The weather is turning warm, and thank goodness! But that’s just one of the fun things going on right now, so let’s do a quick roundup of some of them!
Right now, at 8pm on Monday April 28, the Detroit Tigers have the best record in the American League! Whaaaaaaaat?! They’ve been super fun to watch so far this year. I mean, we’re not even 30 games into the season, but I’m going to enjoy it!
We are opening the beautiful play Baba by Denmo Ibrahim this week, and I am really excited and proud of this show. Sarab Kamoo is doing beautiful work as the solo performer, the design team crushed it, and I think it’s a really wonderful night of theatre.
Pictured: Sarab Kamoo as Layla in Baba by Denmo Ibrahim, at Williamston Theatre. Set by Ranae Selmeyer, Costumes by Camille Charara, Lights by Sam Schikora, Media by Sarah Webb, Props by Michelle Raymond. (and you can’t hear it here, but the Sound is by Julia Garlotte!)
Haven’t seen many movies lately, but today I had the day off and I went to see the Ryan Coogler film Sinners, and it’s excellent! I really, really enjoyed it – such excellent storytelling. Confident, creative and full of surprises. I loved the whole thing. Go see it!
At Williamston Theatre we are holding our general auditions for the 2025/2026 season, our 19th, in early May! That means our season lineup is coming very soon, and I’m getting excited to release it to the world!
The world is crazy right now, there’s a lot going on that’s less than wonderful, but I hope you’re having a week where you can still list some good things going on in your part of the planet!
Our production of Predictor at Williamston Theatre has been going wonderfully. Audiences are loving it, we got three rave reviews from critics and have been getting a TON of wonderful feedback from patrons. The show runs until this Sunday, August 4th, if you’re in the area join us this weekend! Get Tickets Here!
My wife Jeanne and her sister Jackie went hiking on the Appalachian Trail for the month of July, just got back a couple days ago! There are fun videos on YouTube if you want to see them! Here’s one, if I can get it to embed into the WordPress properly! 178 miles, I think, is what they did, on crazy Appalachian Trail terrain!
Sadly the Detroit Tigers have proven to not be much improved this season, although some of the younger guys are proving they could be core members of a solid squad, but the pieces still aren’t all there, so we’ll be lucky to finish at .500 this season. Still, a lot of fun games have been close and entertaining to watch this season, so that’s been fun.
We’re deep into planning for season 18 at Williamston Theatre. The webpage for the season can be found here, check it out! There’s so much fun stuff coming up – a season launch party on August 22nd, 5 great plays, 4 standup comedy nights, our “Dark Nights in Billtown” series of staged readings, a Giving Tuesday Play-a-Thon where we read 3 plays onstage in the same day, free to the public! Coming up in October is a fun series of readings that will be all political plays: Animal Farm adapted by Ian Wooldridge from the book by George Orwell, Bad Books by Sharyn Rothstein, and The Election by Don Zolidis. A great blend of thoughtful comedy and satire to take us into our national election.
So much going on in the world… hang in there, people! 🙂
Today: Random thoughts on things that have been clogging up my brain the last couple weeks.
The Detroit Tigers have had a disappointingly sad first half of the season. Yeeesh.
We are about to start previews for the final production of our 17th season at Williamston Theatre! It’s amazing that we’ve done that many, this makes production number 98! Season 18 is around the corner, and I can’t wait. Until then though, I hope people come see Predictor, it’s SUCH a great script – I love the story, and our entire production team is killing it!
Speaking of theatre: Dependability is a trait that employers look for. Do they still teach this in theatre schools? It gets rewarded.
I’m so grateful for my many doctors. And as messed up as the American medical system/Health Insurance world is, I’m also grateful to have the coverage we have.
I finally left Twitter, or X, or whatever it’s devolved into. Just not an Elon Musk fan, and honestly I’m getting a little tired of social media in general. Working through how to manage that.
