Thursday, Jan. 26 — It’s a common experience among moviegoers to notice that one guy who uses his phone throughout the entire film. Well, maybe it’s not always a guy, and maybe she’s only occasionally checking her phone — but it’s still annoying when, quite frankly, you’d rather be paying attention to the on-screen kiss.

Wednesday, March 21 — To set the stage for this year's Capital City Film Festival (April 12-15), the first Fortnight Film Contest gives Michigan residents a chance to create an original movie between 31.4 seconds and 10 minutes long, with potential prizes totaling $3,500.

Wednesday, March 28 — Jacques Offenbach’s “The Tales of Hoffman” (“Les contes d'Hoffmann”) chronicles the adventures of real-life poet E. T. A. Hoffman, showcasing the three major tragic loves of his life and how they affected him. The trilogy of stories unfold this weekend in Michigan State University’s Auditorium; the MSU Opera Theatre production will be sung in French with English surtitles, projected above the stage on a screen.

Tuesday, April 10 — Lansing Community College explores the roots of rock ‘n roll in “The Joint is Jumpin’,” an original musical revue created and directed by Janine Novenske Smith. “This is the ninth year that I have directed this type of production,” Smith said. “Each year I choose a different topic, and then spend about nine months researching whatever the topic is or the style is that I’ve chosen.

The 12-member Singers on the Grand performs “Mostly Movies” Saturday and Sunday at Riverwalk Theatre, with the help of a seven-member “Grand Band” and classical dancers Chloe Gonzales and Michael Chan. The program includes solos, duets and close-harmony numbers.

When you call your show “The American Spirit,” you want a cast that reflects that idea. So director Vickie Diebold brought together 30 dancers and multiple styles for the Lansing Community College spring concert.

Javert, of course, chases the downtrodden Jean Valjean for years to bring him to justice after Valjean steals food to survive. But although Javert is obsessed with order, structure and a strict adherence to the law, Varela says he has real emotions, too.

The concert also examines comfort levels. “For example, in my piece there are two couples: One couple is two males and one couple is two females,” Barr said. “What does that do to people, watching two males touch one another? Or watching two females be close to one another?”

Thursday, Feb. 2 — Short shows about dreams, eating disorders, recycling, adoption and other issues will be presented during the Mid Michigan Family Theatre’s Actors Showcase Feb. 10-12 and 17-19.