Katie Laban - Page 5

The classic comic face, Arsenic and Old Lace, by Joseph Kesserlring is kicking off Meadow Brook Theatre's 53rd season is opening this week and running through October 28th in Rochester. Two sweet, older ladies who look like they wouldn't hurt a fly have been adding a dash of something special to their elderberry wine - poison. But what happens when their nephew, his fiancee, his uncle (who thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt), and a bunch of other colorful characters come to visit? Hysterical chaos, that's what! BroadwayWorld Detroit had chance to talk with director, Travis W. Walter, and Mary Robin Roth, who plays the role of Abby, about the hilarious Arsenic and Old Lace before it opens this week.

The hysterical, gory tradition of Evil Dead: The Musical is returning to the City Theatre starting September 27th inside Hockeytown Cafe in Detroit. The cult classic is a favorite here in the Motor City, which is the reason it is back for a tenth season packed full of talented local cast members - some brand new and others excitedly welcomed back. Evil Dead: The Musical is based on Sam Raimi's 1980's cult classic films and have all the horror, gore, and theatre campiness that audience members want. Director and producer, Jamie Warrow, took time out of her busy schedule before the show opens on September 27th at the City Theatre to speak with BroadwayWorld Detroit about her love for the production, what it has been liking working on it for the past ten years, and what makes this year of Evil Dead: The Musical so special.

Something Rotten! is a completely original new musical directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw, known for his work on The Book of Mormon and Disney's Aladdin that is opening the Broadway in Detroit season on September 25th at the Fisher Theatre. The hilarious new musical comedy tells the story of brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, stuck in the shadow of Renaissance rockstar, Will Shakespeare. When the next big thing in theatre involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time, the Bottom brothers set out to write the world's very first musical! BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak with Michigan-born Julian Burzynski Jr., an ensemble member in the show, who is loving every moment of being part of the show before it opens here on September 25th in Detroit. 'It's definitely a show for everyone. People who love musical theatre or want to get more into musical theatre,' he said. 'It's truly incredible and hilarious.' Here is what else he had to say about Something Rotten!, life on tour, and coming back to Michigan.

The Hilberry Theatre is kicking off their 56th anniversary with the hilarious musical, Avenue Q, opening this Friday, September 21st in Detroit. The musical with book and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx is a three-time Tony Award winning show, including Best Musical, has been shocking and amusing audiences since it debuted in 2003. What makes Avenue Q different than any other show? It's a hilarious adult-only spoof done with puppets that will keep the audience laughing from the very first musical number until the last note is finishes. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak with Matthew Smith, a member of the Hilberry Company, who plays Nicky in Avenue Q about the show, the puppetry, and why everyone should come out for fulfilling night of laughter.

Get ready to rock, East Lansing! School of Rock - the Musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber's high-octane Broadway and West End hit, is coming to the Wharton Center's Cobb Great Hall starting September 18thas part of the MSU Federal Credit Union Broadway at Wharton Center Series. The show is based on the hit 2003 film of the same name, features music from the movie, as well as an original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and so much more! School of Rock will make the audience laugh, excite them with the incredible music, and astound them with the impressive cast. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak with the one of the talented young performers, Mystic Inscho, about the show and life on tour.

Stagecrafters current production is anything but tame, it's wild! The provocative and tantalizing show, The Wild Party, with book, music, and lyrics by former Oak Park resident Andrew Lippa, will keep the audience on the edge of their seats until last beat drops.The Wild Party is currently running at the Baldwin Theatre until September 30th in downtown Royal Oak and definitely not a party to be missed!

Southgate Community Players Young People's Theatre production of Disney's The Lion King Jr. opens Friday, September 14th in Southgate. The show takes the audience on a journey to the African savannah in this classic Disney tale that follows the adventurous Simba, a young lion cub, whose destiny to become king puts him in imminent danger to his Uncle Scar's desire for the throne. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak Reece Culverhouse who plays Nala, Simba's best friend in the show, before it opens this weekend.

This weekend in honor of Matthew Shepard, 20 years after his murder, The Ringwald presents a four-show engagement of The Laramie Project, a landmark play by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project. Performances begin Friday, September 14th and run through Monday, September 17th at The Ringwald in Ferndale. The Laramie Project remains an important piece of work in the political climate of 2018 and is an inspiration for director and Ringwald co-founder, Brandy Joe Plambeck, who is also a Wyoming native. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak with the director before the show opens this weekend.

Baskerville - A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, wrote by comedic genius Ken Ludwig, is opening this Friday, September 7th at the Riverbank Theatre in Marine City. It is a fast-pasted comedy about everyone's favorite detective solving his most notorious case. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson must crack the mystery of 'The Hound of Baskerville' before a family curse dooms its newest heir. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak with Eric Niece, one of five cast members in show, before it opens this week for some insider details to Ludwig's hysterical mystery.

The Wild Party is set to be a dazzling good time at Stagecrafters opening September 7th in Royal Oak. Set in the Roaring Twenties, it's the Jazz Age, prohibition is in full swing, postwar America is booming with an insatiable appetite for new fashions, fad appetite, vaudeville stars Queenie and her lover, Burrs, live a decadent life. In order to relieve their boredom, they decide to throw a party where everyone drinks and parties with abandon, and the two begin a dangerous flirting game, taunting each to the brink of violence. Pushed to limit, Burrs is close to losing control, and he has a gun. The Wild Party is dark, brilliant show with a thrilling, pitch-perfect score. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak with Jerry Haines, the director of The Wild Party, at Stagecrafters before it opens on September 7th in Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak.

