For more than a decade, I have written a performing arts column for the Lansing State Journal. It often serves as a round-up of performing arts events happening in the community, but it ranges from the occasional editorial to interviews with local artists. In early 2019, when Gannett cut back on its freelance budget nationally, it was reduced to a bi-weekly column. Since other stories were also being cut back, it served an ever-more important purpose of communicating what is happening in Greater Lansing’s performing arts scene.
One of the few columns that I ever wrote in first person was a retrospective on a year of COVID, cancer and loss.
Here are links to some of my more recent columns:
MSU Theatre’s ‘Waiting for Lefty’ delves into unions, anti-Semitism, classism, Lansing State Journal, March 20, 2024
Riverwalk takes on ‘Amadeus’; MSU Opera to perform Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni‘, Lansing State Journal, March 8, 2024
Ixion stages Detroit playwright’s “Pipeline”, Lansing State Journal,Feb. 22, 2024
Stevie and the Real World’ takes Michigan millenials on a whimsical journey, Lansing State Journal, Feb. 8, 2024
Midwinter Singing Festival celebrates all voices with community sing-alongs, Lansing State Journal, Jan. 24, 2024
Two Lansing-area concerts celebrate MLK legacy, Lansing State Journal, Jan. 10. 2023
Redman: My holiday wish is that you release your creativity in song, dance and storytelling, Lansing State Journal, Dec. 20, 2023
Starlight, Riverwalk theaters bring holiday spirit to the stage, Lansing State Journal, Dec. 6, 2023
Climate Change Theatre Action festival at LCC features series of five-minute plays, Lansing State Journal, Nov. 22, 2023
Women in the Arts Festival opens with Adrienne Torf, Lansing’s Voices of the Revolution, Lansing State Journal, Nov. 8, 2023
Peppermint Creek launches first show, ‘The Prom,’ in new theater space, Lansing State Journal, Oct. 26, 2023
It’s Creature Night With Riverwalk Theatre’s “The Rocky Horror Show”, Lansing State Journal, Oct. 12, 2023
More Jewish Fun: Playhouse revives comedy combating anti-Semitism, Argonaut, Sept. 28, 2023
Lansing’s newest performing arts stage celebrates grand opening with weekend events, Lansing State Journal, Sept. 28, 2023
New seasons get underway at Williamston, Peppermint Creek and Riverwalk theaters, Lansing State Journal, Sept. 5th, 2023
Ten Pound Fiddle releases majority of season line-up, Lansing State Journal, August 23, 2023
Outdoor jazz concert at Marshall Street Armory marks fifth year, Lansing State Journal, August 10, 2023
MSU College of Music hosts “Celebrating the Spectrum: A Festival of Music and Life”, Lansing State Journal, July 21, 2023
MSU’s Summer Circle, local musicians move outdoors for warm weather performances, Lansing State Journal, June 14, 2023
Peppermint Creek and Lansing Art Gallery explore racism and art, Lansing State Journal, June 2, 2023
Artists expand community access with concerts and theatrical adaptations, Lansing State Journal, May 17, 2023
Riverwalk takes exciting romp through Neverland, Lansing State Journal, May 4, 2023
Jazz Spectacular marks 41st year at Michigan State University with slate of performances, Lansing State Journal, Apr. 20, 2023
Steel Magnolias’ and ‘Tartuffe’ on tap for Riverwalk and LCC theaters, Lansing State Journal, Apr. 8, 2023
From ‘Mary Poppins’ to ‘Sweat,’ Lansing-area performances run the gamut, Lansing State Journal, March 23, 2023
Samurais fight on Lansing stage while French girls dance in East Lansing, Lansing State Journal, March 9, 2023
Art organizations offer solace after tragedy at MSU, Lansing State Journal, Feb. 23, 2023
Kidnappers and Pigs: There’s no shortage of dramatic experiences in Lansing this weekend, Lansing State Journal, Feb. 10, 2023
Get your jam on with Ten Pound Fiddle, then catch a film about local actor’s life, Lansing State Journal, Jan. 26, 2023
MSU honors Martin Luther King Jr. with concerts, museum exhibit, more, Lansing State Journal, Jan. 12, 2023
Local music groups gather to celebrate the holidays, Lansing State Journal, Dec. 14, 2022
Welcome to December, Lansing State Journal, Nov. 30, 2022
East Lansing bristles with theater, music, Lansing State Journal, Nov. 3, 2022
Riverwalk’s ‘Fabulation’ takes viewers to NYC; Peppermint Creek tackles Sondheim, Lansing State Journal, Oct. 19, 2022
Staged readings, play delve into social issues, Detroit history, Lansing State Journal, Oct. 6, 2022
Riverwalk Theatre invites audience to travel back in time, Lansing State Journal, Sept. 22, 2022
Ixion delves into memory; Riverwalk Theatre calls for young playwrights, Lansing State Journal, Sept. 8, 2022
From LCC to Lake Odessa, dance and theater take to the stage, Lansing State Journal, July 22, 2022
Pandemic-interrupted shows return to new spaces, Nov. 3, 2021
Performances feature diverse range of singers, actors, musicians, Oct. 19, 2021
Staged readings, play delve into social issues, Detroit history, Lansing State Journal, Oct. 6, 2022
New works and old, theatre is returning to live and indoors, Oct. 6, 2021
Riverwalk Theatre invites audience to travel back in time, Lansing State Journal, Sept. 22, 2022
Ixion delves into memory; Riverwalk Theatre calls for young playwrights, Lansing State Journal, Sept. 8, 2022
Art groups finding their way after pandemic year, Sept. 7, 2021
Theater groups filling their schedules again, Aug. 27, 2021
Free events spotlight Lansing arts organizations, Aug. 13, 2021
Theaters return with big musical, new work, Aug. 3, 2021
From LCC to Lake Odessa, dance and theater take to the stage, Lansing State Journal, July 22, 2022
Pandemic-influenced revue, concert offered to Lansing, June 24, 2021
With restrictions lifting, summer greets return of in-person events, June 11, 2021
Local theater companies create films focused on workers and teachers, May 20, 2021
Theater is back on the menu with dreams and cantatas, May 7, 2021
Colleges offer virtual film, music, April 16, 2021
Looking forward from 2020 with optimism, April 4, 2021
Music streams out to community, March 19, 2021
Two theaters, two symphonies, Feb. 24, 2021
Valentine’s Weekend, Feb. 12, 2021
Classics Abound, Feb. 29, 2021
MLK Concert, Jan. 15, 2021
2020: A Year Like No Other, Dec. 23, 2020
Cabarets and Christmas, Dec. 11, 2020
Virtual Nutcracker, Nov. 26, 2020
A Future Without Racism, Nov. 11, 2020
Experimenting with Theater, Oct. 30, 2020
Pandemic Innovations, Oct. 20, 2020
Peppermint Creek Season, Oct. 6, 2020
Symphony and Riverwalk, Sept. 17, 2020
Zoom Productions, July 31, 2020
Ixion Outdoors, July 16, 2020