4 Page 10-E-Thursday, September 4, 1980-The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor Stage CAMPUS 1 . Arena Theater 2. Lydia Mendelssohn Theater 3. Michigan League Ballroom 4. Power Center 5. Residential College Auditorium 6. Trueblood Theater VARIETY FOR ACTOR AND AUDIENCE Ann Arbor theater diverse Frieze Building Michigan League Michigan League 121 Fletcher East Quadrangle Frieze Building By GILLIAN BOLLING Local theater is very abundant in Ann Arbor. Whether you want to string lights and paint flats, or if you imagine your work here as a prelude to acting on Broadway, there is much to get involved with. There is also plenty to see for those'who are partial to theater as purely a spectator activity. Acting enthusiasts head for the bulletin board across from the Arena Theater in the first floor of the Frieze Building. This board has the latest infor- OFF-CAMPUS 1. 2, 3. Ann Arbor Civic Theater Black Sheep Repertory Canterbury Loft 201 Mulholland (workshop) 122 W. Main, Manchester, MI 332 S. State Ann Arbor Civic Theatre YOU OUGHT TO BE ON STAGE! or behind it... .. or in front of it, in the orchestra, or outside the front door selling tickets. W atever your talents, whether you sing, dance, sew, act, hammer nails, focus lights, keep accurate accounts or throw fantastic parties, ANN ARBOR CIVIC THEATRE NEEDS YOU .. . if you want to become a maker of magic, p purveyer of dreams, come down and see us. We are on MAIN STREET at the corner of WILLIAM. Office open 12-4 daily. delssohn during summer half term. Next to the Guest Artist Series, roles in the Summer Repertory shows are the most desirable to theater students. Three of the Summer Repertory productions are directed by Ph.D. candidates and the remaining show is directed by a faculty member. SPECIAL EVENTS PRODUCTIONS are usually one-man shows starring big name stage and film per- sonalities. This year's Special Events shows have not been announced, but in the past the University has been treated to An Evening with James Thurber starring William Windom, a performance by Vincent Price, and four one act plays by Edward Albee, directed by the author. Another PTP Series is The Showcase Series. With two shows per term, the Showcase plays are often by foreign authors, are directed by doctoral students, and are presented in the Trueblood Theater. One of the best bets for beginning actors is the Studio Theater Series. These are presented in the Arena Theater on Wednesday and Thursday after- noons and are presented free of charge. Usually directed by graduate students, the Studio Series con- sists of one-act plays, about six of which are presen- ted throughout the semester. THE BEST OF BROADWAY features mostly touring companies of New York productions. This year's offerings include the musical, Dancin', a collage of dance sequences choreographed by Bob Fosse, Mr. R. and Mr. H., a musical revue of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs, starring Gordon McCrae, The Elephant Man, a story of a man inflicted with a physically deforming disease, and the Swedish mime troupe, Mummenschanz. The Best of Broadway series doesn't use student participation, but it's a great deal if you can get an ushering position. The PTP takes usher applicants in the fall for those who want to see touring Broadway shows free of charge. THE UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES CENTER (UAC) gives an opportunity for students who want to direct and produce as well as other duties. The "Soph Show" does one production in the fall. The cast and crew are made up entirely of freshpersons and sophomores. The center's other student-theater group is called MUSKET. MUSKET produces one musical each semester and students do everything, including mangement. Past MUSKET shows include "Cabaret," "West Side Story," and last year's "In the Dark," written by three talented U-M students. Other groups include the Residential College, which has its own company called the "R.C. Players," and performs in the East Quad Auditorium. Last year's offering was Ben Jonson's "The Alchemist." The "Gilbert and Sullivan Society" also puts on a yearly production of one of their famous operas. FOR THOSE INTERESTED in theater in the community (as opposed to that connected with the University), there is the Ann Arbor Civic Theater. Their playbill offers six shows yearly: four comediesl or dramas and two musicals.. They also offer workshops for anyone interested in acting or produc- tion. The Canterbury Loft, tucked away above the Bivouac store on State Street, has a varied selection of alternative theatrical events to choose from. They have opportunities for acting, technical work and also allow groups to use their space to mount their own productions. Just outside Ann Arbor is a quaint town called Manchester. It's worth the short trip (and a fun change of pace) to