Singers are Grand, Motown is Swingin', Hair Rocks, Gamma Rays Sizzles, and Baseball is Out of the Ballpark

1.  SINGERS ON THE GRAND

8 p.m. Saturday, April 25
2 p.m. Sunday, April 26 
This music variety revue of Broadway, jazz and pop standards includes solos, duets, and close harmonies such as “Sentimental Journey,” “New York State of Mind,” “I Want to Go Back to Michigan,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” “Route 66,” “Tuxedo Junction,” “Georgia on My Mind,” “Motown the Musical” medley — and more — backed up by the lively 7-piece Grand Band, featuring two special guest artists, Rachel Paxton Schroeder and Marty Underhill, with dancers Michael Chan and Natalie Simon.$10 if paid 24 hours in advance  
$12 at the door


2.  The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

April 18-26 8 p.m. Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday. $15. Ixion Theatre AA Creative Corridor, 1133 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. (517) 775-4246, ixiontheatre.com

Ixion is tackling an unusual script from 1964 for the third show of its season, and it features a mother-daughter team on stage in the roles of mother and daughter.

“The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel opens this weekend and runs for four performances in REO Town, Lansing. The 1971 Pulitzer Prize-winning play features a mother who is cruel in her self-absorption, leaving her children to deal with her and the rigors of high school. Tillie copes with her mother’s volatility and her sister’s seizures by retreating into science and competing in the school’s science fair.

PK Van Voorhees, who runs an acting and dancing studio in town, plays the part of the mother Beatrice while her daughter Kaleel Van Voorhees plays Tillie. Grace Hinkley plays the older sister Ruth, Judith Evans is the elderly tenant Nannie and Emily Stokes is Janice Vickery, a fellow student and science fair competitor.

•“The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds,” Ixion, 8 p.m. Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, April 18, 19, 25, 26. AA Creative Corridor, 1133 S. Washington Ave., Lansing, $15. 517-775-4246 or ixionensemble@gmail.com.

  

3.  HAIR - MSU

Book and Lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado
Music by Galt MacDermot
Produced for the Broadway Stage by Michael Butler
Originally Produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival Theatre

Directed by Deric McNish
Choreographed by Kellyn Uhl
Musical Directed by Dave Wendelberger

The American Tribal Love-Rock musical celebration of an era! This powerful and emotional musical will inspire a new generation as it journeys through a tumultuous time in America’s history. With an unparalleled score of crossover pop/rock hits.

THE PASANT THEATRE

**Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 7:30pm
Friday, April 24, 2015 at 8:00pm
Friday, April 24, 2015 at 11:59pm (Midnight Show)
Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 8:00pm
Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 2:00pm

Tickets are available from the Wharton Center Box Office, 1.800.WHARTON, whartoncenter.com  

4. THE MUSIC OF MOTOWN -  Lansing Symphony Orchestra - Wharton Center

Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m. 

5.  LANSING LUGNUTS - 

Spring has finally sprung and with that America's favorite past time - BASEBALL
Check their website for the full schedule and details.

http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t499

Butterflies, Beer, Belly Dancers, Books, On the Bad Side - April 16-19

There's lots to do in town this weekend.

THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER continues this weekend at Riverwalk Theatre.  This production by All of Us Express Children's Theatre is sure to thrill all the kids in your life.  Performances are Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.  Tickets are available at www.riverwalktheatre.com

1.  STEPPIN' TO THE BAD SIDE - DART AUDITORIUM

 This annual musical revue from the LCC Scenes class is always a powerhouse of talent and entertainment. This year is no different.  Directed by Janine Novenske Smith, with music direction by John Dale Smith and choreography by Karyn Perry will feature Erin Biel, Katelyn Curtis, James Curtis, Matt Eldred, Alison Grojean, Brennan Hattaway, Zion Jackson, Suzie Leforge, Danielle Lynch,  Racheal Raymer,  Sidney Sauseda,  DJ Shafer, Prince Spann, Kelly Stuible, and  Adam Woolsey

April 17-19 - Dart Auditorium

Admission is free, with a suggested donation to LCC's Scholarship Fund.

2.  ANTIQUARIAN BOOK AND PAPER SHOW - LANSING CENTER

Sunday, October 5, 2014
9:30 AM - 5 PM

Lansing Center
333 E. Michigan Ave.
Lansing, Michigan

$5.00 admission
Children 13 and under free

The Antiquarian Book & Paper Show is the largest book and paper show in the Midwest, averaging over 70 exhibitors and one million old, rare, and collectible book and paper items for sale. 

