Good Grief: DHCT’s “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” opens on Friday the 13th

By SUE SUCHYTA

            Theatre people are a superstitious lot. They say “break a leg” to wish each other good luck, they avoid mentioning the name of Shakespeare’s Scottish play and they leave a ghost light onstage in an empty theatre. They even believe a bad dress rehearsal means a good opening night.

GOOD GRIEF?

            So with the Dearborn Heights Civic Theatre opening their production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” on Friday, April 13, the question remains: Will it invoke a round of “good grief” or bring the community theatre the success it deserves?

            DHCT will perform the show in the round April 13, 14, 20, 21 and 22 at the Berwyn Center at 26155 Richardson in Dearborn Heights. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. closing Sunday matinee.

            For more information see their Facebook page or go to www.dhctstage.org.

            Good attendance at the performances will help make the show a financial success, and both the cast and crew say Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” characters are enjoyed by children and evoke happy memories for adults.

            Emily Gedert of Dearborn, who plays Lucy, said the show appeals to all generations.

FROM COMIC STRIP TO CARTOONS TO STAGE

            “It appeals to the young kids – it (has) adults running around and acting like kids, being silly,” Gedert said. “But it appeals to the older generation, too because it kind of brings back the nostalgia of the Peanuts comic strip.”

            Sara Mayne of Redford Township, who plays Sally, added that several generations have watched the Peanuts cartoons on television.

            “Everyone kind of watched it growing up,” she said. “All ages – from my parents, to us – we watched it when we were little and now even kids are watching it.”

SCHULZ'S SOAP BOX?

            Brian Welch of Dearborn, who plays Snoopy, said that Schulz used the comic strip as a way to express his philosophy to adults.

            “I think… Charles Schulz wrote his cartoons to the older generation based on political views of his life,” Welch said. “But he used kids as his cartoon characters to vocalize those views. So that’s why I think it will appeal to the adults and to the kids.”

GOING TO THE DOG...

            Welch, who has played Snoopy before, said he is working with his dog to learn some of the canine characteristics.

GIVING SNOOPY A VOICE

            “I’m doing the nuzzling with the chin and things like that,” Welch said. “I have actual lines, but we’re playing it as if (the Peanuts characters) don’t hear the lines. All they hear is the ‘row-row-row-ruff’ type stuff, but the audience hears it.”

            He said Snoopy is a great comic role.

            “‘Suppertime’ is an amazing number,” Welch said. “It’s probably my favorite part of the show… it just brings out everything. He’s such a great character role and has great lines. It’s a wonderful role… playing an animal – you try to grasp that concept and you have people laughing – I do the little ‘dog tail wag’ when he asks for supper and things like that. It’s fun!”   

            Just as Welch is bringing unique canine touches to his role, director Marc Walentowicz of Garden City said he hopes his staging the show in the round will make their performance of the show different from others he has seen.

IN THE ROUND

            “There are the challenges of trying to make it so that everyone feels included in every scene, but I mean there are also no limits,” Walentowicz said. “You can go anywhere, you can do things. I love that you can move set pieces… you can take a dog house and spin it around where you couldn’t do that on a regular stage because you wouldn’t see it once it turned around.”

GO FLY A KITE

            He said they have figured out how to do the show’s kite flying scene.

            “It’s not build yet but we figured out how to do it,” Walentowicz said. “We’ll leave that surprise for the audience.”

APPEALS TO ALL AGES

            He encourages people of all ages to see the show.

            “If anything this is truly a show that appeals to 3-year-olds to 100-year-olds,” Walentowicz said. “I mean pretty much everyone has grown up with Peanuts in their lives… it relates to everybody. I would encourage everyone to come – entire families.”

CHANNEL YOUR INNER CHARLIE BROWN?

            He said of all the characters he identifies the most with Charlie Brown.

            “Everybody kind of feels like they’re downtrodden and the weight of the world is on their shoulders like Charlie Brown does,” Walentowicz said. “And that’s by design because Charlie Brown is based on Charles Schulz himself.”

