Live from Livonia: It's "Saturday Night"

            Dearborn resident Matt Miazgowicz (second from left) as Artie and Aaron Glenn (third from left) of Wyandotte as Bobby will perform in the Sondheim musical comedy “Saturday Night” Jan. 6 to 15 with the Motor City Musical Theatre in Livonia.  Others in the cast include Luke Rose (left) of Harrison Township as Dino, Elyse Moon (fourth from left) of Royal Oak as Helen, George Abud of Grosse Pointe Woods as Gene, Dave Cowan of Detroit as Ray and Andrick Siegmund (right) of Pleasant Ridge as Ted. (Photo courtesy of the Motor City Musical Theatre.)

            Dearborn resident Matt Miazgowicz (standing, top right) as Artie and Aaron Glenn (bottom right) of Wyandotte as Bobby will perform in the Sondheim musical comedy “Saturday Night” Jan. 6 to 15 with the Motor City Musical Theatre in Livonia.  Others in the cast include George Abud (far left) of Grosse Pointe Woods as Gene, Luke Rose (seated, middle row, left) of Harrison Township as Dino, Andrick Siegmund (bottom row left) of Pleasant Ridge as Ted and Dave Cowan (seated, middle row right) of Detroit as Ray. (Photo courtesy of the Motor City Musical Theatre.)

By SUE SUCHYTA

            Dearborn actor Matt Miazgowicz and Aaron Glenn of Wyandotte will perform Jan. 6 to 15 in the Motor City Musical Theatre’s two-weekend run of the Stephen Sondheim musical comedy, “Saturday Night.”

MOTOR CITY MUSICAL THEATRE STARTS ITS ENGINE

            The recently revived show, Sondheim’s first musical, will be performed at the Grantland Street Playhouse, 27555 Grantland in Livonia. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee.

            For more information, call (313) 535-8962 or send an email to motorcitymusicaltheatre@gmail.com.

SONDHEIM FIRST SHOW REDISCOVERED                

            Sondheim’s intended theatrical debut, a family-friendly musical comedy which he composed and lyricized while in his mid-twenties, lost funding in 1955 when its young lead producer Lemuel Ayers died before “Saturday Night” could be produced.

WITH WORDS TO RIVAL “CASABLANCA”

            The show features a book by Julius and Philip Epstein, who wrote the script for “Casablanca.”

FUN FROM THE FIFTIES

            Director Jeremy Mossman of Ferndale said that most of the actors are from Wayne State and Oakland Universities and even from Windsor. He said he is eager to spread the word about the emerging semi-professional college-aged theatre group.

            “I am enjoying watching our run-throughs,” Mossman said. “The cast is so strong and dynamic, and we’ve aimed to treat the material authentically in the style of a 1950s musical comedy… it’s given us a great excuse to be silly.”

IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- IN LIVONIA

            “Saturday Night” is set in the spring in Brooklyn, New York just prior to the 1929 stock market crash. The protagonist, Gene, a Wall Street clerk, played by Wayne State University student George Abud of Grosse Pointe Woods, dreams of a life of luxury.

FROM LOWLY TO LUXURY

            Gene convinces his lonely, dateless buddies to let him invest their money so they might find their fortune and begin to live the good life. He starts spending his friends’ money extravagantly until he falls in love with woman who helps bring him back down to earth.

HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF

            The Motor City Musical Theatre personnel said the timing for this seldom-performed musical is desirable given the country’s current distain for Wall Street and the ever-widening gap between the rich and poor, and they look forward to capitalizing on the show’s parallels with present day headlines.

COLLEGE AGED CAST

            The cast includes George Abud of Grosse Pointe Woods as Gene, Elyse Moon of Royal Oak as Helen, Dave Cowan of Detroit as Ray, Luke Rose of Harrison Township as Dino, Matthew Miazgowicz of Dearborn as Artie, Andrick Siegmund of Pleasant Ridge as Ted, Aaron Glenn of Wyandotte as Bobby, Nathanial Cedroni of Clinton Township as Hank, Miriam Goldsmith as Celeste, Jeremy Mossman of Ferndale as a vocalist, Kendall Talbot of Warren as Mildred, and ensemble members Sydney Machesky of Shelby Township, Dan Finn of Armada and Allison Fisher of Birmingham.

