2020-2021 SEASON | PAST SEASONS | AUDITIONS
IN ORDER FROM MOST RECENT
Summer 2021
Two One-Act Plays Inspired by… JOY
Red Velvet by Isaac Ellis and Finding Joy by Ken MacGregor
Annie Ypsi and the Case of the Missing Smeet – A Short Film by A.M. Dean and Kristin Anne Danko
2020 Pandemic Season
Inspired By…A Virtual 10-minute Play Festival
Thursdays in October 2020
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Patreon
Please enjoy our virtual 10-minute festival of plays inspired by music, all written by local playwrights.
Watch all the plays on our YouTube Channel
Letting Go by Crysta Coburn – Directed by Marisa Dluge
Last Train by Brian Cox – Directed by Kristin Anne Danko
Send in the Clowns by Chuck Goddeeris – Directed by Maegan Murphy
The Perfect Game by Hank Greenspan – Directed by Craig VanKempen
The Gillman Problem by Greg Pizzino – Directed by Kylista Geiger
2019-2020 Season
Presented by 
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Headlines
A Sketch Comedy Show
Live Performance Postponed due to COVID-19
Check out our virtual readings of sketches from Headlines!
Written by and Starring A.M. Dean, Kylista Geiger, Eric Hohnke, Alice Kepchar, Maegan Murphy, Angela VanKempen, and Craig VanKempen
POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19
Benny is an apprentice demon with one night to earn his horns. Ghoulita Graves is a late night horror host with a best friend who’s secretly in love with her, a rogue TV crew that’s taken over the studio, and one night to save her show from being canceled to make way for The Reverend Jimmy’s Prayer Time Power Hour. All hell breaks loose when their worlds collide in a romantic comedy of supernatural proportions!
Thoughts and Prayers
A New Play by A.M. Dean
February 28 – March 8, 2020
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm
Riverside Arts Center Studio One (76 N. Huron St, Ypsilanti)
A gun and manifesto are found in the trumpet case of a high school student. The botched school shooting leads to an experiment by the Department of Education to militarize teachers. When Huron Valley High School becomes the test subject, veteran teacher Melanie Webber must decide if she will comply.
Directed by Marisa Dluge
Starring: Mimi Blackford, Eric Hohnke, Mike Sandusky, Debbie Secord, Kate Umstatter, and Craig VanKempen
A Man for Christmas
A Made for TV Musical Parody
December 13-15, 2019
The Back Office Studio (13 N. Washington St, Ypsilanti)
We brought those holiday TV musicals (we know you watch them) to the stage in an original musical parody!
Written by A.M. Dean and Kristin Anne Danko
Directed by Kristin Anne Danko
Starring A.M. Dean, Marisa Dluge, Kylista Geiger, Maegan Murphy, Angela VanKempen, Craig VanKempen, and Kelli Zwolinski with Tom Hett on piano.
Ages 18+. This show is for mature audiences only.
Black Cat Cabaret
October 18 & 19, 2019 at Bobcat Bonnie’s
Watch the Trailer
Neighborhood Theatre Group’s “Black Cat Cabaret” is back for another year with all new songs, spooks, and sass at the new Bobcat Bonnie’s in downtown Ypsilanti! Featuring The NTG “Haunted” House Band, costume contest, raffle, and a magical performance from Tom “The Magic” Hett
Directed by Kristin Anne Danko with choreography by Angela VanKempen
Starring Mimi Blackford, Kylista Geiger, Andrew Scott Helman, Morgan Emily Hoeffel, Alice Kepchar, Maegan Murphy, Greg Pizzino, Jessica Terlep, Angela VanKempen, and Craig VanKempen
5th Annual Monologue Competition
Friday, October 4, 2019
The Back Office Studio (13 N. Washington St)
Actors have 3 minutes to perform a memorized monologue, original or published.
2019 Winners: 1st-Maegan Murphy, 2nd-Hank Greenspan, 3rd-LaShanette Harrison
JUDGES: Brian Cox (Pencilpoint TheatreWorks), Jenny Koppera (Spinning Dot Theatre), and Emilio Rodriguez (Black and Brown Theatre)
Season 5 Kickoff Fundraiser
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Riverside Arts Center Art Gallery (76 N. Huron St)
NTG kicked off our 5th Season of original theatre. Featuring live music from The NTG House Band, a raffle, High 5 Booth, Instagram Photo Wall, wine, refreshments, and more!
