Preview: 'Studio 2g' (Part 2)
Plowshares' next frontier: The second generation of artists
For Part 1 of this preview, please read this week's edition of Curtain Calls.
Later this month, Plowshares Theatre Company premieres its latest endeavor, "Studio 2g," with staged readings of all 10 of August Wilson's "20th Century Cycle Plays" – a feat no other theater has attempted. The readings will begin May 25 at Boll Family YMCA in downtown Detroit with "Gem of the Ocean" and close June 4 with "Radio Golf," two of Wilson's last works – and two of only three that Plowshares has not yet given a complete production.
The ambitious project, according to Producing Artistic Director Gary Anderson, was partly inspired by Anderson's love of the spoken word. But there was an even more critical reason to create "Studio 2g," Anderson explained. "It is my intent for this initiative to develop the second generation of Plowshares. So 'Studio 2g' was created to be a place for the development of new talent, and also a place where we can do edgier, more risky subject matter that might not appeal to the general public, but might to a specific segment I want to cultivate that will build our audience."
In other words, "Studio 2g" is a format that will allow younger talent to stretch their artistic wings.
Anderson got the idea when word filtered back to him that some in the community believe that only those from the established, older generation of artists are considered for roles in Plowshares' shows. It was a belief that shocked Anderson – especially given the origins of his 16-year-old professional theater company.
"The original reasons why Plowshares was founded – why Michael Garza and I, as graduate students at Wayne State, wanted to get this thing off the ground – was that we really saw that there was a generation of young talent that didn't have an opportunity to work regularly because of that very problem: That a lot of theaters – if they were open to casting African-Americans in non-traditional roles, or even doing plays about African-Americans – [hired] primarily the more established generation of theater artists. Younger talent, like us, weren't getting opportunities to direct or act in major roles. So we felt that was a problem we were solving.
"Then in the last year to hear somebody describe their feelings towards Plowshares in that fashion – it was a wake-up call!"
Wilson's death last fall helped cement Anderson's plans for "Studio 2g." "I thought about that a lot," he recalled. "I participated in the memorial we did for him in New York, and it became apparent to me that here was a guy that did not have formal theater training; here was a man who came up originally as a poet, and what we are finding now is that a lot of the young, black writers who have become an exciting voice over the last five or six years have been coming up much like August Wilson did."
So with Wilson's roots in poetry, Anderson pointed to the young wordsmiths working in the local hip-hop and spoken word communities as some of those who might find an artistic home at "Studio 2g." "We could be developing the next August Wilson," Anderson mused.
For its inaugural outing, "Studio 2g" will feature a mix of talented newcomers to the Plowshares stage and several of the actors who starred in the company's earlier stagings of the "Cycle Plays." How easy was it to get the veterans back? "It was very easy. I just asked them," Anderson laughed. "A number of them love Wilson, love those roles and love those opportunities – they were salivating for the chance to come back and do it."
One such actor is Council Cargle who will gladly recreate his roles in "The Piano Lesson" (Sat., May 27 at 7 p.m.) and "Two Trains Running" (Fri., June 2 at 7 p.m.). "I think we lost one of America's greatest playwrights with [Wilson's] death, and anything that would be a tribute to him I would be very fortunate to be a part of," Cargle said. "That's the way I feel about it, so it's my pleasure to do it."
Anderson plans on giving "Studio 2g" five years to develop. "When I started this company I was 28; now I'm 44. If I still believe the original reasons why this company was founded and have the passion I had for it as a 28-year-old, then I need to do what I can to keep the spirit alive," he concluded. "And this is 'a' solution."
"Studio 2g" presents "August Wilson's 20th Century" at the Boll Family YMCA, 1401 Broadway in downtown Detroit, beginning May 25 and running through June 4. A special discount "Wilde Carde" performance of "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" will be held Saturday, May 27 at 3 p.m. See ad elsewhere this issue for details. For complete schedule information, call Plowshares at 313-872-0279 or watch future editions of Theater Events.
Preview: 'Hastings Street' (Part 2)
Professional actor has much in common with Mosaic teens
For Part 1 of this preview, please read this week's edition of Curtain Calls.
It's not often that young thespians are given the opportunity to work with local legends from the professional theater community, but that's just what the teenagers in Mosaic Youth Theatre's current production of "Hastings Street" are experiencing with Council Cargle in the role of Langston Hughes.
"I don't think that people recognize that – Whoa! That's Council Cargle," said high-schooler Harold Adam Harris who plays opposite Cargle as the story's antagonist. "But we recognize him as a respected actor. He's fun to work with. He's inspiring."
