And Now Starring In...

rom performing with the Associates Design Scholarship
Gilbert and Sullivan Soci- winner. A third-year master of
ety in Ann Arbor, singing fine arts candidate in costume de-
roles in Quilt and Falsettos sign at the University of Michi-
gan in Ann Arbor, Baum
and appearances with
has designed the cos-
the Detroit Together
tumes for this weekend's
Men's Chorus in
production of Shake-
Ferndale, one could say
speare's romantic come-
that Southfield resident
dy Twelfth Night at the
Jay Kaplan is Mr. Mu-
Lydia Mendelssohn The-
sical.
atre in Ann Arbor.
That's why he audi-
Baum • collaborated
JULIE SMITH
tioned for My Favorite
with Twelfth Night di-
YOLLES
Year at Village Players
rector Philip Kerr to base
in Birmingham. The
ARTS &
My Favorite Year that ENTERTAINMENT the creative focus on Il-
lyria, the city in which
Kaplan stars in is the
EDITOR
Twelfth Night is set — "a
musical version of the
dream world, a state of
1982 film that featured
Richard Benjamin as young Jew- mind."
"We wanted to keep the look
ish sitcom writer Benjy Stone
(Kaplan's role) and Peter OToole modern, but didn't want any of
as Alan Swann, swashbuckler the characters to look like any-
film star, womanizer and drunk. one you'd see walking down the
"In my work, I see human suf- street," said Baum. "We also used
fering," said Kaplan. "Unfortu- the term 'heightened reality' to
nately, it is sometimes not caused help us communicate our vision
by a decline in health, but the ig- of Illyria. I turned to high-fash-
norance and prejudice of other ion magazines for my inspiration
individuals toward people with to create a modern, yet unusual
HIV," explained Kaplan, who is world."
Baum's extensive costume de-
an attorney with the Michigan
Protection and Advocacy Ser- sign credits include Prelude to the
vice's HIV/AIDS Advocacy Pro- Afternoon of a Faun, The Glass
gram (HAPP). "Having an Menagerie, The Merry Wives of
outside activity like this keeps Windsor and The Most Happy
you going and gives you hope and Fella at U-M. Regionally, her the-
ater designs have been seen in
something to look forward to."
productions at the Intrepid The-
e Audiences can look forward atre Company in Chicago, the Ol-
to seeing the musical My Fa-
ney Theatre in Maryland and the
vorite Year with Kaplan, Lin-
Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
da Hanamell and Joel Fabian
Baum also was the 1992 recipi-
at Village Players, 752 Chest-
ent of the University of Mary-
nut Street, two blocks south of
land's Conrad Scholarship for
Maple Road, in Birmingham.
Outstanding Achievement in
Performances are at 8 p.m. Fri-
Theater.
days and Saturdays, Dec. 1, 2,
e Twelfth Night runs this
8 and 9; and 2 p.m. Sunday,
weekend
at 8 p.m. tonight and
Dec. 3. Tickets are $12 for
tomorrow and 2 p.m. Sunday.
adults and $10 for students.
The Lydia Mendelssohn The-
Call (810) 644-2075.
atre is located in the Michigan
League Building on the central
Designing Woman
campus at U-M, Ann Arbor.
Tickets are $12 and $16; $6 for
Always one to make a fashion
students. Call (313) 764-0450.
statement, Sarah Baum is a 1995
University of Michigan Theatre

F

4260 Exr.
(810
642-
oR -fickie.T MR;

241

It's My Favorite Year, 1954, with (left to right) Linda Hammell, Joel Fabian, Jay

Kaplan, Kathy Sadlier and Warren Reinecker.

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c.7

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