Weird, wacky, inclusive, creative, committed, and collaborative. Describing Mashup Rock & Roll Musical in a sentence is no small feat, as the organization has created a unique and irreverent theater experience that would leave even the most conservative Broadway critic super-glued to his seat, belly stitched in laughter.

Mashup came about because Lesley Tye and her and husband and Mashup co-founder Anthony Bero wanted to create the shows they wanted to see. Both have deep backgrounds in theater, music, directing, scriptwriting, composing, and casting. Rather than putting on shows that trotted out iconic yet overdone classics, the couple wanted to bridge the gap between vintage production themes from the past to the relevant issues, challenges, and humor of the 21st century.

Read more Mashup Rock & Roll Musical - as well as several other music-themed stories from across the region - in this week's Northern Express, sister publication of The Ticker. The Northern Express is available to read online, or pick up a free copy on newsstands at nearly 700 spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.