The cast of Roosevelt High School’s production of “Once Upon a Mattress” rehearse, “Song of Love” during Monday’s tech rehearsal. Jason Glenn (standing on table) one of two actors playing Prince Dauntless in a double cast role, admires the weight-lifting prowess of Princess Winnifred, portrayed here by Hope Morawa in a double cast role. The cast will perform a 2:30 p.m. matinee today and 7:30 p.m. shows Friday and Saturday.
By Sue Suchyta
Dearborn High School opens its rollicking irreverent ’50s musical comedy “Grease” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the school’s Valentine Auditorium. The show offers three additional performances: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday.
The high energy musical with a ’50s flavor offers T-Birds, Pink Ladies, Danny Zuko and Sandy D. The songs will make you want to sing along and dance. They include “Greased Lightning,” “You’re the One that I Want,” and “Summer Nights.”
According to director Greg Viscomi, the cast includes more than 50 students.
Seniors Sam Goddard and Alex Trudeau share the role of Danny, while Senior Kelcie Bourquin and junior Anna Mallard are double cast in the role of Sandy.
Junior Natalie Joseph plays Rizzo, while junior Omar Mullan and sophomore Erik Peterson share the role of Kenickie.
Senior Christie Schauder plays Frenchy while junior Joe Gaber takes on the role of Doody.
Senior Anthony Guido plays Sonny” while juniors Amanda Balaka and Shelly Hook share the role of “Marty.”
Seniors Madison Klauke and Madeleine Wiedmeyer are double cast as Jan while senior Eric Cartegena takes on the role of Roger.
Junior Aubrey Cherry and sophomore Bella Fothergill are double cast as Patty Simcox while senior Ian Devins and sophomore Tim Smith share the role of Eugene.
Seniors Nicky Bates and Nadine Zebib share the role of Miss Lynch.
Andrew Nichols plays Vince Fontaine, and Mike Depper plays both Johnny Casino and Teen Angel.
Isabella Petnehazy and Martha Bryan are double cast as Cha-Cha DeGregorio.
Goddard, Mallard, Peterson, Balaka, Wiedmeyer, Fothergill, Devins, Bates, and Petnehazy perform their featured roles Thursday and Saturday, while Trudeau, Bourquin, Mullan, Hook, Klauke, Cherry, Smith, Zebib and Bryan perform their featured roles Friday and Sunday.
Musical direction for the production is by Carmelle Atkins and choreography by Jennifer McPherson. Jeff Oshnock conducts the DHS “Grease” Band.
Tickets are $11 general admission, $10 for college students withidentification and $7 for senior citizens, students and children. Tickets may be reserved though the theater box office; call (313) 827-1647 for more information. The production is family friendly.
PLAYERS GUILD ANNOUNCES CAST FOR ‘THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE’
The Players Guild of Dearborn will close its 2009-10 season with the musical comedy “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
Directed by Kim Donovan of Farmington Hills, the show will feature the musical direction of Ken Pletzer of Canton and the choreography of Jennifer McPherson of Dearborn. Joe Donovan of Farmington Hills will produce the show.
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” is a Tony-award winning musical set in the Roaring ’20s in New York City. Millie goes to New York City determined to find and marry a wealthy boss, yet spends time with a poor paperclip salesman.
She meets aspiring actresses, cabaret singers, and gets noticed by her landlord, who along with her Chinese henchmen supplies American orphan women to a white slavery ring.
The show features high energy song and dance numbers, and is known for its unique tap dance routines and energetic scenes.
The show will run for four weekends, April 30 to May 23. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m., with 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees.
Leading the cast is Maura Donovan of Farmington Hills as Millie Dillmount, the spunky young woman ready to take on the modern world of the 1920’s. Kenyada Davis of Detroit will play Jimmy Smith, Millie’s love interest.
Bree Rafferty of Dearborn will play Dorothy Brown, Millie’s best friend, while Denise Kowaleski Tucker of Livonia will play Mrs. Meers, the boarding house owner who secretly traffics in orphan actresses as part of a white slavery ring.
Mrs. Meers’ accomplices, Bun Foo and Ching Ho, will be performed by Alan Ellias of Farmington Hills and Tim Carney of Livonia, respectively.
Jeff Flannery of Lincoln Park will play Trevor Graydon, Millie’s boss. Sydnee Dombrowski of Dearborn will play Miss Flannery, Graydon’s strict secretary.
Angela Keller Pelc of Allen Park is Muzzy van Hossmere, Jimmy’s glamorous and fun-loving stepmother.
Among the hotel girls are Christina Brown of Farmington as Gloria, Emily Champoux as Rita, Sara Mayne of Redford as Alice, and Katie Suchyta of Dearborn as Ethel Peas.
Also performing in the show are Sebastian Adams, Ebony Bradley, Michael Bollman of Dearborn, Nicole Cooper of Dearborn, Susan DeNeau of Redford, Kenneth Gibson, Amy Hendrickson of Garden City, Sarah Kornacki, Jennifer Lizbinski, Jeff Lokken of Livonia, Melody Nimmo of Livonia, Scott Rider of Lincoln Park and Frann Stempek of Taylor.
The Players Guild of Dearborn is at 21730 Madison, south of the intersection of Monroe and Outer Drive. For more information, call the ticket line at (313) 561-TKTS, or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.