We celebrated my mother’s birthday the other day with her. My wife Jeanne and I, and both our kids and their fiancées had a great afternoon out together. Everyone’s been so busy and with the kids moved out of the house now it was really great to have everyone together. I’m a lucky guy.
Random TV stuff: House of Dragons is back, it’s been fun so far. The new season of Doctor Who was a mixed bag, but largely delightful – Ncuti Gatwa is a terrific Doctor, and I’m looking forward to seeing more! Apple TV’s show Dark Matter is a fun sci-fi show that’s right up my alley, did anyone else watch the first season? I’m excited that the new season of The Bear is out, looking forward to watching that.
The Presidential Debate is on tonight. I’ll miss it, because we start previews tonight, but I’m looking forward to catching highlights online later. At least, I think I am. I’ll be honest, maybe I’m trepidatious. I still can’t fathom voting for Trump, he’s such a human trash bag, I just can’t wrap my head around people seeing the guy and thinking “Yeah, that’s a leader I’d follow”. Biden has his challenges and downside, for sure, but at least I believe he’s trying to do things for the people of the country – Trump is in it for himself and that’s it, and the extremists using him and his quest for power to push their theocratic agendas are scary.
Speaking of politics, I’m excited for an upcoming event at Williamston Theatre. In honor of the upcoming election, we’ll be doing a series of readings of fun, engaging political plays in October. 3 shows over 3 days, should be a fun time! Keep your eyes peeled for our announcement of show titles and details!
That’s enough Thursday Thoughts. Gotta go! Just for fun, I’ll leave you with an image from our show: here’s a picture from our Photo Shoot for Predictor. First Preview is in a couple of hours, I’m very excited! (I shot this with my phone, sorry if it’s not the best quality!)
Featured in the photo are the cast, from Left to Right: Kamara Miller Drane, Mona Eldashoury, Caitlin Cavannaugh, Tobin Hissong, Chris Purchis, James Kuhl, Ryan Patrick Welsh. Directed by Billicia Charnelle Hines. The work you’re seeing in this picture is: Scenery by Thalia Lara, Projections by Jeromy Hopgood, Costumes by Mona Jahani and Lighting by Shannon Schweitzer. Props are by Michelle Raymond, Sound is by Brian Cole and Intimacy Direction is by Alexis Black. Adam Kruger leads the SM team and Aaron Delnay is our Technical Director!
Thinking a lot about “Home” lately. Maybe it’s because we’re approaching the holiday season, or maybe because it’s been just Jeanne and I in the house for a few months now, with one kid in college and one moved into their own place. Who knows. I’m looking forward to Stuffing Day Thanksgiving this year, we’ll have a lot of family at our home this holiday, which we haven’t done much – in the past we’ve almost always celebrated Thanksgiving at a parent’s house, or sibling’s, but this year life has brought the family gathering to our little house, and I’m excited. (I mean, the excitement is partly about the stuffing… turkey and gravy and potatoes are great… but the STUFFING! Can I make two kinds? I’m gonna make two kinds.)
Even MORE than the stuffing, though, is having family there. We won’t have enough room for everyone, so it’ll be crowded and loud… and wonderful.
I have to say, sometimes it’s nice to be reminded.
I mean, anyone who does theatre KNOWS why you do it – you love the power of storytelling, you BELIEVE in the transformative magic that happens when you gather a group of people together to experience an event, a moment together. (And there are lots of other reasons – it’s moving, it’s challenging, it’s fun, it helps us grow as people, it creates and nurtures community and spreads joy and fosters empathy discussion and change, and so much more….)
But, even though we know why we do it, it really is nice to SEE that happen, and be told it’s working by the people we gather with.
I’ve been so pleased with the impact that our production of On The Market at Williamston Theatre has had on audiences. This very funny, charming and heartfelt piece by Jason Odell Williams was a blast to work on with the entire company. The thing that’s blown me away though, after 3 weeks of doing this production for people, is how many audience members have come to us to open up and talk about their feelings, their own lives – to be a little vulnerable with us.
