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Media Archive


A FEW GOOD MEN

REVIEW: A Few Good Men is powerful theater

Battle Creek Enquirer review by Christopher Tower.

REVIEW: What A Do can handle the truth

EncoreMichigan.com review by Bridgette M. Redman.

BREAKING NEWS:  Cast Announced for A Few Good Men

What A Do Theatre has announced the cast for its production of A Few Good Men written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Artistic Director Randy Wolfe. For the complete cast list, please click here.

Improv Workshop @ What A Do Theatre

What A Do Theatre is announcing a new comedy improv and sketch team is being formed and will be housed at our 4071 West Dickman Road home. All are welcome to attend the first informational meeting and workshop at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 31st, at What A Do Theatre.  For more information, please visit our Improv Workshop Facebook event page.

What A What A Do Theatre's 1st Annual Bowl-A-ThonDo Theatre's 1st Annual Bowl-A-Thon

Saturday, M
arch 24, 6-9 p.m.
Nottke
's Family Fun Center
775 W.
Columbia, Battle Creek
$20 includes 3 hours of unlimited bowling & shoe rental
Ti
ckets available at the door or call 269.282.1953






MILLER COLLEGE CHILDREN'S THEATER PROJECT

Miller College Children’s Theater Project Announces Cast for Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School

The Miller College Children’s Theater Project and What A Do Theatre have announced the cast for their production of Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School written by Lakeview High School student Jack Wentworth (adapted from a book written and illustrated by Ruth McNally Barshaw) and directed by Zac Thompson. For the complete cast list, please click here.

Children’s Theater Project Announces Auditions for Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School

The Miller College Children’s Theater Project and community partner,
What A Do Theatre, will hold auditions for the production of Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School on Monday, March 5, and Tuesday, March 6. What A Do Theatre's Zac Thompson will direct the children’s production. 

The Miller College Children’s Theater Project contest was open to students in grades 9 – 12 in school districts throughout Calhoun and Eaton counties. This is in conjunction with the Miller College Children’s Literature Project currently taking place in multiple 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6thgrade classrooms. 

The high school program entailed adapting the book, “Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School”, written and illustrated by Ruth McNally Barshaw of Lansing, for a stage production. Jack Wentworth, a 15-year-old Lakeview High School student, wrote this year’s winning script.

Auditions will be held from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on March 5 and 6 at What A Do Theatre, 4071 West Dickman Road in Springfield. Students in grades 3rd – 9th are encouraged to audition and attend one of the two rehearsal dates. Please plan to arrive promptly at 4:00 and stay until 6:30. Be prepared for cold readings of scene selections from the script, and wear clothes appropriate for an acting physical movement exercise. For more information, please contact Zac Thompson, production director, at 269.808.1872.

Rehearsals begin Monday, March 12, and continue through April, with no rehearsals thoughout Spring Break (April 2-6). The performance date will be April 21, with two shows times of 4:00 and 7:00 p.m.

For questions regarding the Miller College Children’s Theater or Literature Project, please contact Jenny Andrews, Executive Director of Community Relations at Miller College, 269-565-2183 or via email to andrewsj@millercollege.edu.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS

The Last Five Years Held Over

What A Do Theatre has announced it is adding two more performances to the hit musicial, The Last Five Years. The additional dates are Friday, March 2, and Saturday, March 3. Read more >

REVIEW: The Last Five Years is raw with emotional intensity

Battle Creek Enquirer review by Christopher Tower.

REVIEW: Aching realism makes The Last Five Years a heartbreaker

EncoreMichigan.com review by Bridgette M. Redman.

What A Do Theatre Presents "Making of...The Last Five Years"

Filmmaker Katie Ruble takes you behind the scenes of What A Do Theatre's production of The Last Years. Watch the film short and then come see the critically-acclaimed musical in person. Click here  to view "Making of...The Last Five Years."


WMU DIRECTORS FESTIVAL

The Western Michigan University Directors Festival is coming to What A Do Theatre on Sunday, February 19.  See the best and brightest of WMU's budding young directors, as they stage the works of G. William Zorn. The festival begins at 7 p.m. Admission is a $5 donation and no reservations are required. For more information, please call the Box Office at 269.282.1953.


A HOLIDAY MESSAGE FROM WHAT A DO THEATRE

What A Do Theatre
has received many blessings this year. Thank you to every cast & crew that worked on our productions. Your work has created a living legacy. Thank you to Mike Beck, Brian Beaver, Pat Stevens, HBC Contracting, Sims Heating & Cooling, H&H Painting, Battle Creek Tile and the many What A Doers who sacrificed their Saturdays to build our new home. You have crated something special for our community. To all of our past angels and to our future ones, Happy Holidays!

THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER

REVIEW: The Christmas Schooner Is an Emotional Musical

Battle Creek Enquirer says, "What A Do Theatre has concluded its inaugural season with another highly-entertaining theatre experience. The Christmas Schooner lifts the spirits of its audiences with a story of indefatigable human will and perserverance to overcome all obstacles." To read Christopher Tower's full review, please click here.

WHAT A DO THEATRE IS MOVING

What A Do Theatre has secured a new home at 4071 West Dickman Road (corner of Dickman Road and Military Avenue, one block from the Springfield Farmers Market). The first production in the new venue will be The Christmas Schooner opening Thanksgiving weekend. Click here for more details and reaction to the move.

