Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre and Dance announced its 2018-19 lineup of plays, dance events and other activities during its recent Halfway Party. More details will be announced closer to each event, but an overview of the schedule follows:

Season Premiere Party, Aug. 30: A red-carpet season kickoff featuring Alpha Psi Omega, the First Nighters Club, FRT faculty and an ice cream social sponsored by Jilbert’s Dairy. This free event is designed for students and community members to learn more about the opportunities available at FRT.

Auditions, Sept. 7-9: Open auditions will be held for the 2018-19 season. Come prepared with 90 seconds of a song or monologue, or two contrasting monologues.

Guest Performance, Sept. 28-30: FRT will bring a national act to its stage, similar to when The Second City performers visited in 2013. Group members will host workshops and perform. The specific performance company will be announced at a later date.

Sweeney Todd, Oct. 25-Nov. 3: Former Broadway actor and NMU theater professor Paul Truckey will play Sweeney Todd in the NMU production. This musical tale of love and murder is about an exiled barber who joins forces with Mrs. Lovett and her meat pie shop in nineteenth-century London to seek vengeance. Its book is by Hugh Wheeler and the music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim. This production features senior capstone designs by NMU theater students.

Scrooge!, Dec. 12-16: The long-standing FRT tradition continues with this musical adaptation by Leslie Bricusse that is designed for the whole family. Bitter miser Scrooge is transformed by a frightening night of ghosts that open his eyes to the possibilities of Christmas cheer. The musical is based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Halfway Party, Jan. 17: A mid-season gathering of those involved in the FRT to touch base, eat food together and get ready to start the new semester by learning about upcoming opportunities and events.

East of the Sun, West of the Moon, Jan. 24-26: The classic Scandinavian folk tale version of Beauty and the Beast receives a twist in this brand-new, full-length ballet written especially for Forest Roberts Theatre and Dance by composer Griffin Candey. Jill Grundstrom directs this world premiere performance. In the ballet, a clever young girl taken prisoner by a bear works against the Troll Queen to lift the curse laid upon the land’s prince, accompanied by original music and choreography.

Fringe Festival, Feb. 8-16: NMU students perform, produce and direct theater, music and dance productions in two weeks of performances. Participating productions will be announced at a later date.

Medieval Dinner Theatre at the Masonic, Feb. 21-23: Stage combat and food come together at the Marquette Masonic Building as a fundraiser for FRT.

Beauty and the Beast, April 12-20: The classic musical story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under a spell. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will transform into his former self. If the Beast does not learn his lesson as time runs out, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. Its book is by Linda Woolverton, music is by Alan Menken and lyrics are by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice.

Drama Prom and Jimmy Awards, May 2: This end-of-the-season formal event celebrates the hard work of theater students throughout the year.

For more information, contact the Forest Roberts Theatre Box Office at (906) 227-2082 or via email at frtbox@gmail.com.