The hit musical "Mame" opens Friday October 28th at the Birmingham Village Players. The show runs through November 13th. Tiickets are available at birminghamvillageplayers.com or by calling (248) 644-2075 Watch the video player for JoAnne Purtan's interview on 7 Action News at Noon.
"Mame" is based on the novel "Auntie Mame" by Patrick Dennis . In 1966 it won three Tony awards for Angela Lansbury, Beatrice Arthur and Frankie Michaels. The Birmingham Village players says the show is
"an ebullient and irresistible story of the joy of living life to the fullest, packed with Jerry Herman songs that are in perfect accord with the positive attitude of the story."
Mame Dennis is a larger-than-life personality living the high life in the Roaring Twenties in New York City. She has a collection of eccentric, wealthy society friends and her life is one endless party. Her brother in Iowa dies unexpectedly, and she suddenly finds herself the guardian of his 12 year-old son, Patrick which leads to all sorts of misadventures.
The show is directed by Village Players veteran director Michael A. Gravame who recently directed last year's hit Sweeney Todd. He states; "I have always loved big splashy musicals that have memorable tunes you walk out of the theatre singing and humming along to. Mame is no exception. I have always had a great fondness for the film Auntie Mame starring Rosalind Russell, however, I did not get familiar with the musical onstage until years later when I saw the musical at DC at the Kennedy Center starring Christine Baranski. It was then I said to myself, someday I have to direct this show."
Patti Ward of Bloomfield Hills plays "Mame," a character Gravame describes as being, "all about optimism, the power of positive-thought and sheer joie-de-vivre to everyone that meets her, influencing and improving the lives of them all. She is ageless, timeless, graceful, beautiful, kind and elegant.." Gravame says the character "cuts across all barriers, whether of age, color, creed or gender."
Other cast members include: Jonas Annear from Birmingham as Young Patrick Dennis, Sue Chekaway from Bloomfield Hills as Vera Charles, Kathleen Duffy from Royal Oak as Agnes Gooch, Tony Battle from Royal Oak as Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside, Eric Rodman from Sterling Heights as Older Patrick, Daniel Murray from Birmingham as Ito and John Unruh from Rochester as Mr. Babcock.
The two-act musical runs approximately two and a half hours with one 20 minute intermission.
Show Dates October 28, 29, November 4, 5, 9, 11, 12- 8:00 PM / October 30, November 6, 12, 13 - 2:00 PM
Ticket Prices - $21.00 which includes a $1 Facilities Improvement Fee (FIP) for each ticket purchased and a $1 processing fee for each ticket order. Birmingham Village Players is located at 34660 Woodward Ave, Birmingham, MI 48009.
