Stephen Blackwell News

Desert Theatreworks has opened its 2018-19 season with a hilariously funny production of SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL. A clever script, great acting by the ensemble cast, great direction, and great set and costume designs ensure that audiences will have a great deal of fun at the dysfunctional Frye family's send-off for their husband and father.

Shakespeare Royal Oak kicks off its 18th season in Royal Oak's Starr Jaycee Park Thursday night with the opening of Much Ado About Nothing. The festival continues with peformances and educational programs through Sunday, August 5.Tickets for all performances ($15-$25) are on sale now at www.shakespeareroyaloak.com. Tickets will also be available in person at the park box office beginning one hour prior to show time.

August 4 Shakespeare Royal Oak is proud to announce that tickets are on sale now for its 18th season presenting Michigan's largest professional outdoor Shakespeare festival July 26 - August 5 in Royal Oak's Starr Jaycee Park.

Grease is still the word! Since its first appearance in 1971, Grease has become an indelible element of American culture. Indio's Desert Theatreworks has assembled a dozen of the valley's top young actors who have brought such an amazing level of talent, hard work, and enthusiasm to the show that it feels as if it had been written last week. I dare you to keep your toes from tapping!

The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SpinMedia's storied music assets Spin, Vibe, and Stereogum, establishing the world's largest music brand by digital traffic, social reach, and audience share.

Desert Theatreworks (DTW), Palm Desert's 501(c)(3) community theatre, has chosen something different for its 2016 Christmas production. SINATRA: CHRISTMAS MY WAY is a sweet, light, feel-good cabaret simulation featuring Frank Sinatra's holiday music and a few silly jokes. Even though I'm not a Sinatra fan, I enjoyed the show.

Planet Ant will bring an encore presentation of Margaret Edwartowski's award-winning play, Hamtown Races, to the theatre November 23 - December 17. Tickets ($10-$20) are on sale now online at www.planetant.com. A complete schedule follows this release.

Planet Ant will bring an encore presentation of Margaret Edwartowski's award-winning play, Hamtown Races, to the theatre November 23 - December 17. Tickets ($10-$20) are on sale now online at www.planetant.com. A complete schedule follows this release.

Closing out its 2015-16 season, Planet Ant will present a new romantic comedy from award-winning Detroit playwright Margaret Edwartowski. Alone With Friends opens Friday, June 3 for a four-week run through June 25. Tickets ($10-$20) are on sale now atwww.planetant.com. A complete performance schedule follows this release.

The Artist's Institute invites you to celebrate a lunchtime launch of its new bi-annual publication series, The Magazine, at its new location, 132 E. 65th Street, today, March 31, from 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The Artist's Institute invites you to celebrate a lunchtime launch of its new bi-annual publication series, The Magazine, at its new location, 132 E. 65th Street, on Thursday, March 31, from 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

CLUE THE MUSICAL, as interpreted by director Lance Phillips-Martinez and music director Joel Baker, Desert Theatreworks' production is a great deal of family-friendly fun. Mr. Phillips-Martinez and Ashley Hernandez (who also plays the multiply-widowed Mrs. Peacock) have provided superb choreography. Add an excellent cast, a terrific musician (Brian Alec Thom), and the twist of giving the audience the opportunity to solve the murder, the result is a highly enjoyable 95 minutes.

Desert Theatreworks's new version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is touching and funny. Director Lance Phillips-Martinez adapted the Charles Dickens novella by using Dickens' words for narration and dialog. He also selected period Christmas carols, sung primarily by the chorus,The clever staging, the use of a combination musical chorus and Greek chorus (the latter narrates early parts of the story), the costumes, the make-up, the imaginative sound and lighting, the elements of humor, and, of course, the acting all contribute to the success of this top-notch production.

Desert Theatreworks (DTW) is presenting Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl's dark, but madcap, romantic comedy, DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE. The play will run from September 18th through the 26th, 2015, at the Arthur Newman Theatre, in the Joslyn Center in Palm Desert.

All's Well That Ends Wells is a splendid production that ends just that way, well. The Water Works Theatre Company puts on a great show from start to finish in the outdoor theatre full of laughs and joyous characters as part of the Shakespeare Royal Oak theatre festival.

Desert Theatreworks, a nonprofit theatre company in Palm Desert, has served up a delectable production of Neil Simon's LOST IN YONKERS, at the Joslyn Center's Arthur Newman Theatre. LOST IN YONKERS will be presented on January 23 and 24, 2015, at 7 p.m. and on January 24th and 25th at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at www.dtworks.org or by calling 760-980-1455. Tickets are also available in person in the Joslyn Center lobby, at 73-750 Catalina Way, in Palm Desert.

A complete Shakespeare in the Park performance schedule follows. In addition to its outdoor productions, Water Works will also offer performance minded students an opportunity to learn from the experts with the Water Works Academy and KidsAct July 29 - August 10.

Two Muses Theatre presents an interdenominational holiday show: Greetings! by Tom Dudzick. The show will be performed today and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons from November 23 through December 16. Two Muses Theatre performs in the intimate 160-seat theatre inside Barnes & Noble Booksellers, located at 6800 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield (south of Maple).