The Mountain is a play by Chelsea Woolley being performed by Spinning Dot Theatre that deals with anti-immigrant feelings in very different way - through the eyes of two eight-year-olds on a playground in Canada. The imaginary adventures of the quiet Canadian boy and spirited Arab girl allow the children to explore their friendship and views of world. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak with Aya Aziz who is currently playing the spirited Arab, Aya, in The Mountain, currently running until August 26th at the Spinning Dot Theatre in Ann Arbor.

The Southgate Community Players are opening their 2018-2019 season with Jason Robert Brown's song cycle show, Songs for a New World, this weekend. Performed by two men and two women, the characters and their stories are tied together by the idea that one moment can change anyone's life. This small but talented ensemble combined with the touching repertoire and intimate venue promise for an evening that will take to a "new world" of emotions you won't want to miss! BroadwayWorld Detroit had a quick moment to speak with Tamara Marla Laflin, one of the four performers in the small ensemble cast about how this is different type of show and why Detroit theatre audiences are going to enjoy it.

The hit Broadway musical On Your Feet! based on the life of seven-time Grammy winning international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband 19-time winning producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan is currently playing now through Sunday at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. Gloria Estefan has sold over 100 million records and sold out stadiums around the world. Music is only half their story. From the heart of Havana to the streets Miami came a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the music industry has ever seen. On Your Feet! is the Broadway musical that follows the Estefan's journey to superstardom, set to their chart-topping, smash hits, including "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You," "Conga," "Get On Your Feet," and more. This musical was fresh, fun, and will have you dancing in your seats!

She Loves Me is currently running at Village Players of Birmingham to close out their 95thseason. The romantic musical comedy with book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and music by Jerry Bock will play for two more weekends - ending May 20th. The Tony award-winning show premiered on Broadway in 1963 and has had award-winning revivals in 1993, 2000, and 2016. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a quick chance to speak with one of the performers of Village Players' production, Joshua Whitson, about his role and how he feels about She Loves Me - "a classic tale that will keep the audience laughing and smiling throughout!"

The Sondheim favorite, Into the Woods, will close out the 2017-2018 Main Stage productions of the Southgate Community Players and is opening May 4th in Southgate. In this Tony-Award winning book and score, James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim bring together classic storybook characters with a production that is both enchanting and touching. Characters venture 'into the woods' with hopes of having their wishes granted, but later learn the dire consequences of their actions. The musically supplicated show pulls the audience in multiple emotional directions - captivating and bewitching them from beginning to end. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a moment to speak with Karen Connor, SCP's director for Into the Woods, about her love for the theatre and gain some insight on the show.

Have you experienced a theatre show that completely transports you to another world? That was the experience watching Metamorphoses on the Stagecrafters 2nd Stage of the Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak. Running from April 13th-22nd, it was a show that all the pieces fell into place - from the performers to the set - making it an extraordinary piece of Michigan theatre.

Planet Ant Theatre is reviving their original musical comedy, Yes We Can, with a new script and performing the production April 20th - May 12th at Ant Hall in Hamtramck. The original musical satire that tells intertwining tales of conspiracy and redemption. It follows the journey of Tammy, who is compelled to wrestle with the legal ramifications of the legislative vilification of cannabis, while chronicling the scheme of a powerful few who bamboozled America into outlawing a beloved, common crop for personal gain. "There are a lot of laughs to be had here. I don't yet have the empirical data to support this claim, but previous versions of this show have literally averaged a laugh a minute," said Shawn Handlon, co-writer and director of Yes Weed Can. "I expect this iteration to do the same, making the cost of your experience pennies per laugh." BroadwayWorld Detroit had a quick chance to talk to Handlon about Yes Weed Can currently running at Ant Hall.

The hit Broadway musical On Your Feet! based on the life of seven-time Grammy winning international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband 19-time winning producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan will arrive May 1st to the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. Gloria Estefan has sold over 100 million records and sold out stadiums around the world. Music is only half their story. From the heart of Havana to the streets Miami came a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the music industry has ever seen. On Your Feet! is the Broadway musical that follows the Estefan's journey to superstardom, set to their chart-topping, smash hits, including "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You," "Conga," "Get On Your Feet," and more. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to talk with Nancy Ticotin, who currently plays the role Gloria Fajardo, Gloria Estefan's mother, on the first national tour about her role and the show. "Detroit should come see On Your Feet! because they are guaranteed to have a good time, guaranteed to be dancing in your seat, guaranteed to cry from being touched emotionally, and will leave the theatre jazzed enough to come back and see it again," said Ticotin.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash hit, School of Rock - The Musical is coming to the Fisher Theatre starting April 10th and is ready to rock! Based on the film of the same name, the show will make the audience laugh and astound them by the talented cast. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak withone of the young performers, Iara Nemirovsky, about her exciting experience making her national tour debut in the show.

The University Musical Society of the University of Michigan presents writer and street performer Nick Cassenbaum in Bubble Schmeisis at The Schvitz in Detroit, one of the country's few remaining traditional bath houses, which has been in operation for over 85 years. 'This is fun, relaxed storytelling journey to find Jewish identity in modern London centered around schmeising and schvitizing,' said Cassenbaum. It is the U.S. premiere and exclusive U.S. performance of this show about self-discovery and Jewish identity through storytelling, music, and audience interaction. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak with Cassenbaum about his experience writing and performing in the show.