The Downriver Actors Guild presents “The Awesome 80s Prom,” an interactive dinner theater March 14, 15, 21 and 22 at Biddle Hall in Wyandotte. Cast members include Tara Richardson (left) of Southgate as Kerrie Kowalski, Jimmy King of Taylor as Johnny Hughes, Nathan Vasquez of Melvindale as Louis Fensterspock, Lara Keathley of Southgate as Whitley Whitiker, and Jacob Partrich of Taylor as Joshua “Beef” Beefarowski, a football player. For tickets and more information go to www.downriveractorsguild.net.
By SUE SUCHYTA
The Downriver Actors Guild presents the interactive dinner theater comedy “The Awesome 80s Prom” March 14, 15, 21 and 22 at Biddle Hall, 3239 Biddle Ave. in Wyandotte.
The show, in the tradition of “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding,” treats audience members as guests in the improvisational blast-from-the-past prom for Wanaget High’s 1989 senior class.
Presale tickets for the dinner theater are $30 for a single and $50 for a couple, and are available up to three days before each performance. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with a cash bar, and a 7:15 p.m. dinner.
The dinner features Italian chicken, roast beef, red skin potatoes, hillbilly green beans, salad and bread.
For more information, call 313-303-5269 or go to www.downriveractorsguild.net.
The characters, representing hilarious stereotypical high school students from the era, compete for the title of prom king and queen, with the dinner theater audience deciding the
outcome.
Directed by Denny Connors, the cast includes a football team captain, the class president, nerds, exchange students, a bad boy, head cheerleader and flamboyant male drama queen.
The principal, drama teacher and a DJ emcee are also at the prom, as are cheerleaders, football players, a yearbook photographer and a mystery guest.
Megan Slaith of Westland, as cheerleader Heather Wynters, said the show is an amazing experience for audiences.
“It is laugh-out-loud, in-your-face funny,” Slaith said. “Audience members won’t know what to expect nor will they see the same show twice.”
Keri Geftos Harris of Riverview plays Melissa “Missy” Ann Martin, who is in charge of prom committee, with an overly perky personality.
“The Awesome 80s Prom” appeals to audiences of all ages, Geftos said.
“Students still currently in school planning their proms will get to see how this event would look and feel if it took place 25 years ago,” Geftos said. “Recent, or not so recent graduates can relive those ‘glory days’ even if just for one night.”
She said those attending will cast a vote for Wanaget High’s Class of 1989 Prom King and Queen.
The audience is encouraged to participate in the prom and play along with the story, said Tara Richardson of Southgate, who plays Kerrie Kowalski, a sweet but hyperactive nerd.
“Guests who attend the show will be stepping into the Delorean time machine right back to the high school prom in 1989,” Richardson said. “We are excited to perform this show, and the hardest part for all of us has been trying not to laugh when our co-stars are performing.”
She said 90 percent of the action is improvisation, which makes each performance different.
Mitchell Sturm of Taylor, who plays football team captain Blake Williams, agreed with the time travel nature and the show’s hilarity.
“People will love the show due to its flash back to the ’80s and all the ‘highlarious’ content,” Sturm said.
If your “flashbacks” don’t include going to a prom, Kayla Aue of Garden City, who plays Heather Wellington, a cheerleader, says this is now your chance.
“You can get up, dance and be part of it,” Aue said. “I have never done a show with such freedom. Every performance will be different due to the fact that is mostly improvisation.”
Aue said attendees will enjoy the unpredictability of the interactive, improvisation dinner theater, and the talented cast will ensure their enjoyment.
Fellow cast member Lara Keathley of Southgate, as head cheerleader Whitley Whitiker, said she wanted to do the show because she has fond memories of the music, clothes and movies of the 1980s.
“Audiences can expect to see the classic high school cliques, ’80s fashion and music, fighting, making up, all while reminiscing, laughing, and picking their favorite cast member as prom king and queen,” Keathley said. “We are having a great time performing and they will have a great time watching and playing along.”
HILBERRY PRESENTS KEN LUDWIG’S ‘MOON OVER BUFFALO’
The madcap mayhem of Ken Ludwig’s “Moon over Buffalo” runs in rotating repertory through April 5 at Wayne State University’s graduate Hilberry Theatre, 4743 Cass in Detroit.
Tickets are $12 to $30, and available at 313-577-2972, online at wsushows.com or through the Hilberry box office, 4743 Cass Ave. in Detroit.
Set in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1953, the comic romp focuses on fading actors George and Charlotte Hay who try to restore their fleeting fame, faltering touring company and marriage with side-splittingly funny results. As comedy collides with misunderstandings, George and Charlotte attempt to save all three, but are unsure which show they are supposed to be performing.
While the first act sets up the storyline and launches the wave of misunderstandings, and starts the onstage hide-and-seek chase scenes, the second act ramps up the energy, laughter and timing.
Bevin Bell-Hall plays Charlotte Hay, with Brent Griffith as George Hay. To two must exercise a high degree of physical comedy, as well as delivering some very funny lines, which they do with aplomb.
Meghan Barbour plays Ethel, the nearly deaf matriarch, whose hearing deficit contributes much to the comic misunderstandings.
Danielle Cochrane is a wonderful Rosalind, Charlotte and George’s daughter, who tries in vain to ignore the call of the footlights.
The love interests thrown into the mix include Miles Boucher as Paul, Brandon Grantz as Howard, Sarah Hawkins Moan as Eileen and Brandy Joe Plambeck as Howard. Each rise to the occasion and bring quirky, entertaining touches to their characters.
John Woodland’s period costume designs are gorgeous with nifty ’50s touches. His stage show costumes are fun as well.
Max Amitin’s set design, in addition to successfully incorporating numerous doorways, is a fascinating blend of backstage vintage star photos and souvenirs from numerous shows. Tonae Mitsuhashi assembled a virtual treasure trove of fascinating props.