“The Mad Ones,” an original musical by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk, runs 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 to 8 at the James DeSana Center for Arts and Culture, 81 Chestnut in Wyandotte, with Cameryn Beaty-Burnett (left) as Sam and Evelyn Howes as Kelly. Tickets are $15 (cash only) and are available at the door.
As fundraising continues to help ensure the future of the Downriver Council for the Arts, voice teacher Jami Krause and her voice students present the musical “The Mad Ones” Aug. 6 to 8 at the James DeSana Center for Arts and Culture in Wyandotte.
The musical, with book and lyrics by Kait Kerrigan and music by Bree Lowdermilk, focuses on 18-year-old Samantha Brown, who is overwhelmed with grief and unsure what to do after her best friend Kelly’s death.
The show explores coping with loss, female friendship and following expectations and peer pressure versus forging one’s own path.
Co-directed by Jami Krause of Wyandotte and Molly Boudreau of Dearborn, the cast includes Cameryn Beaty-Burnett of Rockwood as Sam, Evelyn Howes of Grosse Ile Township as Kelly, Lexi Stapula of Flat Rock as Bev and Zach Haddad of Trenton as Adam.
Krause, whose voice studio is housed at the DCA, has found the “Save the DCA” campaign to be an excellent opportunity to present two small-cast musicals during the summer to raise money for their host institution.
In June, she and her students offered Adam Gwon’s “Ordinary Days,” which is set in New York City and follows four people in their twenties as their lives intersect, “exploring how everyday chaos can lead to extraordinary connections.”
Her second summer show, opening in August, is “The Mad Ones,” which she said has only been performed in Michigan twice before, in Port Huron and at Wayne State University in Detroit.
“I originally chose “The Mad Ones” because it fit the practical needs of our production: a small cast, music that carries the story, mostly sung, and a simple set, but once I really immersed myself in the show, I fell in love with its emotional depth,” she said. “It’s about learning to let go of expectations, embracing life’s uncertainty and finding the courage to move forward after loss.”
Krause said the show’s universal themes let the cast tell a story that is both deeply personal and relatable, with each song revealing something about the show’s characters.
“It is a coming-of-age story about Samantha Brown, a high school valedictorian who is torn between the choice to follow the path expected of her or taking a leap into the unknown,” she said. “As Sam grapples with her future she is haunted by the past in the form of her rebellious best friend Kelly who had unexpectedly died in a car related accident.”
Krause said the weight of Sam’s decisions are further complicated by her relationship with her high school sweetheart, Adam, and her overbearing mother Beverly.
“The show is almost all sung through,” she said. “I would describe it as contemporary pop/rock musical theater with indie pop/folk influences.”
Krause said the cast has really done an amazing job connecting, which she said is important with a small cast.
“It is really going to be a great show,” she said. “Proceeds from the show will cover production costs and benefit the Downriver Council for the Arts.”
Beaty-Burnett said the show has comedic moments, deep emotions and complex musical numbers.
“As a recent (high school) graduate that is headed to college, I resonated with the story and its themes of self-discovery,” she said. “I also really enjoy the soundtrack and am so excited to perform these killer songs live.”
Beaty-Burnett said she has enjoyed learning to balance both comedic and emotional elements.
“This show touches on some very serious topics and it has been an exciting challenge exploring a side of acting I never experienced before,” she said. “This, along with all the laughs this show has to offer, has made it a truly enjoyable experience that I think makes it one of my favorites.”
Haddad said he enjoys the amazing chemistry that has developed between the cast members, and has enjoyed trying to add depth and his own spin to what can seem like a surface level character.
Howes said the story provokes thought as well as gratitude for one’s life, while Stapula said each character is unique, and the show is fast-paced, with amazing music and a lot of emotion.
“I really wanted to challenge myself to play a character that is so unlike me both personality wise and my usual singing style,” she said.
Krause said she is happy to be able to help the DCA.
“I have been a resident artist at the DCA since 2019 and have had my private studio there since 2022,” she said. “The amount of programming that the DCA provides to the community is so amazing, but they are currently facing some financial struggles.”
Krause said that as a nonprofit cultural institution, support from the public helps provide access to the arts, ensuring that all have an opportunity to see, study, and experience creativity in its many forms.
“Rising costs and lack of available funding have made it increasingly difficult to keep offering the free and low-cost arts programs that so many have come to rely on,” she said. “The programming demand continues to grow, and the DCA is focused on deepening our efforts in equity, inclusion, and community engagement.”
Krause said DCA supporters believe that everyone deserves to be part of its creative family, which offers numerous visual art classes for youth through adult, performing arts opportunities, yoga, dance, a film program for youth and much more.
“The DCA also has two dedicated visual gallery spaces,” she said. “Exhibitions in our main gallery hosts solo, group, retrospective and themed shows where the artwork is for sale and often times open call for entries.”
Krause said the lower level is dedicated to hosting art exhibits for non-profit organizations, school and educational institutions, and community associations.
Founded in 1978, the Downriver Council for the Arts is a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts and cultural organization that serves residents in 21 Downriver communities.
The DCA’s mission is to enrich the quality of life in the Downriver communities by advocating and promoting the arts and providing opportunities for involvement and participation in arts and cultural activities.
Show times for “The Mad Ones” are 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 to 8 at the at the James DeSana Center for Arts and Culture, 81 Chestnut in Wyandotte.
Tickets are $15 (cash only) and are available at the door.