Storytellers come to Wharton while outdoor theater returns to Summer Circle
Act I: Summer Circle dreams big with Pippin and an anniversary season
After a two-year hiatus, Summer Circle is back to providing free, live outdoor theater—and celebrating its 60th season.
The shows this year are:
● “Pippin,” a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson, directed by Rob Roznowski, music direction by Dave Wendelberger. June 9, 10, 11 at 8 p.m. , June 12 at 6:30 p.m. Pippin is sure he is going to do something great and wonderful with his life and searches for what that will be.
● “Distracted” by Lisa Loomer, directed by Ryan Welsh. June 16, 17, 18 at 8 p.m. and June 19 at 6:30 p.m. A family tries to deal with a nine-year-old boy who can’t sit sill and everyone thinks they know the reasons why.
● “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong” by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, directed by Brad Wilcuts. June 23, 24, 25 at 8 p.m. 26th and 6:30 p.m. A 1920s whodunit where accident-prone actors are having a rough—but comedic—opening night.
● “White Rabbit, Red Rabbit,” by Nassim Soleimanpour. June 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 10 p.m. A late-night show with adult themes, an actor is given a script at the time of performance with no rehearsal or preparation as the Iranian playwright examines his role as a censored writer.
This year’s season has fewer shows than usual (they are running Thursdays through Sundays) in part because they have not been able to raise money while dark for the past two years. The shows are being held at the Summer Circle Courtyard between the Auditorium and the MSU Museum on Michigan State University’s campus.
Act II: Storytellers share powerful moments at Wharton Center
When Andrea King Collier of Lansing first heard The Moth while driving from here to Detroit, she knew she had to be a part of it.
An award-winning multimedia journalist, author, photographer and speaker, she’s published books on loss and mental health. She had also done live storytelling, including a TedX at Wharton Center and another story with the Lansing State Journal.
The Moth is an organization that spreads humanity through storytelling—live and without notes. Founded in 1997 by novelist George Dawes Green, they have since supported the telling of stories from people both known and unknown. They tour, they publish books, they sponsor open-mic nights and they support people in learning how to tell stories.
Collier, after three years, began to tell a story about meeting her grandson for the first time, after being one of the last to know he was on the way. It’s one she’s now told before many audiences around the country.
“Everybody sees themselves in some aspect of it,” Collier said. “I have always been touched by the responses of people who cried. I love it when people cry. Means I did my job.”
When The Moth Mainstage comes to the Wharton Center at 7:30 p.m. on June 14, she’ll be telling a new story—one about how she coped with coming out of COVID. This year marks the organization’s 25th year.
“I also want to add that I am in amazing company with The Moth storytellers,” Collier said. “I was humbled when I learned that over the past 25 years they have had over 50K live stories.”
She also says she often turns to The Moth’s new book, “How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth.”
“I read it as a refresher to get me ready,” Collier said. “I love it.”
Encore!
● Sistrum is holding its first live concert in two years on June 17, 7 p.m. and June 18, 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing, 5509 S. Pennsylvania, Lansing. “Sing about it” is a choral celebration that calls on audiences to stand up for what they believe in while celebrating diversity and inclusion. Masks are required as are either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within the past 48 hours. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students.
● Lansing Community College is offering stage combat classes led by artist-in-residence Paul Molnar. Molnar graduated from LCC 30 years ago, spent 20 years working in New York as an actor, director, movement consultant, fight choreographer and producer. He now leads a theater program at a Kansas Community College. The two workshops are “A Director’s Toolkit for Stage Combat” on Friday, June 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and “Unarmed Stage Combat Techniques” on Saturday, June 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A suggested donation of $10 for the LCC Theater Scholarship Fund is recommended.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Storytellers come to Wharton while outdoor theater returns to Summer Circle