WOODSTOCK CAMEO

            Walentowicz added another unique touch by having one child in the cast – choreographer Laura Tyler’s 10-year-old daughter Sophia, a fifth grader at Tonda Elementary in Canton Township plays Woodstock, Snoopy’s feathered friend.

            “Sophia’s having a great time being Woodstock,” Tyler said. “She’s having a blast being with this group… Marc’s vision was that Woodstock was just this cameo that you only saw in this little blip (“Suppertime”).

            She said the group’s been great for her to work with as well, and that everyone helps each other learn the dances.

            “I’ve been able to push and do more than I thought I’d be able to do because they’ve just banded together so well,” Tyler said.

BEETHOVEN DAY

            She said her favorite number is “Beethoven’s Day.”

            “I love ‘Beethoven’s Day’,” Tyler said. “When it hits it really clicks. You’re like ‘Yes!’”

THE BLANKET DANCE

            “The Blanket Dance” is James Mayne’s favorite number. The Redford Township resident, who plays Linus, said that’s why people should come see the show.

            “It’s my solo song (with)… Clara (Albright) dressed up as my blanket – that’s our huge dance break in Act I,” he said.

            Albright, who plays Peppermint Patty, is a senior at Riverview Community High School.

            Mayne said he’s having a lot of fun in a theatre group that is new to him.

            “It was a little intimidating to be outside of my comfort area,” he said. “But then everybody’s really nice and welcoming and seems to get along well for the most part.”

CAST

            Others in the cast include Sean Randolph of Canton Township as Pig-Pen, Ron Williams Jr. of Redford Township as Charlie Brown, Dustin Hanson of Westland as Roy, Marissa Campitelle of Inkster as Marcie and Cory Chambliss as Schroeder.

CREW

            Brian Londrow of Inkster is the musical director, Jerry Kondracuik of Garden City is the producer and Amanda McFarland is the assistant director.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

            For more information, go to www.dhctstage.org.

Dearborn High School presents "The Music Man"

By SUE SUCHYTA

            Dearborn High School presents “The Music Man” at 7:30 p.m. March 29 to 31 with a 1 p.m. April 1 Sunday matinee.

RIVER CITY MEETS HAROLD HILL

            In Meredith Willson's classic story, set in River City, Iowa, Harold Hill, a traveling salesman and con man sells the town on the idea of starting a boys marching band in an attempt to sell them expensive instruments, music and uniforms, then flee the town with no intention of helping them actually start the band.

MARIAN THE LIBRARIAN

            The town librarian, Marian Paroo, intends to expose Hill as a con man until she sees him bring her shy young brother out of his emotional shell.

76 TROMBONES AND MORE

            The score features Broadway favorites "76 Trombones," "Til There Was You," "You Got Trouble," "Goodnight My Someone" and "The Wells Fargo Wagon.”

ONE HILL, TWO PARRO

            The cast includes senior Tim Smith as Harold Hill, and senior Camille Charara and junior Katie Polidori as Marian the librarian. Polidori will perform March 29 and 31 with Charara performing March 30 and April 1.

SHINNS

            Senior leads include Bella Fothergill as Mrs. Parro, Erik Peterson as Mayor Shinn and Kelley Thierry as Mrs. Shinn. Junior Westley Montgomery plays Marcellus Washburn.

ZANEETA, TOMMY AND CHARLIE

            Senior Juliet Higgins is Zaneeta Shinn, sophomore Charles Bell plays Tommy Djilas and junior Kyle Tillman portrays Charlie Cowell.

SCHOOL BOARD BARBERSHOP

            The school board barbershop quartet is played by sophomore Joe Read, junior Connor Blankenship and seniors Ali Abdallah and Cosmo Wong.

WINTHROP AND AMARYLLIS

            Elementary school students Ben Blessing and Emily Robinson play Winthrop Paroo and Amaryllis respectively.

