Stagecrafters presents Arsenic and Old Lace

The recipe for laughter contains a “pinch of cyanide.”

“Who doesn’t enjoy silly!” says Arsenic and Old Lace director Jody Florkowski. Mix absurd comedy with a bit of slap-stick and you get silly which is just what Florkowski and his cast of characters offer in this production, opening April 12 and running through April 28 at the Baldwin Theatre. Set in Brooklyn, NY, in 1941, charmingly sinister Brewster sisters, Abby (Debbie Landis-Sigler of Clawson) and Martha (Jean Garringer of Clarkston), find it morally acceptable to murder old men with arsenic-laced elderberry wine as an act of “charity.” They discreetly dispose of the bodies with the help of their delusional nephew, Teddy (Dan Muldoon of Madison Heights). Teddy believes he's Teddy Roosevelt and is building the Panama Canal. He thinks the…

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Final Weekend to See 'A Catered Affair' in Royal Oak

'A Catered Affair' features a simple story and music that puts the focus on the hopes and dreams of a humble South Bronx husband and wife, circa 1953, anticipating the wedding of their only daughter.

Anyone who has planned a wedding will appreciate the wish of the young couple in Stagecrafters’ upcoming musical to have a simple, no fuss ceremony.  But a wedding, whether large or small, forces a struggling family to examine their lives in the 2nd Stage production, A Catered Affair, featuring a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by John Bucchino. The show runs February 22nd through March 10th at the Baldwin Theatre in downtown Royal Oak.   Advance tickets are $16. Tickets may be purchased online at www.stagecrafters.org (online handling fees apply) or by phone at 248-541-6430 using Visa or MasterCard. All seats are reserved. If shows have not sold out, tickets can be purchased at the box office one hour prior to the …

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'Curtains' Opens at the Baldwin Theatre

From the award-winning team of Kander & Ebb, get ready for some musical sleuthing fun.

Stagecrafters Receives Grant for Professional Development

The project is one of six to receive funding from Oakland County Arts, Culture & Film grants.

A Royal Oak community theater organization has been awarded a grant from Oakland County. Stagecrafters is one of six area organizations to share more than $13,000 in grants recently awarded by the Oakland County Arts, Culture & Film through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Stagecrafters received $893 to fund professional development for employees.  The grants are designed to fund "high quality, locally developed projects that increase public access to art and culture," according to a news release.  Other Oakland County organizations to receive the awards are:

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Stagecrafters Announces Executive Director

Mary Ann McCourt will be in charge of managing daily business operations, grants and fundraising.

Stagecrafters, a non-profit community theatre in Royal Oak, has named Mary Ann McCourt as the new Executive Director of the organization.   McCourt will be in charge of managing daily business operations, grants and fundraising. Before joining Stagecrafters, McCourt was the development officer with Infant Mortality Program in Detroit for 14 years. "I am so very excited for the opportunity to work with the staff, board members, volunteers and all the talent of the Stagecrafters organization who put together professional and fabulous productions every season. It will be an exciting experience for me and I look forward to this new chapter in my life," says McCourt.  McCourt held previous marketing and promotions positions at the Lawrence Tech…

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'Birdie' Flies into the Baldwin Theatre

Stagecrafters Youth Theatre performs Tony Award winning musical 'Bye Bye Birdie' in Royal Oak.

Put on your poodle skirts and join in the fun as the Baldwin Theatre gets transformed into the 1950s when Stagecrafters Youth Theatre performs the classic musical, Bye Bye Birdie. This rock ‘n’ roll infused show, performed by youth from the tri-county area, runs July 19-22 at the Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette in downtown Royal Oak. Originally produced on Broadway in 1960 starring Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera, the four-time Tony Award winning musical Bye Bye Birdie was inspired by the headlining news of Elvis Presley being drafted in 1958.  Written by Charles Strouse, Lee Adams, and Michael Stewart, the show features famous songs such as “The Telephone Hour,” “Put on a Happy Face,” “A Lot of Livin’ to Do,” “Kids,” and “Spanish Rose.” …

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Royal Oak Tales: Daughter & Dad

A Royal Oak Recluse in the Big Apple

The Big Apple, Broadway and a baptism are a marriage trifecta.

Over the years travel has been a big part of my job, so when I'm home, I'm content to order a pizza and split some microwave popcorn with Kathy for a weekend’s entertainment. As our children have left home one by one, we've entered the unfettered phase of our marriage, and the lovely Kathy doesn't always agree with my assessment of a fun evening—weekend after weekend after weekend.  I think I started to catch on when Kathy said something like, "OK, Mr. Entertainment, adding some zest to popcorn isn't exactly what I'd call being spontaneous and fun." While I may be slow, I'm not a complete idiot, so I changed. We started having official date nights. Since we had a rather short courtship when we first met over 33 years ago—we met in June and…

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Gerry Boylan

11:31 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012

I guess I should have said I was relatively reclusive...sort of like directionally accurate!   more ›

Around Town with the Smallest Pepper

Dive into Titanic’s 100 Years of History in Royal Oak

A movie? A play? A trivia contest? Here are a few ways to be in sync with the Titanic.

The greatest maritime disaster turns 100 this Saturday, and like the rest of America, our hearts go on and on and on for Titanic. For those who just can't get enough, here's a list of how you can commemorate the 100th year this week. If you think James Cameron’s Titanic was inspiring the first time around, watch it from another perspective. The special effects and scenes between Jack and Rose come alive in 3D at Emagine Theatre in Royal Oak, where the movie is showing every night this week and all weekend long. Click here for showtimes. The Royal Oak Public Library is hosting Titanic Trivia Thursday at 6:30 p.m. for middle and high school students. Test your knowledge with a Titanic Jeopardy game and if you make a Titanic Timeline you’ll …

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Review: 'The Crucible' a Roller Coaster of Emotions

Experience a bewitching performance of Arthur Miller's chilling drama at Royal Oak's Baldwin Theatre.

Step back in time to 1692 to Salem, MA, with the Stagecrafters, which brings the Salem witch trials to life on the Baldwin Theatre stage in a dark and redemptive performance. "This play is dark and should, by design, disturb us," director Ryan Moore said. "After all, it was written about a very dark chapter in our nation's history in the midst of disturbing events. However, I hope that you will see that dark though it may be, the play is not bleak." The Crucible opens with a scene of teenage girls dancing in the dark around a fire trying to conjure spirits. When they are discovered, the town erupts with finger pointing and accusations of witchcraft. The outrageous claims, emerging from greed, jealousy and extreme religiousness, land on …

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Beth Reeber Valone

9:43 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011

I saw the show on student preview night and it was so well done. The cast is very impressive. Another well done show by Stagecrafters!   more ›

5 Things to Know This Week

Royal Oak happenings include celebrity bowling, bats and Arthur Miller’s award-winning play "The Crucible."

There's always a lot going on in Royal Oak. Here are some highlights this week: 1. NFL/NBA celebrities will host Bowling Spook-Takular in Royal Oak on Monday: Safety Louis Delmas of the Detroit Lions and forward Charlie Villanueva of the Detroit Pistons will host the Bowling Spook-Tacular from 7:30 p.m.-midnight at Star Lanes inside Emagine Royal Oak. Tickets cost $20. 2. Downtown Development Authority will meet Tuesday: The DDA meets in City Commission Chambers from 4-5:30 p.m. Holiday lights and the Arts, Beats & Eats preliminary report are on the agenda. 3. Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday: Meet your Royal Oak High School student's teachers in the school's gymnasium from 5-8 p.m. 4. "In Search of Bat Roosts…

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