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The musical OLIVER, directed by Jeremy John Evans, hits the Leland stage November 5th–7th and 12th –14th. Tickets may be reserved in advance or purchased at the door. For tickets, call 256-9857 ext 3895. $8 adults, $5 students.

A cast of fifty Leland students grades 3-12 bring to life the classic Dickens' characters of Oliver, Dodger, Nancy and Fagin. Oliver opened London in 1960, where it became the longest running production, playing for 2,619 performances. The music and the lyrics are written by Lionel Bart and you can get a classic number from movie of the musical.

Michigan's movie production tax incentive, which became effective in April 2008, is drawing some of the industry's top movie makers to our region. "Youth in Revolt," which stars Michael Cera and Justin Long, was filmed last June in Lake Leelanau, Frankfort, and Empire.

MyNorth.com talks about some of the behind the scenes moments:

Lake Leelanau was one of several Michigan filming locations, including Frankfort, Ferndale and Ann Arbor. The sparkling, family-run Lake Leelanau RV Park transformed into Restless Axels Trailer Park for a full week, where Michael Cera (Juno, Superbad) played the leading man in the adaptation of C.D. Payne’s bitingly hilarious novel about whip-smart, sex-obsessed teen Nick Twisp.

Frankfort will once again play a part in the movie, as The Garden Theater will have a sneak preview later this month. The Record Eagle reported:

But in tiny Frankfort, the VIP is ... well, Frankfort. The refurbished Garden Theater there will offer a special screening of "Youth in Revolt," a movie filmed in the area in June 2008, on Dec. 29. It won't be released until next month. The "pre-screening" is scheduled for 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available beginning Saturday.

It took some work to score an early viewing, according to Rick Schmitt, co-owner of the newly restored theater.

"We've been working on it for over a year," Schmitt said. "I guess persistence was a factor."

Another movie currently be shot in the area, is A Year in Mooring by 2009 Michigan Filmmaker of the Year, Rich Brauer. All this activity means more money in our area's downed economy.

The Leland Public School Drama Department presents Arnold Lobel's A Year With Frog And Toad.  His well-loved characters hop from the page to the stage in Robert and Willie Reale's musical A Year With Frog And Toad. Conceived by Mr. Lobel's daughter, Adrianne Lobel, A Year With Frog And Toad remains true to the spirit of the original stories as it follows two great friends, the cheerful and popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the spring, they proceed to plant gardens, swim, rake leaves and go sledding, learning life lessons along the way, including a most important one about friendship and rejoicing in the attributes that make each of us different and special. Perfect for the whole family!

Tickets: Adult $8, Students $5. Show times: Nov 14 & 15, Nov 20 & 21 at 7:00PM. Call the Leland Public School Drama Department for details at 256-9857.

The Leelanau Players production of Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling will take place the last two weeks of February at Leland School's auditorium. The performances take place February 20-22 & 26-28.

Proceeds from the show will benefit the Ryan Dobry Diabetes Charity, an organization that works to educate the public and help fund some of the medical needs of diabetics in Northern Michigan.

You can buy tickets online through the Leelanau Players and read an article about it in the Leelanau Enterprise that begins:

It’s no coincidence that the Leelanau Players’ next production will be Steel Magnolias. The play is set in the South and centers around the lives of six women, including a young woman who has diabetes.

Kristy VerSnyder of Lake Leelanau, a member of the theater group’s board of directors, has been dealing with diabetes for most of her life. She said that March will be the 20th anniversary of her diagnosis of the disorder.

“It has been tough at times, especially when I was young. I wasn’t invited to some of my friend’s houses because their parents didn’t know what to do when my blood sugar level would get low,” she said, adding that Leelanau Players often performs benefits for non-profit groups. “We have talked about doing something related to diabetes and this year seemed to be as good a time as any.”

This weekend only (November 15th & 16th), Leland Public School presents "Fools" by Neil Simon. It's the story of Leon Tolchinsky, an ambitious young school teacher who arrives in the village of Kulyenchikov and discovers that the town is suffering under a 200-year curse of stupidity.

Performances are Saturday at 2 PM & 7 PM and Sunday at 7 PM. Tickets are available at the door or in advance by calling 256-9857.

The Northport Community Art Center will be presenting $croogical, a new musical by the well-known composer and musician, Kirby Shaw. $croogical is based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol - the story about Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Marley, and all the others.

Kirby Shaw’s music and his wife Markita’s libretto bring this engaging story up-to-date and you are in for a special treat of theatrical magic that is fun for all ages. This musical is bound to end up on Broadway in the future so come and see and hear it first at the NCAC - way off Broadway.