The play with music, which opens May 12 at the Detroit Film Theatre, tells the story of what teen life was like in Detroit's Black Bottom neighborhood during the 1940s. And like the youngsters of Mosaic, Cargle, too, became interested in theater at an early age.
"Theater's been in my life all my life," the native Detroiter told Curtain Calls before a rehearsal last week. "I used to put on plays when I was like six, seven, eight-years-old. I'd put on plays in the neighborhood in the basements or in the garages – wherever I could. I'd use the neighborhood kids as the actors, and I'd charge ten cents."
His interest in theater continued as a student at Northeastern High School where, in his senior year, he served as president of the drama club, and later at Wayne State University. "I did many shows at the Bonstelle and down in the Studio Theatre," he recalled.
His first brush with the profession outside of academia came shortly after high school when he answered a newspaper ad placed by the Detroit Civic Players, which was the oldest community theater group in the city. "It was housed in a little store front on Hamilton and Tuxedo. At that time, that area was all white. It's funny how things happen, because I stood there when I got to the storefront and I saw all these pictures – that's the first time I ever even thought of race, because all the pictures were white people. I stood there for the longest time, and finally one man stopped and said, 'Are you an actor?' And I said, 'Yes, I am.' And he said, 'Well, come on in!' It turns out they were doing 'Detective Story' and it just so happens that there is a role in it specifically written for a black policeman – and that's how I got in to theater!"
Cargle stayed with the group until its demise, after which he jumped from one theater to another "till finally in the 60s, when they started the so-called off-Woodward theaters. Then I was with The Stables, the Young Stables, then to the Detroit Repertory Theater. I stayed there for a long, long time. That's really where I did most of my exploring and learning how to act."
Over the years he's also worked locally at Harmonie Park Playhouse, Plowshares Theatre Company, BoarsHead Theatre Company, Meadow Brook Theatre and the Jewish Ensemble Theatre Company. "I've worked with pretty much every other group you can think of," he said.
In-between the more than 100 shows he's appeared in over the years, Cargle has also worked in film, including "Detroit 9000" and "Word of Honor." "Quentin Tarantino loved me, supposedly, in 'Detroit 9000,' so he pulled one line out of [the movie] and put me in 'Jackie Brown.' They paid me for it. They also put that one line on the CD that came out with the music from [the movie]."
For now, though, the beloved actor is content with working with Mosaic Youth Theatre in "Hastings Street." "I love Langston Hughes. He's my favorite poet," Cargle said.
He shuns, however, the idea that he's serving as an elder statesman to the show's teenage cast. "No, I don't feel that."
But that's the response one would expect from the quiet, self-effacing actor. "I think they have the [work] ethic already – so I don't know what else they can get from me."
Young Harris knows, however. "There's a very interesting relationship between Langston and [my character] Joseph, Council and me. It's very complex, because at one point, Langston had the same thoughts that Joseph talks about now, but Langston's grown older, so there's this whole vibe between me and him that I just love."
Mosaic Youth Theatre presents "Hastings Street" Fri.-Sun. at the Detroit Film Theatre/Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit's Cultural Center, May 12-21. Tickets: $12-$18. For information: 313-833-4005 or http://www.mosaicdetroit.org
Professional Theater News from Around Town:
Compiled by Donald V. Calamia
Author Felice Picano & 'Ingoldsby' in Ann Arbor May 11
ANN ARBOR – Common Language Bookstore and the Blackbird Theatre are pleased to host noted author Felice Picano on May 11 at 8:00 p.m. for a staged reading of his new work, "Ingoldsby." This event marks Picano's first appearance in Michigan. The reading will benefit the Blackbird Theatre, an art theater with a mission of producing high-quality, cutting-edge plays.
Felice Picano is a publisher, essayist, novelist, poet and screenwriter. He is also considered a founder of modern gay literature, along with the six other members of the Violet Quill Club. Picano also founded two publishing companies: the SeaHorse Press and Gay Presses of New York. He's been a regular writer for the San Francisco Examiner, The Lesbian Gay Review, and Lambda Book Report. He has published over 20 volumes, including the award-winning novels," Like People In History" and "The Book Of Lies."
Picano's latest publication, "Tales: From a Distant Planet," is a collection of stories featuring the supernatural, science fiction and the unexplained. The final piece is titled "Ingoldsby." Originally conceived as a play, the piece became an epistolatory novella. The novella is being re-adapted for the stage by Blackbird Theatre Associate Artist Dan Morrison in cooperation with Picano.
