"Car Stars The Musical" opens October 6th in West Bloomfield. It's an original story created by a local playwright who is on a mission to honor the Auto Industry and Detroit's Big Three. The show is billed as a "heart-felt salute" to auto history. CLICK THE VIDEO PLAYER TO SEE WHAT THE LOCAL PLAYWRIGHT WANTS YOU TO KNOW ABOUT HER PRODUCTION.
It runs October 6-9 at the Berman Center for performing arts in West Bloomfield. Tickets are on sale now at www.theberman.org or by calling 248-661-1900.
Local Playwright Janet Pound describes the musical as a place where "the grit and grime of the factories meet the glitz and glamour of the auto shows." The show involves two one-act plays that producers say "provide a road trip with two very different journeys." Act one salutes the history of the car industry, while Act II serves as a "histrionic and humorous entrance into the world of auto shows".
Pound is passionate about her project that includes twenty original songs ranging from blues to rock, folk to Motown, and more. She says: "The music is as diverse as the people who came to Detroit to work on the line."
The first play is set in the auto factory. Fred the tour guide takes us on a road trip, where we meet Henry Ford, Rosie the Riveter, Johnny Cash and more. They sing and dance their way through history.
The second play brings us into the world of auto shows. Holley "the ditzy model" explains, "We're a lot like carnival workers, but most of us have all our teeth." Delvina, the Cruella de Ville of talent agents, bumps heads - or should we say fenders - with her product specialists. The motley crew also includes Johnny Torino, the womanizer; Bridget, the aging mom; and Reggie, the car detailer.
Car Stars features a book and lyrics by local playwright Janet Torreano Pound, with music by Phred Brown (who is now the music director for Bruno Mars), Jarred Champion, James Stonehouse, John Cohassey, David Vandenbroucke, David Mosher and Geoff Phillips.
David Regal recently retired from UofD/Margrove will be directing, musical direction by Steve Kosinski, choreography by John Luther, costume design by Couni Young, and makeup and hair by Christina Tomlinson.
This completely made-in-Michigan production features all local actors:
Henri Franklin (Redford), Peter Tocco (Macomb Township), Allison Boufford (Livonia), Karen Kron Dickson (Berkley), Daniel Jeffries (Detroit), Sidi Henderson (Ferndale), John DeMerell (Walled Lake ), Katy Kujala (Wixom), Chevonne Wilson (Detroit) Lisa Michaels (Bloomfield HIlls) and Mackenzie McElroy.
