Anton Anderssen - Page 3

The love story endures, even after 100 years, and patrons of the Detroit Symphony who come to enjoy concerts on the lawn at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford Mansion are in for a special this year. In honor of their 100th wedding anniversary, the love between Edsel and Eleanor Ford has been forever captured in bronze with the unveiling of a new sculpture at Edsel & Eleanor Ford House ; the unveiling occurred June 13. A tribute to the Fords' legacy, the life-sized sculpture of the pair walking arm-in-arm was placed in the estate's garden where Edsel and Eleanor enjoyed spending time together.

Passionately spreading Aloha Spirit throughout Metro Detroit for 45 years, award-winning hula dancer and teacher, Fran 'Pi'lani' Price proudly presents the 35th Annual Ferndale Hawaiian Dance Extravaganza on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. at the Ferndale High School auditorium.

Now on stage at Downriver Actors Guild in Wyandotte is the exuberant musical Camelot. Filled with spectacular color, easy to love tunes, graceful and festive costumes, Camelot has a forbidden love story iconic of the Middle Ages.

The Batabano Cayman Islands Festival is a spectacle of color, dance, music, food, drink and celebration. Held annually in May, Miss Cayman Islands shares her passion about this theatrical event.

The Macomb Symphony Orchestra (MSO) presents its third concert of its season on Sunday afternoon, April 10th, 3:00 p.m., at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts (located on Garfield at Hall Road in Clinton Township).

On Saturday night, Avon Players held its annual potluck preview, showcasing its 2016 2017 season. Each director had an opportunity to present a scene or two from his/her show, with guest actors pinch hitting for the main characters. One production, Forever Christmas, is unique; it is the creation of theatre genius John Deierlein, and simply cannot be seen at other venues. This show, in particular, is the must-see event at Avon Players next season. It may be difficult to secure tickets for Forever Christmas unless patrons purchase tickets well in advance.  Call 248-608-9077 for ticket information or kindly visit http://www.avonplayers.org/ to purchase tickets online for upcoming shows. The season brochure for 2016 2017 has been printed, but is not yet uploaded to the web site. It will be mailed to previous subscribers automatically.

The Michigan Philharmonic Orchestra exceeded all expectations on February 13 when it presented BROADWAY VALENTINE, a salute to some of the best love songs on Broadway.  Carefully chosen by Maesto Nan Washburn,  the program included selections from My Fair Lady, Les Miserables, Evita, Superstar, Grease, Rent, Jersey Boys, Beauty and The Beast, Lion King, and others. Adding the spectacular program, vocalists Kylee and Geff Philipps sang with some of the selections.

There's a new Cinderella in town, not the meek maiden who loses her glass slipper as she flees the Prince's castle; this gal has moxie, and she' accompanied by a rather outspoken Michael Moore character. Together, they set out to change the world. Now on stage at the Detroit Opera House is a reimagined Cinderella, with a new script by Douglas Carter Beane. Forget the Julie Andrews, Lesley Ann Warren or Brandy version we grew up with. This politically-charged version shows a Cinderella who definitely fights for social justice, and her Michael Mooresque comrade has no fear of the one percenters. Kaitlyn Davidson and Andy Huntington Jones star in this sumptuous musical; this is spectacle at its finest. Adding new characters to the mix allows others to evolve heuristically. The new and improved Cinderella resonates with modern sensibilities, adding to the time-honored splendor of both the damsel and those about her.

When I was a child, I was a paper boy. I schlepped a stack of 100 papers all around the little town 5 miles from my home; I earned a little bit of money and I still have that savings stash today. It wasn't as if I really needed the money, it was more a lesson about the need to be useful in society. But in New York City, 1899, things were a lot different. At that time, youths sold newspapers in order to survive. This was how orphans and children of unemployed fathers were able to buy food for the day. Many of these kids lived on the streets. Disney's musical NEWSIES tells the plight of these youths. The plot is both a love story and a lesson in capitalism gone sour, bolstered by magnificent dancing and Disney-quality songs. NEWSIES is inspired by the real-life 'Newsboy Strike of 1899,' when newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and runaway newsies on a two-week-long action against Pulitzer, Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers. The show won Best Choreography and Best Original Score at the 2012 Tony Awards. Ending this weekend at the Fisher Theatre, NEWSIES is as perfect as a musical can get.