                                                     3. MSU BUTTERFLY HOUSE 

 There's plenty of fluttering going on at Michigan State University's Butterfly House.

Anywhere from 200 to 400 of them can be spotted during a visit, said Dan Bulkowski, manager of MSU's teaching greenhouses and horticulture gardens. Monarchs, buckeyes, Julias and southern whites are on display now.

No visitor count is kept for the Butterfly House, but Bulkowski said there was a large crowd on Thursday afternoon.

"There's probably 100 people in there right now," he said. "Quite a few people come through here."

The Horticulture Gardens, where the Butterfly House is located, draw about 10,000 school children a year, Bulkowski said.

The Butterfly House traditionally is opened to the public in March and April to accommodate school field trips. Its last day this year is April 30. Public visiting hours are 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

It's located at A288 Plant & Soil Science Building, toward the south end of Bogue Street.

4.  THE BEER GROTTO has opened in Lansing just a short block from Riverwalk Theatre.  Downtown Lansing has a new place for craft beer.

The Beer Grotto officially opened  Saturday in Lansing's Stadium District -- located at 500 E Michigan Ave., across from the Lansing Lugnut's Cooley Law School Stadium.

With 48 beers on tap, it will have one of the largest brew selections in Lansing. The bar also serves wine. A great before show or after show hangout.

5.  THE HABIBI DANCERS SPRING SPECTACULAR

The Habibi Dancers are holding two days of workshops and a spectacular concert this weekend.  April 18 & 19 at the Hannah Center, 819 Abbott Road.  There's so much going that I'm going to send you to their website for details www.habibidancers.org

5 Things To Do ON THE TOWN This Weekend: 4/9-4/12

Hello Lansing and Happy Weekend. Here are 5 things to do in Lansing this weekend.



1.  RIVERWALK THEATRE - THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER

All of Us Express Children's Theatre is presenting the beloved childhood character Winnie the Pooh in this delightful play.  The show runs two weekends April 10-12 and 17-19. Ticket orders, prices, and times are at www.riverwalktheatre.com

2. THE CAPITOL CITY FILM FEST and THE LANSING SYMPHONY

The Capital City Film Festival (CCFF) is a multimedia showcase of independent films and live touring bands with engaging audiences in Michigan’s capital city. It celebrates artists from around the world who share their craft while promoting and building on the cultural assets of our diverse locale. The full film festival schedule is online and in the Lansing City Pulse.

The  CCFF and the Lansing Symphony  are teaming up to bring you a symphonic and cinematic experience that's anything but ordinary.The concert is at  8 p.m. at the Lansing Center and it's free.

3.  Romeo and Juliet at  Mid Michigan Family Theatre

The Mid-Michigan Family Theatre takes a stab at Shakespeare’s classic romantic tragedy with its production of “Romeo and Juliet.” In one of the most famous stories of star-crossed love, two youngsters fall for each other amid a longstanding feud between their families. Can the love between Romeo and Juliet stop their warring relatives, or will they be counted among the ever-increasing casualties? 7 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $7/$5 seniors and kids under 17. Alfreda Schmidt Community Center, 5815 Wise Road, Lansing. (517) 339-2145.

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4.  Music at the Mansion - Turner Dodge

Thursday, April 9

The Turner-Dodge House continues its series of intimate, salon-style musical performances with Thursday’s installment of “Music at the Mansion.” This concert will feature pianist and composer Frederick Isaac. Isaac’s work has been featured in CBS’ daytime soap opera, “The Young and the Restless,” and HBO’s “Vice.” Composing for TV and film is just one of Isaac’s talents; the multi-faceted performer dabbles in a variety of genres and performance styles. 7 p.m. $10. Turner-Dodge House, 100 E. North St., Lansing. beebe.michael@yahoo.com.

5. Jumbeaux's Restaurant Opens in Lansing

Jumbeaux  is now open in the former Fork in the Road space at 2010 W. Saginaw St.
 Keith Havard, its owner,  says the restaurant is inspired by his time living in Louisiana as a child. Menu items will include jambalaya and gumbo, shrimp creole, po' boy sandwiches, smothered chicken, crawfish étouffée and a weekly alligator special.

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.