The Players Guild of Dearborn announced its 2011-12 season schedule, and it’s full of laughter as the Guild offers musicals, comedy and romance.
‘ON GOLDEN POND’
The first show of the season is Ernest Thompson’s “On Golden Pond.” The show runs for three weekends, Sept. 16 to 18, 23 to 25 and Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
The play is about an older couple, Ethel (Nancy Wolter of Dearborn) and Norman Thayer (Lindel Salow of Dearborn), who are returning to their summer home on Golden Pond for their 48th season. He is a retired professor with heart and memory problems who still is a keen observer and interested in new experiences. Ethel shares his enthusiasm for life.
Their middle-aged daughter Chelsea (Debbie Pletzer of Canton) soon arrives with both real and emotional baggage. She and her fiancé, Bill (Ross Grossman of Farmington Hills), hope to leave his teenage son, Billy (Omar Ali), with her parents while they are in Europe for the summer. The seniors get the grandson they never had, and the teen finds his own niche during a summer of changes for all. Pat Denyer of Dearborn plays Charlie.
The show will be directed by Alan Ellias of Farmington Hills.
‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’
The second show of the season is the family-friendly musical “The Wizard of Oz.” The Guild will hold auditions Sept. 19 and 20, and children will be cast and well as adults. The production will run for four weekends, Nov. 11 to Dec. 4, including Thanksgiving weekend.
“The Wizard of Oz” follows Dorothy from Kansas to the magical Land of Oz when a twister blows her from Kansas to beyond the rainbow. She meets good and bad witches, and is helped by a tin man, a scarecrow and a cowardly lion, who find a heart, a brain and courage as they help Dorothy in her quest to return home.
’‘TIL BETH DO US PART’
The third show of the season is the comedy “’Til Beth Do Us Part.” Auditions will be held Nov. 14 and 15, with performances for three weekends Jan. 13 to 29.
When a middle-aged business woman finds herself stretched too thin because her husband, Gibby, isn’t helping her at home, she hires a young and ambitious assistant to make her life easier. Soon the assistant has become an indispensable part of all aspects of Suzannah’s life. As Suzannah becomes more dependent on Beth, Gibby becomes more suspicious of Beth.
‘ALMOST, MAINE’
“Almost, Maine” is a romantic comedy set in a mythical town. When the northern lights hover in the sky, romance is in the air, and unexpected and hilarious pairings occur. Some hearts are broken, some bruised and others mended as the town’s residents find love in unexpected ways in their own hometown.
Paul Bruce is slated to direct the show with a large cast, as opposed to a few people playing multiple roles. Auditions will be held Jan. 16 and 17, and the show will run for three weekends March 2 to 18.
‘THE PRODUCERS’
The Guild will close out its season with the hysterically funny comedy “The Producers.” Auditions will be held March 5 and 6, with the show running four weekends April 27 to May 20.
Max, once a successful producer, is desperate to raise money to stage a Broadway show to revive his financial fortunes. His accountant, Leo, notices a quirk: If a bad show closes quickly, and the funds raised to finance a show exceed the cost to launch it, the show might still make a profit. Max and Leo then look for a horrible script, and find, “Springtime for Hitler.” They cast it with their secretary as the lead and the most unlikely supporting players. However, audiences love the show because it’s “so bad it’s good.” The show contains adult themes and language.
The Guild is offering a standard ticket package starting at $65, which allows playgoers to see five shows for the price of four.
Tickets may be ordered online at www.playersguildofdearborn.org, or through the Guild ticket line at (313) 377-TKTS.
‘SHENANDOAH’ OPENS SOON
The Players Guild of Dearborn will present the Civil War musical “Shenandoah” at the Anderson Theatre at The Henry Ford as part of THF’s sesquicentennial remembrance of the war. The show runs at 8 p.m. Aug. 12 and 19, at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 20, and at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 14 and 21.
For more information, go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org or call (313) 561-TKTS.