Wednesday, May 23 at 7 p.m.

Produced by Sky’s the Limit Productions, this community theatre production has two casts made up of over 150 members of the community, children, youth, adults and elders!

Seussical Jr. centers around Horton the Elephant, who finds himself faced with a double challenge–not only must he protect his tiny friend Jojo (and all the invisible Whos) from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird.

Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him, the only one who recognizes “his kind and his powerful heart.” Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant, in a story that makes you laugh and cry.

Tickets available by calling The Box Office at 248.661.1900 or clicking the ticket!

AND…THIS SUMMER!!!  Sky’s the Limit Productions has teamed up with the JCC Summer Camp to bring you…

BROADWAY STARS (Grades 3 –
This summer camp is for beginners and experiences students!  July 30 – August 17th.

This high-intensity (and incredibly FUN) musical theatre camp offers every child a chance to shine on stage!  All elements focus on the child’s strengths, skills and areas of interest. Camp culminates in a performance of the great play “Schoolhouse Rock” for a live audience.

• Acting
• Singing
• Dance Solos
• Scene work for large and small groups
• Talent shows
• Auditions
• Experience onstage and backstage

BROADWAY STARS (Grades 1 – 3)
Perform in “Schoolhouse Rock” with this one week camp from August 13 – 17.

Scholarships are available!

To register and for more information, call 248.432.5578 or visit www.jccdet.org/wbcamps

Broadway Stars is just one of the more than 100 programs at Center Day Camps!  We also have sports camps, travel camps, and Imagitivity camps with everything from magic to yoga!

We are offering not only performances for children to watch, but also interactive workshops, summer camps, even interactive performance where your children can learn a piece of a show and perform as an actor, puppeteer or dancer.  Current offerings are below.

Seussical Jr. (the Musical)
presented by Sky’s the Limit Productions
Wednesday, May 23 at 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 24 at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 30 at 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 31 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 3 at 1 & 5 p.m.

Summer Theatre Camps
Broadway Stars Camp Starts Here!
Sky’s the Limit Productions Theatre Camp at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts

This high-intensity (and incredibly FUN!) music and theatre variety camp offers every child a chance to shine onstage. Whether a beginner or an experienced performer, each camper is showcased in acting, singing and/or dance solos, as well as scene work for large and small groups. All elements focus on the child’s strengths, skills and areas of interest. A day may include games, terms, history stories, talent shows, auditions and experience onstage and backstage. Camp culminates in a performance of the great play “Schoolhouse Rock” for a live audience!

NOTE: A one-week theatre camp, for children in grades 1-3, will be held August 13-17. These students also will participate in the “Schoolhouse Rock” performance at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts. For information, please see “Broadway Mini Stars”.

 Saturday, May 19, 2012  at 8 p.m.

With Eliezer “Laizy” Shapiro, creator and director

 Presented by the Jewish Forum and the Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival

 Praised for its true-to-life and nuanced portrayal ofJerusalem’s modern Orthodox community, “Srugim” follows five friends looking for love while grappling with issues of religious identity and commitment.

The title refers to the crocheted yarmulkes often worn by modern Orthodox Jews and to the interwoven connections among close friends.

Monday, March 19, 7:30 p.m.
Season 3, Episodes 1 and 2: Introduction by Janice S. Goldfein, MSW, ACSW

Tuesday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.              
Season 3, Episode 3: Followed by a Q&A with “Laizy” Shapiro, series creator and director

These episodes are from the new season, now airing in Israel!

Hebrew with English subtitles. 40 minutes an episode. A full episode guide will be provided to everyone attending.

 

The Berman Center for the Performing Arts is hosting The Acting Company, which The New York Times hailed as “the major touring classical theater in the United States,” was founded in 1972 by the legendary John Houseman and current Producing Artistic Director Margot Harley. Since then, the troupe has appeared in 48 states and 10 foreign countries, with performers including Patti LuPone, Rainn Wilson, Kevin Kline, Jesse L. Martin, Frances Conroy, David Ogden Stiers and Keith David, and has been honored with the Obie, Audelco, Citibank’s Excellence in Education and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards.

Today, The Acting Company includes Detroit native Ernest Bentley, along with Kaliswa Brewster, Caleb Carlson, Ray Chapman, Bjorn DuPaty, Zachary Fine, Whitney Hudson, Joseph Midyett, Kevin Orton, Noah Putterman, Sid Solomon, William Sturdivant and Kathleen Wise.

Written in about 1599, “Julius Caesar” is one of Shakespeare’s most stirring plays, with a history as dramatic as the story it presents. Among the notable productions was an 1864 version starring Junius, Jr. (Cassius), Edwin (Brutus) and the infamous assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth (Mark Antony).

In 1937, an Orson Welles production of “Julius Caesar” at the Mercury Theatre left audience goers speechless when actors dressed like members of Mussolini’s fascist party. Welles also took plenty of poetic license, mercilessly cutting the script and reducing the entire performance to less than 100 minutes.

The Acting Company’s Director Rob Melrose considers the excitement of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” in light of modern politics.

“In the ‘80s and ‘90s, every election was peppered with reports of ‘voter apathy.’  The intense passion that now permeates our politics and threatens to divide our country make this a perfect time to re-examine Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’ – a play that looks at what happens when political convictions create conflict and sometimes tragic upheaval.

