Save the big bucks and enjoy free summer theatre under the stars in a courtyard setting on the Michigan State University campus. Theatre department students -- many with professional credentials -- perform five plays throughout June: three general audience, (including a musical), one for children and one for adults only. (Rainy days, the shows come inside.) Audience members are encouraged to bring picnics and while it's free, donations in the unobtrusive donation boxes or 50/50 raffle ticket purchases help support the program. Important: Bring your own lawn chair!

If you love theatre and appreciate a good bargain, Summer Circle Theatre features a season of five-six plays each June, presented free in an outdoor courtyard setting. Shows are targeted to various audiences (general, children, adult). Plays are performed by students at Michigan State University Department of Theatre over three weeks in June with one-to-three plays each evening. The productions I have seen, though not all to my taste (face it, we all like some things more than others) are generally very well acted and staged. The company is paid and features some of the theatre department's best undergraduate and graduate level talent, many with previous professional experience. The season usually includes a musical, a children's show, a late-night adult show and two others drawn from a mix of classic and contemporary playwrights. The price is right, the venue nice (bring a lawn chair and feel free to enjoy your picnic on the site or on the nearby MSU campus grounds), and if you feel so inclined buy a 50/50 raffle ticket or toss a few dollars into the boxes near the entrance as a thank you for a delightful evening of entertainment under the stars.