Some people have suggested that the recent closing of the BoarsHead Theatre and the folding of Icarus Falling theatre troupe are signs of a diminishing theatre scene in Mid-Michigan.
"Funding goes away in poor economies. We had a good run though," said George Orban, who served as Interim Director at the BoarsHead until it's closing.
While certainly regretting the demise of these beloved members of the theatre community, Kent Love is optimistic.
"At the same time that those [BoarsHead and Icarus Falling] closed, there is new energy," said Love, the Director of Communications at the Wharton Center.
Located on the campus of Michigan State University, the Wharton Center is Mid-Michigan's largest venue for theatre and other performances. Hosting everything from Broadway mega hits like Jersey Boys and Chicago to Shakespeare interpretations to the Detroit symphony, the Wharton Center offers something for anyone looking for cultural enlightenment.
Leslie Donaldson works with The Arts Council of Greater Lansing and describes the Council's work as "kind of a Chamber of Commerce for the arts" within the Lansing area. She says the Council advocates for funding for various arts groups, including "professional actors are a part of the group that we want to support."
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Theatre Resources
The Wharton Center Arts Council of Greater Lansing Williamston Theatre Peppermint Creek Theatre Company Riverwalk Theatre |
Currently, the Arts Council is working on a 10-year Economic and Cultural Development Plan, which was created in order to support creative entrepreneurship. The Plan is implementing a "Creative Many Census" in order to get an idea of how many artists live in Ingham County and how they make a living.
A rising star in the Mid-Michigan theatre community is Williamston Theater, located 15 miles east of Lansing in downtown Williamston. It's a professional theater, meaning it has a contract with the actors union, and is currently in its fourth season. According to Executive Director John Lepard, its audience has grown 15% each season.
Lepard believes the theatre is a big part of making Williamston a cultural destination. Coupled with the restaurants in the downtown area, larger crowds are coming to this small town.
"Audiences only want to park once," Lepard said, touting the pedestrian-friendly downtown Williamston. "We're lucky to be going this strong in this kind of economy."
Chad Badgero, founder of the Peppermint Creek Theatre Company, takes great pride in how his company has always attempted to push the boundaries. Swearing. Drugs. Nudity. These are staples of stories that Badgero and his troupe want to share. Having done the play Corpus Christi in which Jesus and his disciples are all gay, one may believe that Peppermint Creek is simply in it for shock value. Badgero would strongly disagree.
"We, more than any other theater in the area, are taking on more current issues," Badgero says. He knows that his theatre company has gotten something of a controversial reputation but also points out that the audiences coming to their performances know that the material will be done professionally.
"People in Lansing value theatre, and we are fortunate to work in an environment that is open-minded.
Badgero attributes much of Peppermint Creek's success to having spent the past three seasons at the Creole Gallery in the hip, thriving neighborhood of Old Town Lansing.
"Old Town has grown exponentially, and is still creating itself, just like [our theatre]," Badgero says.
Having great vision, Badgero sees how the theatre community in Mid-Michigan can truly thrive.
"[All the theaters] are vying for the same audience, but grants are fostering collaboration."
Ultimately, Badgero wants to see a community performing arts center.
"People want to create theatre, but need a venue."
Peppermint Creek will be performing the play Caroline, or Change at the Creole Gallery Sept. 9-12 and 16-19.
Mike Siracuse has the pleasure of serving as business manager at the Riverwalk Theatre. Siracuse has a rather simple philosophy: "Keep the shows affordable and we'll still have an audience."
He points out how supportive the community has been for all the theaters.
"For being a small city, Lansing has a lot of theatre."
Riverwalk Theatre has 27 events planned over the next year, which Siracuse says is double the number of events when he started there 15 years ago.
Everyone involved in the Mid-Michigan theatre community mourns the losses of the BoarsHead Theatre and the Icarus Falling Company. However, no one believes that those are signs that theatre is on its way out in the area. Take talented individuals, add in a strong sense of community and some adequate funding, and it becomes crystal clear that theatre has nowhere to go but up.
Pictured: A production at Peppermint Creek