Our raffle included a $40 gift card to The Eyrie, gift card to Paesano Restaurant and Wine Bar, tickets to Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, gift card for 4 to 515 Drag Queen Bingo, jewelry from Jessica Tenbusch and Jane Brundage, a signed copy of “Queen of Clocks and Other Steampunk Tales”, beauty products, and NTG Season Tickets, mug, and T-shirt!
2018-2019 Season
Trending Now:
A sketch comedy show on fads, fashion, and fandom
May 10-12 and 16-19, 2019
The Back Office Studio (13 N. Washington St, Ypsilanti)
We closed out our 4th season with a brand new original sketch comedy show on fads, fashion, and fandom! From Lite Brite, to Star Wars and Klingons, to Twitter, to the Cotton Eye Joe, we’re going to #DoThatThang
Directed by Kristin Anne Danko
Starring A.M. Dean, Kylista Geiger, Tom Hett, Eric Hohnke, and Alice Kepchar
Choreography by Alice Kepchar – Sound Design by Eric Hohnke
CoffeeHouse Theatre: Words and Songs
April 13 at 8pm, April 14 at 2pm
The Back Office Studio (13 N. Washington St, Ypsilanti)
For this NTG fundraiser, transformed the Back Office Studio into a coffeehouse. CoffeeHouse Theatre featured poems by beloved poets such as Emily Dickinson, Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein, Langston Hughes, Carl Sandburg, and local writers, as well as music selections from City of Angels, Spamalot, and Show Boat to name a few!
Directed and Conceived by Dianne Bernick
Starring R. Darrow Bernick, Eric Hohnke, Maegan Murphy, Emily Rogers-Driskill, and Craig VanKempen
Featuring Tom Hett on piano and bass and Rudy Bernick on accordion
A special pre-show jazz concert with Rudy Bernick on accordion and guest bassists Paul Keller (Saturday) and Trevor Lamb (Sunday)
Coffee and hot chocolate provided by Bearclaw Coffee!
Dispatches from the Dumb Decade
A New Musical by A.M. Dean
March 1-3 and 8-10, 2019
Robert C. Barnes Sr. MarketPlace Hall (16 S. Washington St, Ypsilanti)
After the workshop of this new musical in 2017, we are thrilled to premiere the first full production of this pop/rock musical by Ypsilanti’s own A.M. Dean!
“Dispatches from the Dumb Decade” is a new musical for a new millennium, a new president, and a new media. Veteran reporter, Brenda Marsh is tempted by the delights of cable TV punditry as journalism student Nick Kowalski, and friends, take us on an anti-nostalgic trip through the first decade of the twenty-first century.
Directed by Kristin Anne Danko
Starring Marisa Dluge, Jae Feathers, Kylista Geiger, Eric Hohnke, Alice Kepchar, Maegan Murphy, Paul Popa, Mike Sandusky, Angela VanKempen, and Craig VanKempen
Staged Readings of One-Act Plays
December 7, 2018
Riverside Arts Center Off-Center Gallery (76 N. Huron St)
We presented staged readings of three new scripts by local playwrights!
A Touch Awkward by Brian Cox – Directed by Dianne Bernick – A well-meaning Raymond recounts awkward moments in his life. Starring Nathan Corliss, Jae Feathers, Robby Griswold, Tom Hett, and Maria Kelly
Last Day in Paradise by Dustin Mineau – Directed by Kristin Anne Danko and Craig VanKempen – High school student Ethan faces an internal dilemma as he graduates from a Christian gay conversion camp. Starring Kylista Geiger, Robby Griswold, Tom Hett, Eric Hohnke, Brittney Marie, Maegan Murphy, Rodney Rice, and Jan Romans
Whatever Happened to Captain Future? by Greg Pizzino – Directed by Marisa Dluge – A film maker documents the life, relationships, and contradictions of a beloved, recently deceased superhero. Starring Kristina Fitzgerald, Daniel Ghastin, Paul Popa, Eddie Rothermel, Debbie Secord, and Dinah Tutein
Let’s Get Lit! – A Benefit Performance
November 17, 2018
The Back Office Studio (13 N. Washington St)
Neighborhood Theatre Group held a benefit performance to help us purchase our own lighting system! Featuring a silent auction, raffle, live music, and a cabaret show by your very own NTG Company!
