Planet Ant Presents A Valentine Double Feature

Hamtramck's Planet Ant Theatre presents the first "Black Box Double Feature" of 2019 this February, with two romantically-inclined, original one-act plays: Love, Lust, & Lunacy, written & adapted by Darren Shelton, and He Said Yes, by Kelly A. Rossi. The double feature runs February 1st - 16th in the Planet Ant Black Box as the first installment of 2019 in the 25th Anniversary Season's Black Box Double Feature Series.

He Said Yes is the newest work from local playwright, actor, and the Executive Director of BoxFest Detroit, Kelly A. Rossi. In this original one-act romantic comedy, two longtime co-workers are discovered having a workplace affair and, through company policy, forced to recount the progression of their infidelity in an corporate investigation. It is directed by BoxFest Detroit Artistic Director Amanda Ewing and features Maya Gangadharan, Jeff Priskorn, Nicole Levey-Hunt, and Phil Leslie.

"This project combines so many of my passions in theatre: new local works, women directors, and Planet Ant Theatre," said Rossi. "Planet Ant has a long history of fostering local playwrights, actors, and directors, so I was overjoyed to know my piece would be part of their 25th Anniversary Season. Amanda Ewing brings her fresh perspective to everything she does and I am honored to have her directing this piece."

"I'm excited to be working with this fantastic cast, and collaborating with Kelly Rossi to direct this funny and compelling play," said Ewing. "Kelly and I have worked together at BoxFest Detroit for many years, but this will be our first project outside of that umbrella. She's such a sharp and funny playwright, I love being a part of her work. The first show I ever directed was a Kelly Rossi one-act, so it's fun to be playing with her work again later in my career."

While He Said Yes centers around marriage and relationships within more middle-of-life themes and circumstances, the other half of A Valentine Double Feature presents an "experimental exploration of romantic love," adapted and directed by Planet Ant's Executive Director, Darren Shelton. Love, Lust, & Lunacy also features Shelton and stars Kaitlyn Valor Bourque in an abstract, theatrical compilation of exchanges between lovers through varying stages of a relationship's lifetime.

"It's an honor to be a leader within this incredible creative community," said Shelton. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute my work to the already vast wealth of talent in this city."

Planet Ant's Double Feature Series is a back-to-back presentation of two original, one-act plays, featuring local playwrights. Each act runs approximately 45 minutes with one ten-minute intermission between acts.

A Valentine Double Feature runs February 1 - 16 in the Planet Ant Black Box, located at 2357 Caniff St. in Hamtramck, MI, 48212. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, with one Sunday "matinee" on February 10th at 6pm and a special Valentine's Day performance on February 14th at 8pm. Tickets are $20* and can be purchased online at planetant.com or at the box office (open thirty minutes prior to performance). Opening night and Sunday performances are half-off.

*Cost of admission includes entry to both acts in the double feature, plus late-night comedy (Friday: Tonight vs Everybody: Late-Night Stand-Up | Saturday: Saturday Night Improv) and live music at Ghost Light Hamtramck on Friday and Saturday nights.

Link to Tickets: www.planetant.com/tickets/valentine

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