P.S. Center Stage Players present “As Long As We Both Shall Live,” with Brett Massey (left), as Raul, Toby Kmet as Jamie Wilcox and Bona Opatich as Mrs. Wilcox. The show runs 7 p.m. Feb. 15, 16, 22 and 23 at Jo Brighton Auditorium, 4460 18th St., Wyandotte. For tickets or more information, call 734-771-0590 or go to pscsp.com.
When a young bride-to-be’s monstrous mother-in-law might be framing her for murder, she wonders if she’ll spend her honeymoon behind bars in P.S. Center Stage Players’ production of Sean Grennan’s “As Long As We Both Shall Live.”
The murder-mystery comedy runs 7 p.m. Feb. 15, 16, 22 and 23 at Jo Brighton Auditorium, 4460 18th Street, Wyandotte.
Directed by Penny Lynn Siler, the show features a young woman, who is a quirky genius, who meets the man of her dreams. He, however, comes with a disapproving mother, who engages Raul, a flamboyant wedding planner. When Raul is poisoned at the rehearsal dinner, the monstrous mother-in-law-to-be tries to place the blame on her unwanted daughter-in-law.
The cast includes Wyandotte residents Alex Barr as bride-to-be Addison, Toby Kmet as her fiance’ Jamie Wilcox, and Brett Massey as Raul, with Bette Egli of Riverview in the ensemble.
Bona Opatich of Southfield plays Mrs. Wilcox, Jamie’s mother, and Lee Tyler Goodwin of Riverview in the ensemble.
Siler said the cast engages with the audience, and the show is written to allow the inclusion of local references to add to the familiarity and laughter.
“We all need a lift from the serious issues bombarding us daily,” Siler said. “This is it.”
Siler said the show requires tight physical timing and sound cues, and the characters have rehearsed intensely to bring the show up to speed.
“It’s a new, zany comedy that teams perfectly with the murder mystery,” Siler said. “Come to laugh and try to solve the case.”
Barr said the show is the first murder mystery she’s done. She said her character is quirky and funny.
“She’s not afraid to show how smart she is, but she has an emotional depth that makes her lovable,” Barr said. “The show is funny but captivating, and you are always going to want to know more.”
Kmet said the script is witty and funny.
“If you like to laugh and figure out who is guilty, this play is for you,” he said.
Opatich said her character is not very nice, but she has a lot of funny lines.
“I hope the audience will laugh at her ridiculousness,” she said. “The show is a fun comedy. Come to laugh out loud.”
Tickets are $12, with a $2 discount for seniors and a $5 discount for students. For tickets or more information, call 734-771-0590 or go to pscsp.com.
PS CSP HOLDS ‘GODSPELL’ AUDITIONS
PS Center Stage Players will hold auditions for “Godspell” 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 18 at First United Methodist Church, 72 Oak St., Wyandotte.
Roles are open to children 12 and older, and to adults. Those auditioning should be prepared to sing a song of their choice that showcases their vocal ability, and to participate in a group dance audition.
The show runs 7 p.m. May 10, 11, 17 and 18 at Jo Brighton Auditorium, 4460 18th St., Wyandotte.
For more information, call 734-771-0590 or go to pscsp.com.
OPEN BOOK THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS ‘ENCHANTED CABARET’ FUNDRAISER
“Enchanted Cabaret” puts an everyday spin on happily-ever-after, as the Open Book Theatre Company presents the fundraiser 8 p.m. Feb. 10 and 2 p.m. Feb. 11 at the theater, 1621 West Road, Trenton.
Imagine that your favorite fairy tale characters are real people, not technicolor fantasies living in an enchanted castle or under-the-sea, then drop them into your town, living an ordinary life, without the guarantee of a happy ending, and you have a show that fills a serendipitous slot the weekend before Valentine’s Day.
Tickets are $20, with a $5 discount for students and seniors. To order, call 734-288-7753 or go to openbooktheatrecompany.net.
ENJOY LAUGHTER EVER AFTER WITH ‘MY FUNNY VALENTINE’
For heartwarming and laughter-filled stand up comedy on Valentine’s Day, take your date or treat yourself to “My Funny Valentine” at the Heinz Prechter Performing Arts Center at Wayne County Community College District, 21000 Northline, Taylor.
The show starts at 8 p.m. with a pre-show dessert reception.
Comedians Pat Hazell and Dena Blizzard provide stand up comedy running the gamut from relationships to dating to parenting.
Tickets are $30. To order, call 734-374-3200 or go to funnydate/bpt.me.
“Finding Neverland,” with Colin Wheeler (left) as George; Sammy as Porthos; Turner Birthisel as Peter; Bergman Freedman as Jack; and Wyatt Cirbus as Michael runs through Feb. 18 at the Fisher Theatre. For tickets or more information, call 800-982-2787 or go to broadwayindetroit.com or ticketmaster.com.
‘FINDING NEVERLAND’ OFFERS A DELIGHTFUL LOOK AT THE GENESIS OF ‘PETER PAN’
Find your inner-child and delight in the musical magic of “Finding Neverland” at the Fisher Theatre, through Feb. 18, as the people and places that inspired J.M. Barrie to create the magic of Peter Pan come to life onstage, with some creative license to make it more appealing to a family audience.
The show runs 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, and Feb. 13 to 17; 2 p.m. Feb. 10 and 17, and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11 and 18 at the Fisher Theater, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit.
The show is fast-paced, colorful and engaging, with fresh, imaginative choreography, delightful costumes, creative sets and songs that range from rollicking to soft ballads.
The children in the cast are tremendously talented, and the adults have fun with their roles as well.
The flying is done through choreography, so it isn’t performed with harnesses, which, surprisingly, is just as delightful.
The characters are also easy to like, and one is drawn to root for the underdogs and dreamers. The show can be enjoyed by the entire family, and while it isn’t as sugar-coated as Disney, it is a satisfying story that will make you glad you discovered a new musical.
Tickets start at $39. To order, call 800-982-2787 or go to broadwayindetroit.com or ticketmaster.com.
HILBERRY’S ‘THE COLORED MUSEUM’ IS THOUGHT PROVOKING, STRONG
“The Colored Museum,” at Wayne State University’s Hilberry Theatre, and directed by Billicia Hines, is a thought-provoking, well-performed ensemble show which satirizes the stereotypes and prejudice-imposed injustices of the black American experience.
This is not a light-hearted comedy: it is intentionally thought-provoking, and the strong cast engages the willing watcher as they pour their energy and talent into the fast-paced, engaging show.
Although the show was written in the 1980s, it is all too relevant today, as conservative powerbrokers are once again abusing their positions to legitmize racism.
The show satirizes the stereotypical misconceptions about the African-American experience, from slave ships to celebrities. The title alludes to relegating stereotypes to a museum, where objects from history are displayed, and where playwright Wolfe hopes to banish them to the archives to make room for future change.
The play runs 8 p.m. Feb. 10, 16 and 17; 2 p.m. Feb. 17 and 3 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Hilberry Theatre, 4743 Cass, Detroit. The show runs 75 minutes with no intermission.
For tickets or more information, call 313-577-2972 or go to theatreanddanceatwayne.com.