ENSEMBLE

            DHS students in the ensemble include: Kristianna Ballnik, Briana Benavides, Zach Benavides, Samantha Camarena, Therese Caruana, Samia Chahine, Mary Charara, Cameron Cherry, Anthony Cieri, Austin Clark, Lindsay Culp, Justin Darragh, Jordan DiGregorio, Rachel Dong, Miranda Fothergill, Emma Garber, Ashraf Jaber, Vicky Johnson, Mike Moylan, Frankie Nunez, Conor Ordo, Andrew Oswald, James Polidori, Alexis Sanborn, Alexis Savage, Gina Soave and Elizabeth Washington.

RIVER CITY KIDS

            The River City children are played by students from Bryant Middle School and Haigh, Howard, and Lindbergh Elementary schools. They include Annalyssia Abela, Abbi Balaka, Andrew Blankenship, Lucas Blessing, Katie Garber, Sam Joachim, Angel Krawczyk, Catherine Lehmkuhl, Olivia McPherson, Rami Mullan, John Oatney, Kyle Polidori, Emma Scott, Mark Smith, Rendia Smith, Adriana Viscomi, Maria Viscomi and Keith Wyman.

DIRECTORS

            Greg Viscomi produced and directed the show, with musical direction by Carmelle Atkins and choreography by Jennifer McPherson. Jeff Oshnock will conduct the Dearborn High School orchestra and marching band.

TICKET INFORMATION

            Tickets are $11 general admission, $10 for college students with I.D., and $7 for children and senior citizens. Call 313-827-1647 for more information.

AKT Theatre Project presents "Spring Awakening"

 By SUE SUCHYTA         

            The AKT Theatre Project will present the musical “Spring Awakening” for three weekends, April 13 to 28 at the Wyandotte Art Center, 81 Chestnut St. in Wyandotte. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees.

            The rock musical takes its inspiration from a controversial literature masterpiece. Set in Germany in 1891, it is the story of Wendla and Melchior who meet by chance in the woods and discover a desire unlike anything they’ve ever know. The show contains adult themes.

            Angie Kane Ferrante is directing and choreographing the show, with musical direction by Adriane Galea.

            The cast features Jon Pigott, Jason Glenn, Hope Morawa, Peter Giessl, Shaylyn Kiely, Sarah Mikota, Jack Hundley, Lisa Youngs, Sebastian Adams, Mindy Padlo, David Pilon, Morgan Neubacher, Alice Geniac, Jordan Fritz, Gerald Hymer, Jean Pilon and Lindel Salow.

            For more information call (734) 258-8370 or go to www.AKTtheatre.com.

Players Guild of Dearborn announces Willy Wonka Jr. as Guildling summer show

By SUE SUCHYTA

            The Players Guild of Dearborn announced that the summer Guildling youth theatre production will be “Willy Wonka Jr.” Auditions will be held May 5 and 7, and the show will run July 20 to 29 for two weekends.

Good Grief: Dearborn Heights to present "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown"

Photos by Sue Suchyta

Ron Williams (left) of Redford Township as Charlie Brown and Emily Gedert of Dearborn as Lucy rehearse a scene from the musical “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The Dearborn Heights Civic Theatre will present the show for two weekends, April 13 to 21, at the Berwyn Center, 26155 Richardson in Dearborn Heights. For more information go to the DHCT Facebook page or go to www.dhctstage.org.

Sara Mayne (left) of Redford Township as Sally, Emily Gedert of Dearborn as Lucy and Brian Welch of Dearborn as Snoopy rehearse “The Book Report” from the musical “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The Dearborn Heights Civic Theatre will present the show for two weekends, April 13 to 21, at the Berwyn Center, 26155 Richardson in Dearborn Heights. For more information go to the DHCT Facebook page or go to www.dhctstage.org.

Players Guild of Dearborn prepares for Mel Brooks' "The Producers"

By SUE SUCHYTA

            Dearborn residents Dan Hartley and Brian Townsend will play Leo Bloom and Max Bialystock respectively in the Players Guild of Dearborn production of the Mel Brooks and Thomas Mehan musical comedy, “The Producers.”

HARTLEY AND TOWNSEND TEAM UP

            When Leo, a mild-mannered accountant shows Max, a down-on-his-luck producer that a quickly closing flop could potentially make more money that a hit, the two set out to find the worst script, director and cast to ensure a profitable flop.

