Thursday, March 24,2011

TURN IT DOWN: A survey of Lansing’s musical landscape

by Rich Tupica

The Alternative Press called one of his folk/country inspired albums, “the disc Ryan Adams keeps threatening to make but never quite delivers.” Sharing the bill is his tourmate Matt Pond, a Philadelphia-based songwriter. Known for his indie-pop, Pond has been keeping busy since he formed Matt Pond PA in 1998.

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Thursday, March 24,2011

53rd Michigan Antiquarian Book & Paper Show

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Twice a year, book and paper enthusiasts of all kinds come together in Lansing to search through books, postcards, magazines, posters and more. If it’s on paper you’re likely to find it at the Michigan Antiquarian Book & Paper Show.

Taking it to the street — with style

’Exit Through the Gift Shop’ examines an ’art terrorist’ and his oddball admirer

by James Sanford

The term "street art" might have once triggered images of trains covered in psychedelic graffiti or slogans like "Thuggin’ ’Til The Casket Drops" spray-painted across an old fence. The Oscar-nominated "Exit Through the Gift Shop" tries to redefine that idea.

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Thursday, March 24,2011

’Bowling’ pins down 1950s nostalgia

by James Sanford

Melvin McGlauphlin (Joseph Albright) has sent his kids to Russian language classes as part of his “worst-case scenario” preparation. His wife, Frances (Suzi Regan), seems like the duchess of domesticity, although she is not always satisfied with her role.

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Thursday, March 24,2011

Curtain Call

Cultural shocks, modern distractions

by Christopher Horb

Written by Tony-Award winner David Edgar, “Pentecost” looks at the frenzy following the discovery of a fresco in an abandoned Eastern- European Church.

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Wednesday, March 16,2011

Absolute Music ventures into the night Friday

by Lawrence Cosentino

But the most attractive part of Absolute Music is the chance to get close and personal with an A-Team of Michigan State University and Lansing Symphony musicians, including pianists Deborah Moriarty and Derek Polischuk, Richard Sherman on flute, and Yuri Gandelsman on viola.

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Wednesday, March 16,2011

Booked up

Annual ’Rally of Writers’ features an array of Michigan authors

by Bill Castanier

“Can you believe it?” she said. The conference, in its 24th year, features more than a dozen writers, including National Book Award finalist Bonnie Jo Campbell of Portage. Campbell was a finalist in 2009 for her book of short stories, “American Salvage.

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Wednesday, March 16,2011

Uneven ’Akimbo’

Like its teenage heroine, Stormfield’s dark comedy is still finding its way

by Paul Wozniak

A daughter who is dying quickly, a mother who is dying slowly, a father who is killing himself, and a baby to be born in the midst of it all: It sounds dark ' and it is ' but David Lindsay-Abaire’s play "Kimberly Akimbo" is wickedly funny, especially while juggling subjects of death and domestic turmoil.

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Wednesday, March 16,2011

Kung Fu: Offbeat ' but a treat

You’ll get a kick out of these Szechuan sensations

by Joe Torok

On one hand, there’s pig blood curd, pork intestine, or stir fried kidney; on the other, General Tso’s chicken, sweet and sour shrimp or beef with broccoli. While most Midwestern diners pull back curtain B, those who subscribe to the Anthony Bourdain school of adventurous eating would surely opt for the former.

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Wednesday, March 16,2011

Cello-bration

MSU festival highlights the international appeal of chamber music

by Gabi Moore

Students in the Michigan State University College of Music will get a chance to see how their instruments are played in other countries when the 11th annual Cello Plus Chamber Music Festival comes to East Lansing.

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