“We’re imagining a Julius Caesar that captures the energy and excitement of American politics of the last presidential and mid-term elections: the rallies, the protests, the political spectacles of conventions.”

One of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, “The Comedy of Errors” can best be summed up in one word: fun!  The slapstick of mistaken identity mixes fluidly with the lyrical wordplay of master and servant, with mystery, mayhem and sitcom-like plot twists. In addition to its more traditional format, “The Comedy of Errors” has been adapted into a musical in “The Boys from Syracuse,” “Oh, Brother!” and a hip-hop production called “The Bomb-itty of Errors.” Several films, including “Big Business” with Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin, also were inspired by Shakespeare’s famous play.

As directed by Ian Belkin, The Acting Company’s “The Comedy of Errors” is a brilliant rendition reminiscent of the great Charlie Chaplin.

Jim Gill, an award-winning musician and author, offers more than a show to watch.  Each concert is an opportunity for family play! Jim Gill on You Tube

In concert, Jim strums energetic rhythms on his banjo while everyone claps, sings, dances and even sneezes along to the silly and inspiring musical games that he creates.

This year’s Family Room Tour celebrates the release of Jim’s new CD and DVD, Music Play for Folks of All Stripes.  Children and parents can play along to a sampling of his new musical games in addition to old favorites.

Jim Gill is a musician and author with unique credentials among children’s artists.  Jim is a child development specialist, completing his graduate studies in child development at the Erikson Institute of Chicago with a special emphasis on the study of play.  For this reason, each of Jim’s recordings and books is created as an opportunity for playful interactions between a child and a caring adult.  Anyone who has experienced one of Jim’s family concerts knows that rather than performing for the children and parents, Jim leads them to sing and play together.

Jim has released six award-winning CDs of music play for young children that are favorites in family rooms, classrooms and playrooms.  Jim is also the author of two children’s books.  His latest, A Soup Opera, is a sing-along opera inspired by concerts that Jim performs with symphony orchestras.  The book received an American Library Association award in 2010.

The Temptations back in the day, were a very hard act to follow. They charmed the fans all over the world with their charisma and unique style. Likewise, Serieux has its own unique style and charisma with a flavor of Motown that will keep you captivated.

Serieux was founded in 1998 by Larry Griffin, vocalist, choreographer and CEO/Group Manager, Valenica Taylor, Chief of Staff, Donovan Johnson, Musical Director and Robert Grande Road Manager. Mr. Griffins vision has joined together a 10 – member group who has perfected the entertainment style provided in the 60′s and 70′s by world renowned groups like the Temptations, The Contours, The Miracles, The Four Tops and many others that made up the “Motown Sound.”

This group has taken their phenomenal vocals, energetic choreography and spectacular musical abilities and performed in well-known casinos in Detroit, Michiganand Las Vegas, Nevada. They’ve performed opening acts for Earth, Wind and Fire, The Four Tops, The Neville Brothers, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, The Manhattans. The Whisper, O’Jays , and tours with Ali Woodson former lead singer of “The Temptations” as his Temptations Review Tribute Group. They’ve also performed in a Motown Musical “Come and get these Memories” with Martha Reeves and won acclaim as “The Temptations” in “Marvin, My Brother – The Marvin Gaye Story”. The demand for great entertainment has taken this group all over the United States from coast to coast and internationally in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Manila, Philippines and Toronto, Canada to name a few.

Serieux has provided entertainment enjoyment at several private and public events such as the Motown Tribute to The Four Tops, The premier showing of the Tom Hanks movie The Polar Express for Hospice of American, The Detroit International Auto Show, The Regan Center in Washington DC, The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Regional Conference, The Oscar after party in California with Ollie Woodson. (Former Lead singer for The Temptations), The Cann Film Festival in Nice France, Japan, all with Ollie, Doner of Southfield, Michigan, and regular scheduled appearances at Greektown and Motor City casinos in Detroit, Michigan.

June 2007 Serieux launched their first CD entitled “I Can Give You Love,” featuring R&B legend, George Curtis “GC” Cameron former lead singer of The Spinners and The Temptations. Their new CD has gained recognition and excited the ears of fans throughout theUS,UK, Europe andJapan. The new CD will tantalize the music lover in you with songs such as: “Keep Running Back, My Hearts on Fire, I Can Give You Love, Du The Damn Thang, and Sarah Smile.”

December, 2007 Serieux was voted by Detroit Metro Area Musicians and Entertainment Association (DMAMEA) and received an award as the Best R&B Vocal Group inSoutheastern Michigan. Other winners included; Aretha Franklin (Legendary Choice Award) and Anita Baker (Achievement Award).

Rebecca Rosen is an astonishing talent among spiritual mediums. For the past ten years, she has served as a bridge between this world and with those who have crossed over to the Other Side.

Rebecca has mesmerized thousands of clients and audience members with her down-to-earth style and gentle nature, along with her stunning accuracy in her ability to connect with spirit. Her broad appeal has led to many guest appearances, including Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Nightline,Primetime Nightline, The Rachael Ray Show andThe Rosie Show and she is a contributor toOprah.com. Her uniqueness lies in both the amount of accurate, quantitative, and detailed information given to those she reads, as well as her graceful, healing approach in which she delivers the messages.

Rebecca currently resides in Denver, Colorado with her husband Brian and their two young sons.