With performances by Kristin Anne Danko, Kylista Geiger, Daniel Ghastin, Eric Hohnke, Alice Kepchar, Maegan Murphy, Greg Pizzino, Angela VanKempen, Craig VanKempen, and Christopher Zavac with Charles Worth on piano.
Our incredible silent auction featured donated items such as a 2 night stay and golf at The Marriott at Eagle Crest, VIP Wine Tour and Tasting for 6 at Chateau Chantel in Traverse City, Matthaei Botanical Gardens Membership, Original painting by Connie Danko, custom made Michigan cutting board and knife by Dean Cutlery, handmade jewelry by Christine Lalinsky, as well as items by Sweet Steam Chocolates, Massage Mechanics, Betty Green, Emagine Cinemas, Mac’s Seafood, Cultivate Coffee and Tap House, and more!
Watch the Let’s Get Lit Promo Video
Thank you to our amazing food and drink donors who light us up!
Let’s Get Lit! is made possible with support from our friends at Pointless Brewery and Theatre
Proudly Sponsored by
Black Cat Cabaret
October 19 & 20, 2018
Bona Sera Underground (200 W. Michigan Ave)
Neighborhood Theatre Group’s hit Halloween show returned with all new songs, spooks, sass, and screams! Featuring The NTG “Haunted” House Band, a cash bar, costume contest, and raffle!
Directed by Kristin Anne Danko with Choreography by Angela VanKempen
Starring Audrey Becker, Mimi Blackford, Jae Feathers, Lynne Frederickson, Kylista Geiger, Eric Hohnke, Alice Kepchar, Justin Kohlruss, Maegan Murphy, Greg Pizzino, Angela VanKempen, and Craig VanKempen
October 5, 2018
GO! Ice Cream (10 N. Washington St, Ypsilanti)
Free Event
Local actors perform monologues for prizes!
2018 Winners: 1st-Hank Greenspan, 2nd-Aaron Dean, 3rd-Kristina Camaj
JUDGES: Brian Cox (PencilPoint TheatreWorks), Jenny Koppera (Spinning Dot Theatre), Joey Albright (Roustabout Theatre Troupe), and Isaac Ellis (The Brass Tacks Ensemble)
2017-2018 Season
Can I Help You? A Sketch Comedy Musical
May 10-12 & 17-19, 2018
Neighborhood Theatre Group served up a brand new sketch comedy show all about the customer service industry! From restaurants to retail to call centers, Can I Help You? is one happy hour of theatre!
Directed by Kristin Anne Danko – Written by the cast and NTG Company – Original music by A.M. Dean
Starring: A.M. Dean, Marisa Dluge, Alice Kepchar, Angela VanKempen, and Craig VanKempen
Featuring Charles Worth on piano
Coffeehouse Theatre: Words and Songs
April 6 and 7, 2018
GO! Ice Cream (10 N. Washington St, Ypsilanti)
For this NTG fundraiser, we transformed GO! Ice Cream into a coffeehouse for an evening of poems and music!
Directed and Conceived by Dianne Bernick
Starring: R. Darrow Bernick, Lark Haunert, Maegan Murphy, Emily Rogers, and Craig VanKempen
Featuring Charles Worth on piano and a special appearance by Kristin Anne Danko
Cryptic
A new play by A.M. Dean
February 23-25, 2018
Neighborhood Theatre Group is proud to present the premiere of Cryptic by Michigan playwright A.M. Dean. In this heartwarming comedy, The Huron Valley Cryptozoological Society’s world is rocked when Roberta Bleek sends a blurry sighting video of Huro, the Huron River monster, to a cable TV show. Now Roberta must contend with her pushy Bigfoot loving cousin, the ghost of her sister, and the possibility that her lifelong obsession might be real.
