BY BTL STAFF
WHAT: Grosse Pointe Theatre presents "Chess, The Musical"
WHEN: 2p.m. matinees on Jan. 17 & 24; 8 p.m. evening performances on Jan. 21-23, 28-30
WHERE: Grosse Pointe War Memorial Theater, 32 Lake Shore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms
TICKETS: $24 each. Call 313-881-4004 or visit www.gpt.org for more information.
Parking is free.
GROSSE POINTE – Grosse Pointe Theatre's 68th season continues with the politically charged "Chess, The Musical" (book by Richard Nelson, lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.) The eight performance run begins on Sunday, Jan. 17 and runs through Saturday, Jan. 30. All performances will be held at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial Theater.
"Chess, The Musical" is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Set during the Cold War, the U.S. and Soviet rivalry plays out through an international chess championship. Freddie Trumper, the brash American grandmaster, arrives with Florence Vassy, his Hungarian-American female chess second, who falls in love with Anatoly Sergievsky, the intense Russian champion. From Bangkok to Budapest, the players, lovers, politicians and spies all struggle to get the upper hand.
The songs, by two members of the group ABBA, include the international hits "One Night in Bangkok" and "I Know Him So Well."
A very talented cast includes David Roberts (Clinton Township) as Anatoly Sergievsky, Jose Cabrera (Harper Woods) as Freddie Trumper, Sandria Haney (Southfield) as Florence Vassy, F. Scott Davis (Royal Oak) as Walter Anderson, Brock McKinley (Grosse Pointe Farms) as Molokov, Robert Daniel (Grosse Pointe Park) as Christoff, Stan Harr (Grosse Pointe Shores) as Gregor, Timothy Higgins (royal Oak) as the Arbiter, Kirsten Renas (Warren) as Svetlana, and Trevor Sherry (Clinton Township) Nicolai.
Ensemble members include: Courtney Bocci (Grosse Pointe Park), Harry Birkey (Grosse Pointe Woods), Erin Ann DiSante (St. Clair Shores), Peter DiSante (St. Clair Shores), Anne Maters (City of Grosse Pointe), Allison McClelland (Grosse Pointe Park), Michael McDowell-Parker (Grosse Pointe Woods), Ashlee McKinley (Grosse Pointe Farms), Amanda Nummy (Shelby Township), Peter Owens (Grosse Pointe Farms), Erin Steinhauser (City of Grosse Pointe), Kimme Suchyta (Detroit), Eddie Tujaka (grosse Pointe Farms) and Rachel Settlage (City of Grosse Pointe).
The talented crew includes Director Lois Bendler (St. Clair Shores), Assistant Director Timothy Higgins (Royal Oak), Co-Producers Marianne Casey (Warren) and Mickie Pizzimenti (Warren), Stage Manager Jane Burkey (Grosse Pointe Woods), Choreographer Rachel Settlage (City of Grosse Pointe), Music and Vocal Director Stann Harr (Grosse Pointe Shores), Props and Set Dressign by Cindy Pytel (Grosse Pointe Woods), Sound by Eric Vreeland (St. Clair Shores), Costumes by Ginger Hupp (City of Grosse Pointe), Lights by Blair Arden (Macomb Twp.), Technical Director Mike Clyne (Grosse Pointe Farms), Make-up by Michele Karl (St. Clair Shores), Chess Piece Design & Execution by Kathy Conlon (St. Clair Shores), Russian Language Coach Sidney Skully and Hungarian Language Coach Marianne Shrader.
GPT's 68th season will continue in February with a powerful Purdon Studio Theatre production of "A Steady Rain" at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. In March the classic Southern comedy, "Steel Magnolias," once again graces their stage, and the season concludes with the iconic Broadway musical, "Hello, Dolly!"
Grosse Pointe Theatre Grosse Pointe Theatre is a community theater whose purpose is to engage and enrich the community by continuing a tradition of exceptional theatrical experiences. Membership is open to all persons over age 18 with an interest in the performing arts. Grosse Pointe Theatre is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization and donations are tax deductible. For more show information, audition dates and to purchase individual or season tickets, visit the Grosse Pointe Theatre website, www.gpt.org.