Readers include several regular members of Black Bag Productions, the Blackbird's resident company, including founders Barton Bund and Dana Sutton, as well as Associate Artists Lynch Travis, and Dan Morrison. Picano's reputation has enticed noted University of Michigan professor and Shakespearean scholar Ralph Williams to participate. Between The Lines Theatre Theater and Arts Editor Donald Calamia has also graciously agreed to read. Other readers include Eastern Michigan University Associate Professor in Voice and Dialect, Lee Stille, Linda Hammell, Deborah Lannen, Marty Smith, Courtney Meyers, Joanna Hastings, Dave Early, Justin Lens, Emily Wilson-Tobin and Jacob Hodgson.
The reading will be followed by discussion with the author and book signing. A reception follows at the aut BAR, located at 315 Braun Court in Ann Arbor's historic Kerrytown District.
Tickets for the event are $15 and benefit the Blackbird Theatre and Kidz in Need Scholarship Fund, a program created to help needy children receive quality preschool and after-school care. "Tales: from a Distant Planet" will be available for sale. Through the generosity of Common Language Bookstore and French Connection Press, a portion of the proceeds will also benefit the Theatre.
The Blackbird Theatre is located at 1600 Pauline in Ann Arbor.
Reservations can be made by calling 734-332-3848. For additional information, log on to http://www.blackbirdtheatre.biz
Get lucky with 'Sex and the Second City' at Meadow Brook Theatre
ROCHESTER – On May 16-21, Palace Sports and Entertainment, in association with Meadow Brook Theatre, will present the hilarious "Sex and The Second City," a wild spoof of dating and relationships in the 21st Century.
From first dates to divorce court, couples therapy to girls night out, "Sex and The Second City" is a tuneful, fast-paced and hilarious evening of musical comedy that proves there is nothing as funny as the battle of the sexes. On the brink of matrimonial disaster, a couple with the seven-year itch and their lovelorn lawyers take a musical journey to rediscover both laughter and love.
Culled from The Second City's vast archives, "Sex and The Second City" features some of the greatest scenes and songs from the legendary theatre's rich history, all wrapped up in a new story that lampoon's America's favorite sport: Sex. Adapted by Second City alums Maribeth Monroe, Kirk Hanley and TJ Shanoff, "Sex and The Second City" is a musical comedy about men, women, love, marriage and everything in between.
Get your tickets now and get lucky with" Sex and The Second City." Tickets range in price from $26-$36.
For tickets, call the Box Office at 248-377-3300, or for Group Sales, 248-370-3316. Tickets can also be purchased at The Palace Box Office. For more information on this or any other production in Meadow Brook's season, please visit http://www.mbtheatre.com
'Technicolored' palette of musical styles glows at Wharton Center
EAST LANSING – When the curtain rises on "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in Wharton Center's Cobb Great Hall May 16-21, audiences will be bedazzled not only by the bright, technicolored spectacle, but also by the blending of various musical styles.
The blockbuster musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice combines pop, country, rock and other styles for a multi-textured palette of sound. Originally written as a 15-minute pop-cantata for a children's choir, this biblical musical has become one of America's favorite shows. Lloyd Webber's contemporary tunes adapt well to the ancient story of Joseph and his resplendent coat. The free-roaming score parodies French cabaret music as Joseph's brothers urge everyone to "raise your berets to those Canaan days." It also borrows freely from country-western music as the brothers lament that there's "One More Angel in Heaven" and gets into the "island spirit" with a number titled "Benjamin's Calypso." An Elvis-like Pharaoh even gets into the act as he struts and dances like another recognizable "king" while reliving his haunting dreams.
Tickets to this musical trip through ancient Egypt, are part of the MSU Federal Credit Union Broadway season at Wharton Center, are priced at $25.00 through $57.50.
Tickets are on sale now by calling the Wharton Center box office at 517-432-2000 or online at http://www.whartoncenter.com
Actors announced from April's Second City-Detroit auditions
NOVI – The Second City-Detroit is pleased to announce understudy additions for its new resident stage. Ten improv actors were selected during auditions recently held in April.
The newest additions to The Second City-Detroit family include: Sam Richardson, Nate DuFort, Christy Bonstell, Mark Sobolewski, Jen Nischan, Jaime Moyer, Lauren Bickers, Tara Nida, Brett Guennel and Tim Robinson. As understudies, the talented group will step in to perform when needed during mainstage productions and other original productions produced by The Second City-Detroit.
