Stagecrafters Unveils 2013-14 Season

Stagecrafters at the Baldwin Theatre announces its fifty-seventh season with a nod of pride and smiles on many of the members' faces. As the play selection process was in the final phase, the long-awaited licensing for the epic musical LES MISERABLES became available. Without hesitation and within hours of the announcement, Stagecrafters became the first community theatre in the area to secure rights to present the show. LES MISERABLES is just one of several shows in impressive season. Stagecrafters makes their home at the Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette Ave. in downtown Royal Oak.

After securing the rights so quickly for LES MISERABLES, the old proverb "early bird catches the worm" was inspiration for the 2013-2014 season's theme, "Life Lessons Learned from Theatre." Stagecrafters included a life lesson quote from each of the shows during the season preview presentation held in late April. "Each show has a wonderful life lesson and we can't wait for our audiences to see them come alive on our stage," says Mary Ann McCourt, Stagecrafters' development director.

The 2013-2014 season officially opens in July with the youth theatre musical production of Seussical Jr followed by the Main Stage production of LES MISERABLES. Other shows in the Main Stage series include the recently released, Shrek - The Musical;the soulful and swingin' musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin';the award-winningdramedy, Torch Song Trilogy, and completing the season is the ever popular and always magical, The Wizard of Oz.

Stagecrafters does not traditionally include four musicals in their season however the board of directors found it worked well for the upcoming season. "The Board asked the play-reading committee to keep their eyes out for new productions, as well as family-friendly productions. Combining the two objectives resulted in a season with two musicals brand-new to the Detroit community theatre venue (LES MISERABLES and Shrek), as well as other quality productions," says Betsey Schrock, Stagecrafters' president.

"Musicals have always been popular with our audiences. I wouldn't say 'a four-musical season' is a trend, though. Our audiences are intelligent and diverse, and as such, they look for theatrical experiences that both entertain and challenge them. So dramas, comedies and 'dramedies' will always be a staple of our seasons," says Schrock.

The 2^nd Stage season begins with the Pulitzer-winning drama, Proof, followed by the musical, The Fantasticks, and ending with the contemporary musical, Wizard of Oz .

In addition to Seussical Jr, Stagecrafters Youth Theatre will present the fairy tale comedy, The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf in November 2013.

The 2013-14 Stagecrafters Season: (calendar order)

Seussical Jr (Stagecrafters Youth Theatre musical)

July 18, 19, 20, 21, 2013

Director: Jody Florkowski

LES MISERABLES (Main Stage musical)

Sept. 6-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-29, 2013
Director: Rodel Salazar

Proof (2^nd Stage drama)

Oct. 18-20, 24-27, 2013

Director: Kimberly Wallace

The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf (Stagecrafters Youth Theatre comedy)

Nov. 7, 8, 9, 10, 2013

Director: Marsha Kline

The Fantasticks (2^nd Stage musical)

Dec. 6-8, 12-15, 19-22, 2013

Director: Jody Florkowski

Shrek - The Musical (Main Stage musical)

Jan. 10-12, 16-19, 23-26, 2014

Director: Linda Zublick

Ain't Misbehavin' (Main Stage musical)

Feb. 14-16, 20-23, 27-28, Mar. 1-2, 2014

Director: Sharlan Douglas

Torch Song Trilogy (Main Stage drama)

March 28-30, April 3-6, 10-13, 2014

Director: Jerry Haines

(2^nd Stage musical)

April 25-27, May 1-4, 2014

Director: Jeff Foust

The Wizard of Oz (Main Stage musical)

June 6-8, 12-15, 19-22, 2014

Director: Randy Wrisinger

For tickets and information, kindly visit http://www.stagecrafters.org/

Follow Anton Anderssen on Twitter @Hartforth

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