Riviera Theatre

The Messenger - Plays 3/2, 3/4, 3/7, 3/9-3/11

2010-03-02T14:17:00Z

The Messenger
Rated R. 112 minutes.

Tuesday, March 2; Thursday, March 4: 8:30pm
Sunday, March 7: 3pm
Tuesday, March 9 through Thursday, March 11: 6pm

$6 Adult, $5 Child/Student/Senior

]]> Nominated for two Oscars: Best Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson) & Best Original Screenplay!

In his most powerful performance to date, Ben Foster stars as Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army officer who has just returned home from a tour in Iraq and is assigned to the Army's Casualty Notification service. Partnered with fellow officer Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson) to bear the bad news to the loved ones of fallen soldiers, Will faces the challenge of completing his mission while seeking to find comfort and healing back on the home front. When he finds himself drawn to Olivia (Samantha Morton,) to whom he has just delivered the news of her husband's death, Will's emotional detachment begins to dissolve and the film reveals itself as a surprising, humorous, moving and very human portrait of grief, friendship and survival. Featuring tour-de-force performances from Foster, Harrelson and Morton, and a brilliant directorial debut by Moverman, The Messenger brings us into the inner lives of these outwardly steely heroes to reveal their fragility with compassion and dignity.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Plays 3/9-3/11, 3/13, 3/16, 3/18

2010-03-09T14:40:46Z

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Rated PG-13. 122 minutes.

Tuesday, March 9 through Thursday, March 11: 8:30pm
Saturday, March 13: 3pm
Tuesday, March 16; Thursday, March 18: 6pm

$6 Adult, $5 Child/Student/Senior

]]> The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present-day. It tells the story of Dr. Parnassus and his extraordinary 'Imaginarium', a travelling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. Blessed with the extraordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others, Doctor Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. An inveterate gambler, thousands of years ago he made a bet with the devil, Mr. Nick, in which he won immortality. Centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr. Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his daughter reached her 16th birthday, she would become the property of Mr Nick.

Valentina is now rapidly approaching this 'coming of age' milestone and Dr. Parnassus is desperate to protect her from her impending fate. Mr. Nick arrives to collect but, always keen to make a bet, renegotiates the wager. Now the winner of Valentina will be determined by whoever seduces the first five souls. Enlisting a series of wild, comical and compelling characters in his journey, Dr. Parnassus promises his daughter's hand in marriage to the man that helps him win. In this captivating, explosive and wonderfully imaginative race against time, Dr. Parnassus must fight to save his daughter in a never-ending landscape of surreal obstacles - and undo the mistakes of his past once and for all!

Embarr

2010-03-13T08:49:54Z

Embarr
Presented by the Carnegie Center and the Riviera Theatre

Saturday, March 13: 7pm

$5 - includes Irish dessert display

]]> Embarr: A magical horse from Irish mythology, who will bear you to Tir Na N'Og - the land of music, beauty, feasting, and eternal youth; an Irish word meaning "Imagination"; a Celtic acoustic band.

Embarr was formed after a series of informal music workshops and recording sessions back in January of 2008, with a focus on both traditional and new interpretations of songs & ballads from Ireland, Scotland, and England. Band members Dan Bouwman (guitar, percussion, vocals) and Charlie Holleman (mandolin & vocals) have been playing together for several years. Ginny Gibbs, lead vocalist, came via the Irish Music School at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia. Ginny has years of performance experience, and sings a number of pieces in Irish Gaelic, including some sean nos pieces. Newest member Veronica Cieri (fiddle & vocal), a music major at Western Michigan University, has brought some great fiddle playing to both songs and tunes.

Gone With the Wind

2010-03-14T21:42:30Z

Gone With the Wind
1939. Not Rated. 238 minutes.

Sunday, March 14: 3pm

$6 Adult, $5 Child/Student/Senior

]]> This epic Civil War drama focuses on the life of petulant southern belle Scarlett O'Hara. Starting with her idyllic lifestyle on a sprawling plantation, the film traces her survival through the tragic history of the South during the Civil War and Reconstruction, and her tangled love affairs with Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler. Winner of ten Academy Awards in 1940, including Best Picture. Produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard, Gone With the Wind is adapted from Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel of the same name.

Police, Adjective - Plays 3/16, 3/18, 3/20, 3/23, 3/25

2010-03-16T14:04:29Z

Police, Adjective
Not Rated. 113 minutes.
In Romanian w/ English subtitles.

Tuesday, March 16; Thursday, March 18: 8:30pm
Saturday, March 20: 3pm
Tuesday, March 23; Thursday, March 25: 6pm

$6 Adult, $5 Child/Student/Senior

]]> Cristi is a policeman who refuses to arrest a young man who offers hashish to two of his school mates. "Offering" is punishable by the law. Cristi believes that the law will eventually change and does not want the life of a young man he considers merely irresponsible to be a burden on his conscience. For his superior, "conscience" has a totally different meaning...