The Second City-Detroit has created over 20 original revues since opening in downtown Detroit in 1993. It also developed some of Detroit's finest comic talent, included Larry Joe Campbell of "According to Jim," Keegan Michael Key of "MAD TV" and former "Saturday Night Live" ensemble member Jerry C. Minor.
The Second City Detroit reopened at its new home in the Main Street complex at 42705 Grand River Ave. in Novi in March, 2005. The new complex includes a 200-seat cabaret theatre, five classrooms for The Second City Training Center and offices for The Second City Administration and Second City Communications. The Andiamo Novi restaurant and Dirty Martini also share the new home.
williamston Theatre hosts poker tournament
WILLIAMSTON – The Williamston Theatre is holding a No Limit Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament (license #M34281) on Friday, May 12, at the Brookshire Inn and Golf Club. Final play will be held on Saturday, May 13, at a time to be determined. The top prize is $1,000. Players must be 18 years of age or older.
Start time of play is 7 p.m., with registration starting at 6 p.m.
Cost is $65, which covers initial buy-in, food and beverages for the evening. There is an optional $20 add-on that can be purchased any time prior to the start of play.
The Brookshire Inn and Golf Club is located at 205 West Church Street in Williamston, just west of Putnam Street and north of the Red Cedar River.
Pre-registration can be done at the Williamston Theatre located at 122 South Putnam Street in downtown Williamston. Registration hours are Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Proceeds from this event benefit the Williamston Theatre, a not-for-profit, professional theatre company and the newest addition to Williamston's growing arts community.
Information can also be obtained by calling 517-655-7469, or online at http://www.williamstontheatre.org
Stratford Festival News:
Stratford Festival's 2006 season begins previews with 'Oliver!'
STRATFORD, Ont. – The Stratford Festival kicks off its "Family Ties"-themed season with the first preview performances of the classic family musical "Oliver!" The musical, with music, lyrics and book by Lionel Bart, features Colm Feore as Fagin and Blythe Wilson as Nancy (both returning to the Festival for the first time since 2002). Based on the Charles Dickens novel "Oliver Twist," the musical follows its title character on his journey from a workhouse to a thieves' den and finally into the loving arms of his family.
Joining "Oliver!" on the 2006 playbill, selected by Artistic Director Richard Monette, are William Shakespeare's "Coriolanus," "Henry IV, Part 1," "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Twelfth Night"; "The Duchess of Malfi," by Shakespeare's contemporary John Webster; the musical "South Pacific"; the high-spirited comedy "London Assurance"; Tennessee Williams's "The Glass Menagerie"; two one-woman plays, "The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead" and "Fanny Kemble"; the award-winning Canadian play "Harlem Duet"; the French comedy "The Liar"; Henrik Ibsen's "Ghosts"; and a Festival first, a production of Moliére's "Don Juan" presented in both English and French.
The Stratford Festival's production of "Oliver!" is directed and choreographed by Donna Feore. Musical direction is by Berthold Carriére. The designer is Santo Loquasto, the lighting designer is John (Jock) Munro, the sound designer is Peter McBoyle and the fight director is John Stead. Ms Feore is assisted by assistant director Edward Daranyi and assistant choreographer Natalie Sebastian.
Joining Feore and Wilson in the cast are Scott Beaudin as the Artful Dodger, Kyle Blair as Noah Claypole, Grace Chan as Mrs. Bedwin, Bruce Dow as Mr. Bumble, Barbara Fulton as Mrs. Sowerberry, Mary Ellen Mahoney as the Widow Corney, Brian McKay as Mr. Sowerberry, Tyler Pearse as Oliver, Brad Rudy as Bill Sikes, Stephen Russell as Mr. Brownlow, Katy Schroeder as Bet and Dayna Tekatch as Charlotte, as well as Brandon Banks, Christopher Fulton, Antony Grice, Erik Jay Larson, Nathan McLeod, Thomas Murray, Miles Seward and Stuart Weir as Fagin's Boys and Heather Brezden, Andrew Hancock, Erin Hessey, Olivia Kramer, Izabella Mijas, Jamie Murray and Nicholas Van Bakel as Orphans. Also appearing are Jayme Armstrong, Naomi Costain, Stephen Cota, Michelle Galati, Ryan Gifford, Christina Gordon, Kirk Hansen, Donnie Macphee, Lindsay Thomas, Heather E. Wilson, Gabriel Wolinsky and Barrie Wood. The swings are Michael Bachner, Alec Fowler, Stephen Roberts and Ayanna Sealey. The understudies not already listed are David Francis and Laird Mackintosh.
"Oliver!," currently in previews, opens May 30 and plays in repertory until October 29.
