Wild Swan Theater : All posts

Wild Swan Theater will spin its version of 'Charlotte's Web'

The cast of Wild Swan Theater's production of "Charlotte's Web."

Photo provided by Wild Swan Theater

Dance studio Arts In Motion partners with Wild Swan Theater in new location

The Wild Swan Theater troupe moved out of their last 'home' on April 7, 2012, and will move into their new location on April 8, 2013, a year later. The troupe has been moving from space to space while rehearsing during the last year.

photo courtesy of Wild Swan

Wild Swan Theater to present 'Shipwrecked!'

Wild Swan Theater presents "Shipwrecked!"

Photo provided by Wild Swan Theater

Wild Swan Theater tells stories in 'Under the African Sky'

The cast from Wild Swan Theater's "Under the African Sky"

This delightful and humorous collection of African tales (for kids age 3-9) includes “Why the Sky is Far Away” and “The Talking Vegetables,” and will be performed through storytelling, acting, and drumming.

Wild Swan Theater to raise money with Chocolate Crush event

Ann Arbor’s premiere chocolatiers and chefs, including Schakolad Chocolate Factory, Mindo Chocolate, Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory, the Ravens Club, and Bab’s Underground present delectable creations for Wild Swan’s supporters. Savory appetizers from The Grange Kitchen & Bar and What’s Cooking!, and beer from Wolverine Brewing Company, and wine and from local purveyors will also be available. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Royal Garden Trio.

Wild Swan Theater announces 2012-13 lineup

Wild Swan Theater co-artistic directors Hilary Cohen and Sandy Ryder recently announced the company’s 33rd season of performances.

Running from October through April, the season contains seven productions for various ages and interests, which are performed by a troupe of professional actors, dancers, musicians, and ASL performers, who are fully integrated into the action of the play.

Wild Swan plays are known for innovative staging; music composed and performed live for each production; extraordinary puppets and masks; beautiful period costumes; and creative incorporation of movement and dance.

Wild Swan receives National Endowment for the Humanities grant

Wild Swan Theater, Ann Arbor’s award-winning professional theater for families, recently received a $14,500 grant from the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Wild Swan Theater presents 'The Cricket in Times Square'

Continuing its tradition of creating plays based on classic children’s literature, Wild Swan presents the Newbery Award-winning tale of how the song of a gifted cricket saves the Bellini’s newsstand in the subway station under Times Square. Matthew Gwynn guest directs.

Chester, the cricket, arrives at Times Square in the picnic hamper of a family back from a day in the country. Adopted as a pet by Mario, the son of the Bellinis, Chester soon settles into his new home. When an unusual pair of pals, a fast-talking rat and a sophisticated cat, befriends him, Chester’s life takes on big city excitement - until a fire at the newsstand puts the Bellini’s livelihood in jeopardy. That’s when Chester’s musical career takes off, with Tucker the rat and Harriet the cat as his managers.

After eviction, Wild Swan Theater finds temporary home on Jackson Road

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

“Two dozen people gave up their Sunday (April 1) to help us move,” said WST co-founder Sandy Ryder. “Peter Schork, who’s president of Ann Arbor State Bank, lent us a truck. He personally went out of his way to help us. … And the Purple Rose offered us rehearsal space and office space, to help us with the transition.”

For now, though, the company, which specializes in live theater productions for young people, has temporarily set up shop in a business complex at 4844 Jackson Road, about half of a mile east of Zeeb Road.

Wild Swan Theater serving up 'Strega Nona and the Magic Pasta Pot'

Wild Swan Theater will present "Strega Nona and the Magic Pasta Pot"

Photo courtesy of Wild Swan Theater

Renowned artist Chris Roberts-Antieau has designed the sets, costumes and props for the production, and the story of "Strega Nona" is a beloved Italian folktale. Strega Nona has a magical pasta pot that only she can control, but silliness ensues when Big Anthony does not listen to her, causing the streets of their small Italian village to fill with pasta.

Wild Swan Theater to premiere 'Shipwrecked!'

Wild Swan Theater, Ann Arbor’s award-winning professional theater for families, will premiere a new play, "Shipwrecked!", for elementary and middle school aged youth and their families from March 14-18 at the Towsley Auditorium at Washtenaw Community College.

"Shipwrecked!" is a sailing story, set in 1893, that follows the travails of 12-year-old Aaron Buchanan when his family's schooner is caught in a fierce storm while he is at the helm. Young as he is, Aaron has sailed with his parents for years, ferrying cargo from their home port of Detroit to ports through the Great Lakes. As the family is returning from Sault St. Marie on Lake Huron in November with a huge load of Christmas trees, they are caught in a ferocious gale that sweeps through Thunder Bay, infamously known as Shipwreck Alley. With assistance from the lighthouse keepers on Thunder Bay Island, a crew of surfmen from the lifesaving station brave 40 knot winds and sixteen foot waves to effect a daring rescue.

Wild Swan Theater evicted from its Maple Road space

Wild Swan Theatre's headquarters on Maple Road.

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

The troupe learned on Tuesday afternoon that it is being evicted from its building, at 410 S. Maple Road—a building previously shared with the now-defunct Veritas Christi, a small, private school for autistic children.

