Farmington Players Presents LEAVING IOWA, Opens 10/1

If you ever travelled on a family road trip, then Leaving Iowa at The Farmington Players Barn Theater may just steal your heart. It takes a humorous look at family vacations in which bickering kids and their parents are trapped for endless hours in the station wagon, far from the comforts of home.

The comedy written by Tim Clue and Spike Manton will have audiences roaring with laughter at the Barn in Farmington Hills. The show opens October 1st with a special afterglow party for guests. Tickets are available at farmingtonplayers.com or at the box office by calling (248) 553-2955.

Remembering Family Road Trips

Leaving Iowa premiered at the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea in 2004. In The Farmington Players production, Toby Booker of Warren plays Don Browning, a journalist in Boston who returns home to Winterset Iowa (home of the Duke, John Wayne) for a family baptism. Don winds up using his Dad's old travel guide to navigate the Midwest, while searching for a final resting place for his father's ashes. Don narrates the tale, recalling summer road trips from his childhood when he, Sis, Mom and Dad zipped through America's heartland.

Leaving Iowa is jammed with sound effects, and the first production at the Barn to have a Technical Director. The show includes classic moments of the "family vote," the "whiny sister" and the Dad who refuses to admit he's lost and constantly threatens to pull over if the kids don't behave. Along the way, Don meets 22 wacky characters, including a Civil War impersonator, a rambling waitress, and Amish peddlers. Some are scary, drunk or broken, but they are all quite amusing and played by only two actors. Lisa Muscio who runs "Sky's The Limit Productions" in Farmington Hills takes on 9 roles while Barry Cutler of Ferndale tackles 13. The two barely have time to breath as they run on and off the stage changing costumes and personalities.
The remainder of the cast includes, Laurel Stroud of Redford Township as the classic and heartwarming Mom of Middle America; Bonnie Fitch of Southfield as the nagging and spoiled "Sis" and Jim Moll of Farmington Hills as "Dad," whose passion for history has him searching for markers and signs with the fervor of a knight hunting for the Holy Grail.

Director Harrower expects audiences to be captivated in Leaving Iowa by Don's journey to connect with his father, by his realization that on a road trip some detours can often lead to wonderful surprises, and by his love for a family that drives him nuts and that he can't live without.

"Our parents are people just like us with uncertainties and making mistakes and trying the best they can," says Harrower. "I think this comedy teaches warmth and generations continuing on with the same destination in sight."

Tickets On Sale Now

Tickets are available today at farmingtonplayers.org or at the box office (248) 553-2955.

Adults: $15, Senior discount: $2 off - Sunday, October 3, Only

Group Discounts: $2 off any performance: Must Have 10 or more people.

Students: $2 off

Thrifty Thursdays: $2 off - October 7 & 14

Opening Night After-show Afterglow

Intermission on Opening Night (October 1st) will include a second raffle drawing. Then, after the show patrons are invited to a special "roadside picnic" at the Barn designed to mirror the feeling of the family road trip. Mini sandwiches, brownies, lemonade and iced tea will be provided.
Show Dates

Friday October 1 (8pm)

Saturday October 2 (8pm)

Sunday October 3 (2pm)

Thursday October 7 (8pm)

Friday October 8 (8pm)

Saturday October 9 (8pm)

Sunday October 10 (2pm)

Thursday October 14 (8pm)

Friday October 15 (8pm)

Saturday October 16 (8pm)

Sunday October 17 (2pm)

CAST

Don- Toby Booker (Warren)

Dad- Jim Moll (Farmington Hills)

Mom - Laurel Stroud (Redford Twp.)

Sis - Bonnie Fitch (Southfield)

Multiple Character Gal - Lisa Muscio (Farmington Hills)

Multiple Character Guy - Barry Cutler (Ferndale)

CREW

Director - Nancy Harrower (Royal Oak)

Asst. Director - Marge Wetzel (Farmington)

Producer - Katie Aumann (Royal Oak)

Producer - Marge Cotter (Farmington Hills)

Technical Director - Frank Ginis (Troy)

Costumes - Barbie Amann Weisserman (Farmington Hills)

Costumes - Nancy Cooper (Farmington Hills)

Stage Manager - Emily McSweeney (Farmington Hills)

Set Design - Phil Hadley (West Bloomfield)

Set Construction - Jim Winkler (Farmington Hills)

About The Barn

The Farmington Players began as an off-shoot of the American Association of University Women. Their first production, The Torchbearers, was performed at a local church. Later in the 1950s, after performing in various city and educational locations, The Farmington Players moved into an old dairy barn located on the site of their present facility on West Twelve Mile Road.

Initially, productions were staged downstairs on a dirt floor. Over the years, improvements to the original Barn transformed it into a more finished space, with the theater itself eventually moving upstairs into a traditional and finished setting.

Since 1953, The Farmington Players have staged more than 180 different musicals, dramas, mysteries and comedies, all as a community theater with 100% volunteer membership.
People from Farmington, Farmington Hills and beyond have come to recognize the group as a true community resource. Since the completion of its all-new, state of the art facility in 2003, The Farmington Players Barn Theater has expanded its mission, serving as the site for city-sponsored events such as youth theater camps in the summer, concerts with groups as varied as Blackthorn and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and as a meeting place for various groups.

The Farmington Players have been saving money over the years to enhance the onstage experience at The Barn. In November, 2009 they installed a new rigging system in the vast fly space. Show Directors are thrilled to finally have the ability to fly in flats and use drops to set scenes in a matter of seconds.
Location

The Farmington Players Barn is located at: 32332 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills.

(North side of 12 Mile Road Halfway between Orchard Lake and Farmington).

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