Directed by Marisa Dluge
Starring: Mimi Blackford, Kylista Geiger, Lauren Megan, Greg Pizzino, Inney Prakash, and Craig VanKempen
Featuring an original score and sound design performed live by composer Tom Hett
Cryptic is made possible with the support of
Bauble Heads: A Christmas
X-travaganza (for Charity)
A Benefit Performance for Corner Health Center
December 9, 2017
Tap Room Annex (201 W. Michigan Ave)
In Bauble Heads: A Christmas X-travaganza (for Charity), “minor-celebrity” Fence Bishop reunited with his favorite star performers from his illustrious career as a cabaret act turned philanthropist to perform a one-night-only live Christmas special all to benefit Corner Health Center!
Conceived by Daniel Ghastin – Directed by Kristin Anne Danko – Starring the NTG Company
Featuring a special performance by Patti Smith and “The Push Ups” improv team!
Ages 21+
Black Cat Cabaret
October 20 & 21, 2017
Bona Sera Underground (200 W. Michigan Ave)
Neighborhood Theatre Group was thrilled to bring back “Black Cat Cabaret” this Halloween season with new songs, scares, and sass. Featuring a full bar, raffle, and costume contest!
Directed by Kristin Anne Danko – Featuring the NTG “Haunted” House Band
Starring: Audrey Becker, Mimi Blackford, Lynne Frederickson, Kylista Geiger, Alice Kepchar, Brittney Marie, Maegan Murphy, Greg Pizzino, Angela VanKempen, and Craig VanKempen
3rd Annual Monologue Competition
October 6, 2017, 7:30pm
Local actors perform monologues for prizes!
Judges: Brian Cox (Pencilpoint Theatreworks), Jenny Koppera (Spinning Dot Theatre), and Emilio Rodriguez (Black and Brown Theatre)
The 2017 Winners: 1st-Erin Croom, 2nd-Aaron Dean, 3rd-Monica Spencer, Honorable Mention-Brittney Marie
Paw Prints
A new 10-minute musical by Eric Hohnke
Friday, September 1, 2017, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm and 8:30pm.
Spark East (215 W. Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti)
“Paw Prints” tells the story of Becky, a woman who works from home and adopts a fun loving dog, Chip. When Becky’s life takes a sudden turn, the two are forced to evaluate the important things in life.
Directed by Dianne Bernick. Starring Kristin Anne Danko as Becky and Lark Haunert as Chip with Tom Hett on piano.
NTG partnered with the Humane Society of Huron Valley for this production. A full list of HSHV’s donation wish list is available HERE
“Paw Prints” is made possible with the support of
2016-2017 Season
Dispatches from the Dumb Decade
A Workshop Performance
June 2, 3, 4, 2017
A new musical by A. M. Dean with music arranged by the NTG House Band.
This workshop performance, featuring actors playing the instruments, stars Eric Hohnke, Tom Hett, Maegan Murphy, Alice Kepchar, Aaron Dean, Marisa Linski, and Kristina Fitzgerald with Charles Worth on piano, and is directed by Kristin Anne Danko. Join us as we travel back to the 2000’s to laugh, cry and scream in terror at fake news, low rise jeans, strategery, and energy drink cocktails.
NTG’s Spring Benefit
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Neighborhood Theatre Group’s first ever Spring Benefit was a time to be had, featuring live music from the NTG House Band followed by pop-up performances from past NTG productions as well as a sneak peek at our upcoming original musical, Dispatches from the Dumb Decade, by local playwright A.M. Dean! Event also included silent auction, raffle, costume photo booth, food, bar and a 2017-2018 season reveal!
Sketchual Healing
February 16, 17, 18, 24 & 25, 2017
Sketchual Healing is an original sketch show that asks… What is love really? Featuring live music from the NTG House Band and a solo opening performance piece. So when you get that feeling, nothing can cure a cold February night like sexual… I mean Sketchual Healing.
