CCO BLWIT PHOTO 5.jpg: The working girls of The Chicken Ranch can be seen in the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." Photo: Courtesy A2CT
Professional Theater News from Around Town:
Icarus Falling announces a 'One Night Stand'
LANSING -Icarus Falling presents "One Night Stand: An Evening of Original One Act Plays" June 9, 10, 16 & 17 at 8 p.m. in the Creole Gallery, 1218 Turner St. in Lansing.
"One Night Stand" is directed by Icarus Falling Executive Producer Fred Longacre. This production delivers the world premiere of scripts by IF ensemble members and feature IF ensemble members Laura Croff and Alan Ross.
Kevin L. Knights's "Room 1412" offers a hilarious look at what happens when one man's attempt at a fling leads to confusion, chaos and complications. So many people, one room and so much frustration!
Robin Harris provides a jaded and comic look at dating with "Is This Seat Taken." When a couple breaks up, what should the individuals do when the bar scene is tragic, their friends are no help and bitterness is easy?
Tickets are $10 at the door. First time guests of Icarus Falling can receive half-price admission when they announce that they are "IF Virgins." Each evening, two lucky patrons can enjoy a unique viewing experience with the "Best Seats in the House" promotion. For a $20 surcharge guests can receive comfy cushioned seating and complimentary snacks. Availability of the "Best Seats in the House" is limited.
To reserve tickets call 517-290-4375. For more information visit http://www.icarusfalling.com.
The legendary Liza Minnelli returns to Detroit after 15 years
DETROIT – After an absence of more than 15 years, legendary superstar Liza Minnelli returns to the Motor City in a spectacular, one-night-only event at Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts. The concert is the centerpiece of Music Hall's Fifth Annual Cars & Stars gala, the non-profit organization's largest annual fundraising event. One thousand concert tickets will be offered to the general public for sale, remaining tickets will are offered as patron tickets, which include a pre-show cocktail party and a post-show dinner. General Motors will serve as the lead sponsor, with additional support from Daimler Chrysler and Ford Motor Company.
Liza Minnelli's big-screen achievements include "Cabaret" (for which she won an Oscar for Best Actress), "New York, New York," "Arthur" and "Arthur 2." She also took over for an ailing Julie Andrews in Broadway's "Victoria/Victoria." In 1972 earned an Emmy Award for "Liza with a Z," the first concert ever filmed live for television.
Liza began her career at a very early age, co-starring with her mother (Judy Garland) in the movie "In the Good Old Summertime" in 1949. At the age of 10, Liza hosted the first-ever TV broadcast of "The Wizard of Oz," reaching a viewing audience of nearly 45 million. By the time she was 19, she had landed the lead role in the Broadway production of "Flora, the Red Menace," for which she was awarded a Tony for "Best Actress in a Musical."
In 1967, Liza starred in several films that showcased her superb acting abilities including "The Sterile Cuckoo," and "Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon."
Liza's last Detroit performance was in 1989 with Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis Jr.
Last year's Cars & Stars, which featured Natalie Cole, raised $350,000 for Music Hall's programming and educational outreach programs. Music Hall's activities reach almost one million people each year in southeast Michigan.
Previous performers for Music Hall's Cars and Stars have included Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick (2002), Johnny Mathis (2003), Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville (2004) and Natalie Cole (2005). Each one of the performances sold out.
Tickets for Liza Minnelli range from $55-$85 and are available at all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at 248-645-6666. For the special gala package featuring preferred seating, cocktail party, dinner, dancing and auction, call 313.887.8510.
MOT closes 35th spring opera season with 'Salome'
DETROIT – Michigan Opera Theatre's 35th Spring Opera Season draws to a dramatic close with the most scandalous of Desperate Divas, as the company presents Richard Strauss' powerful masterpiece, "Salome," June 3-10.
The opera's libretto, translated into German by Hedwig Lachmann from the original French of Oscar Wilde, has raised eyebrows since its world premiere in 1905. A combination of nudity, sexuality, gore and biblical subject matter — though only loosely related to the Bible — led censors to ban it from the stages of London and Berlin for many years. American audiences were so scandalized by the Metropolitan Opera's first performance of Salome that the company closed the production after a single night. The opera remained absent from their stage for 27 years.
Modern audiences, however, have embraced the opera for what it truly is; exceptionally complex, melodic music and dynamic drama. This production, performed in German with English surtitle translations projected above the stage, will mark Michigan Opera Theatre's second staging of "Salome."
Set around 30 A. D., the opera takes place at a banquet in the court of Herod (Peter Kazaras), Tetrarch of Judea. Married to Herodias (Graciela Araya), who killed her first husband to become his wife, Herod finds himself strongly attracted to his petulant teenage stepdaughter Salome (Marquita Lister, June 3, 7, 10/Eilana Lappalainen, June 4, 9). The feeling, however, is far from mutual.
