HERITAGE
ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 2-B
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June 17, 2010
Purple Rose Theatre Company launches summer comedy By Sean Dalton Heritage Newspapers
Summer is the season for comedy, and Marc Camoletti’s French farce “Boeing-Boeing” is scheduled to take flight for audiences June 17 at the Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea. The English adaptation of this French version, done by Beverly Cross in the ’60s features Bernard, a self-styled Parisian lothario juggling three fiancées, each beautiful airline hostesses with frequent layovers in Paris. Bernard’s carefully constructed timetable runs like clockwork until unexpected schedule changes bring all three to his apartment at the same time, and his “ideal life”
unravels all in one nonstop night in hilarious fashion. “Boeing-Boeing” originally premiered in Paris in 1960. The English language adaptation was first staged in London in 1962. The play was first produced on Broadway in 1965. In 1991, the play was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most performed French play throughout the world. “Boeing-Boeing” was revived in London in 2007. It again proved to be a hit with critics and audiences alike and received two Olivier Award nominations. The 2008 Broadway revival won both the Tony and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Play. Purple Rose associate artist Nathan Mitchell of Novi makes
his professional directing debut with “Boeing-Boeing.” The cast will include Jeff Thomakos as Bernard, John Seibert as his friend Robert, Stacie Hadgikosti, Rhiannon Ragland, and Charlyn Swarthot as the fiancées, and Chelsea’s own Michelle Mountain as Berthe, Bernard’s long-suffering maid. Design for this production includes set by Bartley Bauer, properties by Danna Segrest, costumes by Christianne Myers, lighting by Reid Johnson and sound by Quintessa Gallinat. Stephanie Buck stage manages with Jessica Garrett as assistant stage manager. Purple Rose Associate Nathan Mitchell is making his professional director debut
with “Boeing-Boeing.” He started work with the Purple Rose behind the scenes as fight choreographer for “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Bleeding Red,” and directing intern for “Bleeding Red and Wake.” He has also appeared on the Purple Rose stage in “Gravity” and “Our Town.” In the past, he has performed in the United States and the United Kingdom in plays such as “Hawk,” “I’m Your Brother,” “Ill Seen Ill Said,” “A Flea in Her Ear,” “Attempts on Her Life,” “Our Town,” “Six Degrees of Separation” and “A Zoo Story.” Mitchell earned his bachelor’s degree in theater from Western Michigan University and his master’s degree in physical training for the actor from The University of
Exeter, United Kingdom, and has trained with Moscow Art Theatre. The show will go on for an 11n-week engagement from June 17 through Aug. 28 with seven previews of the show performed June 17 through 24. Regular performances for the duration of the engagement are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 3 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. All performances will be held at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park St, in Chelsea. Tickets for “Boeing-Boeing” are on sale now. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at 433-7673. Single tickets are also for sale at www.purplerosetheatre.org.