Self-written. Directed by Kristin Anne Danko. Starring Marisa Dluge, Daniel Ghastin, Brittney Marie, Angela VanKempen, and Craig VanKempen
Black Cat Cabaret
October 28 & 29, 2016
Black Cat Cabaret is a Halloween themed evening of theatre and songs. Featuring a full bar, costume contest, and the NTG “Haunted” House Band! This spooktacular evening of music and theatre is sure to get you in the Halloween spirit.
Directed by Kristin Anne Danko. Starring Colleen Cartwright, Eric Hohnke, Alice Kepchar, Greg Pizzino, Angela VanKempen, and Craig VanKempen
2nd Annual Monologue Competition
October 7, 2016
Local actors take the stage in NTG’s Annual Monologue Competition. Esteemed members of our local and extended theatre community judge original and published short monologues at this rousing First Friday’s event held annually.
Judges: Brian Cox (Pencil Point Theatre Works) and Jenny Koppera (Spinning Dot Theatre)
2016 Winners: 1st-Erin Croom, 2nd-Alexander Sloan, 3rd-Aaron Dean
The Former Things and Carl, Baby
Two one-act plays by A.M. Dean
September 15, 16 & 17, 2016
The Former Things tells the story of a couple, in the whole of the rapture, who reunite and find out, even during the Apocalypse, they’re still crazy after all these years.
Directed by Marisa Dluge. Starring Mimi Blackford, Tom Hett, and Eric Hohnke
In Carl, Baby we follow Carl, a teen staying up north for the summer, who meets a local girl who can’t seem to follow through, and his grandma, an unstoppable force of nature.
Directed by Kristin Anne Danko. Starring Colleen Cartwright, Alice Kepchar, and Neel Vaidya
2015-2016 Season
Ypsi Daze
May 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2016
Ypsi Daze is a weekly sketch comedy show written and performed by the cast and will be a different show every week for four weeks. These raw and fast paced shows feature new, original sketches based around a different theme each week, plus a weekly rolling-sketch filled with familiar characters highlighting the absurdity of theater itself.
Self-written. Directed by Kristin Anne Danko. Starring Aaron Dean, Eric Hohnke, Mary Hourani, Chris Jakob, Angela VanKempen, Erin Watts, and Christopher Zavac
Rise Up Cabaret
March 24, 25 & 26, 2016
Rise Up Cabaret shares stories of self-confidence, inner strength, and acceptance. Featuring songs of various genres and styles all centered around the theme of rising up, Rise Up Cabaret showcases the talents of local actors and singers from Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan.
Directed by Kristin Anne Danko. Starring Nick Brown, David Galido, Eric Hohnke, Emily Rogers, Mary Rumman, Angela VanKempen, Craig VanKempen, and Kelly Rose Voigt
The Big Game Weekend
October 15, 16 & 17, 2015
The Big Game Weekend is a comical and historically inaccurate two person sketch show with fifteen original characters that were developed through research of University of Michigan and Michigan State. From Fielding Yost to Biggie Munn to Spartan tailgaters and real live wolverines, this show is sure to get you pumped up for the big game!
Self-written. Directed by Kristin Anne Danko. Starring Marissa Conniff and Eric Hohnke
1st Annual Monologue Competition
August 7, 2015
Local actors and actor-aspirees take the stage in NTG’s Annual Monologue Competition. Esteemed members of our local and extended theatre community judge original and published short monologues at this rousing First Friday’s event held annually.
Judges: Brian Cox (Pencil Point Theatre Works) and Dr. Arthur J. Beer (Professor at University of Detroit – Mercy)
2015 Winners: 1st-Marisa Dluge, 2nd-Kelly Rose Voigt, 3rd-Cassie Bondie
Beaver’s Long Strange Trip
June 5, 2015
Beaver’s Long Strange Trip is an original musical about the 1960’s and today. The Beaver is about to start college, his brother Wally is in Vietnam and the first cracks of an America divided are forming.
Book and lyrics by A. M. Dean. Music by Bradley Drozdowski. Directed by Kristin Anne Danko. Starring Marissa Conniff, Bradley Drozdowski, Mary Hourani, David Galido, Chris Jakob, Stephen Lambert, Gary Lehman, Emily Slomovits, Kelly Rose Voigt, and Christopher Zavac