The romantic comedy MIXED EMOTIONS by Richard Baer is the next production of the 15th Anniversary Season at Eastpointe's Broadway Onstage Live Theatre when it opens on Friday, February 20. Running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Select Sundays at 2pm through Saturday, March 21, the comedy introduces us to Herman Lewis (a Jewish carpet dealer) and Christine Millman (an interior decorator and lapsed Catholic) who have been friends for more than thirty years.
Select Sunday Matinees are only performed at Broadway Onstage when a prearranged group of 30 or more is scheduled to attend. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 ˝ Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe. It is the home of the patented TeeVeeStage™ Presentation system, which employs cameras above the audience and monitors above the stage to provide audience members with different viewing perspectives of the live stage performance. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is also the home of Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc., which began producing Non-Equity professional live theatre on the Eastside of Detroit in February of 1980.
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When Herman and Christine's respective mates were alive, the two couples saw each other constantly and often traveled together. As the play opens, Christine is preparing to move-tomorrow-from her apartment in New York City to Florida, where she will share an apartment with another widow. From out of the blue, Herman appears to request that she stay in the city and marry him. Christine thinks the idea is ridiculous, but Herman persists and tries to change her mind over the ensuing eighteen hours. The play's other characters are Ralph and Chuck, moving men who empty Christine's home while Herman doggedly pursues his courtship. As the set empties of furniture, Herman's pursuit of Christine becomes more intense and comedy prevails.
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A delightful cast has been assembled to perform MIXED EMOTIONS at Broadway Onstage. Portraying Christine is Broadway Onstage favorite CeCe Reuter Lesner. Ms. Lesner was seen as Dorothy for the sixth time in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS over the holidays there. Joe Urkshus, Hector in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS and recently seen as Victor Fleming in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS at Broadway Onstage, takes on the role of Herman. Portraying veteran moving man Ralph is local actor Bill Davis. Mr. Davis has been seen in a number of productions at a variety of local venues on a professional and community level. Completing the cast is John Arden McClure as moving man Chuck. Mr. McClure has been seen at Broadway Onstage in many productions, most recently as Mr. Wilson in HARVEY this past fall. The production is under the able direction of former Grosse Point Theatre president Donna DiSante. Ms. DiSante was also recently seen as Minnie in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS at Broadway Onstage.
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Tickets for Opening Night Friday, February 20 are $14. Tickets for all other performances are $16. Group Rates and Performances are available. Again, Broadway Onstage is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at
Toepfer (8 1/2 Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe, Michigan. Ticket Reservations are recommended by calling (586) 771-6333.
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CECE LESNER (Christine) - Ce Ce was seen as Maude in THE LADIES OF HARMONY this past summer and as Dorothy, for the sixth time, in our Holiday Comedy THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. She was seen as Flavia in GIFT OF MURDER and as Irene Adler in SHERLOCK'S VEILED SECRET three seasons ago. She was also seen as Kandall in our summer 2006 production of IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE. CeCe portrayed Theresa in CHEATING CHEATERS, our 2004 summer production, and was seen as Ouiser in STEEL MAGNOLIAS here at Broadway Onstage several seasons ago. She has appeared in a number of other productions here at Broadway Onstage, including COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN and BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, among others. She has also performed in other theaters in performances of LET'S MURDER MARSHA and THE CEMETERY CLUB. CeCe is also a member of the Pistons Motown Classics over 55 dance team which performs at The Palace! Thanks,CeCe. It's always a joy working with you! |
