The cast includes Sydnee Dombrowski (left) of Dearborn as Janet van de Graaff, Michael Bollman of Dearborn as Robert Martin, Kimberly Paige Elliot of Canton as Kitty, Michael Moseley of Allen Park as Feldzieg, Paul Morgan of Dearborn as George, Ebony Bradley of Detroit as Trix the Aviatrix, Tiffany Byars Mullins of Livonia as Mrs. Tottendale and Michael Falzon of Dearborn as the Underling.
By Sue Suchyta
The Players Guild of Dearborn will close its 2010-11 season with the Broadway Tony-Award-winning “musical within a comedy” “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
The show features book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison.
Guild members who have sat in on closed rehearsals since Easter weekend report that the show is “laugh-out-loud funny,” and that they found themselves caught off guard again and again by the clever humor and the well-timed comedy of the “dream team” cast.
The show is directed and choreographed by Paul Bruce of Dearborn, with musical direction by Ken Pletzer of Canton. Stan Guarnelo of Dearborn and Frann Stempek of Southgate co-produced the show.
Bruce, long known for his unique creative input in the shows he directs, promises another polished and pleasing production filled with unique humor and whimsy. He is known for bringing out the best in his actors whether they are school children or seasoned community theater veterans.
“The Drowsy Chaperone” begins as a devoted musical theater fan known only as “The Man in the Chair,” is brought to life by the comedic talent of Brian Townsend of Dearborn. He plays the record of his favorite Broadway musical to share with us as he chases away his feelings of “non-specific sadness.”
As “The Man in the Chair” begins to weave his story his city apartment begins to recede and the story he is describing comes to life in his living room as it undergoes a theatrical metamorphosis.
“The Drowsy Chaperone” is set in the roaring ’20s, and is filled with colorful characters, entertaining song and dance numbers and laughter-inspiring lines.
The nearly completed sets are bright, and the costumes promise to rival the colors of the rainbow with their eye-catching color.
In the play a film star favorite, Janet van de Graaff, played by Sydnee Dombrowski of Dearborn, is “giving it all up” to marry the love of her life.
However, a movie mogul, portrayed by Michael Moseley of Allen Park, wants to stop the wedding. He relies on her talent and star appeal to keep his studio solvent. He is being pressured by a couple of gangsters turned pastry chefs to prevent her from prematurely ending her career and them from losing their money. The apron-clad comic criminals are played by James Mayne of Redford and Alan Ellias of Farmington Hills.
The mogul decides to employ Aldolpho, a “Latin lover,” played by audience favorite Lindel Salow of Dearborn to seduce the bride-to-be and spoil the impending nuptials. However, Aldolpho falls for the chaperone instead by mistake – with amusingly comic results as Aldolpho teams up with the talented Juliette Delabbio-Abbott of Allen Park as the Drowsy (drunk) Chaperone.
Other “triple threat” cast members who sing, dance and act includes Dearborn actors Michael Falzon as the Underling, Michael Bollman as the bridegroom Robert Martin, Paul Morgan as George his best man, Chris Boudreau as the Superintendant and Christie Schauder as an ensemble member.
Canton cast members include Kimberly Paige Elliot as Kitty and Lindsey MacDonald in the ensemble.
Livonia residents featured in the show include Tiffany Byars Mullins as Mrs. Tottendale, and Tim Carney and Jeff Lokken in the ensemble. Ebony Bradley of Detroit plays Trix the Aviatrix.
The show will run for four weekends, May 6 to 29, with 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday shows and 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees.
Tickets for “The Drowsy Chaperone” are $18, with student and group discounts available. The theater is handicapped-accessible.
For more information call (313) 561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.
‘DAMN YANKEES’ OPENS AT EDSEL FORD
Edsel Ford High School will step up to the plate Wednesday with the audience-pleasing baseball musical “Damn Yankees.” The show will run at 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday in the high school’s auditorium.
The Broadway classic centers around a frustrated baseball fan, Joe Boyd, who is tempted to sell his soul to the devil for a “long ball hitter” for the Washington Senators. Boyd is turned into the baseball star.
However, wishes have a way of backfiring, and Joe must choose between baseball and his wife, with his soul hanging in the balance
In addition to a large high school cast, select local elementary and middle school students will also be in the show, which is directed by Robert Doyle and choreographed by Simone Calvas. Rick Pierce will direct the orchestra, accompanied by Fauna Navarre.
The show will be performed at the school, 20601 Rotunda Drive. Tickets are $8 to $10 at the door.
SOUTHGATE TO PRESENT ‘DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS’
The Southgate Community Players will present “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” for two weekends beginning May 13.
The popular Broadway musical will be performed at 8 p.m. May 13, 14, 20 and 21 at the Davidson Middle School Auditorium, 15800 Trenton Road in Southgate.
Directed and choreographed by Denny Connors of Allen Park, the 21-person cast includes local talent from Dearborn, as well as the Downriver cities of Allen Park, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton and Wyandotte.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for students and seniors. The show contains adult content, and is not appropriate for children.
For more information, call (734) 282-4SCP, or go to www.scponstage.com.