from the Community Circle Players at

Riverwalk Theatre Season 33 • Number 6

March/April, 2022
228 Museum Dr. • PO Box 12249 • Lansing, MI 48901 • 517-482-5700 • Office Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10 am to 5 pm • e-mail: RWT@riverwalktheatre.com • web site: RiverwalkTheatre.com

What’s on
AR T — a fun “roast” of opinions, friendship... at r i v e r wa l k

A April 3 & 4 - 7pm -

Auditions for
The Revolutionists
by Lauren Gunderson -
Directed by Tom Ferris

®April 21-24 & 28- May1

- Art by Yasmina Reza -
Directed by Scott Pohl

®June 9-12 & 16-19 -

The Revolutionists
by Lauren Gunderson -
Directed by Tom Ferris

L to R: Joe Clark, Andrew Stewart and Alan H June 29 - 7pm -

Greenberg may not agree on the value of this
BARNEYS awards
“masterpiece” Photo by www.Ariniko.com
and celebration/
entertainment, reception
“Not only is this show funny, but it explores issues time Assistant Director Bernie Lucas, who brings tons follows
that will have you thinking about the show long after of backstage experience. “Her advice and demeanor
the lights have come up. ” So reports director Scott are proving to be big assets,” reports Scott.
Pohl about ART, opening April 21 for a two-week Scott originally proposed this show for our Black Season 34
run at Riverwalk. Box stage. It was relocated and rescheduled in the announcement
This show will appeal to people who aren’t pandemic-scrambled season. Reconfiguring Art on a
interested in art at all — because it’s so funny to thrust stage has presented some challenges related to
coming soon!
watch these three friends argue and insult each other the set and the blocking.
Seinfeld-style over a white painting. On the other But the fun part is the interactions between the ®PLAY: 7 pm Thurs.; 8
hand, the artistic community will enjoy weighing in characters. Alan Greenberg is making his Lansing pm Fri. & Sat.; 2 pm Sun.
on the “is it art?” question. In both cases, ART will debut as Serge, bringing lots of experience from Fri./Sat./Sun.
stimulate thought and conversation long after the his days in Midland. Though by no means a pomp- $15 ($12 sr/student/mil-
laughter has faded away. ous snob in real life, Alan is nonetheless adept at
itary) Bargain Thursdays
Scott’s theatre minor at MSU helped with his bringing those qualities to the role. Andrew Stewart
$10/$8
long career at WKAR radio, but it’s only in recent appeared in Riverwalk’s last show, Lobby Hero, and
years he’s brought his talents and training to the he’s embodying the confrontational role of Marc to A AUDITIONS - more info
literal stage. He joined the Riverwalk board in 2015 great comedic effect. Joe Clark is bringing just the at riverwalktheatre.com/
which led him to acting in Buried Child and Sweat as right tones of frantic fussiness called for by the role auditions.html
well as producing shows and running a sound board. of Yvan. They’re meshing in ways that will have you H SPECIAL EVENT: More
He says, “Theatre has become my semi-retirement laughing from start to finish!
info at
activity of choice.” Make your reservations for this “artistic” laugh-
This is Scott’s directing debut, assisted by first- fest online or call Mike at 517-482-5700.
RiverwalkTheatre.com

Ripples - March/April 2022 — Page 1


Lobby Hero
In his director's note for Lobby Hero,
director George Popovich reflected on the
play’s main thrust: If you had two choices
that were equally right when considered sepa-
rately — but polar moral opposites when con-
sidered together — which would you choose?
As with all good theatre, this gives the au-
dience food for thought-can one objectively
look at a situation and know how they would
react without walking in the person's shoes?
Lobby Hero was one of the most natu-
ral ensemble pieces I've seen. Every bit of
dialogue and movement flowed naturally.
Nothing seemed forced.
This is a credit to Dr. Popovich's stag-
ing and to his cast-Ayden Soupal, Ndegwa
McCloud, Rachel Daugherty, and Andrew
Stewart. It was fascinating to watch these two
REVIEW
Andrew
Stewart
sets of characters interact on a range of levels
from supervisor to employee, experienced
to beginner, while dealing with emotions of
anger and resentment.
This was a play that dealt with themes
relevant to our world today: racism, sexual Ayden Soupal
harassment, and the role of the police. I was
impressed with Mr. Soupal's performance as
Jeff the Security guard. It was interesting
watching his character grow from annoyance
to doing the right thing because it's right.
The technical aspects were just right.
The set design by Dr. Popovich was very
functional. Joe Dickson's light design was
effective, particularly with the elevator ef- Rachel
fect. Leon Green provided a smooth jazz Daugherty
soundstrack. This was a fine production.
Justin Banks Ndegwa
McCloud