go out and see the BlackSheep Repertory Company perform in their old- fashionead theater on Manchester's main street. Second City comes to the Black Sheep Repertory Theater every year and among other events, the repertory company has a special show at Christmas every year. As if this isn't enough, groups such as The Acting Company come every year to do several shows in the Power Center. Last year they caused a stir with their racy, punk-rock version of Webster's "The White Marcel Marceau mation on opportunities in the theater department, which offers several shows per term through the Professional Theater Program (PTP). As part of the Guest Artist Series offered by the Department of Theater and Drama, students are given the opportunity to work closely with visiting professional actors, directors, and technicians in a classical production. The department offers four Guest Artist shows during the academic year, each one featuring a guest artist in a leading acting or production role. The director is usually a doctoral candidate, a faculty member, or a visiting artist. The artist also offers seminars or workshops in his or her area of special knowledge. EACH YEAR THE list of guest artists includes a black performer such as Mel Winkler, who appeared in a leading role in the production of The River Niger here last year. Other guest artists have included Nicholas Pennell of the Stratford Festival in Canada and Christopher Walken, who won an Oscar as best supporting actor for his role in The Deer Hunter. This year's guest ar- tists will be announced sometime in early September. Audition dates are usually posted in the basement of the Frieze Building, north of the stairwell. The Department of Theater and Drama also spon- sor the Summer Repetory Theater at the Lydia Men- 4 I The cast from the Broadway musical 'Eubie' Devil." Certain women's groups and ethnic groups provide even more theater to watch and participate in. The old adage "He who hesitates is lost," applies to getting involved in local theater. Auditions and mass meetings occur early in the term, so be sure to watch for notices around campus and in the Daily. And i you don't get handed a starring role-don't despair!! Neither did Gilda Radner or James Earl Jones while they were at U-M! Local musicians rock - s Ulrich's The Sot Why not get everything Ulrich's has it all-boo engineering supplies, frames, calculators, off lamps, clocks, Michiga and more. And our p least as good as anyor We g 1 i i 1 I l A 1 1 1 l Daily Photo by MAUREEN O'MALLEY NIKKI AND THE CORVETTES, one of Ann Arbor's most popular rock and roll bands, perform at the Star Bar. They have been busy in and out and of town, warming up for the Ramones and Iggy Pop, among others, and headlining concerts at Ann Arbor-Detroit nightclubs. :s urce. g in one trip? )ks, art and prints and fice supplies, :n souvenirs, rices are at ,ne else's Duarantee it. EVERYTHING IN NEW WAVE T-SHIRTS BUTTONS NEW WAVEr O- II zz w -E Lz - m > (Continued from Page 3) emotional range - the perfect back- drop for an evening of drinking. A different kind of fusion is offered byo Vantage Point, an organization of ultra- competent musicians who have progressed from soulfull electric jazz to slick jazz-pop to rock in their one-year history. Currently they are re-exploring their blues roots and searching for a new guitar player. By next fall, they could be playing anything, but will probably be worth a try no matter what. FOR COUNTRY rock fans there i Steve Newhouse, an energetic perfor mer who has been banned from a few clubs due to the rowdy audience reac- tion he seems to always inspire. For those who enjoy the Allman Bros./Lit- tle Feat brand of boogie, there is Sailcatz, an enthusiastic band of newcomers, and the Blue Front Per- suaders. The Persuaders are earnest, hard-working outfit whose covers-of- blues-covers are faithfully accurate if nothing else. This isn't just good drinking music, alcohol is an essentia4 ingredient of its enjoyment. For tastes that lean more towards unadulterated jazz there is a fine quar- tet known as the RH Factor. Only for- med during this past summer, the group centers around Rick Hollander, a fine, Tony Williams-style drummer and saxophonist Pete Kahn. If this musician's past accomplishments are any indication, they should prove to be one of the most adventurous, and most listenable jazz groups in town. Even after all this, we are just scrat- ching the surface. There is a variety of unique musicians in Ann Arbor, from aging bluesman Boogie Woogie Red, to the unidentified drummer who pounds away on the north corner of the diag each spring. The bottom line is to get out there and give it all a try - it's part of one's education, after all, and it would be im- possible not to find somns'iiung that soun- ds good. ARTWORLDS is.. specialized workshops in ART (7A KICF I I i