Steppin' In It

2010-03-19T13:23:56Z

Steppin' In It

Friday, March 19: 9pm

]]> Rare indeed when a collection of songs creates an entire world. Yet that's exactly what transpires with Steppin' In It's "Simple Tunes for Troubled Times." Sonically painting with a pleasant array of old time country swing and blues, this Lansing-based quartet brilliantly updates a resurging American musical genre. Populating this 11-track collection is an aging riverboat, the ghost of Richard Manuel, innocent love, dreams that are dashed, and the struggle of the common man. It's a world Woody Guthrie knew about, and sang about. Steppin' In It conveys the wonder of the American spirit, but also its heartache. Led by composer/guitarist Joshua Davis, traditional roots music is celebrated here by plaintive vocals and sweet harmonies, plus musicianship that is positively staggering. The number of instruments manned by Davis, upright bassist Dominic John Suchyta, steel guitarist Joe Wilson and the harmonica-playing Andy Wilson includes trombone, trumpet, Cajun accordion, dobro, slide guitar, Cajun fiddle, clawhammer banjo. Even rarer, though their competence on these instruments is clearly superior, there is little, if any, soloing taking place. All four musicians play to support the essence of the song. A true ensemble, their wonderful arrangements take us on a rich journey.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

2010-03-20T12:11:19Z

Painted Perversion Proudly Presents
The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Saturday, March 20: 10pm

$8 (includes prop bag; no outside props, please)

]]> Jackson-based shadow cast
Painted Perversion returns for another engagement of The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Thirty minute pre-show begins at 10pm, followed by the movie. Drink specials will be available and costumes are strongly encouraged, of course!

Il Trovatore - Opera in Cinema

2010-03-21T21:46:53Z

Il Trovatore
2 hrs. 45 min. with 1 intermission

Sunday, March 21: 3pm
Wednesday, March 24: 7pm

$16

]]> Il Trovatore, by Verdi: An opera in four acts

Performed at: Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, Spain

Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Stage Director: Gilbert Deflo
Sets and Costume Design: William Orlandi
Lighting Design: Joël Hourbeigt

Cast:

Leonora: Fiorenza Cedolins
Manrico: Marco Berti
Azucena: Luciana D'Intino
Conte Di Luna: Vittorio Vitelli
Fernando: Paata Burchuladze

Count Di Luna and Manrico, the wandering minstrel or "IL TROVATORE" of the title, are rivals for Lady Leonora's love. When Leonora declares her love for Manrico, Count Di Luna and Manrico duel. Although Manrico has the chance to kill Di Luna, a mysterious force from within him allows Di Luna to live. That force, revealed later in the opera, is a fraternal bond: Manrico and Di Luna are actually brothers, separated at birth by a gypsy who placed a curse on Di Luna. The gypsy was burnt at the stake for her witchcraft. As revenge, her daughter Azucena attempted to throw Di Luna's brother into the fire, but accidentally threw her own baby instead. She took the brother, Manrico, and raised him as her own son! Azucena's identity is discovered by Di Luna, and he orders her to be burnt at the stake, just like her mother. Leonora and Manrico postpone their elopement so that Manrico can save his adoptive mother, but he is captured by Di Luna. Di Luna agrees to let them live--but only if Leonora will give herself over. Leonora agrees, but secretly swallows poison. Leonora bursts into the prison cell to tell Manrico that he has been saved. He realizes the terrible price of his freedom and denounces her, but very quickly the poison takes effect, and Leonora dies in his arms. Angry at losing his ransomed bride, Di Luna orders Manrico executed immediately. Azucena sees him killed and cries out that her mother has been avenged: Di Luna has murdered his own brother!

The Last Station - Plays 3/23, 3/25, 3/27, 3/30, 4/1

2010-03-23T14:02:10Z

The Last Station
Rated R. 112 minutes.

Tuesday, March 23; Thursday, March 25: 8:30pm
Saturday, March 27: 3pm
Tuesday, March 30; Thursday, April 1: 6pm

$6 Adult, $5 Child/Student/Senior

]]> Nominated for two Oscars: Best Supporting Actor (Christopher Plummer) & Best Actress (Helen Mirren)!

The Last Station, based on Jay Parini's 1990 novel, explores the turbulent final year in the life of the Russian writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) and his troubled marriage to his wife, Sofya (Helen Mirren). Paul Giamatti plays Tolstoy's trusted follower Chertkov, a supporter of the writer's nonviolent socialist Christian movement who becomes Sofia's cunning adversary, while James McAvoy plays a naive private secretary sent by Chertkov to work for Tolstoy. British actress Anne-Marie Duff stars as Tolstoy's daughter Sasha.

A tale of two romances, one beginning, one near its end, The Last Station is a complex, funny, rich and emotional story about the difficulty of living with love and the impossibility of living without it.

