Photo Flash: Grosse Pointe Theatre Begins Its 62nd Season With SYLVIA

Grosse Pointe Theatre begins its “Sparkling 62nd Season” with the adult comedy, Sylvia by A.R. Gurney.  The show opens on Sunday September 13 at 2:00 p.m., remaining performances are September 17-19 at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, September 20 at 2 p.m., and September 23-26 at 8:00 p.m.  Shows will be performed at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial’s Fries Auditorium, 32 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms . Tickets are $16.00. Discounts are available for group bookings. Call the theatre at 313-881-4004 or visit the ticket office Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., at 315 Fisher Road in Grosse Pointe near the intersection of Fisher and Maumee/Grosse Pointe Boulevard.

This hilarious comedy (with adult content) is about a New York couple who move to Manhattan after 22 years in the suburbs. One day Greg, the husband, brings home an exciting new friend from the park named Sylvia, a wise-cracking dog. Sylvia causes a major disturbance in the lives of Greg and Kate. Her unique perspective makes for an unbroken string of laughs from beginning to end.

Sylvia features Elizabeth Perkin Moen  (Harper Woods) in the title role. Rick Mason (St. Clair Shores) plays Greg.  Amy Kuta (Royal Oak) takes the role of Kate. Nick Szczerba (Madison Heights) plays Tom. Laura VerBeek (Grosse Pointe Park) plays Phyllis, and Laura Bartell (Grosse Pointe Shores) plays Leslie. Sylvia is directed by Bill McCarthy (Detroit) with Clif Levin (Detroit) as producer  and Arlene Schoenner (St. Clair Shores) as stage manager.

Others involved in the production are Rick and Justin Hawley (father and son from Grosse Pointe Woods) as set designer and technical director, Jemma Allor (Mt. Clemens) and Nancy Bashara (Grosse Pointe Woods) are doing properties.Donna Di Sante (Grosse Pointe Farms) is doing makeup and Ed Thomas (Center Line) is on Sound. Blair Arden (Detroit) and Lisa Leszczynski (Grosse Pointe Woods) will do the lighting. Vicky Urbanik (Harrison Township) designed and made the costumes and D. J. Haska (Detroit) is doing the set dressing.

Following Sylvia, the Grosse Pointe Theatre season will continue in November with beloved musical, The King and I (music by Richard Rodgers, book & lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, original choreography by Jerome Robbins) which runs November  8, 11-15, and18-22, 2009.

The new year will be launched with the musical comedy, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, with book, music & lyrics by Clark M. Gesner; January 17, 21-24, 27-30, 2010.

In March, GPT presents The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, a wild and zany comedy which runs March 7, 11-14, and 17-20, 2010.

The grand finale of the season is the ultimate 50s rock’n’roll musical, Grease, with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, which runs May 9, 13-16, and19-23, 2010.

Theatre goers can enhance their outings by taking advantage of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial’s theatre buffets held in the Fries Crystal Ballroom overlooking beautiful Lake St. Clair .  Tickets for the buffets are sold by the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. Call 313-881-7511.

Grosse Pointe Theatre, founded in 1947, has a tradition of great entertainment and high production values.  Membership in Grosse Pointe Theatre is open to all persons, age 18 and above, who have an interest in theatre. Call 313-881-4004 or see the web site at www.gpt.org for more information.

Photos by Dale Pegg

Rick Mason and Elizabeth Perkin Moen

Rick Mason and Amy Kuta