Jesus Christ Superstar at Wharton Center for Performing Arts

Anna Cassar is so honored to play the part of Fran (who she met many years ago as a friend of the Kamlay family). Anna has played some awesome roles in the following plays: Steel Magnolias (M’Lynn), Sister Act (nun), To Kill a Mockingbird (Mrs Dubose), and Shrek (young Shrek and dwarf). She is very grateful to her family and friends for the support in her acting endeavors.

Maureen Paraventi is an actor, and a playwright and singer. Getting to play the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz and Annie in Annie Get Your Gun in high school fired up her interest in theatre. Her favorite roles since then have included M'Lynne in Steel Magnolias, Ernestina Money in Hello Dolly and Ms. Talbot in the film, English Breakfast (hopefully coming soon to a theatre near you). Maureen's stage plays have been performed in Michigan, Florida, Minnesota and New York City. You can see her play, The Bucket List of Booze Club, in January 2024, when it is produced by Rosedale Community Theatre. She won the Community Theatre Association of Michigan 2022 Playwright Award for her play Cora Lynn Beauty Can Change Your Life. When she's not acting, Maureen is singing with and writing songs for McLaughlin's Alley, a band that plays indie pop originals and covers as well as Irish favorites (www.mclaughlinsalley.com). She is extremely grateful to Nancy Florkowsky for casting her in this deeply felt, beautifully crafted play. Big thanks, too, to her talented sibs, Tina and Sean Paraventi, whose creative endeavors inspire her and encourage her to seek out new challenges.

Timothy is thrilled to be a part of this production and to be working with so many talented members of the cast and crew. You may have seen him in his previous performances as: Dr. John Watson, Phileas Fogg, or Edward Nigma aka The Riddler. He'd like to thank his friends and family for their continued support, as well as the audience for supporting local theatre. Keep an eye out for some more upcoming shows in August, where you can see Timothy portray a certain scholar investigating strange happening in Transylvania.

Erin Roth has a BA in Theatre from Otterbein College. She is a former Actor’s Equity Association Stage Manager for the Williamston Theatre and a graduate of The Purple Rose Theatre Company’s apprentice program. Erin dabbles in acting and props design and serves as Troupe Leader for the MCYT Honors Thespians. Erin lives in Livonia with her husband, daughter and dog, and spends her week days coordinating surgeries for Corewell Health.

George Baughman is a community theater junkie, having participated in virtually every aspect of numerous shows over the last 30+ years. He is also a long time friend and fan of the Florkowski's, and is humbled to play the part of the patriarch of the family, Fred. George is also dealing with the issue of dementia in his own family, so this production hits close to home. He wishes to thank Nancy for allowing him this opportunity to share in the joy and the sorrow of this all too common story.

NANCY FLORKOWSKI (artistic director of MCYT), retired South Redford Schools teacher, and current part time education teacher at WSU has five theatre and education degrees from Wayne State University and Eastern Michigan University. She also studied Children’s Theatre at Coventry College of Education in the UK as an exchange student and Russian theatre at The Moscow Art Theater in Russia (MXAT). She’s directed, co-directed, scripted, and performed in over 100 productions in local theatres, schools, Universities, and at MCYT. Motor City Youth Theatre was started as part of Nancy’s master’s thesis project in Children’s Theatre at Eastern Michigan University in 1990 and has kept growing ever since with the help of co-founder and husband, Fred! Check out Nancy’s favorite projects with MCYT Bard Bums, now including adult actors. Romeo and Juliet Meet the Hatfields and the McCoys opens July 14 and runs two weekends at Motor City theatre. Back in Here is a bit of my life on stage. Seeing it performed by this wonderful cast has been a beautiful and touching experience for me.

ERIN ROTH has a BA in Theatre from Otterbein College. She is a former Actor’s Equity Association Stage Manager for the Williamston Theatre and a graduate of The Purple Rose Theatre Company’s apprentice program. Erin dabbles in acting and props design and serves as Troupe Leader for the MCYT Honors Thespians. Erin lives in Livonia with her husband, daughter and dog, and spends her week days coordinating surgeries for Corewell Health.

FRED FLORKOWSKI (MCYT Scenic Designer and Technical Director) is The Director of Theatre and an Associate Professor at WSU teaching Scenic Design, and past TD at the Bonstelle Theatre. He has provided scenic designs and technical direction for over 80 productions at WSU and in regional theatre, most recent being Rent at the Hilberry Theatre last year. Fred also served as the TD for the Old Jerusalem lobby display at the Jewish Community Center. Fred also spent A Month in Moscow at the Moscow Art Theatre School. Fred would like to invite everyone to visit the brand new Hilberry Gateway Theatre and Blackbox Theatre for their amazing productions!

JOSH ROTH is a graduate of the Motion Picture Institute of MI and is a former theater professional. He works for Corewell Health in Supply Chain Management. This is Josh’s third Motor City Theatre production. Josh was able to share the stage with his wife, Erin, in our last production of The Nose, after a long absence. He would like to thank his wife, Erin, and daughter, Grace, for their support and for sharing this experience with him and he thanks Fred and Nancy for giving him and his family this lovely opportunity! Thank you, Josh, from Fred and Nancy!