Adrian, MI – Tickets are now on sale for the Croswell Opera House’s 2022 Special Event Series, which runs from January through May. “We’ve put together an incredibly diverse lineup of shows,” said Jere Righter, the Croswell’s artistic director.
The first show in the series, running from Jan. 28 to Feb. 6, is the Croswell’s all-area high school musical, a tradition that began in 2010 and has taken place every year except 2021. This year’s selection is “Les Miserables,” the Tony Award-winning show that’s one of the longest-running musicals in the world. The cast is drawn from 10 high schools across southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio.
“The all-area high school musical gives some of the best young performers in the region a chance to work together and put together a really spectacular show,” Righter said.
Later in February, the Croswell will stage a tribute to the music of Whitney Houston titled “Classic Whitney: Alive!” The concert is headlined by Kevin Smith Kirkwood, a Toledo native who was part of the original Broadway cast of the musical “Kinky Boots.”
“It’s more than just a tribute concert and it’s more than just a drag show,” Righter said. “Kevin is a first-class entertainer and it’s a real honor for us to have him perform at the Croswell.”
“Classic Whitney: Alive!” will take the stage on Feb. 19.
Next up, running one weekend from March 4-6, will be a production for young audiences titled “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.” Based on the classic children’s book of the same name, it’s the story of a struggling house painter named Mr. Popper who unexpectedly finds himself raising a family of hungry penguins. He has no idea how to make ends meet with so many extra mouths to feed until he hits on the idea of training the penguins to put on a traveling vaudeville act.
“It’s not just kids who will enjoy this show,” Righter said. “It’s completely charming, the music is fun, and I think anyone who read the book growing up will have a great time.”
The comedy “Boeing Boeing” will run from March 26 to April 3. “Boeing Boeing” is a classic farce written by French playwright Marc Camoletti that has been adapted into English. Set in the 1960s, it centers on a Paris bachelor who is engaged to three women, all flight attendants, with none of them knowing about the others.
The Toledo-based band Not Fast Enuff will present a concert of ’80s rock hits on April 23. This band previously performed during the Croswell’s outdoor concert series in August 2020.
The southern gospel quartet Ernie Haase + Signature Sound will perform on May 8. This concert was originally scheduled for 2020 and canceled due to the pandemic. The group has performed all over the world, including in Latvia, India, South Africa and New Zealand.
In addition to these events, the Croswell is organizing a festival of one-act plays on the second weekend in April. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Croswell, a 640-seat historic building in downtown Adrian, is one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the country. More information is available by calling 517-264-7469 or going to croswell.org.
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*Media courtesy of the Croswell Opera House*