Photo by Maxwell Bolton
Director James R. Kuhl (left) works with Bevin Bell-Hall as Mattie Fae Aiken and Lavinia Hart, head of the MFA Acting Program at Wayne State University, as Violet, the drug-addled family matriarch in Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play “August: Osage County,” running through May 10 at the Hilberry Theatre.
By SUE SUCHYTA
The Tony Award-winning musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” opens a two-weekend run with Southgate Community Players at 8 p.m. May 2, 3, 9 and 10 at Davidson Middle School, 15800 Trenton Road in Southgate.
For more information call 734-282-4727 or go to www.scponstage.com.
Directed by Chris Rollet of Southgate, the musical follows a revenge-seeking barber and his baking accomplice who target a corrupt judge who exiled the barber and raped his wife. The initial success of their unique revenge, however, soon puts many more people at risk of becoming part of “the
best pies in London.”
“Sweeney Todd” won eight of its nine Tony Award nominations in 1979, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score.
The cast includes Larry Hubbard as Sweeney Todd, Leah Cooley as Mrs. Lovett, Daniel Harrison as Judge Turpin and Matthew Hatty as Anthony Hope.
Taylor Yeager plays Johanna, with Cindy Turgeon playing a beggar woman, Gabe Hubbard as Tobias Ragg and Richard Wieckowski as Beadle. Rob Douglas plays Pirelli, with Patrick Reed as Jonas Fogg.
The ensemble includes Samantha Bartow, Noah Bias, Chris Gawel, Kathryn George and Rebecca Hermen. Patty Hubbard, Emily Hunt, Kelly Klug, Jema McCardell and Zach Morgan are also in the chorus.
Rounding out the cast are Stephen Phillips, Kristan Reest, Stephanie Schulte, Nolan Schultz, Mike Turgeon and Kenny Witz.
GUILD ANNOUNCES ‘MIDSUMMER’ AUDITIONS
Audition dates for the Players Guild of Dearborn summer workshop production of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be 7 p.m. May 27 and 28 at the Guild theater, 21730 Madison in Dearborn.
Performances run Aug. 15 to 17.
Director Katie Suchyta said the auditions target high school- and college-age actors while otherwise resembling regular season Guild auditions.
She said those auditioning may come either night, and need not prepare an audition piece.
“I want it to be the same low-key, fun, enjoyable cold reads like usual,” she said.
To download a standard audition and conflict form, go to playersguildofdearborn.org and click on the audition tab.
DYPAC HOLDS AUDITIONS FOR ‘WHO’S ON FIRST?’ AND ‘TWELVE ANGRY JURORS’
Auditions for the Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center productions of the Abbott and Costello “Who’s On First” classic baseball routine and “Twelve Angry Jurors,” (based on “Twelve Angry Men”) are 2 to 5 p.m. May 18 and 6 to 8:30 p.m. May 19 at Trenton Village Theater, 2447 W. Jefferson Ave. in Trenton.
Ages 13 to 19 may audition, and should anticipate doing a short cold read for several characters. One juror will speak with an eastern European accent, and all 12 jurors will be on stage for the entire performance.
Rehearsals are held Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Each participant pays a $50 fee if cast, plus a $15 membership fee if new to the group.
Performances are at 7 p.m. Aug. 7 to 9, with Dave Rzucidlo and Donna Smith directing and Barb Rzucidlo producing.
For more information, call Rzucidlo at 313-523-1569 or Smith at 734-626-7321.