FLORKOWSKI AT THE HELM

            Redford residents Fred and Nancy Florkowski are the technical director and artistic director, respectively, of the Motor City Musical Theatre.

Noretta Dunworth School of Dance celebrates opening of new studio

The Noretta Dunworth School of Dance celebrated the grand opening of their new facility at 3311 Telegraph Rd. in Dearborn Dec. 18 with plenty of holiday cheer. Present for the ribbon cutting are dancers Miranda Martinez (front row, left), Ashlyn Kelly, Jenna Bandar, Celine Abdallah, Emma Yakima and Emily Zion; Santa, [aka Kip Mrvka] (back row, left), Tracy Kielb, dancer instructor, Noretta Dunworth, studio founder, Mayor John O’Reilly Jr., Loni Lane Padesky, studio owner and artistic director, Dr. Joseph Padesky, Suzanne Sareini, Dearborn city council president pro tem, Michael Magnone, Dearborn Chamber of Commerce ambassador, Renee Aloe, Dearborn Chamber of Commerce membership director, Peggy Richard, Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, and dancer Andrea Bess. (Photo by Sue Suchyta)

The Noretta Dunworth School of Dance celebrated the grand opening of their new facility at 3311 Telegraph Rd. in Dearborn Dec. 18 with plenty of holiday cheer. Enjoying the celebration  are Celine Abdallah (left), Noretta Dunworth, Santa (aka Kip Mrvka), Ashlyn Kelly and Jenna Bandar. (Photo by Sue Suchyta)

Tony Award-winner “God of Carnage” at JET

Joseph Albright (left) as Michael, Sarab Kamoo as Veronica and Phil Powers as Alan. (Photo by Jan Cartwright)

 By SUE SUCHYTA   

           

            The Jewish Ensemble Theatre presents the 2009 Tony award-winning best play “God of Carnage” now through Jan.1 in the new Berman Center for the Performing Arts, located at 6600 W. Maple Rd. in West Bloomfield.

PARENTS ERRUPT OVER BOYS’ FIGHT

            Christopher Hampton’s translation of Yasmina Reza’s “God of Carnage” is a mixture of drama and comedy. Two sets of parents meet to discuss a fight between their 11-year-old sons which caused painful injuries to one of the boys.

FROM COOL TO HEATED

            What starts out as a civilized discussion quickly disintegrates into a heated verbal battle, but it’s not limited to the topic of their children: lifestyle choices, attitudes, parenting styles and personal peccadilloes take center stage.

PET PEEVE, CELL PHONE RAGE

            Sides change quickly and unpredictably as well: one of the fathers, a high-powered attorney, won’t stop taking cell phone calls from his office staff, while the other, a businessman, is criticized for his callous removal of a family pet.

AUDIENCE AS VOYEUR

            The four adults drink, the conversations become heated, and they change direction frequently and unexpectedly. One almost feels present in the room, overhearing a very discomforting series of arguments. It feels real, not part of a play.

MEET THE PARENTS

            Suzi Regan and Phil Powers play parents Annette and Alan, while Sarab Kamoo and Joseph Albright portray parents Veronica and Michael.  

            All four are strong actors. Kamoo exudes an agitated energy while Regan convincingly portrays her character’s physical vulnerability to stress.

            Powers epitomizes the cell phone addict we love to hate, while Albright plays the impulsive dad who doesn’t have a clue about his kids’ emotional needs.

FROM BETTER TO WORSE

            The story unfolds like a conversation one shouldn’t be overhearing, but you just can’t turn away because it draws one in. The characters are so proud of their civility, but by the end of the evening we’ve seen the worst in all of them.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT

            The play is more than a drunken argument, though, showing how people struggle to “do the right thing” and be “civilized” when we really haven’t strayed far from our primitive ancestors’ “fight or flight” instinct.

