The Players Guild of Dearborn’s teen Guildlings present “Legally Blonde” July 24 to 27 at the theater, 21730 Madison, with Jeffrey Prueitt (left) as Emmett Forrest; Blake Bielski as Warner Huntington III; Raul Lopez as Professor Callahan; Riley Downey as Vivienne Kensington; Lydia Renee as Elle Woods; Carmen Gutierrez as Pilar; Maddie Konarski as Serena; Delilah Rahal as Margot; and Rex Kanclerz as Enid Hoops. For tickets, call 313-561-TKTS or go to playersguildofdearborn.org.
Summer theater projects offer both a fun and valuable learning experience for teen thespians, and whether they continue in theatre as a hobby or a career, the fond memories they form during a summer show will last a lifetime.
Two summer teen shows are opening soon, with the Players Guild of Dearborn presenting the musical “Legally Blonde” July 24 to 27, and Spectrum Staging presenting “Hadestown – teen edition” July 18 and 19.
PLAYERS GUILD OF DEARBORN’S TEEN GUILDINGS PRESENT THE MUSICAL ‘LEGALLY BLONDE’
The teen Guildings present “Legally Blonde – the Musical” July 24 to 27 at the playhouse, 21730 Madison in Dearborn.
The show features a book by Heather Hach, and music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin.
The Guildling production is directed by Odera Libby Office, with choreography by Lily Tack and music direction by Vanessa El-Zein Lai.
Office said she has been a fan of the movie and musical for many years, and was eager to direct the show.
“I’ve enjoyed giving these teens the guidance and acting direction I would have wanted as a young actor,” she said. “Giving to them what so many of my teachers and experiences have given me has been so rewarding.”
Office said choreographer Tack has helped to successfully combine the blocking and choreography to create some impressive staging.
She said she’s proud of her cast, and feels that audiences will take away the show’s positive message.
“No matter what others may think of you want what you may think your limitations are, you can always forge and new path and find your way,” Office said.
Lydia Renee, who plays Elle Woods, said it has been challenging to align her persona with her character.
“Elle is usually interpreted as a rich white woman going through the biggest challenge she’ll probably ever face,” she said. “Be a Black girl myself would automatically make an audience skeptical, so I have had to take what Elle is expected to be and turn her into who she is to me.”
Renee said it is interesting to play a character who has both serious and ditzy sides of her personality.
Jeffrey Prueitt, who plays Emmett Forrest, said it’s been interesting to show his character’s contrasting passions – for the law and Elle – while presenting the character as quirky and nerdy.
“It’s so fun to show that on stage,” he said.
Raul Lopez, who plays Professor Callahan, said it’s challenging to play a character who is both mean and likeable.
“The sass and charisma that this character brings gets to the point of being over the top,” he said.
Emily Natter, who plays Paulette, said her character is unique and varies from the other characters in that she treats different things seriously.
“She values different things,” she said.
Others in the cast include: Blake Bielski as Warner Huntington III; Alainna Sworst as Brooke Wyndham; Riley Downey as Vivienne Kensington; Delilah Rahal as Margot; Maddie Konarski as Serena; Carmen Gutierrez as Pilar; Rex Kanclerz as Enid Hoops; Ryan Helka as Kyle B. O’Boyle; and Abbi Espinoza as Chutney Wyndham.
The ensemble includes: Natalie Attard, Wesley Brenner, Aiden Milliken, Ari Palmer, Lilliana Parrack, Bailey Pedenelli, Helena Phillips, Olivia Rossow, Lauren Skidmore, Mayson Welch, June Wild and Royce Withrow.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. July 24 to 26, with a 2:30 p.m. July 27 matinee.
Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 313-561-TKTS or online at playersguildofdearborn.org.
Spectrum Staging presents “Hadestown – teen edition” July 18 and 19, with Ophelia Stewart (left), Florenz Powers and Nathan Sullivan as workers. For ticket information, go to http://spectrumstagingllc.ludus.com.
SPECTRUM STAGING PRESENT THE TEEN EDITION OF ‘HADESTOWN’
Spectrum Staging will produce the teen edition of the Anais Mitchell musical “Hadestown,” which removes the stage action and language related to substance abuse and sexual references.
The folk opera follows two love stories – young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and the immortal King Hades and his lady, Persephone – that takes audiences on a journey to the underworld and back.
It features classic American folk music and New Orleans jazz, and focuses on themes of industry versus nature, doubt versus fate, and fear versus love.
When Eurydice goes to the underworld out of desperation for food and warmth, she is caught in an industrial hell to escape poverty and the cold. When her lover, Orpheus, comes to rescue her, he strikes a deal with Hades for her release that tests him to the very core of his being.
Directed by Ashley Marie and assistant directed by Delaney Singleton, the show features vocal direction by Raquel Searles, choreography by Krystal Woody and music direction by Audra Bass.
Elliot Gray, who plays Orpheus, said it has been challenging to develop a character who is an idealistic dreamer who is carrying a lot of emotional weight.
“He lives in this poetic, musical world but underneath all that beauty is a ton of insecurity and heartbreak,” he said. “Finding those layers and making sure he is not just some sad guy with a lyre has been a real challenge, but also an incredibly fun thing to do as an actor.”
Gray said getting to sing the show’s hauntingly beautiful songs has been a cool experience.
“There’s something about Orpheus’ songs that feels raw and magical at the same time,” he said. “Also, working with the cast to bring this strange, beautiful underworld to life has been a blast.”
Gray said that large company numbers bring the individual stories together “in a brilliant way.”
He hopes that audiences leave talking about the story’s emotional toll and the timeliness of its message.
“Sure, it’s mythology, but it’s also about doubt, love and believing in something even when the world’s telling you not to,” Gray said. “If people leave the theater feeling like they just saw something ancient and modern at the same time, that would be amazing.”
Nyx Smith, who plays Hades, said learning to convey his character’s sternness and seriousness had been challenging.
“As a naturally goofy person, it was hard to step out of my shoes and into his,” he said.
Smith said that singing Hades’ songs has expanded his vocal range.
“Doing this role has definitely trained me to hit notes I couldn’t before,” he said.
Zachary Haddad, who plays Hermes, said the role has been emotionally challenging to master.
“He has to go from a mentor to an entertainer to everything in between, hitting every emotion from joy to despair, and tranquil to energetic,” he said.
Gray said the show demands much from its cast emotionally.
“It is so easy to feel invested and committed to these characters, as they are the peak of the human experience.”
Others in the cast include Enok Miller as Eurydice, Bianka Bryant as Persephone, and Cece Earley, Lorena Moore and Emma Collins as the Three Fates.
The workers in the ensemble are played by Cam Birch, Emmet Carr, Bea Fredericks, Florenz Powers, Myka Silverman, Ophelia Stewart and Nathan Sullivan.
Show times are 7 p.m. July 18 and 19, with a 2 p.m. July 19 matinee.
Tickets are $18.50 ($20.23 with fees) and can be ordered online at spectrumstagingllc.ludus.com.
When ordering tickets, the venue will be indicated. At present, it is scheduled for the Allen Park Center for the Arts (adjacent to Allen Park High School), 18401 Champaign in Allen Park.
Meanwhile, fundraising continues to replace the failed air conditioning system at the group’s new venue at 4424 8th St. in Ecorse. To help, go to Spectrum Staging’s GoFundMe page.