Krista Schafer Ewbank News

Theatre NOVA, Ann Arbor's professional theatre with an exclusive focus on new plays and playwrights, presents their semi-annual Michigan Playwrights Festival, now in its third year. Six new plays by Michigan playwrights will be presented in the fall, and an additional five plays and playwrights will be given readings next summer.

Some days we're pretty sure that life sucks. Other days we might feel that life is full of beauty and wonder.

Some days we're pretty sure that life sucks. Other days we might feel that life is full of beauty and wonder.

???????Open Book Theatre Company is helmed by Grosse Ile resident Krista Schafer Ewbank.  "I've always been aware of the lack of roles, both onstage and off, for women.  There are far more women at auditions and vying for jobs, but theatre is often still a man's world."  According to a recent study by Wellesly Centers for Women less than 27% of theatres have women in the artistic director role.   A 2015 study by the Dramatists Guild found that 78% of plays produced were written by men.  "I always look for plays that feature strong roles for women. It's harder than you might think with so many plays being written by men. I think we've found a really good balance."

Theater professionals from across Michigan will gather Aug. 28 when The 2017 Wilde Awards are presented at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield.

Fans of comedian and actor Steve Martin will recognize his smart and ridiculous style in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, the first play he wrote for the stage. The story goes that Martin heard a joke that began "Picasso and Einstein walk into a bar…" and turned that concept into a joyous 90 minute romp.

Fans of comedian and actor Steve Martin will recognize his smart and ridiculous style in Picasso at the Lapin Agile, the first play he wrote for the stage.  The story goes that Martin heard a joke that began "Picasso and Einstein walk into a bar…" and turned that concept into a joyous 90 minute romp.  

For three weekends, January 13-28, a gripping thriller will take the stage at Open Book Theatre in Trenton. Boy Gets Girl is in the same vein as recent hit books/movies Gone Girl and Girl on the Train. Open Book Artistic Director Krista Ewbank is featured as Theresa, who goes on an awkward blind date with Tony. Theresa she sees no reason to continue the relationship-but Tony thinks otherwise. Theresa's strength and independence begin to unravel as Tony continues to refuse to take no for an answer. "This play has sparked great conversations among the actors and production staff during rehearsals," said Ewbank. "It fits right in to the larger discussion we are all having about the way women are treated and the subtle and not so subtle intimidations and sexualized assumptions that happen to us each day. We share our personal stories and talk about what's happening in the world today. We are excited to have the audience engage in these conversations with us."

Fifteen years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001 most of us can look back on this date and remember in vivid detail what we were doing, where we were, and who we were with. Recent Tragic Events, a play by Craig Wright, takes place the day after 9/11.

Fifteen years after the tragic events of September 11, 2001 most of us can look back on this date and remember in vivid detail what we were doing, where we were, and who we were with. Recent Tragic Events, a play by Craig Wright, takes place the day after 9/11.

Open Book Theatre Company is excited to announce the first production of their third season: Peter and the Starcatcher.  The show will also be the first in their new space at 1621 West Road in Trenton.

Open Book Theatre Company is excited to present the world premiere of a beautiful new play by Emily Rosenbaum.

Open Book Theatre Company is excited to present the world premiere of a beautiful new play by Emily Rosenbaum.

Open Book Theatre Company is excited to announce that they will soon have a new home at 1621 West Road, Trenton, MI.  Open Book will be converting two former retail spaces (most recently the Feathered Nest and the Eagle's Nest) into a theatre complete with a flexible black box performance space, lobby, dressing room, work area and more!

Open Book Theatre Company will open its second season with an American classic, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer.

Open Book Theatre Company will open its second season with an American classic, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play THE SHADOW BOX by Michael Cristofer. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Open Book Theatre Company will open its second season with an American classic, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer.

Open Book Theatre Company will open its second season with an American classic, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer.

Open Book is excited to present a professional production for the whole family in the new amphitheater at Market Center Park, near the corner of Eureka and Trenton where the old Montgomery Ward building once stood. Scroll down for a sneak peek at Suzan Zeder's WILEY AND THE HAIRY MAN!