I recently attended the opening night of “HOME: Voices from Families of the Midwest” at Williamston Theatre in Williamston, Mi. The third part of a trilogy about women, men, and now families of the Midwest, HOME really brings the idea of what is home – well, home                                                                 .

I’d seen the previous two productions, and simply by virtue of telling stories about how women and men live out their lives here in this part of the country, those spoke to our perspective about home. “Maidens, Mothers and Crones: Voices of Women from the Midwest” expressed the lifestyles and issues of women across the generations. “Flyover, Voices of Men from the Midwest” delved into life experiences of men in our part of the world.

W.T.’s “HOME,” however, riles up your thinking about what exactly is HOME? What does HOME mean for us? Where is the heart of home?

The series concept comes from the creative mind of Toni Caselli, artistic director for the Williamston Theatre. Written by Annie Martin and Suzi Regan, HOME is performed through song, scenes and monologues… “examining how family both includes and transcends bloodlines, defining our worlds in very personal ways.” Regan directs the play, as well.

Of course, HOME’s setting is “Place: Any home, and Time: Any time.” Casselli points out to theatre goers that the concept of home is far reaching: “a place, a residence, a family unit, place of origin.” The definition he found that I like is, “A familiar or usual setting: congenial environment.”

How many times have you felt “at home” somewhere, and longed to return? Even though, it might not have been any of your family homes. Could be church, school, camp, an organization or group, or another country you’ve visited. I’ve attended a couple of summer retreats in recent times that – with the combination of place, hospitality and people involved – seem like “home.” Family. For some folks -- depending on their work experience -- a home family might be co-workers. In college, it could be your fraternity or sorority. In the military, your unit or squadron.

Now virtual families are turning up everywhere. An online forum I belong to is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month. Turns out that after awhile, everyone began calling it the “forum family.” And that has stuck. Because we do feel like we’re family, even though most of us have never met. And, whether we will or not, in real life, remains to be seen, since this “family” represents several countries.

It amazes me that I have a virtual family like that. And now, many of us are discovering that popular social networks, like Facebook, are adding another dimension of “family” to our lives. Our Facebook home? I sure never thought I’d say that. And that aspect of “home” for us, has mushroomed just in the past couple of years. And like any family, our Facebook family “home” has its challenges from time to time.

If you tuned into the theme of James Cameron’s mega-blockbuster film, “Avatar,” this winter -- or have followed such fantasy adventures as the Star Trek series, for example -- you’ve probably got a pretty good feeling that “home” means also, our home planet.

I happen to be of the generation who witnessed that first picture of Earth (affectionately dubbed the Big Blue Marble) from space. I imagine that image burned itself indelibly on our collective psyche. We might not verbalize it, but it’s there, sketched into our hearts.

So, home…can be our world and our place in the world. Our congenial environment can be our global village, accessed daily via internet technology, on down to our country, our region (such as the Midwest of the “Voices” trilogy), our native stomping grounds, our personal “tribe” (I love that word. My tribe -- or my “peeps” in the latest vernacular), on down to our family unit.

What constitutes family and home? “HOME: Voices from Families of the Midwest” touches on a variety of family and home issues, some very sensitive ones, but all touch that place of home and family within us. The wonderful thing about the “Voices” trilogy is that the entire scripts of dialog and music were inspired by stories sent in by Williamston Theatre fans representing our little corner of the world, the Midwest.

Caselli gives a hint of the force behind the concept: “I like to think of ‘home’ as something you build wherever you go.’” I’ll second that. I’ll also invite you to enjoy actors Sandra Birch, Hazen Cuyler, John Lepard, Maggie Meyer, and Nick Hintz providing music on guitar, in the third and final episode of the “Voices” trilogy. I predict the series will become classic theatre fare around the Midwest.

Meanwhile, you may enjoy it through June 13, 2010 at Williamston Theatre, 122. S. Putnam Street, Williamston, MI 48895. Ph: 517-655 SHOW (7469). Prices and performance schedule Thurs-Sun at www.williamstontheatre.org.

Williamston Theatre company members have been nominated for a number of Pulsar theatre awards from Lansing City Pulse, with the annual award ceremony on June 14 -- including both John Lepard and Tony Caselli as actor and director of “This Wonderful Life” -- in this case, a two-man show, with Lepard as lone actor, and Caselli, director. “It Came From Mars” also figures high in the nominations and both John Lepard and theatre managing director Chris Purchis are nominated for their work with the LCC Musical “The Hank Williams Story.”

See the full story at www.lansingcitypulse.com.

“Places, please – It’s time for this year’s Pulsar Nominations.

Links to Previous W.T. blogposts:

Voices from Mars to Home…

John Lepard’s Wonderful Life

More reviews for HOME

“Places, please – It’s time for this year’s Pulsar Nominations.

"All in the Family" -- Lansing City Pulse review of HOME

Lansing State Journal review of HOME

Encore Michigan reviews HOME