UPDATE: The foundation has been built for
What A Do Theatre's new home.  On November 5th, What A Doers gave up their Saturday to build the stage for our new venue. Our heroes (in alphabetical order): Elena Baralt, Tara Bouldrey, Justin Michael Dietzel, Ted Hatton, Elena Hensel, Lynda Wolfersberger Hensel, Cory Kalkowski, Tom Koehler, Jon Koteles, Joanie Melekian, Joshua Olgine, Greg Reitsma, Katie Ruble, Ian Russell, Bill Sutherland, & Scott Whitesell. Special appreciation to Mike Beck and Brian Beaver of HBC Contracting who spearheaded the collection, transportation, and donation of the materials our heroes used. Heaven was missing some angels that day.

UPDATE: Check out the Gallery for photos from the stage build.

UPDATE: Read about What A Do Theatre's move into its new home in the Battle Creek EnquirerBattle Creek Shopper (November 10th issue, page 33), and BC Current.

THE LARAMIE PROJECT

Managing Director Ed Creech has written a column for Scene Magazine explaining why What A Do Theatre chose The Laramie Project as its next production. Scene Magazine is a free publication available at key points of interest throughout Battle Creek and Marshall.  You can also download it for free here. The column appears on page 4 in Scene's 2011 Yearbook Issue (Volume 36, Number 08).

REVIEW: The Laramie Project Will Challenge Certainty

Battle Creek Enquirer review by Christopher Tower.

REVIEW: 'Laramie Project' Message Resonates

Battle Creek Shopper News LOGOLaura Adams covered Opening Night for the Battle Creek Shopper News. Click here to read her story on pages 19 and 24.

EDITORIAL: Thought-Provoking Theater for B.C.

Battle Creek EnquirerPlease click here to read the October 7th editorial.
TWELVE ANGRY MEN presented by HBC Contracting

What A Do Theatre's third production of its inaugural season will be Twelve Angry Men. Read more >

What A Do Theatre announces HBC Contracting has agreed to sponsor the theatre company’s upcoming production of Twelve Angry Men. Read more >

A special guest performer has joined the cast of What A Do Theatre's production of Twelve Angry Men presented by HBC Contracting. Read more >

The Jury Has Deliberated & the Verdict Is In

Battle Creek Enquirer review by Christopher Tower.

EncoreMichigan.com review by Bridgette M. Redman.

Catch the Second Wave

Jane C. Parikh profiles, in the online magazine Southwest Michigan's Second Wave, how What A Do Theatre wants to be a sparkplug for downtown Battle Creek. Read more >

Doubt, A Parable

What A Do Theatre has selected the award winning play Doubt, A Parable written by John Patrick Shanley and directed by Randy Wolfe to be the second production of its inaugural season. Read more >

Check out the Doubt, A Parable photo album. Click here  for What A Do Theatre's gallery page.
 
Sample the Doubt, A Parable soundtrack created by our sound designer, Chris Gillette. You'll definitely want to hear it live in our beautiful venue. Listen here >

Op-ED

The Spring edition of the Downtown Live eNewsletter has a feature piece from Managing Director Ed Creech. Read more >

Riding the Second Wave

Kathy Jennings profiles What A Do Theatre and its naming of Randy Wolfe as acting artistic director for the online magazine Southwest Michigan's Second Wave. Read more >

The Marshall Plan

Managing Director Ed Creech sat down to discuss What A Do Theatre with the Marshall Ad-visor & Chronicle. You can read Donna Daines's piece in the March 12th edition.

Wake Up Call

Managing Director Ed Creech was on in February with Tim Collins on The WBCK Morning Show talking about the debut of What A Do Theatre and its staged reading of AFFLUENZA! by James Sherman. Congratulations to the WBCK ticket winners: Gwen Devay, Kathy Kopitzke, Linda McClelland, & Amanda Hughes.

WOW!  We're a Pick of the Week!


The Enquirer's Andy Fitzpatrick takes a look at
What A Do Theatre and its staged reading of AFFLUENZA! by James Sherman in the February 10th edition of the WOW sectionAFFLUENZA! also made the staff's picks for that week's best.

Encore! Encore!

What A Do Theatre takes a bow on EncoreMichigan.com, the premier source for free, up-to-the-minute news and information about Michigan's professional theatre industry. Editorial Director Donald V. Calamia spent a few minutes with Managing Director Ed Creech to find out all the details of this new venture - and just how the company got its name! Read more >

Not as Provocative as The Sun's Page 3, but It'll Do!


Managing Director Ed Creech penned a column in the current issue of Scene Magazine (Volume 35, Number 12). Scene is distributed free through its advertisers, professional offices, and key points of interest in the Battle Creek/Marshall area. Pick up a copy at over 100 locations. Bring it to any performance of AFFLUENZA! and you won't have to ask Ed twice to autograph it for you! You can also download the issue at ScenePub.com.

What A Do Theatre on TV

Managing Director Ed Creech was a recent guest on AccessVision's Be Scene on Air discussing What A Do Theatre and its upcoming staged reading of AFFLUENZA!. Be Scene on Air can be seen everyday on demand at AccessVision.tv.  Ed's segment begins at the 36.04 mark.

Read All About It!

Read Laura Adams's review of Opening Night in the February 17th edition of the Battle Creek Shopper News.

Read Laura Adams's article on What A Do Theatre in the February 3rd edition of the Battle Creek Shopper News.

Read about James Sherman pulling double-duty in
What A Do Theatre's staged reading of AFFLUENZA! in the Battle Creek Enquirer. Read more >

Read about AFFLUENZA! by James Sherman in the Battle Creek Enquirer. Read more >

Read about
What A Do Theatre receiving a Battle Creek Community Foundation grant in the Battle Creek Enquirer. Read more >

Around the What A Do Theatre in 80 Seconds

Managing Director Ed Creech and Emily Richett talk about
What A Do Theatre and AFFLUENZA! on the Fox 17 Morning News. Ed's portion of the segment begins around the 1:30 mark.

 
 
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