CHILDREN CONSUME YOUR LIVES

            Some of the more interesting lines from the play include Michael’s comment about how no one warns you about starting a family when you get married, saying “Children consume your lives then destroy them.”

IMPULSE CONTROL

            Alan, the cell-phone addicted lawyer, says “Society tells us to control our impulses,” but can’t stop himself from paying more attention to his phone than the people in the room, which drives his wife Annette to an act of device desperation.

WEDDED TO GADGETS

            Annette is disgusted by how some men are “wedded to their gadgets,” tellingly saying that “a man ought to have his hands free,” and “should show he’s capable of being alone.”

PROVOCATIVE DRAMA WITH HUMOR

            If you like well-written, provocative plays and fast-paced, well-acted drama interspersed with humor, “God of Carnage” is a must-see production.

TO ATTEND

            The show is about 75 minutes long and runs without an intermission. For more information, call (248) 788-2900 or go to www.jettheatre.org.

"The Snow Queen" at PuppetART with life-size puppets

By SUE SUCHYTA

            PuppetART presents Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen” with life-size puppets and special effects on select mornings and afternoons now through Jan. 28 at PuppetART, located at 25 E. Grand River in Detroit.

A CLASSIC TALE OF GOOD VS. EVIL 

            “The Snow Queen” is a musical retelling of the classic children’s tale. First published in 1845, it focuses on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by a little boy and girl, Kai and Gerda.

FANTASY, MAGIC, MYSTERY

            The show is recommended for ages five and up, and offers fantasy, magic, laughter and mystery.

HAND-CRAFTED PUPPETS

            The puppets are hand-crafted and made for the production, and feature an original music score.

RUSSIAN ROOTS

            PuppetART was founded by three Russian puppeteers in 1995, and toured throughout Michigan and other nearby states until 1998 when they established a theatre in Detroit.

MAKE A DATE

            Remaining performances for “The Snow Queen” are at 10 a.m. Dec. 22 and Jan. 19, and 2 p.m. Dec. 26, 27, 28 and Jan. 14, 21 and 28 at 25 East Grand River in Detroit.

MAKE A PUPPET

            Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults. Optional puppet-making workshops after performances are available for an $8 material fee.

TO LEARN MORE

            For more information, call (313) 961-7777 or go to www.puppetart.org.

Two local girls play Clara in the Nashville Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Dearborn Heights resident Sarah Sibole (left), a 12-year-old seventh grader at Divine Child School in Dearborn and Lauren Yakima (right) a 10-year-old fifth grader at Moraine Elementary in Northville, are sharing the role of Clara in a scene from the Nutcracker with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular now through Dec. 24 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Both girls are students of Loni Lane at the Noretta Dunworth School of Dance in Dearborn. (Photo courtesy of the Nashville Radio City Christmas Spectacular.)

By SUE SUCHYTA

            Two local girls hit the jackpot when they were in Las Vegas last summer without even setting foot on the casino floor.

RADIO CITY ROLES

            Sarah Sibole and Lauren Yakima, two young Dearborn-trained dancers, learned within minutes of each other July 12 that they would share the role of Clara Nov. 18 to Dec. 24 in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the 4,000-seat Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee.

            In addition to the Nashville show, there are companies this year in New York City, Boston and Durham, North Carolina.

SARAH AND LAUREN

            Sibole, a 12-year-old from Dearborn Heights, and Yakima, a 10-year-old Northville resident and the granddaughter of Mary Ellen Bork of Dearborn Heights, were both at the West Coast Dance Explosion national finals dance competition at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas with the competition team from their Dearborn dance studio, the Noretta Dunworth School of Dance, when on July 12 they got the exciting news.

           

58 PERFORMANCES

            When the show closes Christmas Eve, each will have performed Clara in the “Nutcracker” number for half of the 58 performances.

             Sibole says being in the show is an incredible experience.