                        Musical director Ken Pletzer of Northville said the cast includes some serious talent and that audiences will be laughing non-stop throughout the show.

            “If auditions are any sign of what the show is going to be like, it’s going to be an awesome show,” Pletzer said. “We have some very talented folks… if you’re a fan of Brian Townsend you might want to come see the show.”

            He added that Dan Hartley, who plays Leo to Townsend’s Max was hilarious at auditions.

HAAS SEES HUMOR

            Director Valerie Haas of Inkster said that the show is continuously funny.

            “It is non-stop joke after joke after joke,” Haas said. “It is a look at the biggest loser of all producers, named Max Bialystock, who keeps trying to do great theatre, a great show, and it always turns out to be a disaster. And he’s just produced another one: “Funny Boy, the musical Hamlet.”

SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER?!

            She said Max and Leo find the worst possible script, “Springtime for Hitler,” the worst director in town – an over-the-top gay guy and his equally untalented live-in entourage of set designers and costumers, and      the worst singers, dancers and actors they can find.

LEADING MAN "BREAKS A LEG"

            However, when the leading man literally breaks a leg, the director must step into the role, and it changes the entire perspective.

            “It turns Hitler into this over-the-top gay man, the reviews come out that it’s this wonderful satiric masterpiece, and it’s a hit,” Haas said.          

            She said the casting committee saw some really good auditions, and she ended up getting almost the exact number of people that she needed.

            “We needed some very specific types,” Haas said. “We needed somebody that could pull off a lot of comedy with a lot of singing and some dancing and everything so we were very fortunate to get the people that we got.”

MOULD MAGIC

            She added that choreographer Valerie Mould used her contacts to pull in some very good dancers who have worked with her before.

BOOTH AS DEBRIS

            She said one of the funniest scenes is the number “Keep it Gay,” set in the townhouse of Roger DeBris (played by Phillip Booth of Dearborn) the director.

GOJKOV AS GHIA

            “He and his common-law assistant Carmen Ghia (played by Alex Gojkov of Redford) also live with the entire production team. It’s this huge over-the-top number where Max and Leo are trying to talk Roger into directing their show, ‘Springtime for Hitler,’ and how he (Roger) is trying to say ‘no’ and then he has these brilliant ideas and things like that.”

A PLAY-WITHIN-A-PLAY

            Haas said the other funniest scene is “Springtime for Hitler’ itself, the play-within-the-play.

TAP DANCING STORM TROOPERS

            “It’s this god-awful yet brilliant depiction of Franz Leibkin’s play… a wonderful homage to his Fuhrer,” Haas said. “It’s got tap-dancing storm troopers and canons and people with cardboard U-boats and tanks and all this going on. It’s supposed to be hideous… the fact that the critics like it is beyond understanding.”

            She said the actors in the ensemble are very busy, playing anywhere from five to nine roles each.

            “They are kept on stage constantly coming and going as different characters,” Haas said.

HOT MAMAS WITH MONEY

            She said Max’s financial backers – little old ladies whom he has affairs with to fund his plays – some played by the male ensemble – come out and do an hysterical tap dance number using walkers instead of tap shoes.

AUDITION AUDACITY

            “There is so much going on,” Haas said. “The audition scene where they’re auditioning actors is a scream because they have some of the worst people ever coming out… and every one of them is awful… which is what Max and Leo want.”

            Brian Townsend, who plays Max, agreed that it is one of the funniest shows around.        

MEL BROOKS' RHYTHM AND WORDS

            “It’s written by a true master of comedy and comedic writing, Mel Brooks who just has an ear for the rhythm of comedy,” Townsend said. “Single words alone are funny when they’re in his hands.”

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INSULTS

            He added that the show has something for everyone, and everyone gets equally skewered at the same time.

VAUDEVILLIAN

            “There’s a physical humor to everything, there’s wit to stuff – it’s very vaudevillian in its nature,” Townsend said. “So you have to be paying attention and listening all the time.”  

