THE BOYS IN THE BAND to Make Ringwald Theatre Debut, 1/9

Mart Crowley's landmark play The Boys in the Band will finally get its Ringwald Theatre debut, in association with Five15 of Royal Oak, beginning on January 9, 2015. Promised last season, but the victim of scheduling changes, The Boys in the Band will play a four week engagement at the downtown Ferndale theatre.

The importance of Mart Crowley's play can't be overstated. Premiering a year before the Stonewall riots cemented the gay rights movement, The Boys in the Band was the first time that gay men had been portrayed realistically onstage. These were living, breathing men, not frail, feeble characters that killed themselves in the final act. The Boys in the Band took off-Broadway by storm and played for 1,000 performances. In 1970, William Friedkin (who would go on to direct The Exorcist) directed the film version featuring the entire original cast. The original production was so big it merited an original cast album, almost unheard of for a non-musical.

In the subsequent years, audiences have become sharply divided about The Boys in the Band. Some still praise it for the groundbreaking work it was. Others take issue with perceived stereotypes and self-loathing characters.

This is a rare chance to get a fresh look at this classic work.

The Ringwald cast features Jamie Richards, Richard Payton, Mark Sobolewski, Brenton Herwat, James Lee, Dayne Laycy, Matthew Turner Shelton, Topher Alan Payne, and Dan Morrison

Joe Bailey will direct. Set design is by Jen Maiseloff, sound design by Dyan Bailey.

The Boys in the Band opens Friday, January 9, 2015 and plays through Monday, February 2, 2015 at 8pm on Friday, Saturday, and Monday nights with 3pm Sunday matinees. Ticket prices are $20.00 for Friday and Saturday performances, $15 for Sunday shows, and Monday nights are HALF OFF the original ticket price at only $10 a ticket. All students can now receive a $5 discount off normal ticket price on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances (available at the box office the day of the show with valid student ID). Tickets can be purchased at www.TheRingwald.com or at the theatre box office. The Ringwald box office opens 45 minutes before performances and tickets can be purchased with cash or Visa/Mastercard.

The Ringwald opened their doors over seven years ago on May 11, 2007 with Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy. Quickly, The Ringwald became a mainstay of Detroit's theatre community. Past Productions include: Stupid f-ing Bird, Angels in America, Into the Woods, The Motherfucker with the Hat, August: Osage County, When the Rain Stops Falling, The Bad Seed, Making Porn, The Book of Liz, Rent, and Love! Valour! Compassion!. The Ringwald was named 2009, 2012 and 2013 Best Theatrical Troupe by Real Detroit and Best Place to See Local Theatre in 2010, 2011 and 2012 by the readers of Metro Times.

THE BOYS IN THE BAND CAST:

Michael played by Jamie Richards

Donald played by Richard Payton

Emory played by Mark Sobolewski

Larry played by Topher Alan Payne

Hank played by Brenton Herwat

Bernard played by James Lee

Alan played by Dan Morrison

Cowboy played by Dayne Laycy

Harold played by Matthew Turner Shelton

CREATIVE TEAM:

Direction Joe Bailey

Scenic Design Jen Maiseloff

Sound Design Dyan Bailey

Lighting Design Brandy Joe Plambeck

THE BOYS IN THE BAND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Friday, January 9 8PM $20

Saturday, January 10 8PM $20

Sunday, January 11 3PM $15

Monday, January 12 8PM $10

Friday, January 16 8PM $20

Saturday, January 17 8PM $20

Sunday, January 18 3PM $15

Monday, January 19 8PM $10

Friday, January 23 8PM $20

Saturday, January 24 8PM $20

Sunday, January 25 3PM $15

Monday, January 26 8PM $10

Friday, January 30 8PM $20

Saturday, January 31 8PM $20

Sunday, February 1 3PM $15

Monday, February 2 8PM $10

Tickets can be purchased at www.TheRingwald.com or at the theatre box office. The Ringwald box office opens 45 minutes before performances and tickets can be purchased with cash or Visa/Mastercard. The Ringwald Theatre is located at 22742 Woodward Avenue in the Times Square of downtown Ferndale.

Pictured: "The Boys in the Band" are (from top left, clockwise): Topher Alan Payne, Marke Sobolewski, Matthew Turner Shelton, Jamie Richards, Dan Morrison, Richard Payton, James Lee, Dayne Laycy (center left) and Brenton Herwat (center right). Photo by Brandy Joe Plambeck.

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