NO BUTTERFLIES, JUST TUTUS AND TEDDYBEARS

            “I was nervous on opening night but after that I relaxed and just had fun with it,” Sibole said. “The more crowded the Opry is and the more children in the audience, the more I enjoy it.  It is fun to see their faces when I come out on stage in my tutu.”    

            The girls, the only two children in the Nashville cast, are also in the show’s Living Nativity scene.

AFTER THREE YEARS OF AUDITIONING, SUCCESS

            This is the third year that both have auditioned for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and the first year that either was cast. Their dance teacher Loni Lane told them about the audition dates and encouraged them to try out.

SURVIVING AUDITIONS

            This year’s journey began May 4 when Lauren’s mother Mary Beth Yakima took the two girls to New York City for the initial audition. After surviving the first round of cuts they returned the first week of July for final auditions at the New York City Dance Alliance national dance competition finals. The girls say they were up against 50 to 60 other girls in the finals for the part of Clara.

            Lauren Yakima said that at the final auditions the girls went into a room for orientation, then to another room where they learned a couple of ballet routines.

            “Then they cut girls slowly and through each routine (until) they finally had the top ten finalists,” Yakima said.

            Both girls admitted to being nervous at the auditions.

            “Yeah, I was really nervous,” Sibole said. “It was different because I was going to be in a huge show instead of just getting a scholarship.”

FOLLOWING IN HER SISTER'S BALLET SHOES

            Lauren Yakima said she felt a little bit of pressure because her sister Amy Yakima, now 18, had played Clara in both the Detroit and New York City companies.

            Lauren Yakima said that she handles audition nervousness by focusing on the routine being taught.

             “I just kind of wait until I get to the audition room… and once I get in there I… get a little excited,” Yakima said. “Once they start teaching (the audition routine) I just kind of calm down.”

            The auditions tested their ballet skill. Sibole is a Level 5 Cecchetti student, while Yakima is a Level 4 Cecchetti student. The Cecchetti method is an internationally recognized graded method of teaching classical ballet technique that is anatomy-focused and teaches self-reliance in dance moves as opposed to imitating an instructor. Beyond Level 6 a dancer would be preparing for either teaching or a professional career in ballet.

MYRTLE BEACH

            After learning in July they had been cast in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the girls reported to Myrtle Beach with their mothers on Nov. 1 to learn the dance routine.

GRAND OLE OPRY IN NASHVILLE

            Then on Nov. 9 they reported to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and started rehearsing on stage for the Nov. 18 opening.

            While in Nashville each girl stays with her mother in a hotel suite with a kitchenette.

DANCING ON STAGE WITH HOMEWORK IN THE WINGS

            Sarah said that rehearsals in Nashville ran from 1 p.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. at night. Sibole said they work with tutors at their suites when they aren’t rehearsing or performing. The tutors get their assignments from their schools back home.

             “I’m doing the same thing as what the school is doing now,” Sibole said. “I’m just doing it at different times.”

            Sibole is a seventh grader at Divine Child School in Dearborn, while Yakima is a fifth grader at Moraine Elementary School in Northville.  

            When they are in the wings waiting to go on, Sibole said she is excited, not nervous. She said she dances by herself for a couple minutes, then with costumed Teddy Bear dancers who come on and perform with Clara.

STAGE MOM TELECOMMUTES 

            Her mother, Cheryl Sibole, an accountant for local business, has been doing her work from Nashville, juggling Sarah’s performance schedule and her job.  She said her family has been very supportive. 

NEW FRIENDS AND FAMILY

            They girls say the adults in the cast treat them like little sisters or nieces.

            “Sometimes we’ll get breaks… we’ll do puzzles in our dressing rooms with some of the cast members,” Yakima said. “And they’ll play board games (with us).”

            “The cast members and crew are all so very nice and I'm going to miss them so much when it is all over,” Sibole said.  “They take good care of the Claras… we've even gone out bowling together.  I've also learned to knit while I've been here.”  

DANCING DREAMS

            Yakima said it will be hard going back to her ordinary routine in January. She plans to save most of her earnings for her college fund, but want to keep “a little of it out for myself.”

