The Michigan Daily/New Student Edition-Arts-Thursday, September 9,1993 - Page 7 Ann Arbor dazzles as the Broadway of university theater by Melissa Rose Bernardo f, as WlimSaespeare said, "All the world's a stage," then Ann Arbor is the Broadway of college theater dis- tricts. Whether you're an avid theatergoer like myself, or a newcomer to the the- ater, you'll find that a plethora of pro- ductions await you in A2, and for a few measly bucks, you too can easily expe- rience the magic of the theater. University Productions is the big- gest sponsor of theater on campus. The Department of Theater and Drama pro- duces five shows per year, ranging from the traditional (last year's "Our Town") to the avant-garde (the 16th-century French war story "Andromache") and often employ the talents of guest direc- tors. This season, we eagerly await the production of George Bernard Shaw's "Major Barbara." The Musical Theater Department produces one show per ten a smaller production in the fall, and a larger one in the winter. Past productions include Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods," "Pal Joey" and last year's smash hit Bigadoon "Thisyeartheywipresent "Quilt," a new musical which brings to life, in song, selected portions of the AIDS quilt which has made its way around the country. During "Quilt"s run, University Productions will display actual pieces of the AIDS quilt. Their second show will be the recently-revived, multiple Tony-winning Frank Loesser classic 'The Most Happy Fella." All aforementioned University pro- ductions offer Student tickets for $6. (Compare that to the 60 big ones you'd 10 pay to see "Phantom of the Opera" or "~Les Miserables" on Broadway.) How- ever, University Productions comprise only a small fraction of productions on campus. MUSKET is a student-run and stu- dent-organized group which produces one musical per term. They receive constant praise for their professional- ism and the high quality of their shows. "Cabaret," "Evita," "Chess" and "Any- thingGoes"arejustafewofMUSKET's past shows. This year they will present "42nd Street." Some other campus groups are the University's Gilbert and Sullivan Soci- ety, dedicated to the production of the Victorian comic operettas oftheirname- sakes; the Residence Hall Repertory Theater, which often travels to dorms across campus; the East Quadrangle Residential College Players, who per- form in their own auditorium in East Quad. For a more relaxed kind of theater, Comedy Company performs one show per term, each a showcase of student- written and acted Saturday-Night-live- style sketches. A unique theatrical venue is Base- ment Arts, a workshop-oriented venue fortheaterandnon-theater students who puton 15to20low-budgetshows (often original scripts) per year. Surprisingly, not many people have yet discovered this buried treasure. Bachelor of Fine Arts senior Anthony Giangrande described Basement Arts as "the exact antithesis of University Productions." BasementArts usually offers smaller shows, and lack the polish and technical advancementofUniversityproductions, but you'll find some great talent and great shows here. (And they're usually free!) If nothing on campus appeals to you, then look beyond the hallowed halls ofthe University. Ann Arbor Civic Theater does 12 shows per year, musi- cals and straight playssix of which are right on campus.6. They have an exciting season lined up with such blockbusters as "Much AdoaboutNothing,""WestSideStory," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Prelude to a " s Kiss" and "Oklahoma!" Other acces- sible companies include Performance Network of Ann Arbor (often a show- N case for new plays), the Purple Rose £ Theater of Chelsea and the highly-ac-g k, x claimed Dexter Community Players And let's not forget that Detroit is just 40 minutes away. The Fisher The aterandMasonic Templehaveanexcit- ing season, including the Detroit pre- mieres of "Miss Saigon" and "The Who's Tommy," plus the national tours / of "Evita" and "Crazy for You." Also, - don' tforget the Hillberry and Attic The- ''. 'I,. aters in Detroit, both of which offer LE P quality Wayne State University produc- tions. For all you "Broadway babies" out .* there, all aforementioned Ann Arbor 401 companies have open audition and cast- ing policies. The only exception is the .. Musical Theater Department, which FILE PesaTO restricts its shows to students in their Tracy Plester and Jason Dilly star in the Musical Theater Department's production of "BrigadoonT" Hey, it ain't hockey, but we heard it was pretty good.,, program. Whether you're strutting your stuff campus, advertising auditions and pro- in a great big Ann Arbor show, working ductions. Believe it or not, there are behind the scenes, or enjoying the pro- times during the school year when you ductions from a comfy seat in the mez- can spend your Friday evening, Satur- zanine, you'll be a part of one of the day afternoon, Saturday night and Sun- most exciting theatrical venues in the day afternoon in a theater. It's true - country. With the variety ofproductions I've done it! Okay, so you may not want out there, I guarantee you'll find some- to expose yourself to that intense of a thing that pleases you. theater experience. But isn't it great Keep an eye out for posters across knowing that you can?., Take 50% off the price of selected tickets to all concerts presented by the University Musical Society including recitals by Jessye Norman, James Galway, and Murray Perahia, orchestral concerts by the Chicago Sym- phony Orchestra and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Borodin and Kronos String Quartets, the Stratford Festival performances of A Midsummer Nighiv Dream and The Impor- tance of Being Earnest, Urban Bush Women, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, New York City Opera National Company, the Canadian Brass, and many, many more: FOR HALF THE PRICE! 50% Off Student Ticket Sale Saturday, September 18:0 - : 0 p m Burton Memorial Tower : Valid Student I.D. required SLimit 2 ticketsper event --but choose as many events as you wish! O Avoid Rush Ticket Sellouts O At least 50 tickets available for each event O Visa, MasterCard, and checks accepted O First come, first served For a brochure listing the complete UMS season, please call or write: University Musical Society, Burton Tower, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-1270, 313.764.2538. Peter John Fletcher as Orestes in the production of "Andromache." a .+ . v c . , , Special Rates for Group & Birthday Parties Open 7 Days All Year Miniature Golf (best course around!) Video Games * Pinball * Skeeball Food & Snacks Galore From Ice Cream To Nachos. No matter 1I It's Golf or a Game, Fun Is The Name 2675 Washtenaw, Ypsilanti (t-#/2 miles east of U.S. 23) 434-2838 Webster'sBooks A Bookstore Built On Character And Content Catering to both the casual and discerning reader with an extensive selection of books and periodicals. OB&W Photography, Art Reproductions, Contemporary European Images, Gallery Prints- < y x 0 4-. 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