🎭 Center Stage Jackson Monthly Newsletter – July 2025

Hey Center Stage Family,

What a month! The curtain just closed on The Hunchback of Notre Dame after six unforgettable performances, and the sound of cathedral bells is still ringing in my ears. If you were in the audience, I’d love to know what moments moved you most. Hit reply and share your favorite song, set piece, or cast shout-out so we can pass the love along to the team (and Director Michael Cicirelli).

Summer at CSJ never slows down. Below you’ll find:

  • Our just-announced 2026 season lineup – it’s time to get excited!
  • A brand-new Member Spotlight on hometown legend Matt Davis (and the two shows he’s bringing to the Michigan Theatre this month).
  • Details on this summer’s Old Time Radio series (all proceeds come right back to CSJ).
  • A peek at what’s next for the fall – The Full Monty auditions, anyone?

Scroll on, mark those calendars, and let’s keep making theatre magic together.

Warm regards,
Jaime Lawrence
CSJ Newsletter Editor

🎭 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Matt Davis

This month’s Member Spotlight is a lifetime theatre enthusiast with a love of community theatre! From founding the Bon Ton Room’s cabaret scene in Jackson to directing and performing across the country, Matt Davis is pure community-theatre gold. In July he’s back on the Michigan Theatre stage with two special events:

  • Old Friends – An Evening with Sondheim & Schwartz
    July 11 & 12 • 7:30 PMA Grand Night for Singing
    July 24-27 (check the Michigan Theatre site for exact showtimes)

Matt’s story, favorite roles, and what inspires his work today 👉 [Read the full Spotlight here]

 

🌟 JUST ANNOUNCED: 2026 Mainstage & Youth Season

Here’s the slate we’ll be singing, dancing, and diving into through next year:

Dates & Venue Show Type
Oct 3-5 & 10-12, 2025

Jackson College Potter Center

 The Full Monty Musical
November 2025 Sherlock Youth Play
Feb 20-22 & Feb 27-Mar 1, 2026

Jackson College Potter Center

 Clue Play
March 2026 Twinderella Youth Musical
Jun 19-21 & 26-28, 2026 Disaster! Musical
Oct 2-4 & 9-11, 2026 The Wizard of Oz Musical

🔍 Director for The Full Monty
We’re currently interviewing for Fully Monty directors now and will announce our creative team soon. Keep an eye out on socials as auditions will be coming soon!

📻 Old Time Radio Recap & Thanks

On May 24, our friends at the Old Time Radio Players entertained a cozy crowd in the Carnegie Auditorium back to the air-wave era with three classics:

  • The Bickersons – “Two Weeks with Pay” (1948): relentless marital zingers, vintage sitcom-style.
  • Suspense – “The House in Cypress Canyon” (1946): spine-tingling thrills that had everyone scooting closer.
  • Fibber McGee & Molly – “Fibber Has a Happy Face” (1943): good-natured laughs from radio’s favorite couple.

All donations from the afternoon were gifted to Center Stage Jackson – Thanks Ann Green. Huge applause to the troupe for keeping these golden-age gems alive – and for supporting CSJ show after show. Missed it? Keep an ear out; we’ll announce the next Old Time Radio when it is time!

🕰️ LOOKING BACK: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Thank you to our cast, crew, pit, production team, families, friends, and theatre goers who made our recent production successful!! Did you catch our soaring choir, towering set pieces, and that show-stopping “Hellfire” solo? We’d love your thoughts! Reply to this email with:

  • ⭐ Your favorite moment or song
  • 👏 A cast or crew member you want to celebrate
  • 💡 Suggestions for future shows or events

Your feedback keeps our community theatre thriving.

🎟️ QUICK LINKS

See you at the theatre!