The Players Guild of Dearborn opens its 2025-26 season with the comedy, “The Cottage” Sept. 12 to 28, with Madeleine Bien (left) as Sylvia, Dylan Hart as Clarke, Sydney Assalley-Williams as Dierdre, Jacob Frazier as Richard, Alex Gojkov as Beau and Kori Bielaniec as Marjorie. For tickets, call 313-561-TKTS or go to PlayersGuildofDearborn.org.
As local theater groups launch their 2025-26 seasons, two entertaining options offer great season starts for audiences: the comedy, “The Cottage” at the Players Guild of Dearborn and the musical “The Fantasticks” at Trenton’s Open Book Theatre Company.
PGD PRESENTS ‘THE COTTAGE’
The Players Guild of Dearborn opens its season with the Sandy Rustin comedy “The Cottage,” which runs Sept. 12 to 28 at the playhouse.
The show is a British comedy of manners set in 1923 England in which a wife exposes her affair with her husband’s brother, which leads to chaos, scandal and more revelations as the other spouses arrive and reveal their affairs with each other.
As the story unfolds, infidelity, secrets and traditional values collide with passionate choices, sharp humor and unexpected plot twists.
Directed by Josh Beurer, the cast includes Madeleine Bien as Sylvia, Alex Gojkov as Beau, Kori Bielaniec as Marjorie, Dylan Hart as Clark, Sydney Assalley as Dierdre and Jacob Frazier as Richard.
Beurer said “The Cottage” is a love letter to the plays written in the 1920s and 1930s with a modern twist.
“I wanted to direct ‘The Cottage’ because I was excited to embrace the style and traditions of the past while having fun with this completely insane level of contemporary comedy,” he said. “The greatest challenge for me as a director has been to steer the audience’s focus in each scene because there are just so many hysterical moments unfolding at any given time.”
He said rehearsals have kept the cast laughing.
“‘The Cottage’ is an important reminder that no matter how ridiculous or out of control life may feel sometimes, things tend to work out exactly how they’re supposed to as long as we’re brave enough to follow our heart,” he said.
Bien said the show is a hysterical farce with a surprising turn around every corner.
“As soon as you think you know a character, they surprise you with the growth they experience,” she said.
Hart said the show has hilarious jokes as the storyline tells of love, relationships and fidelity.
“If you are looking for a fun time at the theater, this is definitely the show for you,” he said. “I just hope that in a time of great sadness happening right now that we can take them away for a few hours and have fun.”
Frazier said that in addition to the show’s humor, there are interesting themes to explore.
“I hope everyone can find something to relate to or find something intriguing,” he said. “This show has been so fun to put on.”
Show times are 8 p.m. Sept. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27, with 2:30 p.m. Sept. 14, 21 and 28 matinees at the theater, located at 21730 Madison in Dearborn.
Tickets are $24 and are available by calling 313-561-TKTS or online at PlayersGuildofDearborn.org.
The Open Book Theatre Company presents its first ever musical, “The Fantasticks” Sept. 12 to 28, with Cooper Miller (left) as Matt, Antonio Vettraino as El Gallo and Jessica Boehmer as Luisa. For tickets and more information, go to OpenBookTheatreCompany.net.
OBTC OPENS SEASON WITH ‘THE FANTASTICKS’
Trenton’s Open Book Theatre Company presents its first musical, “The Fantasticks,” with music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics and book by Tom Jones Sept. 12 to 28 at the playhouse, 1621 West Road in Trenton.
Directed by Wendy Katz Hiller, with music direction by Doug Scott, the cast includes Antonio Veettraino as El Gallo, H. Jurkiewicz as Henry, Cooper Miller as Matt, Jessica Boehmer as Luisa, Nilgun Basaran Kaya as The Mute, Henry Ballesteros as Bellomy, Mike Saggau as Mortimer and John DeMerell as Hucklebee.
The story follows two fathers who pretend to be enemies so their son and daughter will defy the feud and fall in love.
It features the classic songs “Try to Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.”
Hiller said she’s loved the show since she was a kid and claims she wore out her family’s record of the original cast album.
“Of course, at that time I didn’t realize what a complex play it was,” she said. “Yes, it has gorgeous songs and some silly characters, but it also deals with both the beauty and pain of love and life, and it chronicles the coming of age of two young people as they grow from innocent children to fully conscious adults.”
Hiller said El Gallo states what she believes is the show’s theme: “Without a hurt, the heart is hollow.”
“It is only by experiencing both the good and bad of life that we can fully live and love,” she said.
Vettraino said the show is relatable, which is one of the reasons it was the longest-running off-Broadway musical.
“It is so easy to connect to the themes of love, innocence, maturity and emotional clarity,” he said. “Plus, the score is so beautiful and the music really holds up 65 years later.”
Boehmer said the show has hope at its core, which she thinks is something everyone needs right now.
Kaya said the show’s humor, romance and playfulness will leave audiences smiling.
“The show is full of clever surprises and little moments of magic, and I hope audiences leave feeling delighted and inspired.”
Saggau said the show draws audiences in because “the bitter edge cuts the sweetness.”
“It shows that the good stuff in life only comes after the suffering,” he said. “I love seeing the magic created when talented, experienced actors, singers, musicians and crew are 100 percent committed.”
OBTC founding Artistic Director Krista Schafer said it’s exciting to stage Open Book’s first musical.
“We are a very small and intimate space, and big musicals aren’t possible for us, but this show is perfect,” she said. “Whether you’ve loved this show forever or are new to it, you’re going to love it.”
Opening night tickets are $40, with other performances $35 for general admission, $30 for seniors and $20 for students.
Show times are 8 p.m. Sept. 12, 13, 19, 20, and 25 to 27, and 6 p.m. Sept. 21 and 28, with 2 p.m. Sept. 14, 21 and 28 and 3:30 p.m. Sept. 13, 20 and 27 matinees.
For tickets or more information, go to OpenBookTheatreCompany.net.