Coming Soon 2010-2011 season All New, All Michigan Four World Premieres by Michigan playwrights in celebration of our 20th anniversary • “Best of Friends” by Jeff Daniels Oct. 14 through Dec. 18 •“Corktown” by Michael Brian Ogden Jan. 20 through March 5, 2011 • “Some Couples May...” by Carey Crim March 24 through May 28, 2011 •“Consider the Oyster” by David MacGregor June 16 through Sept. 3, 2011
Thalia Schramm has found a home at Dexter’s Encore Theatre By Sean Dalton Heritage Newspapers
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nn Arbor’s Thalia Schramm says she feels at home in Dexter’s Encore Musical Theatre, where she has spread her wings as a performer. Schramm, who lives in the Kerrytown area, is on track to graduate from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance with a bachelor’s degree in theater and a minor in English. Although her minor focus is scriptwriting, she says that she sees herself more as a performer, at least initially. She dreams of one day filling the shoes of her instructors and peers as a teacher helping young actors like her realize their own dreams. “My goal is to act for a good long time,” Schramm said. “Whether it be regional or Broadway –– obviously Broadway would be my goal, but I would eventually like to teach acting, and/or run a theater … be in charge of a large arts organization.” Since getting her start on the community theater circuit with the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, Dexter Community Players and the Chelsea Community Players, she has bolstered her credits as the mistress in “Evita,” Johanna in “Sweeney Todd,” Sarah Brown in “Guys
Thalia Schramm and Dolls,” and Olive Ostrovsky in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” It’s worth noting that she stepped down from the Dexter Community Players Board of Directors to jump at her shot to go to the next level. The Encore, which is quickly reaching for the heights inhabited by the Purple Rose Theatre Company, is a completely different world for Schramm and has given her many unique experiences and opportunities. “It’s a collaborative effort at the Encore … Dan (Cooney) and Barb (Cullen) are really open to trying new things and different things just to see how it flows,” Schramm says. Her last role in “Spelling Bee” was a good example, since the show was the theater’s most
adventurous endeavor, at the time. Schramm said she felt at home playing Olive, a critically shy girl with a troubled home life, and admits to being a bit of an introvert who finds joy in solitary activities. “I was more into science (before acting) … and I played the clarinet, which is kind of gross,” she joked. Olive was a complex character, but Schramm says playing a 12-year-old was tough at first. “You have to be able to throw yourself into the character you’re playing, which in that case was a 12-year-old girl. “It was interesting to develop that mental process when you’re on stage,” she said. Schramm observed children at summer camp, where she spends time as a camp counselor over the summer, to get in touch with how a 12-year-old thinks. “I observed their speech patterns and how they reacted when no one else was watching,” she said. “You have to think about how a kid would react to everything, reacting to her parents not being there, reacting to all of these kids being mean to her, and just trying to think a little more simply,” Schramm said. “It was one of the most interesting acting experiences I’ve had.” None of her other parts have
been nearly as demanding, although she admits relief to not having to dye her hair blond for Sweeney Todd, considering the fact that her character, Johanna, goes so far as to sing about her lovely golden locks. Since being on stage for the Dexter Community Players’ production of “Urinetown” a couple of years ago, Schramm says that she doesn’t worry about much on stage, and hasn’t had a butterfly in her stomach since then. Part of that is because of experience and the other part of it is how acting fits her. “I get bored easily, but I can change what I’m doing often and it’s always fun,” Schramm says of acting. She admits that she always has been attracted to the quaint village of Dexter and its downtown, which she hopes is getting a boost from local tourists coming to the community to see shows at the theater. “We’re really trying to feel out what people in the area want to see,” she said. But, at the same time, she and the rest of the Encore family don’t want to stick to “Oklahoma” and “Annie.” “Those shows are great, but we don’t want to do them all of the time,” Schramm said, adding that there’s so much more out there in the world of musical theater for audiences to explore.
Given her background with the younger set and having been in 30 shows at various levels since she was 14 years old, Schramm is one of the driving forces behind the Encore’s summer acting workshops, which is broken up into elementary, middle school and high school classes focusing on varying levels of intensity. The youngest program focuses on kids in first through fifth grades getting comfortable on stage, singing in a group and dancing in front of small gatherings of parents and peers. The middle school program will teach the beginnings of technique and the high school program will introduce participants to more advanced technique and provide primers on the business. “We’re going to bring in Broadway talent, such as Michael Minigan, who is currently touring Broadway right now, and Dan will participate. He has extensive Broadway experience,” Schramm said. “Those who come will get a lot out of the summer program. I know I’ve grown working with Dan and others.” Schramm says it’s good being exposed to a theater like the Encore, where the pace is faster and the final product more polished. “With community theater, you have a good couple months to rehearse and then you only
run the show for two weekends. “With this, you get it done quickly and you get to run it for a really long time. “I’m a product-over-process kind of person. I like to show what I’ve done for a long period of time.” Rehearsals at Schramm’s level are crammed into four weeks with four-hour-a-day sessions six days per week leading up to a three- or four-week run, not including time spent in private memorizing lines. Schramm was taking 16 credit hours and working part time on top of rehearsing 24 hours per week when she joined the Encore last year. But she says that moments like being s swan lifted into the air during a dance number in “Spelling Bee” with equity actor Jeffrey James and other moments at the Encore make the hard work worthwhile. Schramm recently participated in a workshop at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and is currently at camp. When she returns, she will prepare for the Encore’s summer program and invites prospective actors to sign up. For more information on the summer program or future shows, visit www.theenctoretheatre.org. Sean Dalton is a reporter for Heritage Newspapers. He can be reached at 429-7380 or sdalton@heritage.com.
