Season 2011-12 - "Two-Sided"
God of Carnage"A sterling cast in Heather Lewis, Allan I. Ross, Blake Bowen and Shannon Rafferty. On the solid foundation of Reza’s beautifully crafted and truthfully funny script, these actors have the mastery to take you on a wild ride of dark comedy theatre. Lewis is at the top of her game as Veronica. Ross makes his sleazy lawyer and reluctant father (and husband) both recognizable and surprising at the same time. Ross simply gets better and better in every production. Bowen is totally disarming as the complex, unhappy Michael, and Rafferty is at once funny, sad and vulnerable as Annette. She embodies the definition of natural comedienne." "Artistic director Chad Badgero has once again confirmed his impeccable instinct for the kind of inspired theater that’s been paying off for local theatergoers for nine seasons". - City Pulse, Nov. 2011
Blackbird
"The cast does an amazing job with an incredibly complicated topic. Their performances are so engaging that the 90-minutes play seems to pass in mere minutes. Blackbird continues the tradition of conversation-starting theater that Peppermint Creek is known for. Mlive.com, Sept. 2011
Season 2010-11 Awards/Recognitions:
Lansing State Journal Thespie Awards:
Best Show Overall For the 2010-11 Season: Caroline, or Change
Best Musical: Caroline, or Change
Best Play (non-professional): The Pride
Best Director of a Musical: Chad Badgero, Caroline or Change
Best Lead Actress in a Musical: Tigiste Habtemariam, Caroline or Change
Best Character Actress in a Musical: Taryn Bigelow, Caroline or Change
Best Music Direction: John Dale Smith, Caroline or Change
Best Lead Actress in a Play: Laura June Weissinger, The Pride
Best Featured Actress in a Play: Kellie Stonebrook, Distracted
Special Award to Dark Play,or Stories For Boys a production for the Renegade Theatre Festival, with extraordinary performances by Brian DeVries, Hazen Cuyler and Joe Quick
Special Overall Actress award to Abby Murphy for opposite roles in Distracted, and Fortinbras (at Riverwalk)
Special award for D.J. Shafer, for an excellent performance in the central role of Caroline or Change
City Pulse Pulsar Awards
Best Ensemble of a Musical: the cast of Ordinary Days
Best Director of a Musical: Chad Badgero, Caroline, or Change
Best Actress in a Musical: Tigiste Habtemariam, Caroline or Change
Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Chad DeKatch, Caroline, or Change
Outstanding Limited-Run of a Production: Dark Play, or Stories For Boys
PRAISE FOR OUR 2009-10 SEASON
Lansing State Journal Thespie Awards (2010):
Best Show Overall (Altar Boyz)
Best Musical (Altar Boyz)
Best Play (The Seafarer)
Best Director of a Play (Chad Badgero - The Seafarer)
Best Supporting Actor in a Play (Brad Rutledge - The Seafarer)
Best Ensemble of a Play (Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight)
Best Choreography (Karyn Perry - Altar Boyz)
City Pulse Pulsar Awards (2010):
Best Musical (Altar Boyz)
Best Director of a Musical (Chad Badgero - Altar Boyz)
Best Ensemble of a Musical (Altar Boyz)
Best Supporting Actor in a Play (Mark Gmazel - Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight)
Best Featured Actor in a Play (Brad Rutledge - The Seafarer)
Best Choreography (Karyn Perry - Altar Boyz)
Best Sound Design (Joe Dickson - Altar Boyz)
Special Award for Outstanding Staged Reading of Fahrenheit 451)
And here's a few of the things people have been saying about PCTC over the years...
The Laramie Project
"Play's emotions leave a mark" -Lansing State Journal, May 13, 2004
"Do not talk yourself out of seeing this play...a redemptive experience"
"...deep emotion throughout the play"
"wonderfully detailed performances" - City Pulse, May 12, 2004
Corpus Christi
"Director, performances elevate Corpus Christi"
"Corpus Christi is skillfully performed by the Peppermint Creek Theatre Co."
"This production works because of the immense talent"
"An immensely complex show has been assembled with a rare mixture of emotional power and restraint"
"Superb performances"
"It's clear that Badgero and his Peppermint Creek group are powerful local forces...pure talent in writing, directing, and acting"
"Peppermint Creek becomes a formidable force with Corpus Christi " -Lansing State Journal, July 29, 2004
Skylight
"This was a powerful play...a modern morality tale that was merciless in its depiction of the outcome of boundaries gone awry, while portraying all three with great sensitivity and depth" - City Pulse, November 11, 2004
"...production values were so high.."
"a fierce and fiery display of stunning pyrotechnic performances by the cast of Skylight , Peppermint Creek Theatre Co. latest production" - Lansing State Journal, November 12, 2004
The Shape of Things
"Peppermint Creek shapes up a thoughtful winner" - City Pulse, February 16, 2005
"Director Chad Badgero deftly guides his actors through this provocative and challenging play, often hitting dead-on"
"This serious and disturbing play makes the audience think about art, women and men, love, and friendship. Its well worth an evening at the theatre" -Lansing State Journal, Feb. 17, 2005
Triple Threat - Tape, Blue/Orange, The Baltimore Waltz
"Peppermint Creek cinches repertory trio of 'think' plays"
"Peppermint Creek's short summer season marks its first attempt at a repertory-style presentation; the smoothness of its three productions bodes well for the future" - City Pulse, August 31, 2005
Elizabeth Rex
"Theatre-goers who love anything remotely Shakespearean will love this play to death...excellent acting from principles and featured players"
"Ones leaves this theatrical experience with a great appreciation for both the writers and the production" -City Pulse, November 9, 2005
"Peppermint Creek opens its season with a powerful show"
"Peppermint Creek Theatre's triumphant season opener...springs to life...with a faultless cast directed by Chad Badgero"
Take Me Out
"Peppermint Creek proves that a long, talky show can still mesmerize and entrance an audience. Their compelling production of Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out is an excellent ensemble performance with truly outstanding individual performances".
"Take Me Out is incredible"!
The Pillowman
"You want to stop thinking about, but it won't let you".
"So breathtaking that the end of the first act left the opening night audience glued to their seats"
"It asks too many good questions in an unforgettable manner in a production that is about as flawless as you can get".
"Treat yourself to this experience and you'll come away knowing why theater is still an unmatched medium for intense, powerful experiences that can provide endless hours of discussion and contemplation".
The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia
"Director Louis Balestra creates some of the most natural blocking seen yet this theater season".
"Sylvia is a very thoroughly crafted, wonderfully acted yet absurd think piece".
9 Parts of Desire
"Unflinching attention to detail and rich characterizations, leaps like a giant force off the small stage at SCENE Metrospace in East Lansing".
"This play is must-see for anyone who yearns for a deeper understanding of the Middle East and its people".
" 9 Parts of desire is a must see and flat out amazing"!
Hedwig & the Angry Inch
"Hedwig inches from perfect"
"I loved every single second of it".
"Hedwig is unbelievable"!
"Pure genius. Thanks to Peppermint Creek for putting on the show and the people involved for being so great"!
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
"In the hands of the wrong theater group, this play could be a total disaster. The combination of weighty content with lighthearted presentation can be very difficult to perform effectively. But under the surgical hands of director Chad Badgero, it works".
"Last Days grafts philosophy to fun with surgical precision"