            Yakima said she would like to audition for Clara again next year. Girls auditioning must be proficient on pointe, be between seven and 14 years old, and under 4-feet-10-inches tall.

             Sibole says she’s always wanted to be a dancer.

            “I love performing on stage and now that I've danced professionally, I know for certain that this is something I want to continue to do when I grow up,” Sibole said.  

            “It’s just a great experience,” Sibole said, adding that she and Yakima have become closer friends during their time in Nashville.

            “It’s a really great experience… because for a lot of girls this is a once in a lifetime chance to be in the show,” Yakima said. “I think it’s amazing.”

Dearborn Heights resident Sarah Sibole (left), a 12-year-old seventh grader at Divine Child School in Dearborn and Lauren Yakima, a 10-year-old fifth grader at Moraine Elementary in Northville, are sharing the role of Clara in a scene from the Nutcracker with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular now through Dec. 24 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Both girls are students of Loni Lane at the Noretta Dunworth School of Dance in Dearborn. (Photo courtesy of the Nashville Radio City Christmas Spectacular.)

The Hilberry Theatre presents dark Irish comedy “The Cripple of Inishmaan”

David Sterritt as "Cripple" Billy. (Photos by Becky Pierce.)

Joshua Rippy (left) as Bartley, Megan Dobbertin as Helen, Lorelei Sturm as Eileen and Sara Hymes as Kate.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 Lorelei Sturm (left) as Eileen, David Sterritt as "Cripple" Billy and Sara Hymes as Kate.

By Sue Suchyta

            Wayne State University’s graduate Hilberry Theatre Company presents Martin McDonagh’s dark Irish comedy, “The Cripple of Inishmaan” now through Feb. 4 in rotating repertory.

SETTING THE SCENE

            Set in a small, poor island community off the western coast of Ireland in 1934, the locals are excited to hear that a famous filmmaker will soon arrive in Inishmaan to make a documentary about their lives. “Cripple” Billy Claven sees auditioning for the movie as a respite from the poverty, gossip and boredom of his life.

FACING LIMITS, CHANGE

            And while Billy is cast in the movie and is able to escape his limited life for a short time, he eventually returns to the only people and place he’s ever know, perhaps more determined to rise above the limits imposed on him by others and fate.

RICH IN CHARACTERS

            The show features rich characterizations against a stark existence. It is, however, about people stuck in a poor small town with few options who respond in different ways: they worry, gossip, drink to excess, or live recklessly.

            The actors do a wonderful job bringing their roles to life. However, it is not a light-hearted hearted show, and while it is well-acted, it remains a dark comedy.

“CRIPPLE” BILLY

            Billy – who is often called Cripple Billy by the unthinking town folk – is emotionally haunted by the possibility that his parents’ death when he was little might have been a deliberate suicide. David Sterritt does a superb job of capturing both the psychological and physical elements of the character.

SISTER ACT

            Lorelei Sturm and Sara Hymes are engaging and sympathetic as the elderly sisters who raised Billy and who are probably the sanest of the lot, even though one “talks to stones.”          

           

FRUSTRATION AND CHANGE

Alec Barbour embodies the frustration of the village doctor who despairs of changing the debilitating health habits of the villagers.

            Megan Dobbertin captures the rebellious impatience of Helen, a young woman chafing at the boredom and limits of her life who acts out impulsively and in anger.

THE OTHERS

            The others in the strong cast include Brent Griffith as Johnnypateenmike, a relentless gossip; Joshua Rippy as Bartley, Helen’s simple-minded brother; Christopher Ellis as Babbybobby, a widowed boatman; and Danielle Cochran as Mammy O’Dougal, an alcoholic.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

            The Hilberry Theatre is located at 4743 Cass at Hancock in Detroit. For more information, call (313) 577-2972 or go to www.hilberry.com.

                       

Have a Nunsense Christmas with the Southgate Community Players

By Sue Suchyta

            The Southgate Community Players will present “Nunsense – The Christmas Musical Nuncrackers” at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at Davidson Middle School Auditorium, 15800 Trenton Rd. in Southgate.

