What's up in Lansing: 'Grease' and more

Good day on this sunny and warm Friday.

Dust off your leather jackets and iron your poodle skirts, because the 1950s are back in East Lansing. MSU Department of Theatre raises the curtain on “Grease,” the classic rock ‘n’ roll musical, at the Wharton Center Friday. The musical is a journey to the 1950s that offers a blend of nostalgia and social critique. While many of us have seen the toned-down version used by most high school and community groups, this production uses the original, grittier script from 1971. Director Brad Willcuts hosts a pre-show discussion at 1:15 p.m. Sunday, and a post-show discussion follows the April 24 performance. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $22/$20 seniors and faculty/$17 students/$10 children 12 and under. Wharton Center, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. (517) 432-2000, theatre.msu.edu.

Fiddler, singer and step dancer April Verch brings her multifaceted sound to the Ten Pound Fiddle today. The versatile Canadian-born musician blends the traditions of Ottawa Valley roots music and step dancing with American folk and bluegrass music. Verch will be joined Friday by Alex Rubin on guitarist and mandolin and Alex Rubin on bass and banjo. 8 p.m. $15/$12 members/$5 students. MSU Community Music School, 4930 S. Hagadorn Road, East Lansing. (517) 337-7744, tenpoundfiddle.org.

MSU graduate and eight-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race competitor Ed Stielstra returns to campus today to talk about his racing experiences. Stielstra, who has run the Iditarod more than any musher in the Midwest, completed his eighth run of the race on March 16. He will be joined Friday by Laura Neese, a 19-year-old sled dog racer who recently completed her first Yukon Quest, a 1,000-mile sled dog race through Alaska and northern Canada. The program includes photos and videos of the racing dogs, the Iditarod and Yukon Quest racing trails and Stielstra’s training kennel in northern Michigan. 7 p.m. $15/$5 students and children. Erickson Kiva, Erickson Hall, 620 Farm Lane, East Lansing. (517) 881-8149, iditaquest.brownpapertickets.com.

Classes and Seminars

Mud & Mug. Pottery workshop. Guests welcome to bring food and drink. 7-10 p.m. $25. Reach Studio Art Center, 1804 S. Washington Ave. Lansing. reachstudioart.org.Music

Jimmy G. and the Capitols. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. FREE. Champions Sports Bar & Grill, 2440 Cedar St., Holt.

The Coffeehouse at All Saints. Musical/spoken word showcase. 7:30-9:30 p.m. FREE. All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbot Road, East Lansing. (517) 402-2582, ow.ly/XeLKP.

Open Mic, 8 p.m. The Avenue Café, 2021 E. Michigan Ave.

Scott Seth, 9 p.m. Blue Gill Grill, 1591 Lake Lansing Road

Ronnie Hernandez, 8:30 p.m. Capital Prime, 2324 Showtime Dr

Wise Guys, 9 p.m. Coach’s Pub & Grill, 6201 Bishop Rd.

Karaoke, 9 p.m. Crunchy's, 254 W. Grand River Ave.

DJ Fudgie, 10 p.m. Esquire, 1250 Turner St.

Smooth Daddy, 9:30 p.m. The Exchange, 314 E. Michigan Ave.

Rick Woods, 7 p.m. Gallery Brewery, 143 Kent St.,

Karaoke, 7:30 p.m. Grand Cafe/Sir Pizza, 201 E. Grand River Ave.

Star Farm, 9:30 p.m. Green Door, 2005 E. Michigan Ave.

Steve Cowles, 5:30 p.m. Harrison Roadhouse, 720 Michigan Ave.

Vandalay CD Release, 7 p.m. The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave.

Devils Cut, 8 p.m. Mac's Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave.

The Rotations, 9 p.m. Moriarty's Pub, 802 E. Michigan Ave.

Lisa B. & the Backbeats, 7 p.m. Reno's East, 1310 Abbot Road

New Rule, 7 p.m. Reno's North, 16460 Old US 27

Elkabong, 7 p.m. Reno's West, 5001 W. Saginaw Hwy.

David Shelby, 8:30 p.m. Tequila Cowboy, 5660 W. Saginaw Hwy.

Capitol City DJs, 10 p.m. Watershed Tavern and Grill 5965 Marsh Rd.

Joe Wright, 6 p.m. Waterfront Bar and Grill, 325 City Market Dr.

Theater

Golden Age of Broadway. Show featuring scenes from famous musicals. 8 p.m. FREE. LCC Black Box Theatre, Room 168, Gannon Building, 411 N. Grand Ave., Lansing. (517) 483-1488.

Decade Dance. Journey of a couple living through the turbulent 1970s. 8 p.m. $28/$26 seniors and military/$10 students. Williamston Theatre, 122 S. Putnam St., Williamston. (517) 655-7469, williamstontheatre.com.

Grease. Classic musical set in the 1950s. 8 p.m. $17-22/$10 kids. Pasant Theatre, Wharton Center, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. theatre.msu.edu.Events

TCTV Five Years of Media Broadcasting Celebration. The Connection TV show celebrates five years in Lansing. FREE. Hill Center Maples Room, 5815 Wise Road, Lansing. (517) 862-9458.

After School Teen Program. For teens in 6th-12th grades. 3-5:30 p.m. FREE. All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbot Road, East Lansing. (517) 351-2420, elpl.org.

Firefighter Storytime. Ages 2-6 visit Mason Fire Chief. Call or register online. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE. CADL Mason, 145 W. Ash St., Mason. (517) 676-9088, cadl.org.

Minecraft Game Night. Ages 8-15 game together. Call or register online. 7-8:30 p.m. FREE. CADL Holt-Delhi, 2078 Aurelius Road, Holt. (517) 694-9351, ext. 3, cadl.org.

Mystery in the Library. Ages 12 and up solve a live-action mystery story. 7-8:30 p.m. FREE. CADL Okemos, 4321 Okemos Road, Okemos.

Statewide Astronomy Night. Astronomy presentations for the MSU Science Festival. 6-11 p.m. MSU Abrams Planetorium, 755 Science Road, East Lansing. ow.ly/ZwgqL.

StoryTime. Ages 2-5 years enjoy stories and songs. 10:30-11 a.m. FREE. All Saints Episcopal Church, 800 Abbot Road, East Lansing. (517) 351-2420, elpl.org.

Sugar House Blues. Blues dance and lessons. All are welcome. FREE lesson at 8 p.m.; $5 open dance at 9 p.m. 1133 S. Washington Ave., Lansing. (517) 862-9856.

Arts

Art Scholarship Alert. Exhibition of art from high school students. 6-8 p.m. FREE. Lansing Art Gallery, 113 S. Washington Square, Lansing. (517) 374-6400, ow.ly/Zwgbi.