Mash-Up Rock and Roll has been a source of inspiration and joy for me since I’ve moved to Traverse City. The local nonprofit is small but mighty, with a talented troupe and no shortage of creative ideas that put a fresh spin on theatre. Even last year they managed to bring entertainment to the locals through virtual performances and through a drive-in style experience called Scooby-Doo Wop. Last October, families by the car-full followed Scooby, Shaggy, and the gang around Traverse City on a ghost hunt. The show sold out. It was likely one of the only in-person shows many folks saw that year. Performance art has suffered greatly at the hands of the pandemic. With most live, in-person performance options gone, it was powerful to see Mash-up still finding a way to make that happen in a safe, conscientious manner.
The hit show is coming back with a sequel due to a grant from the Northwest Michigan Arts and Cultural Affairs, and it won’t be one to miss.
Mash-up was awarded $2,650. The grant comes with a requirement to match the $2,650 with private and public dollars. With donations from Two Lads Winery, Traverse City Web Design, Grand Traverse Pie Company, and over 50 private donors who gave during the Mash-up’s March 14th Zoomathon Fundraiser. With all of the money raised, Mash-up will be able to provide an enhanced experience for the audience and pay the artists and technicians for their work.
Old Town Playhouse will be partnering up with Mash-up for the show. They’re also partnering with Northwestern Michigan College University Center, which will be providing performance space too. The sequel show will begin in OTP’s parking lot, and like last time, will be contactless. Audience members will get comfortable in their own cars with a link that provides all of the audio that matches up with the show. Instead of old-time speakers, or tuning in on the radio, audience members will connect their phones to their car radio. This story follows the gang as they search for a mysterious river monster that’s been causing trouble. Audience members will be able to participate in clues through their smartphones and even vote on who they think the real culprit is.
Like the first show, this is an original written by founders of Mash-up Rock and Roll Lesley Tye and Tony Bero. Lesley handles writing the show, Tony takes care of writing the music. Together, they bring completely original performances to Traverse City that are fun, inclusive, and unlike anything you’ve seen before.
The show runs May 1, 2, 8, and 9 with performances starting at 11 am 1 pm and, 3 pm. Each performance runs for about an hour long and spaces in the parking lots are limited which means tickets are limited. They go on sale April 19th through . Make sure to grab your tickets early, as I suspect the shows will sell out again. Grab your phone and movie snacks because it looks like we’ve got another mystery on our hands.
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