WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (WXYZ) - Two Muses, a new non-profit professional theatre in West Bloomfield, is celebrating romance in February with its second show, Same Time Next Year by Bernard Slade. The play runs February 3 rd-19 th .
(Saturday Feb. 11 is SOLD OUT.)
The romantic comedy directed by Nancy Kammer of Grosse Pointe Park, follows the once-a-year rendezvous between George and Doris, who meet and fall in love at first sight. The trouble is, they have spouses and children back home.
They agree to meet the following year in the same place at the same time. During the next 25 years, their once-a year affair develops into a connection that seems untouched by time or distance. Even so, they continue to cope with the realities of their marriages.
“A spontaneous moment turns into a lifetime commitment neither one imagined,” says Kammer. “These are fully funny and honest characters to journey with!”
Diane Hill, who co-founded Two Muses with Barbie Amann Weisserman, plays Doris. It’s a role Hill tackled in a dinner theatre production 25 years ago, and one she’s thrilled to handle once again after racking up some “life experience.”
“Same Time, Next Year” is not just a play about two people having an affair,” says Hill. “These two people fall in love, and they don't take the impact of this lightly. They develop a deep bond and, as a result of this relationship, they are able to be better people in their own marriages.”
Kammer says, “I hope it will be an interesting "ride" for the audience as they see the decades from l951-1975 reflected in the behavior and relationship of two people who are able to value their own lives more for having the special time every year with one who truthfully, deeply, cares.”
The play starring Ellen Burstyn and Charles Grodin was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New American Play. It was also made into a popular film starring Ellen Burstyn and Alan Alda.
Performance Location:
Two Muses Theatre performs in the Barnes and Noble Booksellers Theatre Space , 6800 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 (south of 15 mile in West Bloomfield. Enter the bookstore and the theatre is on the left.)
Tickets
Advance Tickets are $18/Adults; $15/Students and Senior citizens 62 years and older; Tickets are $2 more when purchased at the door.
General admission seating. House opens 30 minutes prior to performance.
Purchase tickets: ONLINE: at www.twomusestheatre.org; BY PHONE: call 248.850-9919
Dinner Deals
Dinner Packages at the No.VI Chophouse in Novi are available before all evening performances for Two Muses Theatre ticketholders. For more information, see twomusestheatre.org/ or call 248.850-9919.
Cast and Staff
Diane Hill (Farmington Hills) plays Doris, has performed professionally on many stages across Michigan, including Meadow Brook Theatre, Purple Rose Theatre, The Theatre Company, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, Cherry County Playhouse, the Fisher Theatre, Croswell Opera House, the Gem Theatre, Tipping Point and Performance Network. She won acting awards for her work in Wit (Wilde Award) and ‘night, Mother (Rogue Critic Award) with Breathe Art Theatre Project. She is a member of Actors’ Equity and has a busy career in television, film and voiceover. She earned her Master’s in Theatre from the University of Michigan and has a Ph.D. in Theatre from Wayne State University. Diane is the co-founder of Two Muses Theatre and coordinates the theatre program at Oakland Community College where she also teaches acting. Diane performed this role of Doris previously at Cornwell’s Dinner Theatre in Marshall, Michigan and is excited to see how it feels more than twenty years later.
Aaron Alpern (Ann Arbor) plays George. A member of Actors’ Equity, Aaron has also worked at Meadow Brook Theatre, Performance Network, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, along with several Chicago theatres including First Folio, Chicago Shakespeare, Writers Theatre, Timeline, Circle Theatre. In addition, he has performed with several other regional theatres including Next Act-Milwaukee, Theatre at the Center-Munster, Northern Stage- Milwaukee, Quantum-Pittsburgh, and the Apollo Fine Arts-Peoria. Aaron received his M.F.A. in Acting from The California Institute for the Arts and his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan .
Nancy Kammer (Grosse Pointe Park) director, has worked in the Regional and New York Theatres, as well as TV and film for over 30 years. She recently directed world premiere, Sunday Punch, at the Planet Ant. Other Michigan theatres include: The Trinity House, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, Park Players, Meadowbrook, Waterworks, Matrix, GrandValley State, Michigan State, Lansing Community College, and BoarsHead Theatre, where she was Artistic Director for Two Seasons and where she created a six-week festival, Winterfare.
Two Muses Theatre’s design team includes co-founder, Barbie Weisserman (Costumes,
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