SID CAESAR LEGACY

            Phil Booth, who plays Roger, added that it helps if you remember that Mel Brooks was a writer for Sid Caesar.

GOJKOV GETS IT

            “Part of Roger’s magic is that he has Carmen Ghia to play off of, which is played by Alex Gojhov and you couldn’t ask for anything better than that,” Booth said. “The back and forth between Alex and I would be fun to do, even if there were no audience – it would be worth six week of rehearsal to do it because it is so fun.”

            Booth added that the comedic style is tried and true.

COMIC CHEMISTRY

            “The timing is there, the funny words are there, all the embellishments are there, and if you click into that chemistry, it works,” Booth said.

FAST AS FORUM

            Booth added that the show has the same fast pace as “A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum.”

CHALLENGES

            Townsend said that it is a show that is full of challenges for the Guild.

            “It is great that we’re attempting it,” Townsend said. “We will give it our all and it will be just an evening full of laughter for whoever come see it… and we’ve got the right people in place to help pull it off.”

 END OF APRIL OPENING

            The show launches its four-weekend run April 27 at the Players Guild of Dearborn, 21730 Madison in Dearborn.

            For tickets, call (313) 561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.

"Lucky Stiff" is light-hearted musical comedy fun

Dan Hartley (left) of Dearborn plays Harry Witherspoon, Clif Levin of Detroit plays the dead body and Jackie Gubow (right) of Huntington Woods plays Annabel Glick in the Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty musical comedy “Lucky Stiff.” The show runs for one more weekend, March 23 to 25 at the Village Players in Birmingham, 34660 Woodward Avenue.  Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. Call (248) 644-2075 for ticket information.

By SUE SUCHYTA

            “Lucky Stiff,” a funny musical comedy farce, runs for one more weekend at the Village Players of Birmingham.

            Directed and costumed by local creative force Michael Gravame, the show was created by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the talented team who brought us “Ragtime,” “Seussical” and many other musical theatre treats.

CLOSING WEEKEND

            Final show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, March 25 at the Village Players of Birmingham, 34660 Woodward Avenue. Call (248) 644-2075 to order tickets by phone.

COLORFUL COMEDY

            The show is colorful, irreverent and funny. What’s surprising is that it isn’t performed more often. From Gravame’s bright, amusing costumes to the door slamming, in-and-out confusion and silly chase scenes, it’s a fun show that has a premise improbable enough that it never takes itself too seriously – it’s meant to be fun and it is.

FROM SHOE SALESMAN TO POSSIBLE MILLIONAIRE

            A mild-mannered shoe salesman, Harry Witherspoon, who is harassed by his neighbor’s out-of-control dogs, suddenly finds himself in the middle of a massive mission that – if properly carried out – will net him a multi-million dollar inheritance and the chance to change his life.

THE “LUCKY” STIFF

            An uncle he never met has died, and if he takes the deceased carefully preserved body to Monte Carlo for the dream vacation he never had, Harry inherits the fortune.

GOING TO THE DOGS?

            If not, the money goes to a stray dog charity, which Harry refuses to let happen. However, the beautiful, determined and earnest female emissary for the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn is following him every step of the way, hoping to grab the brass ring if Harry doesn’t fulfill the will’s wishes.

DOGGED DETERMINATION

            Dan Hartley of Dearborn is fun and entertaining in the role of Harry. If his belting voice sounded a bit hoarse by the second weekend of the run, he more than made up for it in energy and comic earnestness.

HOUNDING HARRY

            Jackie Gubow of Huntington Woods is delightful and amusing as the intrepid heroine who would rather see the money go to her homeless canines, so she hounds Harry hoping to catch him breaking the provisions of the will’s wild weekend. Having seen her perform as a talented teen, it’s satisfying to see her successfully take on adult roles with confidence and flair.

MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES

            The entire cast of characters is funny and very entertaining. All have multiple costume changes, and even Clif Levin’s “dead body” has to get up and dance during a nightmare sequence.