Road, Saline. $6 (age 12 and under with an adult, free).
N. Maple Road, Saline. Free. Pre-registration required. 4295450.
THINGS TO DO: REGIONAL CALENDAR CHELSEA
Free.
HVA Camp 9-1-1 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday: Huron Valley Ambulance day camps for 8 to 12 year olds. Chelsea Community Hospital White Oak Center, 775 S. Main St. Call 4776781 or visit www.hva.org.
“Read to the Library Dog” 2 p.m. Friday: Chelsea District Library, 221 S. Main St. Free.
Rockin’ Rocks 11 a.m. Thursday: Eddy Discovery Center on Bush Road, Chelsea. Free. $6 vehicle entry fee. 475–3170. “Weed ’n’ Sing” 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. Thursday: Community Farm of Ann Arbor, 1525 S. Fletcher Road. Free. 475-7451. Ron the Bubble Man 2 p.m. Thursday: Chelsea District Library, 221 S. Main St. Free. 475-8732. Sounds and Sights on Thursday Nights 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday: Music and entertainment in downtown Chelsea. Free (fee for carriage ride). 475-1145. Comedy Showcase 7 p.m. Thursday: Comic Bill Hildebrandt. Chelsea District Library, 221 S. Main St. Free. 475-8732. “Boeing-Boeing” 8 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays through Aug. 28: Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St. 433–7673. Trail Treasure Hunt 11 a.m. Friday: Eddy Discovery Center, Bush Road, Chelsea. Free. $6 vehicle entry fee. 475–3170. “Animanga Club” 1 to 4 p.m. Friday: Chelsea District Library, 221 S. Main St.
Veterans for Peace Meeting 10 a.m. Saturday: Bear Claw Coffee, 12855 East Old US-12, Chelsea, near I-94 exit 162. Open to anyone interested in peace and justice issues, with a special invitation to military veterans. Call 487-9058 or visit www.vfp93.org. Earth Connections Day Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday: Grass Lake Sanctuary, 18580 Grass Lake Road. Call 726-0290 or visit www.grasslakesanctuary. org. Fun with Fossils 11 a.m. Saturday: Eddy Discovery Center, Bush Road. Free. $6 vehicle entry fee. 4753170. Under the Big Top & Beyond” 6 p.m. Saturday: Tree of Life Dance Studio students perform. Washington Street Education Center, 500 Washington St. $8 in advance, $10 at the door. 4330697. DJ Night: Arctic Coliseum 7:15 p.m. Saturday: Arctic Coliseum, 501 Coliseum Drive. $8 includes skate rental. 4332244. Waterloo Area Farm Museum 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Guided tours. 9998 Waterloo-Munith Road. $4 (age 62 and older, $3; ages 5-17, $2; ages 4 and under and members, free). 1-517-596-2254. Chelsea Farmers’ Market 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays: Park Street. Free admission. 475-6402.
Chelsea Teddy Bear Co. 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., Saturday: 400 N. Main St. Free. 433-5499. Chelsea Chess Club 3 p.m. Saturdays: Wendy’s, 1640 Commerce Park. Free. 475-1583. Movie Monday Noon Monday: “Monsters vs. Aliens,” Chelsea District Library, 221 S. Main St. Free. 475-8732.
DEXTER “Club Morocco” 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: Encore Musical Theatre Company, 3126 Broad St. $28 (seniors and students, $25; groups of 10 or more, $22). 268-6200. Summer Reading Kick-Off Party 11 a.m. Friday: Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St. Free. 426-4477. Summer Concert Series 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays: Dexter Community Orchestra in a pops concert. Monument Park gazebo. Free. 426–0887. Draw Doubles Disc Golf Noon Saturdays: Hudson Mills Metropark, 8801 North Territorial Road $5. $4 vehicle fee. 4494300.
