The Lansing Civic Players are prepared to premiere their newest musical, “Folles,” on Friday evening. The play, featuring a 12-piece orchestra, 18 performers and 27 original songs, was written by an area resident and features a number of MSU students and alumni working together on the production. “I think it will be fun for people on both sides of the stage,” said T.E.
The Calling Camino Palmero (RCA) Rock bands these days have a considerable uphill battle to win.
As a movie critic, there are few choices as to the movies that must be reviewed. If there were a choice, “Scary Movie 2” would be avoided. If it were showing on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s naked body, I still wouldn’t watch it again. If there were exotic concubines waiting to feed me popcorn while I laid on a soft bed of silk pillows, I still would not go. There’s never been a bigger waste of time or money than Keenen Ivory Wayans’ new comedy venture.
Mushroomhead XX (Eclipse Records) There are a lot of heavy metal bands out there today, but Cleveland-based Mushroomhead does its best to separate itself from the rest. “XX” is the band’s national debut, and fourth album overall.
Martial arts films are often risky territory. The characters usually aren’t very interesting except for their physical abilities and the stories are far-fetched, even for such a far-fetched genre. But “Kiss of the Dragon,” starring Jet Li, manages to entertain without talking down to the audience or getting too hokey. The story centers on Li’s character, Liu Jian, who’s something of a Chinese supercop.
By BILL WARD For The State News If Austin Powers were a dog, then Dr. Evil would be a cat in the family-friendly comedy “Cats & Dogs.” The film provides enough silly action and high-tech espionage to feel more like a James Bond flick than a Dr. Dolittle.
By BILL WARD For The State News “Crazy/beautiful” has more depth and heart than most teen flicks, but just scratches the surface of the more substantial issues it hints at during the film.
Sketch comedy rarely transfers over to the big screen very well. But, on occasion, a popular TV character makes it to the movies and entertains. Pootie Tang is not one of those. Based on a character from Chris Rock’s HBO talk show, “Pootie Tang” in film form is a waste of time, money and talent.
The Verdehr Trio has performed all over the world, but it won’t have to travel far for tonight’s show at the Wharton Center.
“A.I. Artificial Intelligence” is a thought-provoking science fiction drama that works on many levels and reveals deeper meanings long after the movie is over.
Flying an American flag is a way to pay homage to our country, but heading to the sixth annual Symphony at the Park would give an earlier start to Independence Day festivities. The Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra will be performing popular patriotic songs, Hollywood and Broadway hits and Disney selections at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E.
More music is making its way to the Lansing area tonight, as the Old Town Block Party kicks off its first year of performances. “We’re very excited,” said Jamie Czekai, the interim program manager for Old Town Main Street.
Corvair Jesus The Threat Management Committe Known As: CORVAIR JESUS (Corvair Jesus) Corvair Jesus played weird, but ingenious, music before graduation from MSU caused the trio to break up. But before its demise, the band released “The Threat Management Committe Known as: Corvair Jesus,” and it’s just as weird as it was. Musically, the only band Corvair might be comparable to is Fishbone, because both use an instrument called a theremin.
Oh my god Well (Oh my god music) Oh my god’s first album, “Well,” is a swift kick to the senses for those of us who forgot what music should be. At a time when most new rock albums sound like recycled Limp Bizkit, the Chicago trio produced a solid album that borders on both rock and punk, but is certainly not hip-hop. The CD is an original, if not undefinable, type of punk rock that few would expect from a band without an electric guitar.
Steppin’ In It has been around for more than four years, and its popularity just keeps on growing.The group started out as a funk and blues outfit, but added bluegrass, jazz, calypso, folk, Cajun, zydeco, Caribbean and Jamaican music to its repertoire with each new member who joined - thus creating a diverse mixture of the “great old-time.”“We kinda play our own take on old-time and roots music,” said Josh Davis, the band’s lead vocalist and a theater senior.
LANSING - “Eat, drink and be merry” could be Festival of the Sun’s motto. Old Town hosted the second annual celebration Saturday afternoon, drawing approximately 2,000 people to North Lansing.
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. Well, “Dr. Dolittle 2,” the new animal-heavy comedy, only stars one of those frightening creatures, and the movie hardly deserves an, “oh my!” Starring Eddie Murphy, reprising his role as the title-character doctor who has the ability to converse with animals, the movie is steeped in run-of-the-mill fart jokes and a mild comedic punch that fills most modern “family” movies. The movie follows Dolittle as he deals with his role as the doctor who splits his time between human and animal patients and attempts to spend time with his family, which is beginning to resent the amount of time he devotes to helping the animal kingdom. While planning a trip to Europe to spend time with the family, a sudden tragedy engrosses the good doctor - an evil logging company is cutting down an entire forest, conveniently proximate enough for the woodland creatures to contact Dolittle to help. So, Dolittle has to find a way to save the forest.
By BILL WARD For The State News “The Fast and the Furious” lives up to the promise of its name in this hard-charging action thriller.
The Lansing area will be inundated with festivals this weekend, which promises to keep residents in mid-Michigan busy. Here’s a brief look at five area festivals this weekend: Festival of the Sun Saturday, North Lansing Festival of the Sun is mid-Michigan’s premier wine, brew and gourmet food-tasting festival.
With the coming of every summer, moviegoers can expect a new Disney movie, packed full of everything that Disney fans love.