Out on the town

Siren song

Thursday, March 26

Twenty-five years of marriage can take a toll on a relationship, but leave it to mythological Greek temptresses to spice things up.

The play “Sirens” begins when Sam first falls in love with Rose. He writes her a song that up becomes a huge hit, covered by every major recording artist and translated into nearly every language. Fast-forward 25 years, Sam has been trying to write his next song for his Rose, who is now his wife, but to no avail. The couple decides to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with a cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. While on the cruise, Sam hears the most beautiful music and decides to jump overboard and swim to its source — a siren from Greek mythology.

Tony Caselli, Williamston Theatre artistic director, said that “Sirens” is a relatable story, despite its somewhat far-fetched storyline.

“I love the blending of real life with the fantastical elements,” Caselli said. “I think anyone who’s ever been in a relationship will relate very strongly.”

John Seibert and Terry Heck, real-life husband and wife, are cast as “Sirens’” husband and wife Sam and Rose, adding a genuine element to the show.

“Their chemistry is still strong and fun, and they work so well together,” Caselli said.

“Sirens” will kick off with five preview performances starting on Thursday at 8 p.m. Tickets for Thursday’s preview will be pay-what-you-can, and the remaining four previews will be $15. For the first four previews, audience members will take part in the process of creating a show by participating in a talkback session with the director after each performance.

A ticket to the official opening night performance on April 3 will run you $35, but also includes and afterglow party with cast and crew.

Caselli is excited for audiences to see the show and hopes they can take away a greater appreciation for life after viewing “Sirens.”

“Sometimes we all get down and forget that this gift of life is an amazing thing,” Caselli said. “All around us are reasons to fall in love with our life over and over.”

—Ariel Rogers

“Sirens”

Thursday, March 26-Sunday, April 26 (preview shows Thursday, March 26-Thursday, April 2) 8 p.m. Thursday & Friday; 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Saturday (no 3 p.m. show March 28); 2 p.m. Sunday $22-$27/$10 students/$2 discount for seniors and military Williamston Theatre 122 S. Putnam St., Williamston (517) 655-7469, williamstontheatre.org

Double vision

Saturday, March 28

Unless you are a student of Michigan history, most of the 20 girls profiled in the new young adult book “Great Girls in Michigan History,” by Patricia Majher, will be unknown to you.

Certainly some, like Diana Ross and Serena Williams, are household names, but most will not have heard of the likes of Geraldine Hoff or Nancy Harkness.

In her new book, Majher, who is also editor of Michigan History magazine, set out to tell the stories of the amazing accomplishments of 20 young girls in Michigan, but the key was all had to be performed by the age of 20.

“The idea of the book is to serve as an inspiration for young girls,” Majher said.

And who couldn’t be inspired by someone like Nancy Harkness? At the age of 16, she was the youngest female to earn a pilot’s license in the United States. Harkness later helped found the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, a crew of 1,000 women pilots that delivered over 12,000 planes during World War II, freeing up men to fly combat missions.

Lansing’s own Geraldine Hoff had her moment in the sun at 17 while working at a war factory in Ann Arbor. She was wearing men’s coveralls and a red bandana when a photographer dropped by to snap some photographs. It wasn’t until 1984, when Hoff saw Modern Maturity magazine which carried a profile of Rosie the Riveter, that she realized that she was the model for the iconic image.

