Legendary blues singer Etta James dies in CA

 By ROBERT JABLON

 LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jan 20, 11:54 AM (ET) Etta James’ performance of the enduring classic “At Last” was the embodiment of refined soul: Angelic-sounding strings harkened the arrival of her passionate yet measured vocals as she sang tenderly about a love finally realized after a long and patient wait.

In real life, little about James was as genteel as that song. The platinum blonde’s first hit was a saucy R&B number about sex, and she was known as a hell-raiser who had tempestuous relationships with her family, her men and the music industry. Then she spent years battling a drug addiction that she admitted sapped away at her great talents.

Click to read more ...

SBAM Business Next Jan. 14

Here is this week’s edition of “Business Next” from the Small Business Association of Michigan.  While this show is not officially under the category of entertainment news, it is a very important way for all of us to stay informed. MIentertaintment is a small business, most of our theaters fall under that category as do many of our MIentertainment sponsors.   Please give a listen and remember two things: This show is a production of SBAM and the not MIentertainment and the SBAM sponsors are just as important as the MIE sponsors, so please tell them how your heard about them. For more information about this fine organization and how you can join go to www.sbam.org

SBAM 1142012

Monday Shout Outs

Happy Monday, Everyone.

Just because I am in California covering the Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Oscars doesn’t mean I haven’t gotten a full report on what is going in the Great Lakes State. Several folks have said what a wonderful night it was as the Lansing Symphony welcomed Okemos native and world-renowned cellist Felix Wang. If you missed my interview with Felix, it is still posted at www.MIentertainmentReport.com.

This week, Okemos High School is presenting a classic by Shakespeare, “Much Ado about Nothing,” on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, while Riverwalk Theatre in Lansing is also in a Shakespearian mode with “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.” It runs this weekend and next.

Rehearsals continue as The Purple Rose Theatre Company presents its first show of the 2012 Season. “A Stone Carver” begins an eight-week engagement Thursday, January 19, 2012. We will be talking to one of the stars next week.

Details of all of these shows can be found at www.MIentertainmentReport.com. Be sure to stop back during the week for the latest on the next show at Lansing Community College.

When you are at the website, please click and listen to our weekly business show. While not officially under the category of entertainment news; “Business Next” from the Small Business Association of Michigan is a very important way for all of us to stay informed. MIentertaintment is a small business and most of our theaters fall under that category, as do many of our MIentertainment sponsors. Please give a listen. For more information about this fine organization and how you can join, go to www.sbam.org.

P.S. If you want to see pics I took from the red carpet at the Film Festival Gala in Palm Springs, head to our sister website www.Coachellafun.com.

Advertisers:

New Year Advertising Special:

Advertise on www.MIentertainmentReport.com for only $10 per week. That’s a great bargain for an ad that thousands see every week and clicks through to your website. (There is a four-month minimum.)   Call 517.455.7919 for more details.

“Purple Rose” starts the New Year with new show

The Purple Rose Theatre Company presents its first show of 2012 Season with a show that brings someone normally found behind the scenes to center stage.

“A Stone Carver” is the story about the rekindling of a father-son relationship. It begins an eight-week engagement from Thursday, January 19, to Saturday, March 10, 2012.

In “A Stone Carver” we meet Agostino, a seventh-generation stone carver who is evicted from his home to make space for a highway. He barricades himself in his house, determined to outlast the bulldozers.

Click to read more ...

Okemos High School Presents "Much Ado about Nothing"

Okemos High School is presenting a  classic by Shakespeare, “Much Ado About Nothing”, Thursday January 12th, Friday January 13th, and Saturday January 14th . All performances are at 7:30PM. This darling historical comedy will be presented in the high school auditorium on Jolly Road.

Click to read more ...

At the box office: “Devil” on top.

2012 began with a “Devil” of a weekend at the box office. “The Devil Inside” opened with a take just shy of 35 million dollars. Not bad when you consider Paramount picked up the flick about a murdering mom whose daughter brings in exorcists to help cure mommy  for only $1 million bucks. Also helping out was the fact that it was the only new movie in wide release for the first weekend of 2012. Its take was enough to knock Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol out of the top spot and slide the other holiday blockbusters down the top ten list.

The List:

Click to read more ...

SBAM Business Next Jan 7

Here is this week’s edition of “Business Next” from the Small Business Association of Michigan.  While this show is not officially under the category of entertainment news, it is a very important way for all of us to stay informed. MIentertaintment is a small business, most of our theaters fall under that category as do many of our MIentertainment sponsors.   Please give a listen and remember two things: This show is a production of SBAM and the not MIentertainment and the SBAM sponsors are just as important as the MIE sponsors, so please tell them how your heard about them. For more information about this fine organization and how you can join go to www.sbam.org

SBAM Jan 9 2012

LSO has special guest artist in the wings

NOTE: This story features a “MIEntertainment Radio Interview” with guest artist Felix Wang.. Scroll down to listenThe Lansing Symphony Orchestra’s New Year kicks off this Saturday with a much-anticipated concert, as Okemos native and world-renowned cellist Felix Wang performs “Beethoven’s Eroica.”

At 8 pm on Saturday, Jan. 7, at Wharton Center, guest artist Felix Wang and Conductor Timothy Muffitt will ring in 2012 with Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor.

Click to read more ...

Audition Alert: OCP try outs this week

Auditions for the Owosso Community Players’ next musical, “Two By Two,” will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 3 and 4 at the Studio Theater, 114 E. Main Street.Parts are available for four men and four women, ages mid-20s to 50s.

Redford Theatre brings 7's to Detroit

The historic Redford Theatre is bringing another classic movie to the motor city. “& Brides for Seven Brothers and the cartoon: Kiss Me Cat will be on the big screen along with live organ music Friday and Saturday January 6 & 7. The show starts on Friday at 7 pm and on saturday you can catch an old fashoined matinee at 1:30 or and evening out at the movies at 7:30. Arrive early to enjoy the organ music and all the fun!
Admission is only 4 bucks and that includes free parking.

Click to read more ...