Two great articles on local productions were published recently. We’ve posted exerts below, but be sure and click the links to read the full articles:
From stellafly:
The Inside Dish on Civic Theatre’s Nine to Five: The Musical
BY: LAURA BERGELLS
PHOTOS: BRYAN ESLERThe cast of 9 to 5, the musical at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre. Photo credit: Byan Esler of stellafly
When 9 to 5 hit the movie theaters in 1980, I hadn’t seen anything like it. I was a teenager, and I went to see it in a West Michigan suburban movie theater with my middle-aged Canadian mother.
We both laughed ourselves silly throughout the entire film — and we weren’t alone. Everyone else in the movie roared at this now classic movie about three working women (played by Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda) who take their revenge on their “…sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” of a boss (played by Dabney Coleman).
If you haven’t seen 9 to 5, go see it for the laughs. Nine to Five: The Musical will be playing at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre from May 30 to June 15. Even if you’ve seen it at the movies or on TV, go anyway; because this very funny story is now a full-blown live musical with new lyrics and music by the phenomenal Dolly Parton.
From mlive.com
An ‘adult-themed live action cartoon’ takes Circle Theatre’s stage in ‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’
BY: TODD CHANCE
Cast of “Don’t Dress for Dinner” from L to R: Don Vanden Heuvel, Kim Mercatante, Sherryl Despres, Patrick Henderen (Christina.Marie Photography)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Next up on the Circle Theatre stage is a foreign affair (with an emphasis on the affair) as “Don’t Dress for Dinner” – the sequel to the hilarious French farce “Boeing, Boeing” produced last year at the local theater – debuts on Thursday, June 5.
Once again the plot revolves around the philandering Bernard who has plans to rendezvous with yet another mistress. As those plans go awry, his best friend Robert, wife Jacqueline, and a couple of women named “Suzy” are caught up in the marital mess where finding an innocent isn’t as easy as it seems.The madcap comedy is directed by Tom Kaechele, who also directed 2013’s production of “Boeing, Boeing.” The cast features Patrick Hendren as Bernard, Don Vanden Heuvel as Robert, Kim Mercatante as Jacqueline, Sherryl Despres as Suzanne, Liene Strautnieks as Suzette, and Eric Hand as George.
Behind the Curtain at... 