“The school had been in the building last year, but over the summer, or the beginning of fall, they did not open for the new school year,” said WST box office manager Kathy Pawlicki. “Shortly after that, we learned that the building was in foreclosure.”

Wild Swan Theater to host 6th annual Chocolate Crush fundraiser

Wild Swan Theater, Ann Arbor’s professional theater for families, hosts its 6th Annual Chocolate Crush fundraiser on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Forest Golf Club, 3110 W. Ellsworth Road.

Ann Arbor’s premiere chocolatiers and chefs, including Schakolad Chocolate Factory, Mindo Chocolate, Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory, the Ravens Club and Babs' Underground will present delectable creations for Wild Swan’s supporters. Savory appetizers from What’s Cooking!, beer from Wolverine Brewing Company and wine from local purveyors will also be offered. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Royal Garden Trio.

Wild Swan Theater presents 'The Spirit of Harriet Tubman' as a tribute to Black History Month

Leslie McCurdy stars as Harriet Tubman.

Photo courtesy of Wild Swan Theater

Distinguished Canadian actress McCurdy has created a stirring evocation of the famed Underground Railroad activist, who single-handedly conducted several hundred slaves to freedom in Canada; the production was a finalist for the National Canadian Chalmers Award for best new play. Wild Swan presents the production in tribute to Black History Month.

Wild Swan Theater presents original stage adaptation of 'Little Women'

Wild Swan Theater's cast for "Little Women."

Photo courtesy of Wild Swan Theater

"Little Women," of course, is the beloved American story of the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth, who are growing up in Civil War-era New England. When their devoted mother Marmee must leave them to visit their ailing father at the warfront, the young women must face life together. Loosely based on the author’s family life, the story explores how each young woman develops her character by overcoming personal weaknesses. It also offers a testimony to the strength of womanhood in the character of the girls’ mother, Marmee (Margaret).

Written by Wild Swan’s co-founder and co-artistic director Hilary Cohen, this production aims to deliver an inspiring message of resourcefulness and perseverance for children in grades 3-12 and their families.

play preview

Wild Swan Theater presenting stage adaptation of 'Treasure Island'

Wild Swan presents "Treasure Island"

Wild Swan Theater concludes its 31st season of professional theater for families with a production of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic pirate tale, "Treasure Island."

Adapted for the stage by longtime Wild Swan playwright, Jeff Duncan, "Treasure Island" spins a tale of swashbuckling adventure, complete with brawling pirates, buried treasure, and feats of bravery on the high seas. The production will be performed May 12-15 at Towsley Auditorium in the Morris Lawrence Building on Washtenaw Community College’s campus.

The story is told through the eyes of young Jim Hawkins (Jeremy Salvatori), who finds a treasure map amongst the belongings of the recently departed Billy Bones. Bones is staying at a remote, English, seaside inn run by Jim and his mother (Michelle Trame Lanzi) when he meets his death at the hands of another pirate, Mad Dog. In the company of Captain Smollett (Barton Bund) and Dr. Livesey (David Melcher), Jim sets off on a perilous sea adventure aboard the Hispaniola.

Wild Swan Theater presenting 'A Night of Ann Arbor's Best' benefit concert

Wild Swan Theater announces its second annual benefit concert, “A Night of Ann Arbor’s Best,” at The Ark on Sunday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Musician friends of Wild Swan, many who have collaborated artistically with the nationally-acclaimed theater company over the years, are donating their talents for an evening of unforgettable music.

Musical performers include David Mosher and Theresa Smith, Frank Pahl, Kitty Donohoe, Peter Madcat Ruth, Tyler Duncan (of “My Dear Disco”), Dick Siegel and Gemini with Emily Slomovits. Most of these artists have either composed and/or performed music for Wild Swan shows.

Wild Swan Theater hops to it with 'Peter Rabbit'

As part of its 2010-2011 season, Wild Swan Theater presents a stage adaptation of Beatrix Potter's classic story, "Peter Rabbit."

When Peter Rabbit ventures into Farmer McGregor’s garden, despite his mother’s warning, his adventures begin. Little theatergoers will love following Peter Rabbit, from the moment he loses his little blue coat to Farmer McGregor’s scarecrow, until he arrives safe and sound at home.

Longtime Wild Swan favorite actress Sandy Ryder portrays Farmer McGregor and Mrs. Rabbit; Jeremy Salvatori plays Peter; and Michelle Trame Lanzi plays Benjamin Bunny and Squirrel Nutkin. David Mosher has created the musical score, which he performs on the fiddle.

Wild Swan Theater celebrates Black History Month with 'Under the African Sky'

The Wild Swan Theater presents "Under the African Sky."

Photo courtesy of Wild Swan Theater

These humorous tales, including, “Why the Sky is Far Away” and “The Talking Vegetables,” will be performed through storytelling, acting, and drumming.

event preview

Wild Swan Theater announces Chocolate Crush fundraiser

Wild Swan Theater, Ann Arbor’s professional theater for families, will host its 5th annual “Chocolate Crush” fundraiser on Saturday, February 5th at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens Conservatory, located at 1800 North Dixboro Road. Ann Arbor’s premier chocolatiers and bakers, including Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory, Schakolad Chocolate Factory, Mindo Chocolate, Cupcake Station, and Bab’s Underground Lounge will present exquisite creations for Wild Swan’s supporters.