SALINE Teen Activities 2 p.m. Thursday: “Summer Treats.” Saline District Library, 555 N. Maple Road. Free. Preregister at 429-5450. Thursday Night Contra 7 p.m. Thursday: 4531 Concourse Drive. $7 (students, $4). “Make Waves with Windsocks” 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Friday: Saline District Library. 555 N. Maple Road, Saline. Free. Pre-registration required. 429-5450. Summer Music Series 7 to 9 p.m. Friday: Classic rock by the Six Foot Poles, downtown Saline. Free. 4294494. Vacation Time Dance Party 9 p.m. Friday: All singles invited for an evening of dancing and socializing. Grotto Club, 2070 W. Stadium. $8 (Parents Without Partners members, $6). 973-1933. Movie in the Park 9:45 p.m. Friday; 6:30 p.m. music and kids activities, including inflatables. Concessions. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” Mill Pond Park. . Free. 429-3502.
Book Discussion Groups 11 a.m. Saturday: Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St. Free. Pre-registration required. 426-4477.
Farmers’ Market 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays: South Ann Arbor Street in downtown Saline, and 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Saline Library, 555 N. Maple Road. Call 429-3518.
“Book Snackers Book Club” 11 a.m. Saturday: Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St. Free. Pre-registration required. 426-4477.
Ann Arbor Antiques Market 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday: Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline
Rentschler Farm 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays: 1265 E. Michigan Ave. Enter through the shopping center and park within the farm complex. Call 944-0442. Saline Railroad Depot Museum 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays: 402 N. Ann Arbor Street. Call 944-0442. Father’s Day Magic Show 7 p.m. Saturday: With Saline magician Magic Joe. Liberty School Auditorium, 7269 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Saline. Tickets $8 in advance, $12 at the door. 429-3502. Third Saturday Contra Dance 8 p.m. Saturday: Pittsfield Grange, 3337 Ann Arbor–Saline Road. $10. 426-0241. Fifth annual Sports Cars to Saline 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday: Downtown Saline. 944–8244. Jewel Heart Buddhist Center 10 a.m. Sunday: 1129 Oak Valley Drive. Free. 994-3387. Dance Recital: Sylvia Studio of Dance 4 p.m., Sunday: Saline High School auditorium, 1300 Campus Parkway, Saline. Tickets at Sylvia’s, 525 E. Liberty St.) and at the door. 668-8066. Tween Monday Movies 3 p.m. Monday: “The Spiderwick Chronicles.” Saline District Library, 555 N. Maple Road. Free. 429-5450. “Art to Go” 1 p.m. Monday: Saline District Library/Two Twelve Arts Center. Art activities for ages 5-14. 555
Building Business Relationships Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Tuesday: Saline Area Chamber of Commerce. New Member Showcase, sponsored by Liebherr-Aerospace Saline. Members with advance reservation, $12; non-members and walk-ins, $15. Call 4294494. Brecon Village, 200 Brecon Drive, Saline. Teen Activities 3 p.m. Wednesday: “Water Balloon Launch.” Saline District Library. 555 N. Maple Road. Free. Pre-registration required. 429-5450.
YPSILANTI “The Waiting Room” 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday: PTD Productions. Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsilanti. $16 (students, $11. 483-7345. Crossroads Summer Festival 7 p.m. Friday: Washington St. at Michigan Avenue. Free. 717-7305. Washtenaw Classic Auto Show 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 24: 3362-3402 Washtenaw Ave. service drive. Free admission. 369-3012.
MANCHESTER Summer Gazebo Concerts 7:30 p.m. Thursday: Guy Louis & His Chautauqua Express. Manchester gazebo, Wurster Park, West Main Street, Manchester. If rain at Emanuel Church Hall, 324 W. Main St. Free, but donations are appreciated. For more information, call 428-0159.