'U,' A2 rich in theatrical fare

By Christopher Tkaczyk
Campus Arts Editor

Ann Arbor offers such a wide variety and selection of theater that it doesn't compare to any other city in the state. With more than seven performing spaces contained within the city, Ann Arbor theaters and concert halls serve as temples to the theatrical arts.

While most of the theater that comes out of Ann Arbor incorporates the talents of artists and individuals who are associated with the University, there is also a large selection of live performance which generates from the non-University aspect of Ann Arbor.

The University is considered by many to have one of the best theater departments in the United States. While there is little doubting this claim, it is often overlooked by theater critics and audiences alike when it comes to the amateur theatrical talents of non-theatrical concentrators. Many locals see Ann Arbor as the New York City of the Midwest. This is due largely to the high concentration of artistic expression and creativity on its streets and in its buildings.

Whether the buildings happen to be theaters or lecture halls is up to the performer. In and out of the classroom, students learn about the theater of life.

And that's what theater is - a grand interpretation of life that moves an audience to think and feel.

Even a student who only experiences a small handful of productions while enrolled at the University still has the advantage of experiencing life not only as the doer, but also as the thinker - the student who takes what has been learned through the glory of live performance, and has somehow applied it to life. That is what to take from Ann Arbor's theater.

The University's School of Music presents the largest bill of theater in Ann Arbor. This season's schedule includes "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" by Christopher Durang, "Ladyhouse Blues" by Kevin O'Morrison , Shakespeare's "Henry V," Sophocles' Greek drama "Antigone" and "The Best People," written by University alum and creator of the Hopwood Awards, Avery Hopwood. The fall opera will include two one-act productions: "L'enfant et les sortiliges" (The Child's Imaginations) by Maurice Ravel, book by Collette, and "Le Rosingol" (The Nightengale) by Igor Stravinsky, from the story by Hans Christian Andersen.

The Dance Department will conduct its spring show with "The Choreography of Geography," a production featuring works by Merce Cunningham and faculty choreographers. The Department of Musical Theater will present the Stephen Sondheim musical thriller "Sweeney Todd" in the fall, and "West Side Story" in the spring. Tickets for all School of Music productions can be purchased at the League Ticket Office, located in the back of the Michigan League near the Mendelssohn Theater.

One of the University's hidden treasures is Basement Arts. While many hear about it, few experience some of the best theater in town. Basement Arts is a fully student-run production group that is housed in the Arena Theater, on the ground floor of the Frieze Building. While the Basement Arts productions in the past have all been admission free, last year brought a change when donations became accepted. This group's offerings shouldn't be overlooked, especially since the value received by the viewer is rich indeed.

Student theater not associated through the School of Music is not as plentiful in Ann Arbor, but among established groups, few compare to the offerings of the groups sponsored by the University Activities Center. UAC sponsors two student-theater groups comprised of students from all concentration areas. MUSKET, UAC's musical theater group, presents two shows each year - one in the fall and one in the spring. Last year, MUSKET showcased excellent new productions of Kander and Ebb's "Cabaret" and the ever-popular "Jesus Christ Superstar." Students from all concentrations are encouraged to audition and volunteer.

Another UAC-sponsored group is the Rude Mechanicals. The Rude Mechanicals present two plays each year - one Shakespearean performance in the fall, and one modern piece in the winter. Expect Shakespeare to haunt the stage of the Mendelssohn theater this November when the Mechanicals present "Macbeth."

The University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society presents two Gilbert and Sullivan operettas each year. Composed of University students and area amateur singers, UMGASS's shows prove to be entertaining.

The Ann Arbor Civic Theater presents an average of 10 musicals and plays each year in the Mendelssohn Theater and the Ann Arbor Civic Theater, located off-campus near Washtenaw Rd. and I-23.

Not to be overlooked is Ann Arbor's Performance Network, the only professional theater in Ann Arbor that showcases many new plays as well as performance art. The network's season is teeming each year with fresh, exciting performances that complement the amateur scene often found at the University. Students get discount rates at some performances, and Thursday nights are usually pay-what-you-can nights.

For students wishing to participate onstage, many of the organizations mentioned above welcome new students to contribute their talents and creative energies. For students wishing to audition for School of Music and Basement Arts productions, the Call Board, found on the second floor of the Frieze Building in front of room 2528 is the best place to look for casting calls. For those wishing to join UAC groups, visit Festifall on the Diag early in the term or go to the UAC office in the Union. Look for flyers around campus advertising auditions and productions.

09-03-97