Thrilling theater

Local theater is chock-full of entertainment options this November, featuring everything from heart-wrenching dramas and heartwarming comedies to movie nostalgia musicals and family-friendly fare. Here is a rundown of all the shows opening this week. (For City Pulse’s preview of Peppermint Creek Theatre Co.’s “Telling Lansing,” see page 13).

Nov. 6-7, 13-15 >> “The Colleen Bawn” at LCC Theatre Program When a wealthy Irish man marries a peasant girl, his family will stop at nothing to make sure that the marriage does not succeed. Set in 19th century Ireland, this melodrama is full of suspense, music, humor, and romance. Local musicians Jeff Boerger and Bob Borcherding provide live music for this production. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $15/$10 seniors and LCC staff/$5 students. Dart Auditorium, 500 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing. (517) 483- 1488, lcc.edu/showinfo.

Nov. 6-8, 13-15 >> “Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical” at Starlight Dinner Theatre Presented in the style of holiday TV special, this production features the Little Sisters of Hoboken singing and dancing their way through a “nunsensical” cable-access holiday program. Friday and Saturday performances include dinner, and Sunday performances include a dessert bar. 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1:30 p.m. Sunday. $39 dinner and show/$36 seniors/$18 show only. Waverly East Intermediate School Cafetorium, 3131 W. Michigan Ave., Lansing. (517) 599-2779, starlightdinnertheatre.com.

Nov. 6-8, 13-15 >> “Ghost: The Musical” at Owosso Community Players In this musical adaptation of the 1990 film, Sam must reach out to his lover, Molly, from beyond the grave to save her from a sinister plot. Sam enlists the help of a reluctant psychic to bridge the divide between the worlds of the living and the dead. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; 3 p.m. matinee Saturday, Nov. 14 only. $20/$18 seniors and students/$10 children 13 and under. The Lebowsky Center, 122 E. Main St., Owosso. (989) 723-4003, owossoplayers.com.

Nov. 6-7, 13-14 >> “Through The Looking Glass” at All-ofus Express Children’s Theatre In honor of the upcoming 150th anniversary of Lewis Caroll’s “Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland,” All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre presents “Through The Looking Glass.” Over 80 area youth are participating in this stage adaptation of the classic tale. 7 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday. $7/$5 children. Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, East Lansing. (517) 333-2580, allofusexpress.org.

Nov. 7-8, 14-15 >> “The View From Here” at Ixion Theatre Ixion Theatre’s latest comedic production looks into the small-town Kentucky home of an agoraphobic woman who has not left her house for six years. Her comfortable lifestyle is disrupted when her catatonic sister lands on her couch and a neighbor whose wife has just abandoned him moves into her home with his baby. 8 p.m., Saturday; 7 p.m., Sunday. $15. The Robin Theatre, 1105 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. (517) 775-4246, ixiontheatre.com.

Nov. 10-15 >> “Dirty Dancing” at the Wharton Center Experience the dancing and romancing live as rich kid Baby and blue collar Johnny fall in love to the tunes of one of the best-selling soundtrack albums of all time. This Broadway take on the classic ‘80s film includes smash hits like “Hungry Eyes” and “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $38. Wharton Center, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. (517) 432- 2000, whartoncenter.com.