Interview: Vince Kelley Chats About THE RINGWALD SINGS…ANNIE IN CONCERT and SCREEN PLAYS Debuting at The Ringwald Theatre!

Being the always forward thinking theatre that it is, The Ringwald is bringing more alternative entertainment to the stage with the creation of two new programs: The Ringwald Sings... and Screen Plays. Created to fill some of the empty theatre nights, the programs are bringing the world of movies and big, fun musicals to The Ringwald stage.

"There are a lot of days that we are not doing anything and it's just sitting there empty. We were like what's a fun way that we can get people to come see some different things? What's a simple, easy thing that we can do that still has production value?" explained Vince Kelley, Marketing & Special Events Director for The Ringwald Theatre. Kelley is heavily involved both on stage and off in many of the productions in the theatre as well. "The Ringwald Sings... is modeled after Feinstein's/54 Below in New York where they very often have a cast come back together and do a concert version or just have certain stars come and put on a huge show that they would never ever be in a full production of. The idea of The Ringwald Sings... is taking that larger than life musical that we would never be able to produce full shows of and bringing them to you," he said. "Screen Plays is something they do a lot of in Los Angeles where they will get the biggest stars in comedy and have them do a reading of a movie. So, we get a bunch of the Go Comedy! Improv people, people from the Planet Ant Theatre in Hamtramck, and just as many hilarious people that we can fit in one room to read these famous movies."

Annie in Concert is the inaugural show of The Ringwald Sings... and Kelley is excited for more than just debut new programs at the theatre. "Annie was the first show that I was ever in. I was eight years old. This is a real come home moment for me if you will. So, we are doing Annie in all its earnest sincerity and big, old Christmas ending," he said. "There is, of course, that one Ringwald twist, the role of Miss Hannigan will be played by our very own Joe Bailey, but no one else could play it quite like him. He will just be singing the part. We aren't changing the gender of the character. That's our little Ringwald twist on it just to put into our lane."

The Ringwald Sings... Kelley explained will be like a staged concert reading of a musical. The audience can expect to see the cast with the book in their hand on stage as they perform in front them on their feet doing mild choreography. "We are just going to do the concert, sing the hit songs, not all the songs like 'Herbert Hoover,' it's a real downer," he said. "Best of the best, no dialogue, work you through those transitions, lay the story out for you, so that everyone kind of feels and can get an understanding of what is going on, but really just go through the music."

Why come see The Ringwald Sings...Annie in Concert? "To anybody who loves The Ringwald and musicals, Annie is a hard show to put up, so you are getting everything you could ever want out of Annie for absolutely no price. It's a pay as you go show, we are only asking for a donation," answered Kelley. "I don't know a lot of places where you can see a talented group of people putting up Annie and you don't have to pay a dime to see it."

Both new programs will be ongoing series at The Ringwald Theatre. Screen Plays had two successful previews and a debut of the program this past Sunday, December 11th with Die Hard. Future readings will include Clue, 9-5, and Dirty Dancing. The Ringwald Sings... is the first inaugural show with Annie in Concert. More musicals will be announced in the future. Tickets for both programs are pay as you go.

The Ringwald Sings...Annie in Concert will perform Sunday, December 18th at 7pm at The Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale. For more information, visit www.TheRingwald.com.

Correction: Screen Plays edition of Die Hard was cancelled due to inclement weather. The new performance date will be this Saturday, December 17th at midnight after the performance of The Santaland Diaries at 8pm ($20 tickets).

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