            For more information, call (734) 828-4SCP or go to sconstage.com.

                  The cast includes Holly Sisung as the Reverend Mother, Jami Mullins as Sister Hubert, Karley Szekely as Sister Robert Anne, Alexis Mosley as Sister Amnesia, Guinevere Hovey as Sister Mary Leo and Nick Mullins as Father Virgil.

The students at Mt. St. Helens School are played by Mikayla Adams, Ann Eccleton, Destiny Frank, Adriana James, Ana Grace Lutz, Allison Roberts and Jenna Savage.

 

      Have a Nunsense Christmas

Guinevere Hovey (left) of Lincoln Park as Sister Mary Leo, Karlene Szekely of Woodhaven as Sister Robert Ann and Jami Mullins of Woodhaven as Sister Mary Hubert will perform in the Southgate Community Players production of “Nunsense – The Christmas Musical Nuncrackers.” The show runs Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Davidson Middle School Auditorium at 15800 Trenton Rd. in Southgate. For more information, call (734) 828-4SCP or go to sconstage.com. (Photo courtesy of Southgate Community Players)

Bonstelle’s “Twelfth Night” adds music to the magic

Andrick Siegmund (left) as Feste the fool, John Denyer as Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Michael Meike as Sir Toby Belch. (Photos courtesy of WSU Theatre Department.)

 Ivy Haralson (left) as Viola/Cesario, Justin Wagner as Orsino, Laura Heikkinen as Olivia and George Abud as Sebastian.

 Ivy Haralson as Viola/Cesario.

Jackson McLaskey as Malvolio.

By Sue Suchyta

            Wayne State University’s undergraduate Bonstelle Theatre Company’s current production of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” is an entertaining and musical treat.

“WE WILL DRAW THE CURTAIN AND SHOW YOU THE PICTURE”

            “Twelfth Night” is a tale of mistaken identity, disguises, and unrequited love.

            A shipwreck brings a young woman and a sea captain to shore in a foreign land. Viola disguises herself as a young man and goes to work for Orsino, a duke. Orsino is in love with a noble woman, Olivia, and has Viola, whom he knows as Cesario, woo Olivia for him. Olivia, of course, falls for Cesario.

            Meanwhile, Viola’s twin brother Sebastian, whom she had feared drowned, is washed ashore with his trusty sidekick. People start mistaking Viola/Cesario and Sebastian for each other, with amusing and plot-complicating results.

            In an interesting sub-plot, a group of partying servants, tired of being chastised by Olivia’s straight-laced steward Malvolio, pull a major prank on him, setting him up to believe that Olivia is in love with him. The ensuing subterfuge creates much of the comic relief.

“IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, PLAY ON”

            Penning music to match the Bard’s wonderful words were Michael Keefe and Henry Marsh.  Both have created music for Shakespearean productions at the First Folio Theatre in Oakbrook, Illinois. Their music for the Bonstelle’s production of “Twelfth Night” is romantic and uplifting, adding melodic magic to the show.

“SOME ARE BORN GREAT, SOME ACHIEVE GREATNESS”

            Whether or not the cast members were born under a theatrical star, it is undeniable that they have talent to spare.

            Ivy Haralson of Belleville is superb as Viola/Cesario, as is George Abud of Grosse Pointe as Sebastian, her twin. This is a breakout role for Haralson, a third year student. It is also pleasing to discover that Abud, well-known for his musical talent, is a skilled and entertaining actor as well.

            The quartet of troublemakers is amusingly portrayed by Michael Meike of Clinton Township as Sir Toby Belch, John Denyer of Dearborn as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Kelli Marie Sarakun of Grosse Pointe as Maria and Andrick Siegmund of Pleasant Ridge as Feste, a fool.

            Jackson McLaskey of Mt. Clemens, who recently displayed his comedic talent in “Noises Off,” is superb as Malvolio, the bullied butler.

