Wednesday, January 19,2011

Curtain Call

by Christopher Horb

Lost in the ’Woods’What happens when the ties of family that bind us start to constrict?According to “Over The River And Through The Woods” director Rick Peterson, the answers to that question are both humorous and heart-warming.

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Wednesday, January 12,2011

Curtain Call

’Nuns,’ ’Maine’ take the stage

by Christopher Horb

The nuns depicted by playwright Vicki Quade may not sing or dance, a la “Sister Act” and they certainly don’t fly like Sally Field did on 1960s TV screens.

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Wednesday, January 5,2011

Wherefore art thou, Romeo? At Wharton Center

Russian National Ballet brings Shakespeare to the stage

by Christopher Horb

It’s one of the most well-known love stories ever told. The story of two young lovers pushed to a tragic end resulting from the violence that erupts out of the hatred between their rival families. It’s the story, of course, of “Romeo and Juliet.”

A Christmastime classic

Greater Lansing Ballet brings ’Nutcracker’ to Fairchild Theatre

by Christopher Horb

Greater Lansing Ballet Co. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 Fairchild Theatre, Michigan State University $25 adults; $18 seniors and students; $12 children 12 and under (517) 372-9887 www.greaterlansingballet.org.

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Wednesday, November 24,2010

Real 'Murder' inspires judge's fictional mystery

William C. Whitbeck’s debut novel is ready for its day in court

by Christopher Horb

In the course of his career, Judge William C. Whitbeck has taken on many roles, from his work as an attorney in private practice to political endeavors (including a stint assisting Gov. George Romney) to his long-running position on the Michigan Fourth District Court of Appeals.

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Wednesday, November 17,2010

Silver Bells, Golden songs

Radio Disney singer, holiday market highlight 26th annual gala

by Christopher Horb

‘Tis the season once again. Silver Bells in the City, the festival that has delighted area residents since 1985 returns to, literally, light up downtown Lansing Friday. For this year’s event, original founders, the Arts Council of Greater Lansing has turned over the reins to Downtown Lansing Inc.

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Wednesday, November 17,2010

It's Mozart gone mad

Opera gets a screwball spin in "Giardiniera'

by Christopher Horb

“La Finta” tells the tale of the arrogant Count Belfiore The hallowed pomp and circumstance of Mozart collides with the screwball tone of Preston Sturges’ comedies when the opera “La Finta Giardiniera” weaves its lusty and ribald tale of star-crossed lovers and class struggles at Michigan State University’s Fairchild Theatre.

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Wednesday, November 3,2010

Love, Italian-American style

’View From the Bridge’ looks at possessive passion

by Christopher Horb

Set in a 1950s Italian-American neighborhood in New York, near the Brooklyn Bridge, Miller’s play tells of Eddie Carbone, a longshoreman raising his teenage niece, Catherine. Eddie’s jealousy over Catherine’s love affair with Rodolpho, an Italian immigrant living under their roof, drives him to extreme measures to keep them apart.

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Wednesday, November 3,2010

Filipino footwork

Bayanihan dances into Wharton Center

by Christopher Horb

Not only was the company the first Filipino group to perform on Broadway, and the first non American dance company to grace the stage of New York’s Lincoln Center, it was also the first cultural group from the Philippines to perform in Russia and the People’s Republic of China.

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Wednesday, October 20,2010

TV, or not TV

’Farnsworth’ looks back at a rivalry between ’two very driven men’

by Christopher Horb

“Farnsworth” is a fictionalized account of the legal battle over the invention of television between inventor Philo Farnsworth and RCA executive David Sarnoff.

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