Salome, trying to escape the sex-hungry glances of her stepfather, finds herself on a terrace overlooking the cistern in which John the Baptist–or Jokanaan (Greer Grimsley, June 3, 7, 10/Jeffrey Kneebone, June 4, 9) in the German libretto–is imprisoned. She is drawn to the prisoner, for in his rantings about the coming of Christ he has proclaimed her mother wicked. Herod seems to fear Jokanaan, which only serves to strengthen Salome's attraction to the imprisoned prophet.
Bribing the guard Narraboth (Roger Honeywell) — who is, coincidentally, smitten with her — Salome asks that the prisoner be brought forward so that she may see him. When presented with Jokanaan, she sings of her desire to kiss his lips. Jokanaan advises penance, which infuriates her. Narraboth, in turn, is so taken aback by her shameless behavior that he jealously draws his sword and commits suicide.
Herod and his wife join Salome on the terrace and hear Jokanaan again denouncing Herodias, who promptly demands that her husband turn the prisoner over to the Jews. Herod will have nothing to do with the idea, and opts instead for a distraction. He asks Salome to dance for him, and though at first she refuses, the young girl eventually agrees, on the condition that Herod will give her anything she demands.
In the scene that follows — "The Dance of the Seven Veils" — Salome seductively gyrates for her stepfather, stripping her seven veils as the music grows in intensity. At the dance's end, completely nude, she throws herself at Herod's feet, childishly demanding her reward. It is the head of Jokanaan that she wants, and though Herod tries to persuade her otherwise, she is unrelenting.
Though frightened, Herod gives in, and orders Jokanaan executed. When the executioner has finished his work and presents the prophet's head on a platter, Salome seizes it. Singing of her triumph, the desperate diva passionately kisses the lips of the deceased, appalling the crowd that has gathered.
Herod, who is thoroughly disgusted by her display, orders his soldiers to kill her, and Salome is crushed under their shields.
Michigan Opera Theatre's 2006 production of "Salome" will also feature performances by Krysty Swann, Donald Hartman, Branch Fields, David Cushing, Laurie Seely, Doug Jones, Eric Johnston, Torrance Blaisdell, Mark T. Panuccio, Andrew Gangestad and Miroslav Manovski. Acclaimed maestro Stefan Lano will lead the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra, and accomplished director Bernard Uzan will handle staging. "Salome" will feature beautiful sets designed by Roberto Oswald and provided by Orlando Opera, lighting by Donald Edmund Thomas, Costumes by Anabal Lapiz and choreography by Till Schmidt-Rimpler.
Tickets for "Salome" range from $23-$113, and are available in person at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, 48226), by phone at 313-237-7464 and online at http://www.MichiganOpera.org.
Stratford Festival News:
'The Duchess of Malfi' begins previews at Stratford Festival
STRATFORD, ONT. – The Stratford Festival of Canada's production of John Webster's Jacobean tragedy "The Duchess of Malfi," with Lucy Peacock in the title role, Peter Donaldson as the Cardinal, Paul Essiembre as Ferdinand and Scott Wentworth as Daniel de Bosola, began previews on Monday, May 22, at the Tom Patterson Theatre. A secret marriage is the catalyst of the play as the widowed Duchess of Malfi marries her household steward, Antonio, in defiance of her powerful brothers, Duke Ferdinand and the Cardinal. But when Ferdinand's spy, Bosola, reports that the Duchess has borne a son, the couple is plunged into a nightmarish maelstrom of conspiracy, betrayal, madness and murder.
The Stratford Festival's production of "The Duchess of Malfi" is directed by Peter Hinton, with sets and costumes designed by Carolyn M. Smith. The lighting designer is Bonnie Beecher and the composer is Peter Hannan. John Stead is the fight director.
The Duchess of Malfi also features Walter Borden as Count Malateste and the Doctor; Joyce Campion as the Old Lady; Shane Carty as Antonio Bologna; Laura Condlln as Cariola; Steve Cumyn as Delio; Ron Kennell as Silvio; Lawrence Haegert as Roderigo; Gordon S. Miller as Grisolan; William Needles as Castruchio; Raymond O'Neill as the Marquis of Pescara; Karen Robinson as Julia; Stephen Kent, Jennifer Mawhinney, Roger Shank, Andre Sills, Severn Thompson, Sophia Walker and Adam Waxman as Attendants, Guards, Executioners, Priests, Pilgrims, Nuns, Madmen and Madwomen. Luke McCarroll and Ronan Rees play the Boy in alternating performances. Barbara Barnes-Hopkins is the understudy for the role of the Old Lady, Barry MacGregor is the understudy for the role of Castruchio and David Snelgrove is the understudy for the roles of Antonio Bologna and Guards.
