

"Piece of My Heart", "Try", "Me and Bobby McGee", "Ball and Chain" – Janis Joplin, the icon of 1960's rock music, is brought back to life in both music and words. Love, Janis explores the performer not only through her legendary songs, but also in the poignant and honest letters she wrote home to her family. The show begins as Janis is just starting out in the music industry, leaving her hometown of Port Arthur, Texas, to travel to San Francisco. Along the way, audiences get a glimpse of Janis' reactions to this journey in the stories she chooses to relay home to her family, seeing the girl who still wants her mother's advice and is desperate for news from home, as well as the lonely life Janis faced performing on the road. And, ultimately, audiences witness the star's decline. All of these events are told in Janis' own words: the entire spoken text comes directly from her actual letters and her many press, radio and television interviews. These are intertwined with her legendary songs, resulting in a compelling portrait of an artist who just wanted to be remembered for her music…and her refusal to compromise.

When Emily discovers that the new kid in class is a thief, should she tell someone? If she does, who would believe her? Two-time Newbery Honor Award-winner Patricia Reilly Giff explores one of childhood's most difficult dilemmas – risking friendship to tell the truth – in this equally funny and touching new musical.

In a series of inter-connected scenes characters hop from one bedroom to the next in a play that explores the power struggle and sexual dynamics between characters of different backgrounds. This play pulls no punches as it examines sexual politics with utter frankness. For mature audiences.

Voltaire's novella about a naïve young man's journey to wisdom retold in a satirical, comic fashion. Featuring the well-known overture and the soprano showcase, "Glitter and Be Gay." Comic Operetta sung in English.

Raphael Jimenez, conductor
Melanie Helton, stage director

A preview lecture will be held 45 minutes before each performance. Reserved seating only.

In this new version all of the old Rodgers and Harts classics

"Avenue Q" is Broadway's smash-hit 2004 Tony Award® winner for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. A hilarious show full of heart and hummable tunes, "Avenue Q" is about trying to make it in NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. Called "one of the funniest shows you're ever likely to see" by Entertainment Weekly, "Avenue Q" features a cast of people and puppets who tell the story in a smart, risqué and downright entertaining way. The New Yorker calls it "SUBVERSIVE and UPROARIOUS!"

A weekend celebrating all of the arts on the campus of MSU. Observe, participate and celebrate the arts.

Stanley Lambchop is your normal, everyday, run-of-the-mill kid. He's nothing out of the ordinary. But one night while he's sleeping, the bulletin board on the wall above his bed comes loose and falls - right on top of Stanley! The next morning, Stanley Lambchop wakes up flat! At first it's not so bad. He can slide under locked doors. His friends fly him like a kite. And Stanley is the best in his class at Hide-and-Seek. But someone has to do something and that someone is Stanley! If he has to be flat, at least he is going to make the best of it. Stanley is going to put himself in a big envelope and travel the world - as a human letter! And the adventure begins!

Laugh and sing along as Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, trips on a skateboard and accidentally drops his sweater in the sink – all before breakfast! Celebrate a very special Mother's Day by sharing the joy of a live arts performance with your family in this charming musical based on the classic book by Judith Viorst.

Michigan Opera Theatre returns in grand style to present Giuseppe Verdi's beloved "La Traviata," filling the stage with the opulent glamour and decadent delights of 19th-century Paris. In the face of certain death, a beautiful courtesan devotes herself to fleeting pleasures. But a young man's sincere declaration of true love leads Violetta to realize the emptiness of her frivolous existence and she gives up everything to pursue a romantic reverie that leads to tragic consequences. Verdi's soaring arias and passionate duets make "La Traviata" one of the most popular operas.

"Red Herring" by Michael Hollinger Directed by Rob Roznowski Three love stories, a murder mystery, and a nuclear espionage plot converge in this noir comedy about marriage and other explosive devices. It's 1952: America is developing the H-bomb and the Russians are after information. Unfortunately, their spy, Andre Borchevsky, is not very bright. Agents Maggie Pelletier and Frank Keller are trying to find him. They are also in love. Andre has been having an affair with his American contact's wife, who kills her husband to be with him. When the agents begin to suspect something, she persuades Andre to pretend to be her husband. Their ruse works for awhile, but things go hilariously awry when the fiancé of a naval officer who has the plans for the bomb tries to make contact with the dead husband. )For mature audiences.)

"The Girls in 509" by Howard Teichmann Directed by Sam O'Neill Aunt Hettie, a wacky, wealthy Republican, has been holed up for 26 years in a once fashionable hotel in New York City with her young niece. They have been there since 1932, when Herbert Hoover lost the election to FDR, and they have vowed to remain secluded until a Republican is elected. But the old hotel is being demolished and the women must be removed. The press and the national chairmen of the Republican and Democratic parties descend upon the ladies, members of one of the country's oldest and richest families. Defiant to the end, the ladies eventually move in triumph to the Waldorf Astoria. This hilarious comedy will tickle your funny bone no matter what your political persuasion!

"Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry Bill Gordon During the German occupation of Denmark in World War II, the Nazis closed down Jewish-owned businesses and began to round up the Jews for relocation to concentration camps. Danish freedom fighters of all ages risked everything in daring attempts to rescue the entire Jewish population. In this stirring play, young Annemarie and Kirsti Johansen face soldiers, interrogations, fierce dogs, personal danger, the loss of loved ones, and their own fears as they try to help their friend Ellen Rosen escape across the ocean to Sweden and safely. Courage, faith, ingenuity and even their fledgling acting skills eventually win the day. All the drama, pathos, adventure, terror and humor that have made Number the Stars a national bestseller (and winner of the Newberry Award and the American Library Association Book of the Year Award) come to life in this powerful adaptation. Parts of this play may be too intense for younger children.