Tickets are available at 1-800-567-1600 or online at http://www.stratfordfestival.ca
Community Theater Corner:
'Humble Boy' takes the stage at Whole Art
KALAMAZOO – The Whole Art Theater is proud to present Charlotte Jones' brilliant new play, "Humble Boy," at the Epic Theatre Friday's and Saturday's May 12 through 27 at 8 p.m. Under the direction of Robert L. Smith, "Humble Boy" features a cast that includes Sharon Williams, Dan Carroll, and Tim Davidson.
All is not well in the Humble home. Felix Humble is an astrophysicist in search of a unified field theory, after the sudden death of his father he is forced to return to the family home in the English countryside. Once there, he ands his demanding mother attempt to reconcile themselves of the death and each other.
Gently echoing the themes of Shakespeare's "Hamlet," "Humble Boy" brilliantly explores love, longing and death with a haunting and unforgettable humanity. Poignant and hilarious, philosophical and wise, this examination of the pain and joy of family love is widely acclaimed as one of the finest new plays in recent years.
Tickets for "Humble Boy" are: $20 general admission, $14 for seniors and $10 for students.
For tickets and information, call the Whole Art at 269-345-7529 or log on to http://www.wholeart.org
A2CT Junior Theatre presents 'The Reluctant Dragon'
ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor Civic Junior Theatre presents the children's classic, "The Reluctant Dragon", adapted by Kenneth Grahame and directed by Anthony Heaphy. Production dates are May 18-21 at Washtenaw Community College's College Theater.
In this delightful and timely tale, a brave young girl, Jane, sneaks out of her house to look for the ferocious dragon that frightened her father. Instead of a vicious monster, Jane discovers a friendly book-reading, tea-drinking dragon who becomes her friend. The people of Jane's village are determined to kill the beast, but through a clever conspiracy between Jane and the dragon, they manage to convince the town that peace is much better than fighting.
"The Reluctant Dragon" features Sarah Hopp as Jane, Cara Bosco as the Dragon, Gaurav Kulkarni as Jane's father Aelfrick and Nicole Arruda as Jane's mother Ermengarde. The cast of young actors also includes Graeme Taylor, Sabra Satz-Kojis, Laura Knutilla, Tanay Kulkarni, Kalli Booker, Aaron Wilbanks, Maggie Hopp, Freida Steiner, Victor Cook, Sarah Gallagher, Daniel Jarratt and Andromeda Veach.
Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., with matinees Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1p.m. and 3p.m.
Tickets are $5 for all seats.
Tickets are available at the A2CT office at 322 W. Ann St, by phone at 734-971-2228 or at the door subject to availability. For further information, visit http://www.a2ct.org
K'zoo Civic to present 'Anything Goes'
KALAMAZOO – The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre will present the Cole Porter musical, "Anything Goes," May 19 through June 3, in the Civic Auditorium, 329 South Park Street, Kalamazoo.
Pack your bags for hilarity as the audience sets sail on one of the most tuneful, fun-filled transatlantic voyages imaginable. This gloriously funny screwball musical comedy takes place in the 1930s aboard a luxury liner as it makes its way from New York to England. Comedy follows as its zany passengers become entangled in a series of mistaken identities and mismatched romances. The shipboard hi-jinx involve a lovesick stowaway, an evangelist turned nightclub singer, a debutante who's engaged to a silly English Lord and a gangster (public enemy #13). As bubbly as a glass of champagne, the Cole Porter score includes "I Get a Kick out of You," "You're the Top," "Friendship" and the title tune.
Directed by Morrie Enders, with musical direction by Marie McColley-Kerstetter and choreography by Kathleen B. Weissert, the cast features CeCe Weeks, Emily F. Chateau, Judy Aukes, Brian Panse, Lou Irwin, Jr, Zach Martens, Roger W. Burleigh, Sarah Kay McNinch, Dirk Dunham, Jr, Pedro Clare Martinez, Ashleigh Aaron Tillman, Mary McNinch, Kate Rasmussen, Rachel Schrein, Jacy Neuman, Kyle Waterman, Matthew Turner Shelton, Brandon Dowty, Rob Lowe, Kris Allemang, Anthony J. Hamilton, Kathleen O'Donnell, Nikki Dobos, Kelly Dominique and Jenny Westervelt. Making their Civic debuts are Chris Brown, Kristen Utrecht, Halloran Marnon, Bryan Scott and Tommy Kanger.
"Anything Goes" is sure to be a sell-out. Order tickets by calling our Box Office at 269-343-1313 or visit us on line at http://www.kazoocivic.com
