Haskell and the other cast members of Michigan State University’s “The Beaux’ Stratagem” are preparing for their three performances Thursday at the Kennedy Center College Theatre Festival Region III competition at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. They aren’t just rehearsing the comedy — they had to practice setting up and striking the set as well, because in addition to critiquing performances and direction, the festival judges also evaluate how quickly and smoothly the crew can assemble and pack up their show.

After a somewhat slowish start, 2011 turned out to be a terrific year for movies, some of them coming from long-established artists (Woody Allen, Werner Herzog) and others from rising stars (Thomas McCarthy, Jeff Nichols).

It's wonderful to reunite with friends and family during the holiday season. It's not always so wonderful, however, when you have to feed them. So we asked some of Lansing's most creative people to share their recipes for tasty, easy-to-make foods that will please your guests and won't keep you captive in the kitchen.

The cineplex has already welcomed Sherlock Holmes, Charlize Theron, the Muppets and the Chipmunks. But there is even more to come this week, with the arrival of two Steven Spielberg epics and the eagerly awaited David Fincher remake of 'euro;'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Don'euro;'t be surprised if you haven'euro;'t seen some of the winners: Society members screen all the major films that are up for Academy Award consideration, including pictures that don'euro;'t go into national release until January or February..

Chances are you know someone like Mavis Gary, the woman Charlize Theron portrays in director Jason Reitman s scalding comedy Young Adult. She s been out of high school for 20 years, yet she still hungers for the days when she was idolized by her peers, worshiped by her friends and more to the point lusted after by guys like Buddy, her former flame (Patrick Wilson).

If you can name three big hits from Foreigner's "4" album, or if you can recite from memory all the dramatic dialogue from Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" video, the Wharton Center has the show for you.

The billboard outside the firehouse that is home to the Lansing Civic Players’ offices is still touting A Family Christmas and Richard III: A Steampunk Musical.

When should you choose the audiobook over the printed version of a new memoir? When the author is Oscar winner Diane Keaton. Reading her recently published Then Again, the endearing, feisty and sometimes remarkably frank star sounds as if she’s sharing these stories in an intimate conversation over tea and scones.

Happy holidays, everybody. While children will enjoy The Muppets for the slapstick and perennially cuddly characters, like Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear, the heartiest laughter at the preview screening last week came from people over 30, the ones...