L to R: Ayden Soupal L to R: Rachel

& Andrew Stewart Daugherty & Andrew
Stewart

Ndegwa
McCloud

People often ask us in the prop loft what
we need for our collection of props. The usual
response is, “We really don’t know until we
need it.” We try to anticipate common items
that are about to become extinct.
Not long ago we realized that we no
longer rely on phone books like we once did
and we collected a few while we could get
them. Likewise, we expanded our collection
Got Props?
of land-line phones when people began to
give them up for their cell phones.
Now, thinking ahead, we believe we can
use a couple of discarded electronic tablets
and smart phones. Since space is always a
concern for all departments at Riverwalk, we
can only use one or two of each type but since
styles of electronics evolve so rapidly, we’d
like a small collection of various models.
Looking back, we would like to have a
Selectric typewriter to add to our collection
of typewriters. And finally, we would like a
few army blankets to add to our collection
of military equipment.
If any of you out there have any of
these items and don’t know what to do with
them, please consider donating them to
Riverwalk Theatre. Contact Sandy Norton
sandyknorton@ameritech.net

Ripples - March/April 2022 — Page 2

 a u
THE REVOLUTIONISTS
Audition Dates: Sunday &
Monday, April 3 & 4 at 7 pm
Performances: June 9-19
d i t i
Four beautiful,
badass women lose
their heads in this ir-
reverent, girl-powered
comedy set during
the French Revolu-
tion’s Reign of Terror.
Playwright Olympe
de Gouges, assassin
Charlotte Corday, for-
mer queen Marie An-
toinette, and Haitian
rebel Marianne Angelle
hang out, murder Marat,
and try to beat back the
extremist insanity in
1793 Paris. It’s a true
story. Or total fiction. Or
a play about a play. Or a
raucous resurrection…
that ends in a song and
a scaffold.
OLYMPE DE GOUGES – Badass activist
playwright and feminist. Theatre nerd,
excitable, passionate, a showman.
Widowed and never married to ensure
her personal freedom.
CHARLOTTE CORDAY – Badass country
girl and assassin. Very serious, hardened
o n s
by righteousness. Never been kissed. Has
a pocket watch she keeps checking.
MARIE ANTOINETTE – Pretty badass
but fascinating former queen of France.
Bubbly, graceful, opinionated, totally
unaware, unintentionally rude, and oddly
prescient. Never had a real friend.
MARIANNE ANGELLE – A badass black
woman in Paris. She is from the Caribbean,
a free woman, a spy working with her
husband, Vincent. Tough, classy, vigilant,
the sanest one of them all.
FRATERNITE (Voice and Puppeteer) – This
character will be portrayed by a puppet.
Voice may be recorded. Voice is dictatorial
and ominous.
Character ages are flexible. Come pre-
pared to read from the script. Perusal scripts
are available at theRiverwalk Theatre Office
Tuesday-Friday, 10 am-5:30 pm or contact
us at: RWT@Riverwalktheatre.com
Auditions will be held — live— on
Riverwalk’s Black Box stage. All audition-
ers and other volunteers must be fully vac-
cinated to participate in Riverwalk Theatre
activities and show proof of vaccination
for building entry. Masks are required at
all times in the building other than when
actively performing.

