Phil Simmons News

The Penny Seats Theatre Company has announced that Peter and the Starcatcher, the second show of its seventh summer season, will open today, July 13th. The story is a clever and imaginative prequel to J.M. Barrie's classic tale, Peter Pan. 

The Penny Seats Theatre Company has announced that Peter and the Starcatcher, the second show of its seventh summer season, will open on Thursday, July 13th. The story is a clever and imaginative prequel to J.M. Barrie's classic tale, Peter Pan. 

The Penny Seats Theatre Company is thrilled to announce that its seventh summer season this year will open on Thursday, June 15th with The Renaissance Man, a World Premier from renowned Michigan playwright, Joseph Zettelmaier. The story is comedic riff on Macbeth set in the modern day at a local Renaissance Faire. It joyfully follows the lives of workers at the Faire, asking whether a disgruntled knight can-or should-take the Faire back to its Renaissance roots. Zettelmaier's work retains fundamental elements of Shakespeare's play, while exploring just how funny the story can be in context.

Ann Arbor's Penny Seats Theatre Company is set to open its seventh season this year, with four shows, the largest season the company has ever attempted.  Through an operational support grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts, the company has expanded its offerings and will have a year-round presence.  

Penny Seats Theatre Company's production of 2007 Broadway musical smash, Xanadu (based on the 1980 cult classic movie of the same name), with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, runs July 14 through July 30 (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays) at Ann Arbor's West Park Band Shell.

Penny Seats Theatre Company's production of 2007 Broadway musical smash, Xanadu (based on the 1980 cult classic movie of the same name), with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, runs July 14 through July 30 (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays) at Ann Arbor's West Park Band Shell.

On July 14 at Ann Arbor's West Park Band Shell, the Penny Seats Theatre Company launches their production of 2007 Broadway musical smash, Xanadu (based on the 1980 cult classic movie of the same name), with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar.

Ann Arbor's Penny Seats Theatre Company is set to open its sixth summer season at West Park, performing outdoor professional theatre at movie-ticket prices, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays throughout June and July. This year, the group's season will open with a modern adaption of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales (by Lindsay Price), followed by the 2007 Broadway musical smash, Xanadu (based on the 1980 cult classic movie of the same name), with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar.

Ann Arbor's Performance Network Theatre presents its second annual Dreamcast fundraiser - a lively evening of entertainment and bidding to support Ann Arbor's professional theatre at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11 2014. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at performancenetwork.org/dreamcast or by calling 734-663-0681.

During the holiday season Performance Network Theatre presents a new take on the larger than life Broadway musical "Jerry's Girls", a revue of the work of Jerry Herman who wrote the music for shows such as "Hello, Dolly!", "La Cage Aux Folles", and "Mame". "Jerry's Girls" is directed by Carla Milarch and stars an all female cast including award-winning musical theatre actress, Naz Edwards, from November 14 - January 5, 2014 as well as a special New Year's Eve performance followed by a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are available now at performancenetwork.org, over the phone at 734-663-0681, or at the theatre at 120 East Huron in Downtown Ann Arbor.

It truly was 'One Wilde Night,' as approximately 250 professional thespians and their guests attended The 2013 Wilde Awards Aug. 19 at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield. Through coincidences and through recurring reference in thoughtful, cogent and brief acceptance speeches, the event was very much a 'family affair.'

It truly was 'One Wilde Night,' as approximately 250 professional thespians and their guests attended The 2013 Wilde Awards Aug. 19 at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield. Through coincidences and through recurring reference in thoughtful, cogent and brief acceptance speeches, the event was very much a 'family affair.' Scroll down for a full list of the winners!

Professional theaters from across Michigan will share the spotlight August 19 when The 2013 Wilde Awards are presented at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield. Presented by EncoreMichigan.com, the most comprehensive resource for news and information about the state's professional theater industry, The Wilde Awards were established by Pride Source Media Group in 2002 to honor the excellent work produced by Michigan's professional theaters.

Performance Network Theatre presents the DREAMCAST Fundraiser - a refreshing evening of entertainment and bidding to support Ann Arbor's professional theatre tonight, April 5, 2013 at 7pm.

Performance Network Theatre presents the DREAMCAST Fundraiser - a refreshing evening of entertainment and bidding to support Ann Arbor's professional theatre on April 5, 2013 at 7pm.

Performance Network Theatre invites audiences to discover the genius behind their award-winning productions through the brand new series, Cultural Conversations, a sequence of in-depth discussions with Michigan's finest theatre artists led by Associate Artistic Director, Carla Milarch. On December 9, 2012 at 6:30pm director and music director of A Little Night Music, Phil Simmons and R. MacKenzie Lewis will join Milarch on the Performance Network Theatre Stage (located on 120 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor) to explore the behind-the-scenes of this season's musical.

Performance Network Theatre invites audiences to discover the genius behind their award-winning productions through the brand new series, Cultural Conversations, a sequence of in-depth discussions with Michigan's finest theatre artists led by Associate Artistic Director, Carla Milarch. On December 9, 2012 at 6:30pm director and music director of A Little Night Music, Phil Simmons and R. MacKenzie Lewis will join Milarch on the Performance Network Theatre Stage (located on 120 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor) to explore the behind-the-scenes of this season's musical.

Join Performance Network Theatre during the holidays for the fervent tale of six-time Tony Award- Winning romantic musical, A Little Night Music with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler tonight, November 15 through December 30, 2012 starring Naz Edwards as Desiree and John Seibert as Fredrik. Please note there is no performance on Thanksgiving. The final preview performance will be held on Wednesday, November 21 at 7:30pm.