Going Over the Ledge

Some people wish, some people dream,others take action. Joe Dickson acts. He also directs, handles lightingand sound, is on the Lansing Civic Players’ board of directors and isin the process of creating his own theater company, Over the Ledge. Thename references the Ledges Playhouse  in Grand Ledge (which will be the summer venue for his fledgling company), but it’s also an apt metaphor for risk-taking.

“I want to get better at theater, andthe best way to do that is to just do it,” he said. “But that’s not allof it. I want also to share emotion, maybe put in an adjacent coffeeshop where audiences can congregate and discuss the play after it’sover.”

Dickson is not alone in this venture,having assembled a team of local actors to create the company. Manyboard members are familiar names: Veronica Wing, Kat Cooper, EricGrill, Chris Ordiway.

When opportunity knocked and CapitolTheater Works did not renew its lease with Grand Ledge, Dickson jumped.He’s not waiting for next summer to get started. Over the Ledge’sproduction of “The Guys,” which focuses on the post-9/11 lives of NewYork City firefighters, opens Thursday at the Holt High School BlackBox Theater. Rick and LeAnn Dethlefsen make up the two-person cast, and50 percent of the proceeds go to the National Fallen Firefightersfoundation.  

A pre-Christmas production of “The Eight: Reindeer Diaries” is also under consideration. 

“Promotion is high on my list,” Dickson said, “but the bottom line always is whether it’s a good script.’”

’The Guys’

Over the Ledge Theatre Co.

Through Nov. 12

8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays

Holt Senior High School Black Box Theater

5885 Holt Road, Holt

$8-$12

(517) 318-0579

www.overtheledge.org