Accommodating
On Stage

1 :1

aper Bag Productions (PBP)
packages plays that hap-
pen to be accommodating
to observant Jewish young-
sters wanting to be part of
a nonsectarian theater
troupe. Its current musi-
cal, Rip Van Winkle, ap-
peals to enthusiastic
performers and audiences, as
well.
With luncheon shows engag-
ing different casts on Saturdays
and Sundays, performers be-
tween the ages of 7 and 18 and

ers, working for JoAnn Lamun,
who disbanded her group after
deciding to move out of state.
Building on his experiences
with the discontinued troupe, Mr.
Nodus also has the young PBP
actors and actresses serve lunch
to audiences gathered at the
Players Club, 3321 East Jeffer-
son in Detroit.
Scott Lenter, 12, who has the
part of Rip Jr., is a veteran per-
former. In his fifth PBP show, he
also has taken the stage for
shows put on by the Jewish En-

family-filled audiences have the
chance to involve themselves
with the Sunday production and
still keep Shabbat.
Seven Jewish youngsters di-
vided between both ensembles
join 35 other young entertainers
to present this season's classic
story adapted by producer/direc-
tor C.J. Nodus, the 1991 founder
of the theater company.
Mr. Nodus had been music di-
rector for the Peanut Butter Play-

semble Theatre, Birmingham Vil-
lage Players, Nancy Gurwin
Productions and Abbott Middle
School in West Bloomfield, where
he is in the seventh grade.
Scott, whose dream is to be a
TV game-show host, has been in-
terested in theater since he was
a kindergartner.
"Rip Van Winkle is a great
play," said Scott, who also has
been in The Wizard of Oz, Babes
in Toyland and Peter Pan. "I like

Sunday shows
help a
children's
theater group
attract Jewish
actors and
audiences.

SUZANNE CHESSLER

PHOTO BY BILL GEM MELL

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

dience smile."
Although this is her first PBP
play, she has appeared with oth-
er community theater groups, in-
cluding Tedd E. Bear Productions
and the West Bloomfield Youthe-
atre.
Kimberly, 12, a sixth-grader at
Abbott, also has appeared with
other theater groups and is in her
second Paper Bag Production,
this time appearing as the maid.
Although neither sister plans
to make theater a career, both
hope to continue with it as a spe-
cial interest.
"I have a photographic
memory so it's easy for me to
learn lines," Kimberly said.
"When I'm serving lunch, I
feel that I'm just playing an-
other role."
Stephanie Sherline, 9, a
fourth-grader at Roosevelt El-
ementary School in Keego
Harbor, is part of a commu-
nity-theater family. Her par-
ents and brother have
appeared on stage or helped
behind the scenes.
In Rip Van Winkle, she
plays a dog named Wolf and
has to go around barking.
"I had a little trouble with
the part in the beginning,"
Stephanie said. "I asked about
five people how they would
bark, and they all told me to
growl."
Not limited to portraying
an animal, Stephanie also
plays a townsperson and has
a couple of lines.
Regardless of the group for
which she performs — Bloom-
field Players or Nancy Gur-
win Productions, among
others — Stephanie likes to
make people laugh. If she de-
Marissa Shuback cides against a theater career,
she might become a cartoon-
Palter share an in- hands a cup to
ist.
terest in theater and Laura Nanes,
While Laura Nanes, as
enjoy being together with Brian Haber
looking on, in
while making new Rip Van Winkle. chief of the gnomes, has fun
acting, she also likes to think
friends through Pa-
of the experience as instruc-
per Bag Productions.
"I have lots of friends, but I al- tive, giving her a perspective on
ways have my sister," said Jessi- the history of the time in which
ca, 9, a fourth-grader at Doherty the play is set.
A sixth-grader at Berkshire
Elementary School in West
Bloomfield. "I play a gnome and Middle School in Birmingham,
a townsperson, and I like getting the 11- year-old Southfield resi-
up on stage and making the au- STAGE page 78

the kids, and I like the fact that
we're close to each other."
Scott thinks it's fun meeting
members of the audience as he
serves them a hot dog (or salad
for those eating kosher), chips,
apple, cookie and beverage, the
standard meal that comes with
the admission price.
"Knowing that people are pay-
ing attention to my every move-
ment is what I like about being
on stage," said Scott, who will cel-
ebrate his bar mitzvah in May.
Sisters Jessica and Kimberly

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