The piece is a sweet, funny, romantic “Rom Com” type of story – it’s about a widow in her 40’s who lost her husband early, and her friends are trying to get her back “on the market” and dating again. So it’s a piece about friendship, loss, grief, moving forward and having the courage to embrace our Second Acts in life.
With all of that happening in the play, we’ve had so many patrons stop us or write us and say a whole lot of variations on “Thank you for this piece. I lost my spouse xxx years ago, and this piece made me laugh out loud, and cry, in the very best way. I’m still processing that part of my life, and you guys tackled the topic in a way so funny and so sweet and thoughtful, I can’t thank you enough for the laughs and the tears and the hope!”
It’s so gratifying to get these messages. To be reminded that, yes, we move people. We make them laugh together, and cry together, and process this whole frigging journey that we all get to spend – if we’re lucky – 70 or 80 years trying to make sense of. It means so much that people feel comfortable enough to come up and open themselves up to us, to share their hearts and say “This moved me. This meant something to me.”
I’m really savoring this show, and the responses to it. Holding on to the warmth and love from people and storing it in the tank so that later, when things get hard and frustrating and discouraging, I can look back at these and remember…. Because sometimes we all need a little reminder…. And Everything Will Be Okay.
Dani Cochrane and Brian Sage in On The Market by Jason Odell Williams. Scenery by Kirk Domer, Props/Set Dressing by Michelle Raymond. Lights by Eric Van Tassell, Costumes by Karen Kangas-Preston. Sound by Brian Cole.
We still have 2 shows to go in Season 16 at Williamston Theatre, but I’m thrilled to share what is coming up next year! It’s a season of Perseverance, Love, Second Chances and having the Courage to embrace what comes next!
The 2023-2024 Season at Williamston Theatre
On The Market by Jason Odell Williams
Directed by Tony Caselli
September 14 – October 22, 2023
Charlotte is a 50-something widow who still struggles with losing the Love of her Life. Her supportive co-workers push her to enter the modern dating scene with disastrous, and comedic, results. After she discovers a mysterious note from her dead husband, she begins to realize that she still has dreams to pursue… maybe even love. A charming, romantic comedy about love, loss, and finding your Forever Home.
Murder for Two: Holiday Edition
Book and Music by Joe Kinosian, Book and Lyrics by Kellen Blair
Directed by Rob Roznowski
November 16 – December 23, 2023
Back by popular demand! Murder for Two is Williamston Theatre’s most successful show ever, featuring dynamic actor/singer/virtuoso piano players Mark Schenfisch and Andrea Wollenberg. This time, it’s the Holiday Edition! This comic, musical murder mystery who-dun-it is set at a Christmas Eve party where Great American Novelist Arthur Whitney is discovered murdered. Every wacky guest is a suspect, and detective-wannabe Marcus Moscowicz is determined to examine all the clues and find the killer. Murder for Two is the perfect blend of music, mayhem and murder – for the holidays!
Maytag Virgin by Audrey Cefaly
Directed by Brian Marable
February 1 – March 10, 2024
A classic second-chance love story featuring WT co-founders and real-life husband and wife John Lepard and Emily Sutton-Smith. When the unflappable Jack Key moves in next door to the endearingly neurotic Lizzy Nash, sparks fly. Over time, neighborly nagging softens, and a deeper connection emerges between the two high school teachers. As the months march on, deep secrets shake loose, and the pair finds themselves in untested waters. A timely romantic comedy about moving forward with courage and a ready heart.
Bright Half Life by Tanya Barfield
Directed by Megan Buckley-Ball
April 11 – May 19, 2024
Bright Half Life shares the four-and-a-half-decade story of Vicky and Erica, who meet, fall in love, and go through all the trials and tribulations of marriage and building a family. It’s a conventional love story told in an unconventional way – it unfolds through yesterday, today, and tomorrow… just not in that order. Pulitzer Prize finalist Tanya Barfield has created a theatrical, time-bending play about love, heartbreak, and the infinite moments that make a relationship. Contains mature content and language.
