Papa Weeze Makes Debut with ABOUT SEX, Begin. Today

There is no shortage of quality theatre companies in Southeast Michigan, but unlike other metro areas the success of "arts collectives" - marrying the spontaneity of theatre, cabaret, and improv with the abstract joys of movement and dance as well as the crafts of design, fashion and visual arts - has been more hit-or-miss.

Hoping to fill that void, new group "PAPA Weeze" aims to "to provide collaborative opportunities for professional artists to create and display all forms of art, in an attempt to entertain, educate and expand." The organization, led by long-time local theatre professional Barbie Weisserman, is named for her late father-in-law Harold Weisserman, an individual whose generosity and heart led him to support many creative and entrepreneurial efforts in the community.

Barbie explains, "PAPA Weeze will help professional artists of all forms: theatre, film, collective displays, fashion, writers, composers, musicians, directors, dancers, choreographers, photographers, sculptors, painters, performance artists, etc. to work in collaboration to produce their projects for public consumption, enjoyment, education, and personal expansion. By sponsoring small projects, PAPA Weeze will use these funds to produce one large project per 12-18 months."

The group's flagship project for 2015 will be crowd-funding/producing a short independent film Getting Ed Laid, written by Deborah Pearl (Designing Women) and starring Ed Asner. Filming on the comic short (the title of which is rather self-explanatory) is slated to begin in late summer.

In the meantime, the group will debut its live offerings with a fund-raiser in March at Ferndale's Ringwald Theatre. About Sex (A Ganglion of Short Plays), also penned by Pearl, is billed as "a delightful look at the ways sex can be our Achilles heel - tickling not just our fancy - but our funny bone! Stories about sex and its power to ignite our passions, reveal our secrets or bring us to our knees. "

From a transsexual's last time at her gay men's stag AA meeting in "Waiting For Yvette", to a twisted cop in "The Interrogation," from a teenage student who needs a passing grade in "The Teacher," to four people reminiscing about making love to the same woman in "Making Love to Louise" from two people on a one night stand questioning their sexuality in "Swan Song", to a woman who takes money in a misunderstanding that changes her life in "Pros And Cons" - even the impact a chair can have when you need one in "Kinky Neon Rocker," the show promises something for everyone - and a fun time with a touch of human frailty.

Performances are tonight, March 20 and tomorrow at The Ringwald (22742 Woodward Ave, Ferndale, Michigan, 48220). Tickets for the performances, which will also include musical interludes as well as champagne and giveaways, are $20 and can be purchased at www.papaweeze.org or by calling (248) 701-2643. You can also email the group at papaweeze.inc@gmail.com.

Other PAPA Weeze events slated for this year currently include: Stand-Up Fashion (stand-up comedy plus an avant garde fashion show) on June 13 in Farmington Hills and Get Your Golf On (golf outing) on June 27 in Novi. For more information, visit the group's website www.papaweeze.org.