"The Duchess of Malfi" began preview performances May 22 and opens June 2; it plays in repertory until September 23.
Tickets are available at 1-800-567-1600 or online at http://www.stratfordfestival.ca.
Community Theater Corner:
St. Dunstan's Theatre Guild of Cranbrook presents 'A Few Good Men'
BLOOMFIELD HILLS – Stories about the military are on the news every night these days, but they rarely examine the military experience with the insight and heart of "A Few Good Men," which runs June 9-17 at St. Dunstan's Theatre Guild of Cranbrook.
Written by Aaron Sorkin – creator of TV's "The West Wing" – "A Few Good Men" is an acclaimed drama that explores the moral questions of duty, honor, patriotism, justice and the rule of law.
The intense courtroom drama revolves around an inexperienced Navy lawyer, Lt. Daniel Kaffee (played by Scott MacDonald), who leads the defense in the court-martial of two Marines accused of murdering a fellow Marine, Pfc. William Santiago (Frank Sawa). Kaffee defends the accused men by trying to demonstrate that they were acting under the direct orders of their commanding officer, Col. Jessep (Topper Pennington), a powerful Marine officer being considered for an important promotion.
Kaffee begins to suspect he's being manipulated in an effort to protect Col. Jessep – partly at the suggestion of a female member of his defense team, Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway (Laura S. Raisch), who Kaffee initially thinks is trying to derail his case. But together, Kaffee and Galloway pursue the truth – and seek genuine justice in the trial's outcome.
The St. Dunstan's production of "A Few Good Men" is directed by Tim McGee, whose vision is shaped by his personal experiences as a Marine.
"Our set design was created by a former Marine, Robert S. Raisch," says McGee. "Guantanamo Bay is always visible in the background – as is Santiago, who we get to know through letters he writes to his mother and congressman. Most productions only use an offstage voice, but we wanted the audience to be constantly aware of his presence."
"A Few Good Men" features a powerful ensemble of actors: Temple Cumiskey, Joshua Dawson, Thom Griffin, James Helberg, Edward Hiebendahl, Jeff Kajy, Steve Larson, John Nowaczyk, Leslie Ann Pilling, Cullen Purkis, John W. Rutherford and Ron Steinmayer.
The team behind the scenes includes Lighting Designer Scott MacDonald, Costume Designer Rich Hutchison, Makeup Designer Sharon Matlin, Props Master Pam Richards and Sound Designer Amanda Buchfinck. Assistant Director Gary Lee Temple, Producer Barbara Anne Gowans and Assistant Producer Sharon Jaglois round out the key production team.
St. Dunstan's will present "A Few Good Men" on June 9 and 10 at 8 p.m., June 11 at 2 p.m., and June 15, 16 and 17 at 8 p.m.
St. Dunstan's is located at 400 Lone Pine Road between Cranbrook and Lahser in Bloomfield Hills.
Tickets are general admission and cost $16 each for adults and $14 each for students and seniors. Tickets are also $14 each for groups of 20 or more.
"A Few Good Men" contains adult language and may not be suitable for children.
Reservations can be made by calling 248-737-3587 or visiting http://www.StDunstansTheatre.com.
Come visit 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'
ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor Civic Theatre (A2CT) presents the bawdy and boisterous musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," June 8-11 at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Directed by A2CT newcomer Edmond Reynolds, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" is a high-energy, foot-stomping romp in the heart of Texas circa the 1970's. A beloved institution, The Chicken Ranch, comes under fire by an over-zealous ratings-hungry Houston TV reporter who wants to shut the ranch down in order to satisfy his own rigid morals and garner TV ratings. Once the lines are drawn between those who want to shut the ranch down and those who want to save it, the ensuing battle makes for an uproarious evening of fun.
"This musical isn't done very often, and that's a shame," says Reynolds. "When I read the script of the play (which differs considerably from the film version) and heard the music from the score, I fell in love with it. There are beautifully realized characters, wonderful relationships, and it's just plain fun. It's a very timely and timeless piece – a great satire about say-nothing politicians, hypocrites and irresponsible media. It's about one man's mission to tell others how to live their lives and the fall-out that ensues."
"The Best Little Whorehouse" cast features noted area actors Charlie Sutherland as Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd and Wendy Wright as the Chicken Ranch's proprietress, Miss Mona. Also featured are A2CT regulars Alexandra Berneis as Doatsy Mae, Erik Wright-Olsen as Senator Wingwoah, and Jeff Steinhauer as Mayor Rufus Poindexter. Civic newcomers Linzi Bokor as Jewel, Katherine Hoag as Angel, and Lawrence Bryk as the Governor of Texas round out the featured cast.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets are $24 for general admission and $21 for students and seniors. All tickets are $15 on Thursday.
Tickets and information are available through the A2CT office at 734-971-2228, at the door of the theater before each performance or online at http://www.a2ct.org.
