Wednesday, May 25,2011

'It's an honor just to be nominated...'

Here are the contenders for this year’s Pulsar Awards, honoring the best in local theater

by City Pulse

Erin Buitendorp, Mary Cusack, Tom and Kathy Helma, Paul Wozniak and Ute Von Der Heyden are six of Lansing’s busiest people. Month after month, they haunt local theaters, seeing all the best and all the rest, then compiling their verdicts on ballots that are used to calculate the nominees for City Pulse’s annual Pulsar Awards.

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Wednesday, May 25,2011

Advice and consent

Stormfield Theatre’s appealing ’Answers’ presents Ann Landers’ world in a different light

by Mary C. Cusack

“The more things change, the more they stay the same” is one of those truisms that is not always true. And it’s probably something that Eppie Lederer said at some time in the 47 years she wrote as columnist Ann Landers. She was known to drop the occasional cliché or bon mot, to be cute and clever and sometimes a wee bit snarky.

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Wednesday, May 25,2011

’Eleemosynary’: Love is a many splintered thing

Strong acting can’t sustain a murky script in Williamston drama

by Mary C. Cusack

Reading the description of Williamston Theatre’s latest production “Eleemoynary” before heading to the theater, you might wonder if the play will leave you bawling over unresolved mommy issues. In retrospect, that would be a far more rewarding outcome than the way “Eleemosynary” does leave you Review feeling: underwhelmed and unaffected.

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Wednesday, May 25,2011

Turn it Down: A survey of Lansing’s musical landscape

by Rich Tupica

Bordering on super-group status, the band features members of pop masterminds The Copyrights, as well as Rivethead, Houseboat and Gateway District. Dear Landlord’s brand of pop-punk is packed with epic choruses and snotty vocals.

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Wednesday, May 25,2011

Badgero’s new role

Founder of Peppermint Creek Theatre is now on staff at the Arts Council

by James Sanford

"With Chad’s experience working through the Old Town Commercial Association, as well as his involvement in the community ' and especially his background in the arts and his enthusiasm for Lansing, he’s a great addition to our staff, and we’re thrilled to have him.

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Wednesday, May 25,2011

The Screening Room

The season of sequels starts with a double shot

by James Sanford

Not every mosquito bites ' and not every second or third installment of a series does either. Remember "The Godfather, Part II" and "Toy Story 2"? Sure, you may say, but what about "Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen" and "Sex and the City 2"? Like the summer weather, you never know what you’re going to get.

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Wednesday, May 18,2011

This weekend’s forecast: Festive and arty in East Lansing

by Lawrence Cosentino

The program, started in 2005, is building up a track record of success. Two of last year’s emerging artists ' Becca Schlaff (see related story) and Katie Chichester ' launched successful art festival careers and were juried back into the festival this year.

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Wednesday, May 18,2011

Creating 'instant nostalgia'

Emerging Artist embraces digital photography

by Lawrence Cosentino

“With digital cameras, you take a picture and show it to your friends,” Kahlon said. “‘Oh, you were so funny when you were doing that.’ That was about two seconds ago!” Born in India, Kahlon grew up in the suburbs of Chicago with strict parents that didn’t think much of art as a vocation, and still don’t.

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Wednesday, May 18,2011

Wanda Degen's song continues

Music coordinator marks her 25th festival

by Lawrence Cosentino

The festival has a national reach, but it’s also a prime venue for local talent. Some of Degen’s most memorable moments were performances by local favorites like the Chenille Sisters, Three Men and a Tenor, and (bop) Harvey..

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Wednesday, May 18,2011

'Inspiration': From installation to dedication

by Lawrence Cosentino

Although the dedication ceremony was held Sunday afternoon (it had to be moved into the Lansing Center because of the chilly weather), funds are still being collected to cover the cost of the sculpture’s pedestal; see the infobox for details on how to contribute.

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