Lobby Art - the photography of Jeff Boerger

While my association with Riverwalk
Theatre goes back more than thirty years as
actor, musician or set designer/builder for
nearly twenty shows, I’m honored now to
present a different art form — photography.
It all began for me as a kid with a Brownie
Hawkeye taking blurry vacation pictures, or
of the family dog who would never sit long
enough to catch him in focus. I wasn’t very
good. But even then, I sensed my world was
best understood visually and that art would
somehow be part of my life.
It was later while living and working in
Europe that I realized photography was far
more than a passing interest. Every place I
explored presented new and exciting images
to be captured.
At nineteen, I entered college in Ohio
where, after three years of Liberal Arts, I
transferred to art school to pursue painting;
but with a world full of images waiting to
be recorded, I soon found the camera was
a better tool for my needs than a brush.
Ripples - March/April 2022 — Page 3
Photography would see the whole world
as a palette, then reduce it, one frame
at a time, to the essence of a narrative.
I was hooked.
While my work ranges from abstract
to pastoral (I call it pretty stuff), my pas-
sion is the grit of “street photography,”
random shots of people caught in a fleet-
ing moment that speaks of the human
condition and how we as people live
together. Honoring the progenitors of this
genre, most images are black and white
which I believe pulls us into a reality
based more on experience and emotion.
I believe a good photograph must
engage the viewer on two key levels.
One, it should be aesthetically interest-
ing in terms of composition and visual
balance, something I always strive for.
But more importantly, it should create
its own narrative, one that stimulates a
reaction, personal memory, or perhaps
a question. Jeff Boerger
Season 33 Members Riverwalk Membership runs July - June. Approaching the
end of our fiscal year, we invite you to join now and be a
July 2021 through June 2022: member through june, 2023!
ANGEL Janet Lockwood other category We hope you will also buy show tickets as we return to a full season, but
Sam & Mary Austin remember, MEMBERSHIP still funds at least a quarter of show budgets
Arlene & Dan Brown
Bob Mellor & Roger donors plus general operating expenses to maintain our building and staff.
Rochowiak are listed on Actor — $15-24, Ripples, voting on board members & Members Choice favorite show award.
Douglas & Barbara Edema Nancy Muhlbach
Brian Farnham our website — Technician —$25-49, Ripples, voting, program listing
Ric Sadler Stage Manager — $50-99, Ripples, voting, program listing, and one comp ticket
Tom & Carol Ferris Clarence Weiss
and in our Director — $100-249, Ripples, voting, program listing, two comp tickets
Leon Green Rick Wendorf programs. Producer — $250-499, Ripples, voting, program listing, four comp tickets
Lee Helder Jane & Mark Zussman Star — $500-999, Ripples, voting, program listing, six comps, name on theatre seat
s
onth
Marge & Jack Hetherington Angel — $1000+, Ripples, voting, program listing, 12 comp tickets, name on a theatre seat and on the donor board
Doug Kempf 3 E! m in the lobby
get
Local First Mid-Michigan, a nd p FRE Join or Renew: at riverwalktheatre.com - click “more” then “get involved” to join online... Or
i
NOW mbersh eck or
LLC just mail a check to Mike at the office, P.O. Box 12249, Lansing 48901. We’re 501c3 tax deductible.
o i n e
J ch
of m ail a e.
M e onlin
t
Riverwalk dona
2021-2022 Officers Statement of Intent
President......... Jeff Magnuson
Admin. VP....... Brian Farnham Riverwalk Theatre
Production VP...........Shannon
Bowen
March 16, 2022
Treasurer.................... Michele
Booher- Purosky To the Greater Lansing Theatre Community:
Secretary................ Kate Clark We at Riverwalk Theatre are a set foot in our theatre, we strive to implemented a policy and process
2021-2022 Board family – part of a larger community make every experience a safe and for handling situations brought to
of Directors and theatre family in Lansing and positive one. With that goal in mind, our attention that made members and
Laura Croff the surrounding areas – who come we have made and continue to make friends of our community feel unsafe
Dan Currie together because we love our craft, efforts to do better for our family. or uncomfortable. We are learning to
Darrin Fowler
Leon Green the sense of belonging and inclusiv- We realize theatre is, at its core, an listen better, to show up more, and to
Sarah Hayner ity it creates, and the joy it brings. extremely human experience run by create a space for open, productive
Bernie Lucas Riverwalk is proud to open individuals, and being so, we will not discussions that can grow and help
Amanda Macomber
its doors to employees, patrons, always get it right. But we promise heal. We are conversing with other
Scott Mandel
Scott Pohl partners, and the innumerable we will continue to strive to do the area theatre leadership to partner with
Hope Rollins volunteers who lend their talents, right thing, no matter what. one another on these goals.
Julian VanDyke passion, voices, strength, bravery, The COVID-19 pandemic has We stand with and for one another.
Linda Widener
and heart to our home and com- allowed the Riverwalk Theatre We hope you’ll stand with us.
Ripples is published by
Riverwalk Theatre. Submit
munity. Recognizing the time leadership team the time to think Sincerely,
info to Editor Jane Zussman commitment, dedication, and, and plan for a safe space and safe The Riverwalk Theatre
(jszussman@gmail.com) or oftentimes, vulnerability put forth show experiences as we reopen our Executive Team
Riverwalk Manager Mike
by the aforementioned parties who theatre to large groups. We have
Siracuse (rwt@riverwalk- www.riverwalktheatre.com
theatre.com) 517-482-5700
or at RiverwalkTheatre.com

P.O. Box 12249

Lansing MI 48901
Next to Impression 5,
228 Museum Drive, south
off Michigan Avenue,
across from the President: Administrative VP: Production VP: Treasurer: Secretary:
Lansing Center Jeff Magnuson Brian Farnham Shannon Bowen Michele Booher Kate Clark

Supported in part by Michigan Council

for Arts AND Cultural Affairs
• National Endowment for the
Arts • Community Foundation •
arts council of greater Lansing
Ripples - March/April 2022 — Page 4