NIGHTMARE SEQUENCE GLOWS

            The nightmare sequence itself merits special mention.  Done under black lights, with clever glow-in-the-dark dog-head placard masks, it is very cleverly done, and reminds one of the equally entertaining dream sequence in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

UNDERDOGS CONNECT

            Hartley and Gubow make a great pair, and you find yourself rooting for the two underdogs to connect early on.

VELINSKY STEALS SCENES

            Tania Velinsky is delightful as Rita LaPorta, the colorful, criminal and visually challenged ditz who is too vain to wear her glasses, which results in an unintended murder. She created an over-the-top character who entertains every time she steps on stage.

BATTLE BRINGS IT

            Tony Battle is funny as Vinnie Di Ruzzio, the henpecked brother and husband who is dragged into the middle of this mayhem and comedy chase. 

           

COLORFUL CAST

            The cast’s colorful clothing makes their clownish personalities even more eye-catching and amusing. The eye chart tie is a nice touch with the bright blue of Vinnie’s suit.

CLIF’S CORPSE

            Clif Levin is remarkable in his ability to stay still as a stiff in a wheel chair as people move him around, rearrange his arms, and hold one-sided conversations with him.  I never saw him twitch or sneeze while in “dead mode.”

ENSEMBLE ENERGY

            The balance of the cast, which includes Gary Mach as Luigi, and the ensemble of Tom Arwady, Earl Bain, Janie Minchella and Liz Schultz rise to the challenge of playing multiple roles in many costumes in a never-ending parade of successful scenes.

CAMPY COMEDY

            The set design itself is very versatile, and continues the theme of colorful campiness.

            The feigned skydiving and scuba diving is laugh-out-loud funny and entertaining. The cast popping in and out of doors and windows will remind you of the some of the funnier moments of television’s comedy classic “Laugh In.”

Divine Child H.S. presents "Annie Get Your Gun"

By SUE SUCHYTA

            Divine Child High School will open the Irving Berlin musical “Annie Get Your Gun” at 7:30 p.m. March 22 for a two weekend run.

            Other performances include 7:30 p.m. shows March 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31, with a 3 p.m. matinee March 25 in the school auditorium.

FAVORITE SONGS

            The story of sharpshooter Annie Oakley features the songs “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun” and “There’s No Business like Show Business.”

PERFORMERS

            The role of Annie Oakley will be shared by Kara Frank and Maddie Rich, both seniors from Dearborn. Frank Butler will be played by Nick Swider, a senior from Livonia.

            Tommy will be played by Jordan Ebejer, a senior from Detroit, while the role of Winnie will be shared by Meghan Walker, a freshman from Dearborn Heights and Louise Sawaya, a senior from Westland.

            Chief Sitting Bull is played by Chris Wepler , a junior from Belleville, with Charlie played by Brendan Olech, a sophomore, Livonia.

            Little Jake will be performed by John Burklow, a freshman from Livonia. The role of Dolly will be shared by Alyssa Camacho, a senior from Canton and Cara Ruetz, a junior from Dearborn.

            The role of Buffalo Bill will be shared by Matt Posh, a senior from Canton and Harry Totten, a junior from Dearborn Heights. Mac the Prop Man will be played by Chris Meyers, a sophomore from Willis.

            Dearborn residents in featured roles include freshman Natalie Berry as Nellie, junior Katherine Lieblang as Jessie, senior Luke Bochenek as Wilson and sophomore Steven Arroyo as Pawnee Bill.

            Other Dearborn cast members include junior Adrienne Walling and senior Abbie Burns as a duo, freshman Sean Vichinsky as the bandleader, senior Kelly O’Brien as a waitress, junior Elena Tantillo as Potter and porter and sophomore Emily Ward as Mrs. Adams.

DANCERS

            Dancers include senior Jessie White of Livonia, sophomore Hannah Moore of Taylor, Dearborn senior Michelle Kerr and Dearborn freshmen Annie Nelson, Julia Lentz and Kasey Schock.

ENSEMBLE

            Other ensemble members include juniors Kristen Neville and Stacy Collins, and freshman Laura Moore from Dearborn; junior Allison Brotherton and freshman Sarah Posh from Canton; and sophomores Lauren Stuble from Plymouth and Patricia Toby from Inkster.