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JOE URKSHUS (Herman) - Joe was just seen as Dr. Chumley in HARVEY and Victor Fleming in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS this past fall. He appeared as Edvard, the groom, in our summer 2006 production IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE and as Inspector John Smith in OVER MY DEAD BODY that same season. He appeared as D.W. DeWitt in our spring 2005 comedy EPIC PROPORTIONS. He also acted as Stage Manager for our season closer in 2005, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and stage managed THE LADIES OF HARMONY this past summer, and the recently concluded ART OF MURDER. Joe appeared as Henry, a thoughtful philosophy professor, in our production of CLIFFHANGER several seasons ago. He has also appeared as Hector in all of our productions of THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS, including the one this past December. He also portrayed Jonathan Small in SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CURSE OF THE SIGN OF FOUR several seasons ago. Joe appeared as Gary in our production of I HATE HAMLET in the fall of 2001 to great acclaim. He first appeared for us in 2000, as Father Mac and the Bingo Caller, in THE QUEEN OF BINGO. Joe has been seen in a number of local venues on a community and professional level. He was seen in NOISES OFF for Avon Players several seasons ago, and he was recently seen in the comedy MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON'S for RJO Productions. It's a pleasure to have him back with us again! |  |
BILL DAVIS (Ralph) - Bill has done several productions for our company. He was seen several seasons ago as Terry, the professor and playright in BREAKING LEGS.He first appeared for us as the orderly in our 1985 production of HARVEY at the Golden Lion Dinner Theatre. He was seen here at Broadway Onstage as Ray in our 1997 production of LONE STAR & LAUNDRY AND BOURBON, and he is also very active with other groups. For Stagecrafters, he was recently seen as Howie in OUR TOWN and also portrayed McMurphy in their production of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST. For Richmond Community Theatre he portrayed the King in THE KING AND I. Welcome back, Bill! |  |
JOHN ARDEN MCCLURE (Chuck) - John was just seen as Remnar in last season's closer ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT and last fall in HARVEY as Mr. Wilson. He was seen last season as Inspector Davies in SOMETHING TO HIDE, and also in A THOUSAND CLOWNS. John's first appearance on our stage was in 2005 as Charley in THE BOOK OF MURDER. Since then he has been in numerous productions here, including Charles Wellington York in 2007's SHERLOCK'S VEILED SECRET and Dr. Zubritsky in FOOLS. He has also appeared as Benny in EPIC PROPORTIONS, Reverend Chasuble in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Donnie in THE FOURSOME, Charlie Dugan in APRIL, MAE AND JUNE, and Mellersh Wilton in ENCHANTED APRIL. John is a theatrical veteran, having portrayed Ranger Tom in ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, Bozidar in DEAR SANTA, and Trent in THE LAST RESORT for Starbrite Dinner Theatre. He is also a member of Grosse Pointe Theatre, having portrayed Anthony Marston in TEN LITTLE INDIANS and Kenny Norman in PROPOSALS. We welcome him back to our stage. |  |
DONNA DISANTE (Director) - Donna directed each version of THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS through 2006 and has taken on the role of Minnie for the past two seasons. Donna just appeared as Veta in HARVEY and Addie in THE LADIES OF HARMONY. She also appeared on our stage several seasons ago in two productions. She was Miss Prism in our season closer in 2005, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and appeared as Person 1 in EPIC PROPORTIONS. Donna also directed our production of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE at the Golden Lion Dinner Theatre in 1984. She was very involved in the early years of the Attic Theatre, and the Grand Circus Exchange in Detroit. She is a Past President of Grosse Pointe Theatre, and has directed a number of productions for them, including SABRINA several seasons ago. She is always a joy to work with, and we're happy to have her lend her considerable talents to MIXED EMOTIONS. Thanks, Donna! |
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DENNIS WICKLINE (Producer) - Dennis just portrayed David O Selznick in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS and Elwood P. Dowd in HARVEY. He was seen as Major Powell in CORPSE and Frank in WEEKEND COMEDY here earlier this year. He just directed JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT for Grosse Pointe Theatre. Dennis portrayed Marc in ART and Weller Martin in THE GIN GAME here at Broadway Onstage three seasons ago. He was seen as Henry in THE BOOK OF MURDER in the winter of 2005, as Bradley in THE COCKTAIL HOUR in the fall of 2004. He is the producer of all shows at Broadway Onstage. He began producing theatre in February of 1980 at Stouffer's Eastland. This season is his twenty-eighth of producing non-Equity professional theatre in the Detroit Metropolitan area. He is the author of a number of plays and musicals, including THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. Dennis portrayed Vernon in THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG in the spring of 2000 here, and portrayed Herbert Bracewell in THE RETURN OF HERBERT BRACEWELL in 2001. He also appeared as Fagin in Grosse Pointe Theatre's 2001 production of OLIVER! and was seen as Joe Keller in their production of ALL MY SONS in March of 2005. Dennis was also seen here in the thriller THE WOMAN IN BLACK in the fall of 2002, portraying 5 separate characters. He also directed GPT's 2005 SHOWBOAT. |  |