Great Girls in Michigan History”

Book signing and author talk 2 P.M. Saturday, March 28 FREE Michigan Women’s Historical Center and Hall of Fame 213 W. Malcolm X. St., Lansing (517) 484-1880, michiganwomenshalloffame.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 >> ART@WORK REVEAL

Back in 2013, MSU and Peckham, Inc. endeavored to create a 40-foot-by-200-foot mosaic in Peckham’s Northwest Lansing factory. After countless hours of work, the massive installation, entitled “Art@Work,” is ready to be unveiled. The public is invited to enjoy a presentation followed by the installation’s final reveal. RSVPs are requested, but not required. 5-7 p.m. FREE. Peckham, Inc., 3510 Capital City Blvd., Lansing. (517) 884-6290, rcah.msu.edu.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26-29 & APRIL 1-4 >> ‘BUG’ BY MSU THEATRE

Theater PREVIEW MSU’s Department of Theatre takes on you on a descent into insanity with its production of “Bug.” In the play, a waitress named Agnes strikes up a relationship with a Gulf War Veteran named Peter. As the two hole up in a seedy motel room, Peter starts to slowly drag Agnes into his deluded world of paranoia and conspiracy theories. See website for full schedule of show times. $10. Arena Theatre, 542 Auditorium Road, MSU Campus, East Lansing. 1-800-WHARTON, whartoncenter.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28 >> AUTHOR READING WITH JULIAN VAN DYKE

Author and artist Julian Van Dyke will visit Barnes & Noble bookstore to read from his two children´s books, "The Things We Do At My School" and "The Music We Call Jazz." Van Dyke´s books are inspired by his advocacy for keeping art and music in children´s education. Along with the reading, Van Dyke will show some of his artwork from outside the world of children´s literature. 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. FREE. Barnes & Noble, 5132 W. Saginaw Highway, Lansing. (517) 327-0437.

Sunday, Mar 29 >> Ben Caplan at Mac’s Bar

Ben Caplan is bearded and soulful. The Halifax-based vocalist/guitarist plays a blend of smoky jazz, rustic roots, and poetic folk. Sunday Caplan headlines at Mac’s Bar. Openers are Less Is More, Greater Alexander and Stefanie Haapala. Caplan has rigorously toured since the release of his 2011 debut album, “In the Time of the Great Remembering.” He’s clocked in over 1,000 shows, with tour schedules spanning the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. His second album, “Bird With Broken Wings,” is set for an early summer release. 7.p.m. $10/$8 advance. All ages. Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. macsbar.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 29 >> BEYOND THE NAKED EYE: EXPERIMENTAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Former LCC photography student Vincent Brady is returning to his alma mater for a presentation/workshop on experimental photography. Brady has garnered acclaim for his work since graduating in 2013, having his photos featured by NASA and in TIME magazine’s online journal. Opening the same day is a month-long exhibit of Brady’s photos on the first floor of the Gannon Building on LCC´s campus. 7 p.m. FREE. (517) 483-1705, lcc.edu/showinfo.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 >> READING & CONVERSATION WITH DENNIS HINRICHSEN

The Center for Poetry at MSU’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities begins its Spring Poetry Festival with a reading and conversation with local poet Dennis Hinrichsen. Hinrichsen is a multi-award winning poet whose decorations span multiple collections of his poetry. His most recent work , “Skin Music,” landed him the 2014 Michael Waters Poetry Prize from Southern Indiana Review Press. During the day, Hinrichsen will give a talk at Snyder-Phillips Hall C204 entitled "Teaching and the Mind of the Poet: Moving from Incandescence to Laser," and will return later in the evening to the RCAH Auditorium to read some his works. Talk 3 p.m., reading 7 p.m. FREE. Snyder-Phillips Hall, 362 Bogue St., MSU Campus, East Lansing. (517) 884-1932, poetry.rcah.msu.edu.

WEDNESDAY, ARPIL 1 >> EDIBLE BOOK CONTEST

What meal does James Joyce’s “Ulysses” make you crave each time you read it? The Center for Poetry at MSU’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities invites you to answer that question with its Edible Book Contest. Inspired by the International Edible Book Festival, the contest challenges competitors to come up with the most creative edible representation of a book or literary concept. Prizes will be awarded for best in show, most literate, most edible, most creative and most humorous. 12:30-1:30 p.m. FREE. LookOut! Gallery, Snyder-Phillips Hall, 362 Bogue St., East Lansing. (517) 884-1932, poetry.rcah.msu.edu.