Janet Hale News

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival is proud to announce a one night only benefit performance of Scenes & Sonnets From Shakespeare on Saturday, November 9th at the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Hall, 215 West Michigan Avenue in Jackson. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the performance will begin at 8:00 p.m. Conceived by and starring MSF regulars Janet Haley and David Turrentine, Scenes & Sonnets From Shakespeare is an original program featuring scenes and monologues from some of Shakespeare's most famous works, such as Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Hosted by Bart and Karen Hawley, the evening will also include delectable hors d'oeuvres and drinks. Scenes & Sonnets from Shakespeare also marks the first program in the MSF's 20th Anniversary Season Artistic Associates Series. The Series is a slate of performances, readings and special events scheduled throughout this winter and spring that will be announced at a later date.

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera announced today that Kristen Holritz has been selected as the new principal flute player, replacing Janet Hale, who is retiring after 40 years performing with the orchestra.

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival's 19th Season opens today, July 18th with preview performances of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare's quintessential comedy, followed by the rarely produced history gem King John and Oliver Goldsmith's hilarious She Stoops to Conquer.

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival's 19th Season opens on July 18th with preview performances of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare's quintessential comedy, followed by the rarely produced history gem King John and Oliver Goldsmith's hilarious She Stoops to Conquer.

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival, the official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan, proudly accepted a standing ovation for the opening performance of Richard III on Saturday night. The darkly funny and deeply dramatic production, crowned by a fully underscored epic Battle of Bosworth Field, stars Michigan native David Turrentine in the title role and features performances by Amy Montgomery, Stacy Stoltz, and Alan Ball.

This past week The Michigan Shakespeare Festival held 2012 Season Auditions in Detroit, Jackson, and Chicago. Offers have been made and accepted for some primary roles. Sally Pesetsky, last seen at the MSF as Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy, will be performing as the Duchess of York, the villainous Richard's mother, in Richard III and as Mrs. Higgins, the voice of wit and reason to her son Henry, in Pygmalion. "Sally brings such joy and class to her roles, she's wonderful to work with and I'm elated to have her back in the company," says Artistic Director Janice L Blixt, "I think she'll work very well with David Turrentine-who's playing Richard-and will give a role, that is often about wailing, wonderful dignity."

Costumes are encouraged when the Columbus Symphony and conductor Albert-George Schram fill the Capitol Theatre with fun and lively music just right for young audiences in a one-hour kids' concert on January 8. The CSO's PNC Arts Alive Concerts for Kids are funded by a grant from PNC Arts Alive, a three-year, $1.5 million initiative of The PNC Foundation that supports visual and performing arts groups with the goal of increasing arts access and engagement in new and innovative ways.

Carrie Dunn reviews Richard O'Brien's finest hour