On Saturday night, The Downriver Actors Guild performed a special presentation of Beauty and The Beast at the Catherine A Daly Theatre on the Avenue in Wyandotte Michigan. The guest of honor, Catherine Daly, greeted patrons at the event. Mrs. Daly is the mother of the financier who holds the mortgage on the theatre used by the Downriver Actors Guild. The special patron event included 150 friends of the Daly family and was accompanied by a pre-glow, scrumptious spread of desserts and hors-d'oeuvres. The performance Saturday evening was spectacular. Kayla Aue brought the house down with her riveting portrayal of Belle, the book-loving beauty who follows her heart with a passion. Aue's spoken voice and singing voice were addictively magnificent; oh how wonderful it would be to hear her in a special concert backed by a full symphony.

Any visit to the Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak is a treat, but the fantastic production now on stage, MARY POPPINS will blow you away. This show is super! [cali, etc.] Stagecrafters have made this show a delight from the very moment you walk into the room; here you will see a Mary Poppins Christmas tree, with ornaments of kites, crowned by a signature nanny hat. Of course, just walking into the theatre gives a sense of majesty with that beautiful English Wedgwood blue and gilded gold all around. The show is a holiday treat; it has great tunes, great costumes and sets, a wonderful plot, and lots of magic.

JERSEY BOYS is like a bag of potato chips. Once you savor that addictive first taste, you can't enough. JERSEY BOYS is back in town and even if you have seen it numerous times, you don't want to pass this show up. These songs are timeless. The story is timeless. This is the show that never loses its appeal.

The hottest ticket in town is White Christmas at The Players' Guild of Dearborn - that is, if you were lucky enough to snag tickets before they were wiped out.  Every single ticket is taken for the entire run.  Word spread like wildfire after opening weekend that this is the show to see for Christmas.

Now on stage at the Hilberry Theatre at Wayne State University is The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance production of THE GREAT GATSBY.  This moving drama tells the story of greed, betrayal and inequality in the fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922.  The young and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby (played marvelously by Santino Craven) has a  quixotic passion and obsession for the beautiful former debutante Daisy Buchanan (played beautifully by Devri Chism).  The drama brings the classic 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald to life.

Every year, the Michigan Philharmonic performs a fantastic concert for Halloween. This year's performance was a smash hit. Taking place in a 'haunted garage' patrons packed the venue; some were in costume. Called 'Philharmonic Phright Night,' this year's selections included 'Phantom of the Opera' by Andrew LLoyed Webber. The performance was lauded with thunderous applause.

If you are looking for a wonderful pick me up musical to see this fall, you will love THE WEDDING SINGER now on stage at St. Dunstan's Theatre in Bloomfield Hills. This hilarious, wonderful romantic comedy is the surprise hit of the seaon. It's filled with great tunes, great singers and costumes that range from wacky to tacky. See the fake Elvis with the fake bulge in his britches, white Mr. T, and an army of characters that will brighten your mood.

Prepare to be wowed by a fun, energetic jukebox musical, "DIRTY DANCING" now on stage at the beautiful Fisher Theatre in Detroit. This show is a live adaptation of the 1987 film, and was written by the same playwright Eleanor Bergstein; it focuses on civil rights, Vietnam, and class conflict. However, I believe this production promotes form over substance: let's hear it for the killer dancing, killer singing, killer songs and killer acting. It's hard to feel sorry for the economic disparity of a young man from the wrong side of the tracks when he takes off his clothes and he is a 100% ripped stud.

If you are seeking the perfect Halloween entertainment, you will love Downriver Actors' Guild's newest production THE ADDAMS FAMILY - THE MUSICAL on stage through Oct 25.  This wacky musical is hilarious and features characters from the beloved TV comedy.  The romantic musical comedy includes Andrew Lippa's 2010 Tony Award-nominated Best Original Score, with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.  When Wednesday Addams, now grown up, brings home a 'normal' young man she loves, and introduces him and his parents to her family, Gomez and Morticia find their world turned upside down until Uncle Fester and an ensemble of ghostly Addams ancestors step in to help.

Do you believe you have an awesome Halloween costume? Wait til you see what they have on stage at Meadowbrook Theatre's season opener, THE EXPLORER'S CLUB. There is a blue savage, Victorian lady, Napoleon wannabe, snake-wielding nut, and lots more in this colorful and wacky British farce.

If you want to see one of the most amazing displays of color, you will be thrilled to attend the National Harvest & Cowboy Festival held each fall in beautiful Branson Missouri. You will see hundreds of cowboys sauntering about, as if the entire cast of Oklahoma suddenly blew in with the wind. This is certainly the most gorgeous display of autumn colors I have ever seen in my life.