DIRECTORS

            The show was directed by Elisa Noeske of Dearborn Heights, with vocal direction by Christopher Urbiel, Ph.D. of Dearborn. Robert Bush provided the orchestral and technical direction.

DINNER AND A SHOW

            Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Fridays also feature a Lenten fish fry and show admission for $15, while the closing Saturday, March 31 with offer a 6 p.m. pig roast and show ticket $15 combo.

FOTO brings "Most Happy Fellow" to Dearborn

By SUE SUCHYTA

            The Friends of the Opera of Michigan, with the generous support of the City of Dearborn, will bring the Frank Loesser musical “The Most Happy Fella” to Dearborn at 8 p.m. March 30 and 31 in the Michael A. Guido Theater in the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn.

            The show tells the tale of a mail order bride who arrives with a photo of the wrong man.

TRIBUTE TO GUIDO

            The show is dedicated to the memory of the late Mayor Michael A. Guido, who was a strong supporter and occasional performer in local community theatre productions.

O'REILLY TO APPEAR

            The show will include a special guest appearance by current Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr.           

TENOR CARLOS SEISE TO SING

            The show stars Quinto Milito and Katherine Kujala, and features Annie Klark, John Hummel and Elizabeth Mitchell. International opera tenor Carlos Seise will make a guest appearance as well.

            The show is directed by James Pinard, with musical direction by Steve Segraves, choreography by Patricia Damian and conducted by William S. Harrison.

FOR TICKETS

            Call (313) 943-2354 for ticket information.

The Players Guild of Dearborn begins rehearsals for Mel Brooks' "The Producers"

Photos by:  Sue Suchyta

Dearborn residents Brian Townsend (left) as Max Bialystock and Dan Hartley as Leo Bloom rehearse for the Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan musical comedy “The Producers.” The show runs for four weekends, April 27 to May 20 at the Players Guild of Dearborn. For more information call (313) 561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.

The Players Guild of Dearborn will present the Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan musical comedy “The Producers” for four weekends, April 27 to May 20 at the theater, located at 21730 Madison in Dearborn. For more information, call (313) 561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org. The cast includes Tim Carney (front row left) of Livonia, Lexie Kaplan of Dearborn, Laurie Doner of Northville, Joelle Schade of Garden City, Andrea Sevonty of Dearborn and Sue Oliver of Westland; Allison McClelland of Grosse Pointe (second row, left, seated), Sue Steiner of Dearborn and Scott Rider of Lincoln Park; Patrick Landino (third row, left, standing) of Garden City, Tom Sparrow of Allen Park, Kimberly Elliott of Canton (as Ulla), Jeff Lokken of Livonia, Dan Hartley of Dearborn (as Leo) and Brian Townsend of Dearborn (as Max); Ken Kilgore (back row, left) of Dearborn, Michael Bollman of Dearborn, Alex Gojkov of Redford (as Carmen Ghia), Richard Moore of Dearborn, Paul Morgan of Dearborn and Michael Falzon of Dearborn (as Franz).  

HFCC offers free spring star show in Hammond Auditorium

Henry Ford Community College physics and astronomy professor Steven Murrell discusses the spring star presentation, “Nothing Gold Can Stay” in Hammond Planetarium, room S-126 in the Science Building. Show times are Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. March 20 to May 29. Admission is free and the presentations are open to the public. Doors open 15 minutes before start time. For safety reasons, there is no late seating. (Photo by: Sue Suchyta)

Studio Theatre presents two compelling one acts: “Gladiator” and “Gaggle of Saints”

Mike Meike (standing) as Bill and James Jordan (seated) as Peter in “Gladiator.”

Sydney Machesky (left) as Sue and Cory Thomas as John and in “Gaggle of Saints.”

Photos by: Patrick Pozezinski

By SUE SUCHYTA

            The Studio Theatre presents two well-written and wonderfully performed one act plays: Richard Caliban’s “Gladiator” and Neil Labute’s “A Gaggle of Saints.” The powerful psychological dramas run through March 10 in the lower level of the Hilberry Theatre building.

