RRCA, MCCC, Monroe Community Players announce 2023-24 seasons
A former "Saturday Night Live" comedian, ballets, children's programs, plays and many music performances will take place in Monroe County in the coming months. The River Raisin Centre for the Arts, Monroe County Community College and the Monroe Community Players have announced their 2023-24 seasons, which will begin soon.
River Raisin Centre for the Arts
The RRCA, 114 S. Monroe St., is offering 17 programs this season.
“Early ticket sales indicate that JC Cole & Folsom ‘68 will be a popular attraction at the RRCA on Sept. 23,” Claire Bechard, RRCA associate director said, “I am looking forward to hearing the Henhouse Prowlers' bluegrass live on Oct. 26. I am also excited for River Raisin Rep's fall musical, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ which will run for two weekends straight in early November.”
Country music draws the biggest crowds to the theater, Bechard said.
“I listened, and we have all types of county/western music this season. If you like more of a western folk sound, Juni Fisher will deliver on Oct. 21. If you like more of a modern country sound, Simba Jordan is coming in March and prepares to tear down the house,” Bechard said.
Monroe County Community College
Music also is popular among audiences at the Meyer Theater at MCCC, 1555 S. Rasinville Road, which has 19 programs this season.
“We are billing Andrew Ripp (Sept. 25) as the hottest Christian pop/rock. People are very excited,” Joe Verkennes, director of marketing and communications, said. “I also think Kevin Nealon (Oct. 21), a ‘Saturday Night Live’ staple for nearly a decade, is going to be an awesome show; he’s such a big name and a great talent. We have a great lineup of children’s shows this year, as well. And we are bringing in a great ’90s cover band out of Toledo that has a huge following, the Skittle Bots (Jan. 6). Another Toledo tradition, the Toledo Jazz Orchestra (Feb. 9), is coming as well. We will once again have the Detroit Symphony’s neighborhood concerts.”
Bands and comedians do well at MCCC.
“Local audiences really seem to enjoy when we bring in comedians and bands that have a national, or at least regional, following, and we have tried to bring several of those in this year,” Verkennes said. “They also enjoy tribute bands, and we have done many of those in the past as well. We may add one or two later this year.”
Monroe Community Players
The Monroe Community Players sees big crowds for its Christmas programs. The theater group has a space at the Mall of Monroe, 2121 N. Monroe St., and has set four programs so far this season. More will be announced soon.
Last year’s biggest show was “A Christmas Carol.” This year’s is expected to be “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” (Dec. 8-10).
The Monroe Community Players set an ambitious goal last summer: one show a month.
Nancy Williams of the Players said that pace is difficult but necessary for the company, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
“We are able to pay rent and utilities, but need sponsors to develop the studio theater and build a nest egg so we can return to large-scale musicals again,” she said. “While our sustainability is not in question, it is still difficult to grow to where we used to be before the pandemic. Use of the studio theater keeps our production costs down, but our audiences have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Other community theater groups are experiencing the same thing.”
The seasons:
RRCA's upcoming shows:
Sept. 23: JC Cole & Folsom ’68: Johnny Cash Tribute
Sept. 30: The Dodworth Saxhorn Band
Oct. 8: The Hit Men concert
Oct. 13: The Story Tour, religious outreach event
Oct. 21: Juni Fisher, western music
Oct. 26: Henhouse Prowlers, bluegrass concert
Nov. 3-12: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Nov. 13: Veterans Day Celebration
Dec. 1-3: “The Nutcracker Ballet”
Dec. 9: Franc D’Ambrosio’s “Christmas in New York”
Feb. 16: Tyler Christopher’s Elvis, tribute act
March 1-3: St. Mary Catholic Central High School’s musical
March 9: Simba Jordan, country concert
March 16: Cleveland Celtic Ensemble
April 14: ABBA-Mania Canada
April 19-21: "Aladdin" ballet
May 18: River Raisin Dance Academy Spring Performance
For tickets or more information, visit riverraisincentre.org or call 734-242-RRCA.
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MCCC's upcoming shows:
Sept. 25: Andrew Ripp, musician
Oct. 21: Kevin Nealon, comedian
Oct. 11: “Turkey Trouble on Friendly Acres Farm,” children’s show
Oct. 30: College/Community Symphony Band and Agora Choral Concert
Dec. 1: “Stone Soup and Other Heartwarming Tales”
Dec. 6: Agora Chorale Holiday Concert
Dec. 11: College/Community Symphony Band Holiday Concert
Jan. 6: Skittle Bots, music group
Jan. 12: Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Feb. 9: Toledo Jazz Orchestra
Feb. 24: The Big Gig
Feb. 26: College/Community Symphony Band and Agora Chorale Concert
Feb. 28: “George Washington Carver and Friends,” children’s program
April 13-14: Inside Out Dance Ensemble Recital
April 19: Detroit Symphony Orchestra
April 20-21: Antiques in April
April 30: Agora Chorale Concert
May 6: College/Community Symphony Orchestra Concert
June 14: Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Dates to be announced: Visiting Artist Series
For tickets or more information, visit monroeccc.edu/events/la-z-boy or call 734-384-4231.
Monroe Community Players' upcoming shows:
Oct. 13-15: “Time Stands Still”
Nov. 10-12: “The Anti-Heroes,” an original script by Sally Sulfaro
Dec. 8-10: “Best Christmas Pageant Ever”
Dec. 15-17: “A Christmas Carol” readers theater, a script by David P. Wahr
For tickets or more information, visit monroecommunityplayers.org or call 734-241-7900.
To report other theater programs and events to The Monroe News, email events@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: RRCA, MCCC, Monroe Community Players announce 2023-24 seasons