Predictor by Jennifer Blackmer
Directed by Billicia Hines
June 27 – August 4, 2024
Predictor follows the real-life story of Margaret Crane who, in 1967, defied all odds and expectations to become the inventor of the first home pregnancy test. This energetic, theatrical story sets the historical record straight as we journey with this innovative inventor through the challenges she overcame. An inspirational comedy about the tenacity it takes to change the world. Contains mild mature language and content.
SEASON 16 begins! We start rehearsal for The Magnolia Ballet by Terry Guest at Williamston Theatre tonight. I love this play, and can’t wait to see what the director Gary Anderson, and the production team and cast do with it. This beautiful, intense and thought-provoking piece follows a young Queer Black man coming of age in the American South. In a wonderfully theatrical storytelling style we explore sexuality, racism, toxic masculinity, homophobia, love, and the incredibly complicated relationship between fathers and sons and the legacy passed through them from generation to generation.
This week we also have our first production meeting for our holiday show, A Very Williamston Christmas. I’m really looking forward to directing this fun, sweet, ridiculously silly Christmas piece. Everyone loves (or loves to HATE) those Hallmark Christmas movies, right? Well we’ve got our own over-the-top parody of those stories coming to Williamston this November! If you’ve been jonesing for schmaltzy, smoldering “Will they Won’t they” looks over giant mugs of hot cocoa between flirty new friends as one of their Small Town businesses is under threat by an evil developer from the Big City RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE….. then we’ve got the show for you!
As I type this in my office, it’s quieted down in the building. And by “quieted down” I mean that now I can hear the normal buzz of people getting ready for first rehearsal. An hour ago I couldn’t hear that, because the sound of banging and sawing and drilling and construction workers yelling back and forth filled the air, and I loved it! We are just DAYS away from the renovations to our space being done and I am SO EXCITED. For 15 years we’ve hoped to get rid of the structural support poles in our theatre space, and this week it becomes a reality. Can’t wait to share the newly renovated space with our artists and patrons.
OH! And one other thing that I’ll probably write more about soon: I realized that I’ve hit a milestone. This Fall marks my 30th anniversary of making a living as a professional in the American Theatre Industry. I’m pretty proud of that. I remember many years ago, when discussing what I wanted to study at college with my parents, I said “theatre” and my father took a breath and said “Do you think you can make a living at it?” I responded with “I really think I can.” He nodded, and said, “Okay then, let’s figure it out. Your mom and I will help however we can.” And that was that. Now, all these years later, I can look at the last 30 years and say “Okay. Done. 30 years. I did it. I made a living at that.” And it feels good, like I lived up to my promise. And to their faith.
Well… damn. Nichelle Nichols, the legendary Lieutenant Uhura from Star Trek has passed away at the age of 89.
As a big Star Trek fan, this makes me sad. She was a woman who was a terrific actress and singer, of course, but who also changed a lot of lives as a representative of what the future should bring – acceptance, diversity, inclusion: In the 1960’s she showed a strong Black woman onscreen in a position of authority. To quote the article below: She portrayed “A capable officer who could man other stations on the bridge when the need arose, she was one of the first African American women to be featured in a non-menial role on television.” The article has many more details, and I encourage you to read a little about this wonderful woman.
There’s a ton more to say but, honestly, whenever one of the Original Seven from the Star Trek Universe passes, I get emotional. I love the show, and the subsequent franchise, for tons of reasons – the sci-fi, the characters and stories, the optimistic (usually) look at what the future could hold, and because I have such memories of sitting on the floor of our living room, watching the reruns with my Dad.