            For tickets or more information, call the box office at (313) 577-2972 or go to www.wsustudio.com.

GLADIATOR IS GRIPPING

            “Gladiator” is an intensely gripping drama. An idealistic journalist is writing a story about the psychology of survival. When he interviews a prisoner serving a life sentence for murder, the interview becomes a lesson in survival itself. Katherine Skoretz directed the strong cast.

           

MEIKE MENACING

            Mike Meike as Bill, the prisoner serving a life sentence for murder, is very menacing and frightening. Everything about the talented actor convinces the house he is the real deal, from his body language to his angry verbal exchanges with both the guard and the journalists. He truly gets the audience to suspend disbelief as he draws them into the emotional drama unfolding on stage.

THE POWER OF WORDS

            James Jordan also delivers a fine performance as Peter, the writer. He runs the gamut from mild-mannered reporter to a man on the raw edge with desperate survival-tinged emotion.

THIRD PARTY

            Stuart Sturton rounds out the trio as Joe, the prison guard. While less developed than the other two characters, he plays a key role in the story.

CONVERTIBLE SET HOUSES THE DRAMA

            Scenic designer Lisa Berg produced a convertible set that went from prison interview room to a symbolic urban underbelly during the brief intermission.  It reminded one of a giant Lego set, but grittier.

A GAGGLE OF SAINTS IS GREAT

            Neil Labute’s “A Gaggle of Saints” takes us down a wandering road as a seeming innocent trip uncovers a darker side of some supposedly civilized college kids. Directed by Julie Moriarty, the show is told through the narration of two Boston College students recounting their weekend in New York City, and how they rationalize their behavior.

HE SAID / SHE SAID

            Sydney Machesky plays Sue and Corey Thomas plays John in the two person narrative told in flashback that starts out innocently and turns into a frightening confession. Machesky plays Sue as sweet and wholesome, and a bit too naïve, while Thomas portrays the well-mannered preppy college man with an unexpected dark side to his personality.

           

PARADISE LOST

            The ending is ambiguous and open to interpretation – one may believe the set is merely symbolic of the moral decline of society, or the two may actually be in purgatory for the sins they have committed. The play leaves their fate open to interpretation.

            The play is full of symbolism and double meanings – I pity any student who must write a paper about it. There’s so much open to interpretation that such an analysis would be a challenge to dissect.

STUDIO CONTINUES TO SHINE

            The Studio Theatre continues to raise the bar and offer strong and compelling dramatic offerings.  For more information about this and upcoming shows, visit their web site at www.wsustudio.com.

LUCKY STIFF” MIXES MURDER MYSTERY WITH MUSICAL COMEDY

By SUE SUCHYTA

            Dearborn actor and Bryant Middle School assistant principal Dan Hartley will open March 9 as Harry Witherspoon in “Lucky Stiff” at the Village Players of Birmingham.  The 1988 musical murder mystery farce is the first off-Broadway musical created by the award-winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who also collaborated on the Broadway musicals “Ragtime” and “Seussical.”

            In “Lucky Stiff” Hart plays Harry Witherspoon, a mild-mannered shoe salesman who will inherit $6 million if he can pass his recently murdered and embalmed Atlantic City uncle off as alive during a visit to Monte Carlo.

            If he can’t pull off the ruse, the millions might go to either the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn or one of the shysters following him.

            The show, directed by Michael Gravame, will open Friday March 9 and runs for two more weekends, March 16 to 18 and March 23 to 25, with 8 p.m. shows Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees at the Village Players of Birmingham, 34660 Woodward Avenue.      

Call (248) 644-2075 to order tickets by phone.

            Cast members include Jackie Gubow as Annabel Glick, Tania Velinsky as Rita La Porta, Tony Battle as Vinnie DiRuzzio, Gary Mach as Luigi Gaudi and Cliff Levin as the Dead Body.

            Ensemble members include Janie Minchella, Liz Schultz, Tom Arwady and Earl Bain.