The Community Theatre of Howell back on stage this weekend and next with an uproarious new comedy, Ken Ludwig’s “Moon Over Buffalo.”
The show takes the stage at the Howell High School Freshman Campus, 1400 W. Grand River Ave., Howell. Performances are Feb. 2-4 and 9-11. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are available by clicking HERE.
“Moon Over Buffalo” follows the hilarious misadventures of George and Charlotte Hay, fading stars of the 1950s, as they navigate a chaotic tour in Buffalo with a repertoire featuring the “revised, one-nostril version” of “Cyrano de Bergerac” and Noel Coward’s “Private Lives.”
Just when everything seems to be going awry, the Hays receive word that they have one last chance at stardom: legendary filmmaker Frank Capra is attending their matinee, and if he likes what he sees, he might cast them in his next film.
The show is directed by Sam Wilson, assistant directed by Alyssa Friday, and produced by Alicia Rider with Kim Carnahan as assistant producer.
Here’s a look at the cast:
Emily Matticks of Fowlerville as Eileen
1. Before this show, what’s been your favorite CTH role or other role that you’ve played in the past for another group?
It is difficult to choose just one, but I’d have to say my favorite role was Margaret in Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”
2. Tell us about your character in “Moon Over Buffalo” and why you like playing this role.
I portray Eileen, the aspiring yet somewhat flighty and naive ingenue. She has a crush on George Hay and has been having a fling with him. She wants to be the leading actress with the company and will do anything to get what she wants. Eileen replaced Rosalind as an actor, but set the drama through her illicit affair with George in which she conceives. I greatly enjoy playing this role primarily because of the sheer chaos of it. It is unlike any role I’ve portrayed in the past.
3. What can the audience expect when they come to see this show?
The audience can expect a hilarious non-stop comedy, with the second act being a show-within-a-show. This play displays the ridiculous lives of eight people who inhabit the world of theatre.
4. What’s been your favorite part of the “Moon Over Buffalo” experience?
I know it sounds cliché, but my absolute favorite part of the “Moon Over Buffalo” experience has been the amazing cast and entire production crew. It makes a world of difference having such a close-knit cast and truly adds to our chemistry on stage, as well as the wonderful instruction from our director.
Jackson Manning of Howell as Paul
1. Before this show, what’s been your favorite CTH role or other role that you’ve played in the past for another group?
I’ve done numerous shows for CTH, I just can’t stay away! They’re like my second family at this point. I think one of my favorite roles was actually the last show CTH did, “Rock of Ages.” I got to play Franz, and he was a very fun character to embody. He’s very physical and relies on a lot of big movements for comedy, which I love doing in my shows. I got my own song too, which was definitely scary to say the least, but I had a lot of fun. When I look back on that show, it always brings a smile to my face. The cast was wonderful, the role was very fun and the show was amazing.
2. Tell us about your character in “Moon Over Buffalo” and why you like playing this role.
My character is Paul Singer, the stage manager for the Hay family theater company. He’s a stressed-out guy constantly on the run keeping this company intact, like the glue holding it all together. He’s the ex-boyfriend of Roz, daughter of George and Charlotte Hay. He still has feelings for her but is unsure if she feels the same way.
he reason I love playing Paul so much would actually be the same reason I loved playing Franz so much: the physicality. He’s a very physical character, I’d argue more so than Franz and I love getting to play this exaggerated, over the top character. I can be as extra as I want and the director’s are always like “Yeah that’s something Paul would do.” so it’s been a blast having fun as the character!
3. What can the audience expect when they come to see this show?
Prepare for a lot of laughs! This show is so silly and is the opposite of serious. There are so many ridiculous situations and hilarious characters, this is the perfect show to see if you just need something to get away from it all and enjoy a light-hearted comedy that’s sure to make you laugh! There’s also plenty of deeper, more touching moments sprinkled in as well that really make you care about this messy, unkempt family of struggling actors by the end of the show.
4. What’s been your favorite part of the “Moon Over Buffalo” experience?
Well, hanging out with the cast, no doubt! That’s something I’ve always loved about these shows with a smaller cast, you develop a much closer bond with the other actors. Everyone in the show is amazing and knowing that we have each other’s backs is a comforting feeling. Even on the days where I’m feeling down, I know I have something to look forward to every night and I know for certain hanging out with these guys will always cheer me up, no matter what!