Il Trovatore - Opera in Cinema

2010-03-24T14:32:43Z

Il Trovatore
2 hrs. 45 min. with 1 intermission

Sunday, March 21: 3pm
Wednesday, March 24: 7pm

$16

]]> Il Trovatore, by Verdi: An opera in four acts

Performed at: Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, Spain

Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Stage Director: Gilbert Deflo
Sets and Costume Design: William Orlandi
Lighting Design: Joël Hourbeigt

Cast:

Leonora: Fiorenza Cedolins
Manrico: Marco Berti
Azucena: Luciana D'Intino
Conte Di Luna: Vittorio Vitelli
Fernando: Paata Burchuladze

Trace Bundy

2010-03-26T11:27:57Z

Trace Bundy

Friday, March 26: 9pm

$12

]]> WAC Photography

Trace Bundy is poetry in motion, using harmonics, looping, multiple capos, and his unique banter and stage presence to deliver an unforgettable live concert experience. Listening to his intricate arrangements is one thing, but seeing the fan-dubbed "acoustic ninja" perform live confounds even the most accomplished music lovers. Awarded 1st Place as the Most Promising New Talent of the Year and 3rd Place as Best Fingerstyle Guitarist of the Year by Acoustic Guitar Magazine in 2008, Trace has sold out shows with standing ovations at venues across the USA and around the world in 16 countries and counting. Video clips circulate at astonishing speed, with over 5,000,000 views to date. Take a second to check one out here, and you'll agree that Trace Bundy must be seen, not just heard!

Tickets on sale now! Click below to purchase; also available from the Riviera box office. (269.278.8068)

Viva la Mamma - Opera in Cinema

2010-03-28T21:50:21Z

Viva la Mamma
2 hrs. with 1 intermission

Sunday, March 28: 3pm
Wednesday, March 31: 7pm

$16

]]> Viva la Mamma (or Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali), by Donizetti: An opera in two acts

Performed at: Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy

Music: Gaetano Donizetti

Conductor: Marco Guidarini
Staging: Antonio Albanese
Sets: Leila Fteita
Costumes: Elisabetta Gabbioneta

Cast:

Daria: Jessica Pratt
Procolo: Simon Bailey
Biscroma Strappaviscere: Christian Senn
Agata: Vincenzo Taormina
Luigia: Aurora Tirotta
Guglielmo: Leonardo Cortellazzi
Pippetto: Asude Karayavuz
Cesare Salzapariglia: Chae Jun Lim
Impresario: Jong Min Park
Stage Manager: Eugeniy Stanimirov
Un ispettore: Riccardo Massi

Viva la Mamma, or Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali is a mad-cap farce about opera singers behaving badly and stage mothers behaving even worse! Rehearsals are underway for the very serious opera Romolo ed Ersilia, but the unruly performers, and their even more unruly egos, prevent any actual rehearsal from taking place. The prima donna Daria insists that her part is too small--even when Luigia, the seconda donna (the second-most important soprano), the German Tenor and the Musician all insist that the prima donna's part is far too large. Luigia's domineering mother Agata (the "mamma" of the title) arrives on the scene, and insists that her daughter's part be bigger. Soon the Tenor and the Musician fume off, only to be replaced by Agata in the Musician's role and Daria's husband as the tenor. The stage manager, impresario and composer are helpless to quell the raging self-absorbed demands of the performers, so the police are called in to stop the chaos. Rehearsals finally begin, but are soon interrupted again by the announcement that the production has been called off. All of the performers sneak out of the theatre, in an effort to avoid having to repay all the money that has already been invested in the production.

Viva la Mamma - Opera in Cinema

2010-04-01T03:32:40Z

Viva la Mamma
2 hrs. with 1 intermission

Sunday, March 28: 3pm
Wednesday, March 31: 7pm

$16

]]> Viva la Mamma (or Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali), by Donizetti: An opera in two acts

Performed at: Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy

Music: Gaetano Donizetti

Conductor: Marco Guidarini
Staging: Antonio Albanese
Sets: Leila Fteita
Costumes: Elisabetta Gabbioneta

Cast:

Jason and the Punknecks w/ Smokestack and the Foothill Fury

2010-04-09T20:11:16Z

Jason and the Punknecks w/ Smokestack and the Foothill Fury

Friday, Apr. 9: 9pm

]]>

The Punknecks
Smokestack and The Foothill Fury

2010 Gilmore Young Artist Charlie Albright

2010-04-27T20:45:08Z

2010 Gilmore Young Artist Charlie Albright

Tuesday, Apr. 27: 7:30pm

$12 Adult, $10 Senior, $5 Student - On sale beginning Nov. 16 at 10am!

]]> Charlie Albright, a native of Centralia, Washington, is one of two 2010 Gilmore Young Artists and already an accomplished solo and ensemble artist. He just completed his second year of a five-year bachelor of arts (majoring in economics) and master of music degree program at Harvard University and the New England Conservatory of Music. He is studying under Wha-Kyung Byun as the first classical pianist admitted to the Joint Program. Playing the piano since age three, Albright has performed with such artists as Yo-Yo Ma to rave reviews.

Tickets for this event are available beginning Nov. 16 at 10am by clicking below, or at the Riviera box office M-F, 4-10pm. (269.278.8068)