Ludington talents Ryan Cupp and Michelle Kiessel star in the musical, "The Last Five Years."  The show opened Thursday, July 30 and continues Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (July 31, August 1 & 2)  at 8:00 p.m.  

Written by Jason Robert Brown, the musical debuted off Broadway in 2002 and won the Drama Desk award for Best Score and Best Lyrics and garnered numerous nominations. 

The musical chronicles the relationship of a young couple from an unusual perspective: he tells their story from the day they met; she tells the story from the end of the relationship back to the beginning. 

Cupp, who just graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in music education, starred in "George M!" last summer at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee.  Veteran local actress Michelle Kiessel, who stars opposite Cupp, was recently seen in "The Music Man" and "Sound of Music," at the Ramsdell.   Bridgett VanderHoof, also seen in "The Music Man" and "Grease," rounds out the cast.  Craig Avery (piano), Caitlyn Sherlock (bass) and Dylan Nielsen (guitar) provide the accompaniment.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for students and seniors and are available at the door.

AUGUST CALENDAR:

Mondays at 7:00: Music Appreciation Lectures (see description in story to the right)

Thursday, August 6 - Music in the Gallery: Bad Manners - country rock and a plain ole good time band. 8-10 p.m. $5 cover charge. Decadent dessert bar.

Saturday, August 8 -- Talent Showcase to Benefit Lee Drelles Memorial Scholarship.  7-9 p.m.  Goodwill offering. Reception following the event.  All welcome.

Thursday, August 13 -- Music in the Gallery: John Merchant - folk music from the 1930's on; 8-10 p.m. $5 cover charge.  Decadent dessert bar.

Saturday,  August 15 - Opening the Creative Process workshop. 9-noon.  check out: bodyworkbyjudith.com for more information and to register.

Tuesday, August 18 - Open MIC for writers. 7-9. Open to the public.

Wednesday, August 19 - Volunteer potluck. 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 20 - Music in the Gallery: Debra Bethell Romer. 8-10 p.m. $5 cover charge.  Decadent dessert bar.

Watercolor Creativity Workshop, Thursday, August 20, 27, and September 3, 10 am-noon. $45 for all three sessions.  Paint-along with teacher and artist Marge Graham as she leads you through a wide variety of exciting exercises to expand your watercolor technique.   Marge will show you new ways to apply and mix watercolors, and to use various forms of masking.  She'll also present several mixed media options, including India ink, crayons, metallics, and collage.  The focus of this workshop is exploration and experimentation, and of course, FUN!  Beginners and intermediate watercolor students/artists welcome.

Friday, August 21 - An Adult Evening of Shel's Shorts presented by Bohemian Productions.  Plays by Shel Silverstein. 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 22 - Writers' Workshop. 9-noon.

Thursday, August 27 - Music in the Gallery: Mike Lenich and Friends.  8-10 p.m. $5 cover charge.  Decadent dessert bar.

Lecture Series Continues Mondays
in August at 7:00 p.m.

From Bach to Shoenberg: Music Appreciation offered by William Cooper, composer and graduate student at the Juillard School in New York City. 
Six Mondays at 7:00 pm, starting July 27 (new date).  For musical novices and knowledgeable musicians, this series of lectures is designed to teach attendees about important developments in classical music and help them develop the listening skills needed to access the great music of the Western tradition.
$10 per session.