New Professional Theatre Comes to West Bloomfield With THE ODD COUPLE

Diane Hill and Barbie Amann Weisserman, both of Farmington Hills, are now making their dream come true, providing opportunities for women in theatre while promoting female artists and artisans. This season they will preside over two shows: "The Odd Couple" (female version) by Neil Simon (Nov. 4-27) and "Same Time Next Year" by Bernard Slade (Feb. 3-26 of 2012).

Why Two Muses? "We were brainstorming names for the company and one of our board members came up TwoMuses" says Hill. "We liked the sound of it and when we looked up Muses in the dictionary we read: ‘any goddess presiding over a particular art.' So the two of us thought: Goddesses? OK!"

Hill and Weisserman began working together on a production at Oakland Community College Orchard Ridge. They quickly discovered they shared similar aesthetic values, and could speak in shorthand when it came to making artistic decisions. At Two Muses Theatre, they balance each others' strengths, with Hill directing and acting, and Weisserman designing and acting. They collaboratively produce the shows.

Their first season will begin on the stage at Barnes & Noble located at 6800 Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield in an internal theatre that holds approximately 160 seats. The Farmington Players performed there several years ago. The muses/producers consider it the perfect space for patrons who can also enjoy browsing the store and its café when they come to see a show.

Hill and Weisserman will handle the lead roles when The Odd Couple opens November 4. Hill will also direct the show, along with Terie Spencer, and Weisserman will do costumes, props and help dress the set. They recently held their first audition and found several strong actors to round out the cast.

The "muses" are excited to get their season started and to showcase women in the arts. "That's what our mission is all about, finding plays that deal with women's issues, giving women the opportunity to direct, stage manage, act, design....etc. ," says Weisserman. "We would like to employ as many females as possible. Of course there are parts for men and we employ men as well...but the focus is women. Eventually, we would also like to feature female artists and have their work on display in the lobby on a rotating basis."

Their first presentation of the female version of The Odd Couple is a good start. It includes a cast of six women and two men. On the production team, the directors, the lighting designer, the stage manager and assistant stage manager are all women as well.

Additionally, the mission to promote women also involves a commitment to family. Two Muses Theatre intends to present live theatre performances for children. "We would like to encourage the love of theatre from early childhood," says Hill. "We will also conduct a benefit performance each year from which the Theatre will donate all proceeds to an at?risk women's or children's charitable organization."

You can find more details and ticket information at twomusestheatre.org or by calling 248-850-9919.

Tickets

$18/Adults; $15/Students and Senior citizens 62 years and older

General admission seating. House opens 30 minutes prior to performance.

Purchase tickets: ONLINE: at www.twomusestheatre.org; BY PHONE: call 248.850-9919; IN PERSON: at theatre one hour prior to each performance

Performance Location:

Two Muses Theatre is located in the Barnes and Noble Booksellers Theatre Space, 6800 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 (south of 15 mile in West Bloomfield. Enter the bookstore and the theatre is on the left.)

Performance Schedule

The Odd Couple (the female version) by Neil Simon

November 4-27, 2011 (Friday & Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees)

This revision of the classic comedy opens with a group of the women assembled for a game of Trivial Pursuit in the extremely messy apartment of divorced Olive Madison. Late to arrive is Florence Unger, who has just been separated from her husband. Fastidious, depressed and none too tense, Florence seems suicidal, but as the action unfolds, Olive becomes the one with murder on her mind, when the clean-freak and the slob ultimately decide to room together with hilarious results as The Odd Couple is born.

Same Time, Next Year by Bernard Slade

February 3-26, 2012 (Friday & Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees)

New Jersey accountant George and Oakland, California housewife Doris meet at a Northern California inn in February, 1951. They have an affair, then agree to meet once a year, despite the fact both are married to others and have six children between them.Over the course of the next 24 years, they develop an emotional intimacy deeper than what one would expect to find between two people meeting for a clandestine relationship just once a year. During the time they spend with each other, they discuss the births, deaths, and marital problems each is experiencing at home, while they adapt themselves to the social changes affecting their lives.

The play was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New American Play and made into a popular film with Alan Alda and Ellen Burstein.

The Odd Couple Cast & Crew

Nancy Cooper - Farmington (Mickey) Nancy is a physical therapist.

Cheryl Glicker - Milford (Renee) Cheryl is a retired Legal Assistant.

Diane Hill - Farmington Hills (Florence, Director) see bio

Bob Hotchkiss - Birmingham (Manolo) Bob is an attorney in Farmington Hills.

Alan Madlane - Ferndale (Jesus) Alan is a reporter.

Terie Spencer - Commerce Township (Vera, Co-Director) Terie is a teacher.

Barbie Amann Weisserman - Farmington Hills (Olive, Costumer) see bio

Julie Yolles - Birmingham (Sylvie) Julie is a reporter for Observer and Eccentric.

Diane Hill has a Ph.D. in Theatre from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts in Theatre from the University of Michigan. Diane teaches Acting, Movement, and Directing at Oakland Community College, where she originated the Theatre degree program. Prior to that, she taught high school drama and music in the public school system for 20 years. Throughout her high school and college teaching career, Diane has produced, directed and choreographed several dramas and musicals each year, and has additionally produced and directed shows for professional theatre companies including Breathe Art Theatre Company in Detroit, Opus Mime in Ann Arbor, Jewish Ensemble Theatre in West Bloomfield and Heartlande Theatre Company in Detroit. Also a singer, Diane has served as a district and state-wide vocal adjudicator for Michigan School Vocal Association, and was Editor in Chief and monthly columnist for three years for VocalEase Magazine, a national publication for choral educators. Diane is an award-winning actress and member of Actors' Equity Association and the American Guild of Musical Artists and has performed at many professional theatres in southeast Michigan, including the Fisher Theatre, Masonic Temple, Gem Theatre, Purple Rose Theatre, Tipping Point Theatre, Encore Musical Theatre, Croswell Opera House, and Cherry County Playhouse, to name a few. Along with stage work, Diane also has performed leading roles in several independent films, television and radio commercials, and industrial films and plays Miss Caroline in the feature film, War Flowers with Christina Ricci and Tom Berenger. She'll be appearing in Meadow Brook Theatre's first show of the season, Something Wicked this Way Comes directed by Travis Walter, and then she will direct and appear in The Odd Couple.

Barbie Amann Weisserman has her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Theatre from Wayne State University. She has been involved in many aspects of theatre at both the professional and community theatre levels. Her community theatre experience includes work with The Farmington Players, SRO Productions and Stagecrafters. Barbie's professional theatre work has been with Detroit Repertory Theatre, Breathe Art Theatre Project, Magenta Giraffe Theatre Co., Living Faith, Zeitgeist and the Smith Theatre at Oakland Community College. She currently teaches classes at Oakland Community College, where she instructs students in Costume Design, Hair and Makeup for Theatre, and Acting. Barbie serves on the Board of Directors for SRO Productions in Southfield, where she previously held the position of Executive Director for four seasons. She currently holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Magenta Giraffe Theatre Co. in Detroit. Barbie has been seen on many stages in the Metro Detroit area, as well as in national television and film productions. Barbie will appear in The Odd Couple, as well as do the costumes, props and help dress the set.

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