ARTS Summer, 1986 The Michigan Daily Page. 17 Entertainment: Seeking it out departmental head, in the fall of 1985 replacing Walter Essylinck. It would be an understatement to say that Brown was taking on a dif- ficult task; since then, he has directed the department in what seems to be a mass regrouping - a getting back to square one. He first established Project Theatre, a forum designed to bring professional actors and technicians to Ann Arbor. One unfortunate event last year was the curtailment of the M.F.A. program. One happy note for un- dergraduates thinking about a degree in Theatre, however, is the arrival of that you see some of their diverse of- Benedict Nightengale, a name some ferings; it's always interesting, and might be familiar with. Nightengale often inspiring to see what your peers has been a theatre critic for the New are up to. York Times and has an impressive background in theatre criticism. Another theatre group to whose Another University-related group, home is East Quad, is The Brecht the Residential College Players, Company. When it comes to perfor- which hail from East Quad, offers ming Brecht, this company of trained students the opportunity to produce actors have dominated the rest of the their own plays and direct unusual theatrical community. pieces. One of the benefits of the R.C. Players is that they get little or no in- Outside the University, Ann Arbor terference from teachers; students offers a diverse range of possibilities run the show themselves. Make sure that should satisfy any theatre-goer's tastes. The mainstay for local theatre is the Ann Arbor Theatre. This wide- ranging group offers standard fare to serve the most general interests of the community. Their most recent show was Thorton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth. The other alternative theatrical group outside of the University community is the Perfor- mance Network downtown. Though it is a bit off the beaten path, it is usually worth the extra effort of find. The Network sponsors diverse shows and often dares to try difficult ones, sometimes at the expense of their own x quality. But, nonetheless, when they hit the mark they are fantastic. And any organization willing to take risks deserves credit. The Murray Louis Dance Company visited A last year. (ContinuedfromPage1) it has treated the town to such artists as Richard Thompson, Archie Shepp, Uncle Bonsai, and has hosted a "cof- fee house" where local musicians may perform. As for the bar scene (without live music), the campus faves would have to be Dooley's (on Maynard Street), Goodtime Charley's (on S. Univer- sity), and the U-Club (located in the, Michigan Union), which also features an occasional live'band and is always a good dance floor. For a listing of any club activity, the Ann Arbor Observer is a reliable source and can be found at most newstands. And, of course, there's always the Daily Arts section. 0 N Brower and Fertig are Editors of the Arts Page. Getting some pizza at Uno's is a favorite pastime of students. Campus Cinema Ann Arbor offers more than the Laundrette; and also the Briarwood usual current-run fare with its alter- Theatres, located in Briarwood Mall native campus cinema groups. - a short bus ride away. Ann Arbor Though there are several groups in has a thriving film community. Be a town, the list is almost always headed part of it! by the troika of Cinema Two, Cinema Theatre Guild, and the Ann Arbor Film Co-oo. Ann Arbor is surely one of the best All three work year round to bring spots for regional theatre in the coun- Ann Arbor the best in celluoid enter- try. Like most other aspects of this tainment. Whether you crave a good community, the University and the old American classic such as The surrounding city of Ann Arbor are Desk Set with Hepburn and Tracy, or pretty much interdependent. This is classics of the French New-wave, especially true of Ann Arbor theatre. you'll often find these groups showing In the last few years, the Univer- slightly off-the-beaten-path films in sity's Department of Theatre has Angell Hall or the Modern Language come under fire for its less-than per- Building. If you are a film buff your- fect shows and the continuous inner self, and would like to have a say in turmoil among its members. This is hat films are brought to Ann Arbor, changing however, thanks to the most cinema groups will take ap- department's new head, John Russel plications in the fall months. Look for Brown. announcements. Brown, an import from the National Theatre of London where he is an associate director, originally came to For first-run films, Ann Arbor Of- Ann Arbor in the fall of '84 to deliver a fers the State Theatre (on State lecture in the celebrated lecture Street), The Ann Arbor Theatrer (on series. "Beckett at 80." The Dean of Fifth Street) which offers the best in the School of Music, which encom- current foreign cinema, most recently' passes theatre and drama, persuaded U o:sith a View -sndMy -eautiful Brown to take over the position of UB40 played Hill Auditorium last year to rave reviews.