Jennifer Taylor of South Lyon as Roz
1. Before this show, what’s been your favorite CTH role or other role that you’ve played in the past for another group?
I love performing in musicals. I got to do “Once Upon a Mattress” in high school and play Lady Larken. It has been 13 years since I did a play prior to this, so honestly, I am just so grateful to be on the stage again.
2. Tell us about your character in “Moon Over Buffalo” and why you like playing this role.
I play Roz, the daughter of George and Charlotte Hay. She has a lot of pride that she has escaped the theatrical mayhem of her parents’ life and now she is ‘normal’. When she goes back to visit her parents to tell them of her engagement to a “normal” guy, she finds herself immediately swept up in the tentacles of the theater world. I love playing Roz because she is so flawed and human and stubborn. Not only do I feel like I can relate, but I love seeing the world through her eyes.
3. What can the audience expect when they come to see this show?
The audience will get to experience one of my favorite phenomena in theater! With a play of only eight characters, you get to be fully immersed in their world. You feel like you are a part of their slightly dysfunctional theater family. You feel anxious when things aren’t working out and you get to laugh with and at the members of the cast, just like you do in your own family. And if you are going to fully immerse yourself into a dysfunctional family, it is always best to jump into one that makes you laugh.
4. What’s been your favorite part of the “Moon Over Buffalo” experience?
My favorite part has been just getting to perform again and practice doing the thing that I love. I had to stop doing plays for 13 years while I started a family. And now I have four beautiful children and the sacrifice was worth it. But when I auditioned for this play, I felt like I got a piece of my soul back. And every day I go to rehearsal, get to hang out with my new theater family and practice my craft, I feel like all of the pieces of my life have come together. I am just grateful to be here.
Gil Bazil of Hartland as George
1. Before this show, what’s been your favorite CTH role or other role that you’ve played in the past for another group?
It’s difficult to choose just one. Positive experiences come in so many forms, from the quality of the material, the depth of the message, the richness of a character that you might be charged with depicting, the camaraderie of the team working on the project, often just the simple joy of bringing a few smiles to an audience, and sometimes they all come together.
One that comes to mind was the CTH production “Our Town.” It represented a departure from the usual musicals that the group was doing at that time and was special for many reasons: Thornton Wilder’s script is a literary masterpiece, the director’s vision was wonderful, and I had the opportunity to play the character of Doc Gibbs, a small-town practitioner that I crafted as a tribute to my physician father.
2. Tell us about your character in “Moon Over Buffalo” and why you like playing this role.
I play George Hay, an over-the-hill, over-the-top actor in the twilight of a long stage career steeped in the classics and Shakespeare. The story takes place in 1953, during the time when competition from movies and now television have seriously impacted the survival of live theatre.
George, along with his wife Charlotte, runs a small theatre company that has been seemingly exiled from Broadway to the wilds of Buffalo, New York. The challenges from this, trying to break into movies, and a variety of unexpected problems sends him along with the whole company on a wild ride of hijinks, leading him to finally see what’s really important in his life. I have enjoyed working through the range of physical and acting challenges that bringing this character to the stage have presented.
3. What can the audience expect when they come to see this show?
The play is unmistakably farce with a great deal of physical comedy but also has clever, well written dialogue not always present in the genre. They can certainly expect to have a laugh-filled evening of entertainment. That said, there are also some intimate, reflective moments that might allow audience members to peek behind the curtain to answer, or perhaps question, why it is we love this crazy life of theatre.
4. What’s been your favorite part of the “Moon Over Buffalo” experience?
Definitely the joy of working with this wonderful and talented cast and staff. Everyone is hard working and dedicated to mutual support in the pursuit of crafting the best production we can. It has been a true privilege and I’m sure that our audiences will see this come through. I feel honored to have been a part of it.
Jennie Ross of Brighton as Ethel
1. Before this show, what’s been your favorite CTH role or other role that you’ve played in the past for another group?
I have been involved with community theatre for over 30 years and with CTH for about seven years in which I have been in the chorus of a couple of musicals and performed in several black box productions. It is hard to narrow down one role, each of them have had their uniqueness. A couple of roles that stood out for me: M’Lynn in “Steel Magnolias” and Bartha in “The Last 10 Miles of Avery J. Coping.”