Instead of rambling on and being sad at her passing, though, I want to share something I wrote on Facebook about 7 years ago – in 2015 – when I had the most wonderful chance encounter, a moment that any great fan of something can understand and appreciate. A moment that left me a little stunned, with my son asking “You okay?” and me not even being able to answer him:
July 13, 2015: “Sometimes you’re at the airport, and suddenly Nichelle Nichols is there. 2 feet from you. And you lock eyes with her and your whole mind freezes up. And she smiles warmly at you and recognizes the look of stunned adoration, and says “Hello” and and gives you a smiling, loving wink and nod that says “yes, it’s me, you’ll be okay, just keep breathing” and she continues on her way. And after she’s gone, you feel lighter, and taller, and like you’ve been touched by a power of goodness and light from a time long ago, spoken of now only in song and legend.”
Rest in peace, Ms. Nichols. Thanks for the wonderfulness that you brought to the world. And thanks for that 10 seconds of kindness you showed to a nerd that you saw get overwhelmed by your very presence.
Our Season 16 brochures are out for Williamston Theatre! Look how great this cover is! Sandra Debnar created some awesome show logos for us this year.
And in other Williamston Theatre news, we got a great review for The Hat Box from the Lansing City Pulse. Click this link right here to read the rave! Or just look at the picture below to see the beautiful faces of the company! 🙂 The show is selling well, which is wonderful, and audiences are having a blast, which is fabulous. A terrific show and group of people to end our 15th season with.
The Company of THE HAT BOX on Opening Night at Williamston Theatre
One more pic? Why not: here’s a shot of our dog FlipFlop on our walk. He lost one of his eyes recently (I can’t remember if I’ve talked about that publicly!) He’s getting older and the vets tried to help him save it but with glaucoma and cataracts it was just getting painful and risking other damage and so it had to be taken out. He’s recovered nicely over the last few weeks, and is back to his energetic ways – he’s still like a puppy even though he’s almost 12 years old.
FlipFlop, the one-eyed wonder dog!
Lots of great family time this week too, which I’m grateful for. Spent a nice evening this week on the front porch with my wife and kids. Everyone back from work, or class, or whatever we were all doing in our busy week. After a hot week the weather had turned cool for an evening sit on the porch, eating some food and drinking some wine and just chatting about life and schedules and stuff. It’s so easy to get so busy, caught up in the things that we allow us to drive us crazy – it’s nice to sit with my loved ones for a while and just enjoy being there.
So, have a great rest of the week, and weekend everyone. Try and give yourself some time on the porch, and enjoy being there!
Lots of terrific things are happening at Williamston Theatre, I’m so excited!
First off, audiences are loving The Cake, and the show is getting wonderful reviews (even if some of them are doing unfortunate things like not mentioning the director or all the cast – disappointing). The reception of the show has been wonderful, director Jasmine Rivera and her cast and production team have crushed it, and it’s so exciting to have folks back at the theatre.
Speaking of The Cake, today we are sold out, and we have our Conversation Sunday, which should be a very cool presentation. Frank Cava, the President of the Lansing PFLAG chapter, will speak after the show and lead a discussion on the importance of Family Acceptance. Really looking forward to it.
And another cool event we have is our Dark Nights In Billtown play reading series: Tomorrow we are doing a Zoom reading of a funny thoughtful piece that will NOT turn out how you think it’s going to! Michael Gene Sullivan is the writer who adaptedGeorge Orwell’s 1984 into that fabulous 6-person adaptation that we did a few years ago – and his play Recipe is what we’re reading on Monday evening, and it’s hilarious and NOTHING like 1984… except when it sort of is! Join us online at 7pm Monday April 11th!
ALSO! Excited for these – on the 18th we are holding our Season 16 General Auditions for next season. We’re doing a full day of in-person auditions this year, and accepting video auditions. Info can be found on our website here!
AND that means that soon we’ll be announcing the whole season, and sharing our show titles and logos and plans for Season 16.
SO – lots to be excited about! If you haven’t seen The Cake, grab your tickets and join us, there are only 2 weeks left! And after that only 2 productions left in Season 15!
Tony Caselli 