theatre - The Eastern Echo

Shakespeare gets a makeover in gender-bent “The Taming of the Shrew”

By Gray Connor · Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Theater lovers will not want to miss Brevity Shakespeare's gender-bent version of Shakespeare's play "The Taming of the Shrew."

EMU Theatre’s ‘The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus’ finds childhood whimsy in the rural desert

By Frank Remski · Tuesday, April 15, 2025

“The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus” is the latest show from EMU’s Theatre For the Young Tour. Directed by MFA candidate Olivia Allen, the play follows a girl named Sheila and her friends in rural New Mexico. They get roped into conflict with animals and solve it with their ingenuity. The show is lively and funny, with strong messages around environmentalism and conflict resolution.

Review: EMU Theatre's 'Cause Play' was hilarious

By Mariam Fakhreddine · Sunday, April 13, 2025

"Cause Play" is for all ages. It is the perfect play for children. It shows that students with imagination have superpowers.

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Review: 'Inaccurate Conceptions,' an EMU student directed play, is humorous

By Mariam Fakhreddine · Tuesday, March 25, 2025

The student actors did a great job portraying their characters in "Inaccurate Misconceptions." They kept the audience interested and engaged throughout the show.

EMU Theatre and the audience unite for the queer joy of 'The Rocky Horror Show'

By Frank Remski · Monday, Feb. 17, 2025

EMU Theatre’s performance of “The Rocky Horror Show” opened on Feb. 14. A hilarious, satirical play that pokes fun at science fiction horror and explores queerness, the audience was encouraged to play along. As such, it was an immersive experience where the audience became a part of the show.

Tickets on sale now for EMU theatre's 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'

By Ameera Salman · Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025

Don't miss EMU Theatre's production of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" from Feb. 13-16!

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EMU Theatre brings 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' to the modern day in a hysterical way

By Frank Remski · Monday, Dec. 9, 2024

EMU Theatre For the Young Tour brought an accessible and digestible version of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to campus.

Review: EMU Theatre performs 'Silent Sky' beautifully

By Mariam Fakhreddine · Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024

EMU Theatre's "Silent Sky" shows the meaningful truth behind women pursuing intellectual careers in the 1900s. It also conveys the beautiful message of how a determined woman discovered the Milky Way.

Review: EMU Theatre's kicks off season with fantastic 'Alice by Heart'

By Mariam Fakhreddine · Monday, Oct. 7, 2024

EMU Theatre's "Alice by Heart" included catchy melodies that were expertly sung and the background orchestra was quite good. This production was definitely worth seeing.

‘Ronnie and Scales’ Magnificent Tale’ brings its multi-sensory experience to EMU

By Frank Remski · Thursday, March 14, 2024

The play was created for neurodivergent audiences. The audience is the star of the show in this interactive story. The tour is put on by EMU’s Theatre for the Young program and will be traveling to various local places from March 8 to April 19.

EMU Theatre shows off their range and creativity with “Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea”

By Frank Remski · Friday, Feb. 16, 2024

The play is about an 18 year old boy who wants to find an ancestor in the sea. It’s a modern fable that centers family. EMU’s actors bring their A-game and offer dynamic performances with imaginative sets and costumes.

“Hare and Tortoise” brings the art of theater to children

By Frank Remski · Friday, Nov. 10, 2023

This extended version of the fable will be shown at Sponberg Theater on Nov. 10 and 11. It is presented by the Theatre for the Young program which introduces theater as an artform to children.

CloseUp Theatre Troupe Performs “We the People Speak: No Justice, No Peace”

By Emma Henri · Monday, Jan. 18, 2021

On Saturday, Jan. 16, EMU’s CloseUp Theatre Troupe performed “We the People Speak: No Justice, No Peace” virtually on Eastern Michigan University’s Facebook page. A Q&A followed the performance with the two Co-Directors of CloseUp hosted by Dr. Doris Fields.

Opinion: Virtual theatre performances are worth the watch

By Parker Nolan · Monday, Oct. 12, 2020

Right now, you probably feel like looking at one more thing on a screen is the last thing you want to do. But, there’s benefits to pushing past screen fatigue, especially when you’re doing so in pursuit of supporting the arts.

‘Much Ado’ At EMU

By Arica Frisbey · Tuesday, April 9, 2019

When friends, family and other playgoers gathered in Quirk Theatre this past Friday night, there was only the anticipation of a great opening night in the air, a held breath and hope for an entertaining rendition of one of Shakespeare’s works. By the time the curtain fell on the first evening show of the run, they were left with more than that: a discussion on gender relations, double standards and comedy in the #MeToo era. Just as Director Lee Stille, professor of theatre arts here at Eastern Michigan University, intended.

‘Much Ado About Nothing’ To Premiere in Quirk Theatre

By Arica Frisbey · Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Another talented cast takes the Quirk mainstage this coming weekend for EMU Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s classic, “Much Ado About Nothing.” The production, directed by Dr. Lee Stille, is set to run for two weekends, April 5 through April 7 and April 11 through April 14.

EMU Theatre Presents ‘Songs Unsung’ at Sponberg Theatre

By Arica Frisbey · Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Eastern Michigan University Theatre continues its Second Stage Series with their production of “Songs Unsung: a Musical Revue,” set to open in Sponberg Theatre and run March 15 through March 17.

Theatre exposes lack of diversity in Hollywood

By Emily Slomovits · Saturday, May 28, 2016

Hollywood casting, when it comes to diversity, is taking one step forward and two steps back, but theatre is boldly progressive.

EMU Theatre hosts One-Act Festival

By Kelsey Hawkins-Johnson · Wednesday, March 23, 2016

The creative thoughts of Eastern Michigan University students formed in the Theatre Department’s student written and student directed One-Act Festival in the Frank Ross Laboratory Theatre this week. From the early 1990’s to present day, the One Act Festival has served the talents of EMU students in the art of playwriting, directing and performing.

Eric Hohnke and Marissa Kurtzhals will be starring in the show.

EMU Alumni to perform original sketch show

By Sasha Brown · Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015

Eastern Michigan University alumni, Kristin Anne Danko, Eric Hohnke and Marissa Kurtzhals, are to participate in their very own, originally written theatrical performance, The Big Game Weekend. Danko will be directing the performance and Hohnke and Kurtzhals will be starring as fifteen different characters, including themselves.