SIN Entertainment A Female Perspective On An American Bu alo JULIE SMITH YOLLES ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ndrea Lauren Krass, a 24-year-old Wayne State University theater ma- jor, first performed with her Barbie dolls at her Southfield home. "I was always the actress in the family and always overdramatic — as my mom tells me," reminisced Krass. "I always was the one to get all the attention." Now, the attention focused on Krass is for her twist on the role of Bobbi in An American Buffalo, which runs through this week- end at Wayne State's Studio Theatre. The story of a planned, but failed bank robbery of American buffalo-head nickels, American Buffalo (1975) marks playwright David Mamet's first major success. The play centers on characters in an underground world working within society, but against that society's socially accepted goals. It was re- vived with Al Pacino on and off Broadway and proclaimed as "the best American play of the decade," by the New York Times. Typically performed as a three-man play, An American Buffalo, under Heather Lechner's direction, features Krass in one of the title roles. "I chose to make `Bobbi' (Krass) a woman (the character is the male Bobby in the original), because today's women are an integral part of the business community in some positive and negative ways," said Lechner. "It (Bobbi's role) offers us some com- pelling dynamics within the play itself, exploring the relationship between men and women in the workplace as bosses, colleagues, confidants and suppliers of livelihood ... I do not think casting a woman in this role is so strange. Besides, have you not ever met a woman who scared you just a little?" To prepare for the complex role of Bobbi, Krass did research on heroin addiction, including speaking to several recovering drug addicts, watching documentaries and attending a drug rehabilitation recovery group. "Heather's a nontraditional director," said Krass. "She's helped me with my mul- tifaceted character, whom I see as a tough cookie on the outside. Inside, she's just mush, a little girl." • The dark side of business and character power wars are revealed in David Mamet's An American Buffalo featuring Andrea Lauren Krass of Southfield, Keir Cutler and J.D. House. Quilt, through December 10; Painting With Fire: Pewabic Vessels in the Margaret Wat- son Parker Collection. Pot- tery, paintings and lithographs, through Jan. 7. University of Michigan Museum of Art. (313) 764-0395. The PaineWebber Collec- tion of Contemporary Mas- ters. Collection includes es approximately 70 paintings, sculptures. and works on paper. Through Dec. 31. The Detroit In- stitute of Arts. (313) 833-7900. Thomas Cole: The Voyage of Life features a series of four paintings from the American artist. Through April 14. The De- troit Institute of Arts. (313) 833- 7900. Aspects of Realism. Michi- gan-area painters find their ex- pressive voices in realism. Through Dec. 15. Henry Ford Community College. 5101 Ever- green, Dearborn. (313) 271-2750. Nature Observed, Nature Interpreted. 19th century American Landscape Drawings and Watercolors. through Dec. 3 1_, :cThe Detroit Institute of Arts. (313) 833-7900. Gifts of Clay Holiday - % An American Buffalo will be performed at Wayne State University's Studio Theatre (downstairs at the Hilberry). Showtimes are at 8 p.m. tonight and Sat- urday, Dec. 8 and 9, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10. For tickets, call (313) 577- 2972. Show. Through Dec. 31. Pe- wabic Pottery. (313) 822-0954. COMEDY Kenny Rogerson. Through Dec. 10. 8:30 p.m. Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle, Royal Oak. (810) 542-9900. FAMILY Waginogan: The Gathering Place. A replica of an Indian "gathering place" has been cre- ated: Through May 5. 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Cran- brook Institute of Science. (810) 645-3224. Wild Lights. Through Dec. 30. Animal theme displays in lights. 5:30-8 p.m. The Detroit Zoo. (810) 541-5835. Babes in Toyland. Pre sented by The Bloomfield Play- ers Youth Theatre. Through Dec. 10. 7:30 p.m. Lahser High School, Bloomfield Hills. (810) 433-0885. FILM Festival of Animation '95. Fourteen recent. short animated films. 7 and 9:30 p.m. The De- troit Film Theatre. (313) 833- 2323. MUSIC Sugar Blue. 8 p.m. 7th House. 7 N. Saginaw, Pontiac. (810) 335-8100. The Tim Flaharty Trio with Nancy K. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. The En- voy Cafe, 33210 W. 14 Mile Road, West Bloomfield, (810) 855-6220. Oakland University Com- munity Chorus. 8 p.m. Oak- land University's Recital Hall. Rochester. (810) 370-3013. The John_ Denomme Trio, Jazz. 7 p.m. Borders Books and Music, Novi. (313) 347-0780. CALENDAR page 82 • • • • .. "••• . • . • • ... " .