Theater   

• Theater Character Creation 

• IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom at the Vineyard Church

  Playwrights do not create their characters the same way other fiction writers do. Good novels and short stories feature fully-fleshed-out characters that the readers feel they know. Good playwrights create sturdy skeletons that actors can embody and flesh out with their own artistry. Our presenters will take a look at how actors go about doing just that. We will learn how actors glean clues from the script, and what questions they ask themselves to help them make bold, honest, and interesting choices. Laura Bird is a retired theater educator, director, and designer. She earned her doctorate in Theatre History from Michigan State University in 1999. Laura was Associate Professor and Director of Theater at Concordia University, and taught at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor. She is currently on the Board of PTD Productions in Ypsilanti, and often works on their shows in one or more of a dozen or so capacities; however, she enjoys directing and scene design the most. Janet Rich is one of the founding company members of PTD Productions in Ypsilanti. She has a Master's in Performance Studies from Eastern Michigan University. A dedicated theatre artist, Janet has created scores of roles and helped many other actors fine-tune their own character development.

  

   

• Fee: $15.00

• Instructor(s): Laura Bird

• Dates: 5/27/2025 - 5/27/2025

  Times: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Sessions: 1

  Days: Tu

• Building: Vineyard Church

  Room: Classroom at the Vineyard Church

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• PTD Theatre: Welcome to Paradise
  Dates: 5/9/2025 - 5/9/2025

• ONLINE registration for this class is now closed.
    If the start date of the first session has not happened yet,
    please call or email the Elderwise office to get registered.
    Thank you!
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• Online Pre-Play Class: Friday, May 9, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
  A Zoom invitation link will be emailed one day before the class begins.
  Pre-Play Class Presenter: Laura Bird

  Matinee LIVE Performance: Wednesday, May 14, 2:00 p.m.
  Riverside Arts Center, 76 North Huron Street, Ypsilanti, MI

  Written by Julie Marino
  Directed by Laura Bird
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  Fees:
  Members $27; Nonmembers $32
  Includes pre-play class and one ticket to the performance.
  
  Extra Tickets are $17 each.
  Please contact the Elderwise office to purchase extra tickets. This cannot be done online.

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  A chance meeting on a plane and a dizzy spell at the luggage carousel brings young Rory to Evelyn’s home in the Caribbean to stay for a few days. Evelyn and Rory, despite their generational age difference, find love and acceptance in each other. Rory gradually finds himself at ease and useful in Evelyn’s home and Evelyn is delighted to have a pleasant and helpful young companion. A relationship that seemed odd to them at first (and remains so for Evelyn’s family) leads to questions about whether there are boundaries to true friendship and affection. What, exactly, is the meaning and nature of love? Laura Bird is a retired theater educator, director, and designer. She earned her doctorate in Theatre History from Michigan State University in 1999. Laura was Associate Professor and Director of Theater at Concordia University, and taught at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor. She is currently on the Board of PTD Productions in Ypsilanti, and often works on their shows in one or more of a dozen or so capacities; however, she enjoys directing and scene design the most.

  

   

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