Author Archives: jcarpen

By Sue White | For MLive.com SAGINAW, MI – When “It’s a Wonderful Life” hit the theaters in 1946, audiences didn’t immediately take to Frank Capra’s tale of a small-town banker’s life-changing redemption, calling it “sentimental.” “Some people still feel that way,” says Jessica McFarland, who’s directing the Pit and Balcony Community Theatre’s production of the now-classic play. But going back to the original script, a compilation of three different versions, she’s balancing the story of redemption with its underlying current […]

By Janet I. Martineau  Perpetual, perpetual, perpetual MOTION. That word sums up the Pit and Balcony Community Theatre production of the musical “Hairspray,” opening tonight (Oct. 2). That word and a whole lot many more words which will follow in this review. We had to go home after its last dress rehearsal and take a nap… there was so much energy exuded. Recently we extolled the choreography in the Midland Center for the Arts production of “Mary Poppins.” Well, “Hairspray” […]

By Josephine Norris, Photo Editor.  The hit Broadway musical “Hairspray” kicked off Pit and Balcony’s 84th season. Under the direction of Tommy Wedge, this is a larger than life musical has been dazzling and inspiring audience members to dance right out of their seats since it opened on the Great White Way in 2002. With music and lyrics by the award winning pair, Marc Shaiman and Scott Whittman, “Hairspray” is a joyful and talented performance not to be missed. The […]