Performances take place this weekend and next - November 7-9 and 14-16 - click for showtimes and to order tickets.

Click to visit Kirby Shaw's Scroogical.com and see a video.

The Leelanau Enterprise reports that the Leelanau Players will present Perfect Timing by Kristi Kane at the Old Art Building in Leland.

Perfect Timing follows the trials and tribulations of an art critic, her frightening German maid and her refreshingly sane secretary. The comedy bubbles over with an assortment of intruders, passersby and drop-ins accompanied by long- and short-term lovers who invariably end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The play is directed by Stephanie Young, and performances are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 11, 12 and 13), and Thursday, Friday and Saturday (April 17, 18 and 19). Curtain time is 8 p.m. for all shows except for the Sunday, April 13 performance, which will begin at 3 p.m.

Ticket Locations are Horizon Book Store in Traverse City, The Painted Bird and Brilliant Books in Suttons Bay, The Cottage Book Store in Glen Arbor, Leelanau Books in Leland, and Dog Ears Bookstore in Northport.

For more information call (231) 633-4155, email leelanauplayers@leelanau.com or visit their web site at leelanau.com/leelanauplayers.

The Leelanau Enterprise has a pair of articles about theater productions at Leelanau schools this weekend.

Suttons Bay students will stage the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. They say "The King and I is set in the 1860s around the king’s palace in Bangkok, Siam. Anna is a teacher hired by the king to educate the royal prince and princesses in the palace. "(read more and see a photo)

Meanwhile Glen Lake elementary and middle school students will put on Seussical Jr. – the musical based on Dr. Seuss' beloved stories, Horton Hears a Who and Horton Hatches an Egg at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday (more from the Enterprise article).

Sorry about the late notice. I have to point out to the schools that in the future they can add these, for free to our Leelanau Calendar! I'd also like to add that I had no idea the picture for this would end up as dueling pachyderms.

Editor's note: This is one of the neatest productions I've ever seen, and I'm not just saying that because my mom is in in it. Well, not totally at least.
With the addition of the classic tale of "The Christmas Tree Ship," the Leelanau Players and the Inland Seas Education Association are pleased to announce four special holiday benefit performances of "The Almanac of the North" on December 7, 8, and 9 at the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay.

Featuring many of the actors, scenes from writers including Ernest Hemingway, Bruce Catton, Jim Harrison, Lynne Rae Perkins, Kathleen Stocking and Anne-Marie Oomen and the live music that made last season's premiere presentation of "The Almanac of the North" such a great success, the new Holiday Edition is sure to become an annual event not to be missed. Proceeds will support the Inland Seas Matching Scholarship Fund and the Leelanau Players Production Fund.

The Almanac is entertainment for the entire family. Children under 12 and accompanied by a parent will be admitted free. Showtimes are at 8 pm on Friday and Saturday and 3:30 pm and 7:00 pm on Sunday and you can call ISEA at 231-271-3077 for information and reservations.

Suttons Bay is a charming village located on the western shore of Leelanau County. Surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and farms, Suttons Bay's unique charm reflects these surroundings.

In 1854 Harry C. Sutton settled in the area with a crew of woodsmen and soon began supplying fuel to the passing wood-burning steamboats. In January of 1866 it was written that "a new village has also sprung into existence near the head of Sutton's Bay, which in honor of Mr. H. C. Sutton… has been christened Suttonsburg… The site of the village is a pleasant one, gradually rising from the bay and extending westward over an even, fertile piece of land." The name Suttonsburg was soon changed into Sutton's Bay. In 1876 Lars Bahle opened a drygoods and clothing store. The store has been run by the same family for over 125 years and is now known as Bahle's Department Store. In 1903 the Manistee and Northeastern Railroad reached Northport with a stop in Suttons Bay. The railroad connected Northport to Traverse City and brought much trade and many settlers to the area. Sutton's Bay soon became recognized as the trade center of a considerable agricultural district.

Today Suttons Bay's history can be seen in many of the historic buildings. In 1920 the Bay Theater building was built with wood from the Elmer Peterson Sawmill, at that time it was home to Hansens Brother's Hardware, which included a blacksmith. The building next turned into a livery business and Suttons Bay's Fire Department. In 1946 it was transformed into a movie theater and today is the historic The Bay Theater. Although the area's fruit production began with orchards, today vineyards are very common around Suttons Bay. Many of The Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association wineries can be found in the surrounding areas.

Local area links:
Wikipedia's Suttons Bay entry
Suttons Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
Leelanau Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's Suttons Bay page
Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library