            Laura Heikkinen of Livonia as Olivia and Justin Wagner of Royal Oak as Orsino lend their talents to the role of royals.

“IS IT A WORLD TO HIDE VIRTUES IN?”

            Others in the strong cast include Mackenzie Conn of Walled Lake as Fabiena, Jackie Fenton of Allen Park as a lady of the court, Matt Miazgowicz of Dearborn as the first officer, Yesmeen Mikhail of Wyandotte and Bryauna Perkins of Chesterfield as ladies of the court, Luke Rose of Harrison Township as Antonio, Alex Schott of White Lake as the second officer, Cory Thomas of St. Clair Shores as Curio, Aaron Westlake of St. Joseph as the sea captain and priest and Nicholas Yocum of Royal Oak as Valentine.

“LOVE SOUGHT IS GOOD, BUT GIVEN UNSOUGHT IS BETTER”

            Guest director Alison Vesely has brought together a talented cast and delivered a Shakespearean gem that is as easy to understand as it is to like.

            Mary Copenhagen’s period costumes add richness to the production, as does Rudy Schuepbach’s versatile and richly jewel-toned scenic design.

“JOVE AND MY STARS BE PRAISED! HERE IS YET A POSTSCRIPT”

            The show runs through this weekend with an 8 p.m. Saturday performance and a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. The Bonstelle Theatre is located at 3424 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. For more information, go to www.bonstelle.com.

GEM Theatre presents "The All Night Strut Holiday Edition"

The All Night Strut Holiday Show (Photo by Santa Fabio)

“Have a Kool Yule” with “The All Night Strut Holiday Show” now through Dec. 31 at the Gem Theatre at 333 Madison in Detroit. The show features singers Jared Joseph (left), Marja Harmon, Lianne Marie Dobbs and Denis Lambert (right).

By Sue Suchyta

            What would the holidays be like without carolers offering the musical gift of the season’s songs?

            The Gem Theatre at 333 Madison in Detroit is making spirits bright with “The All Night Strut Holiday Show.” Featuring songs from the late 1920s to late 1950s, you’ll tap your feet as you enjoy the beat. For tickets or more information call (313) 963-9800 or go to www.gemtheatre.com.

A WINK, SMILE AND CLASSIC STYLE

            The first act offers a time trip sampler of favorite songs, while the second half adds a holiday flavor to the upbeat offerings. The performance is an hour and forty-five minutes long, with one intermission.

            The fantastic foursome of Jared Joseph, Marja Harmon, Lianne Marie Dobbs and Denis Lambert make the vocal music magic happen. They are a treat to hear, light on their feet and easy on the eyes with a wink, smile and the classic styles of the bygone era.

IN THE MOOD

            Every song has its praiseworthy parts. “In the Mood” showcases impressive big band era dancing, with the men performing impressive stunts. “A Fine Romance” showcases their ability to flirt and have fun.

CAFFEINE AND TRILLS 

            “I Love Coffee, I Love Tea” is sung so sensually, it croons like a caffeine orgasm. “Rosie the Riveter” offers remarkable trilling, while “Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer” is a beautiful ballad with amazingly smooth four-part harmony.

KOOL YULE

            Marja Harmon offers a jazzy, gospel-inspired “Operator,” while Jared Joseph offers a unique Beatnik-blend for a “Kool Yule.”

SMOOTH AS SILK

            The quartet’s smooth as silk harmony is showcased again in “Dream,” then the group livens thing ups with some swing dancing to a jazzy bebop Rudolph theme.

MARILYN

            Lianne Marie Dobbs reminds one of Marilyn Monroe with her breathy yet polished rendition of “Have Your Self a Merry Little Christmas.”

            Denis Lambert amuses with his humorous song about a little boy discovering Santa looks a lot like his daddy.         

SWING AND SNOW READY TO GO  

            The tempos change and offer much variety, from the slow and jazzy “What are you doing on New Year’s Eve” to the energetic “It don’t mean a Thing if it don’t got that Swing.”

            They close with a wonderful jazzy rendition of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” complete with swirling stage snow.