2. Tell us about your character in “Moon Over Buffalo” and why you like playing this role.
I play Ethel, the mother of Charlotte and the Grandmother of Roslind. Ethel is the stage manager and seamstress for the theater group that Charlotte and her husband George run. I am not a big fan of my son-in-aw, but I love my Granddaughter immensely. I like playing this role because I am a comedic actor, I live for the laughs and my character has a lot of chances to make the audience laugh.
3. What can the audience expect when they come to see this show?
Lots of laughs! In and out of doors, mistaken identities, and lots of physical comedy. Be ready to laugh out loud!
4. What’s been your favorite part of the “Moon Over Buffalo” experience?
The cast, crew and production staff. We have been working hard together to make this show amazing! I also have a very comfortable costume and I get to wear a tiara in one scene!
Dan Squires as Richard
1. Before this show, what’s been your favorite CTH role or other role that you’ve played in the past for another group?
The only other role I’ve played at CTH was the blackbox show “The Last 10 Miles of Avery J Coping,” in which I played Avery. Most of my time at CTH has been involved with WCTH Radio hour. I’ve directed many radio hour’s since it’s inception. I’ve also worked tech and built sets.
2. Tell us about your character in “Moon Over Buffalo” and why you like playing this role.
I play Richard. He’s a successful theatrical lawyer and is accustomed to moving in the circles of stars and the Hay’s attorney. Arrogant, pretentious and used to having his way. Except when it comes to Charlotte, who he is in love with. The facade comes down in the presence of what in his heart he knows he can never have. But that doesn’t stop him from trying.
3. What can the audience expect when they come to see this show?
The audience can expect a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud, irreverent comedy about the inner lives of repertory theater.
4. What’s been your favorite part of the “Moon Over Buffalo” experience?
Being in a small cast of very talented actors dedicated to perfecting their characters and being the best they can on stage. And the vision of the director and whole crew coming to life. The play represents how theater creates family and we certainly are!
Cary Kalowick of Hartland as Charlotte
1. Before this show, what’s been your favorite CTH role or other role that you’ve played in the past for another group?
This is my first performance with CTH. I have performed several plays with The Hartland Players. My favorite roles would have to be “Masha” in a less known/popular play called, “Vanya, Sonya, Masha & Spike”, and the character of “Madge” in “The Game’s Afoot”, by the same author as “Moon Over Buffalo”, Ken Ludwig.
2. Tell us about your character in “Moon Over Buffalo” and why you like playing this role.
I have the privilege of playing Charlotte Hay. She is married to George, her partner in the repertory theater company they created over 30 years ago.
They both have large personalities and egos and both dream of “making it big” in the growing Hollywood industry of motion pictures. They long to finally being recognized for the incredible talent they (believe) are. They have hitched their wagon to each other and are willing to overlook a lot of each other’s faults to keep their bigger dream alive.
Charlotte is pushed to her limits with the events that unfold during the course of this one day. She is forced to self-reflect, re-evaluate her priorities make decisions. I can relate to Charlotte perhaps because we are in a similar stage of life. While our challenges may be different, life is a great equalizer
3. What can the audience expect when they come to see this show?
The audience can expect to take a small step backward in time. For some audience members, this “not-so-distant” time will perhaps trigger some familiar references and feelings. All guests will spend a couple of hours as “observers”, behind the curtain with of the members of a small theater family, some of whom happen to be related by blood, but a family nonetheless. They will see them struggle with insecurities, desires, priorities, consequences of actions and more.
4. What’s been your favorite part of the “Moon Over Buffalo” experience?
Getting the chance to know and work with an almost entirely new group of talented actors and production team members has been my the best part of this experience. I say “almost” because I have worked with Jennie Ross on several shows with The Hartland Players. She has done shows with CTH before, so having a friend on the set has been fun. She created a bridge for me to easily feel connected and comfortable.
In the end, the love theater was the common thread that helped individuals become a family in such a short time. Even after the curtain closes and the set is struck, I know that while I will miss spending time and laughing with friends, doing something we all love, we are all only one audition away from sharing the stage again.
