Special menu for the cost and calorie-conscious.
has had security problems at the loca-
tion, and promotes harmony among
residents in the neighborhood by
inviting them to see a show at no cost.
In fact, anyone attending the preview
night of a performance is invited to
just "pay what you can."
The group keeps in touch with
patrons and sponsors through a newslet-
ter distributed to about 3,000 people.
The first season at the location last
year featured a kickoff bash followed
by performances of Something Wicked
This Way Comes (the troupe's version
of Macbeth) and The Government
Inspector.
But the season was cut short when a
city water main burst, flooding the
building and causing significant dam-
age. "Everything has been repaired and
cleaned up, and we're ready to go
again," Block enthused. "Our goal is
to produce plays and workshops that
encourage new ways for artists — and
audiences — to create, define and
experience theater.
"The artists have the freedom to
improvise and change the writer's
work up to two weeks before opening
night, when we have to cut it off and
rehearse the final production."
Bodyland will be followed Oct. 26-
28 by artist Tim Miller's Glory Box, a
humorous, sexy and politically charged
chronicle of same-sex couples' struggle
for immigration rights in the United
States.
There also will be musical shows,
classes and workshops, including a
mask-making workshop Nov. 10 and
17 for children ages 6-11.
Born in Detroit, Block, 38 and sin-
gle, admits she enjoyed sports more
than the arts as a youngster. Her
father, Alan Block, was in the steel
business and died at age 50. Her
mother is Elaine Block Victor of West
Bloomfield.
Erika attended Bloomfield Hills'
Andover High School and the
University of Michigan, graduating
with a bachelor of art degree in gener-
al studies.
Spurred on by winning one of U-
M's noted Hopwood Awards for cre-
ative writing, she obtained a master's
degree in playwriting at Columbia
University and taught English at U-M.
"My parents always observed the
Jewish holidays and traditions and I
had a bat mitzvah at Temple Kol Ami.
My parents were strong believers in
civil liberties for everyone and fought
for social justice, and they always were
very supportive of my career as a
writer and director," said Block.
Block met Ramsden, 47, an actress
and teacher in London, and they for-
mulated the idea for Walk & Squawk.
By then, Block had become a prolific
scriptwriter. She also worked at the
Village Voice newspaper in New York's
Greenwich Village, and even did a
stint as a paralegal at a Wall Street law
firm.
"During that time, I evolved from a
writer to a director and a producer as
well," Block related, "and began work-
ing more closely with actors to
demonstrate how images and move-
ment are so important to the presenta-
tion of a script."
Block has written numerous scripts,
and has been a playwright-in-resi-
dence, lecturer and director for theater
groups and colleges throughout the
country. Last year, she was one of six
directors selected for the National
Endowment for the Arts/Theatre
Communications Group Career
Development Program.
In 1999, she was chosen as a short-
listed artist for Artists & Communities,
a Millennium project of the National
Endowment for the Arts. She also has
received three Creative Artist Grants
from ArtServe Michigan.
One of Walk & Squawk's best-
known productions was 1998's
This menu is not available after 5 p.m. on Saturdays,
or with any other specials (coupons) or during the month of December.
All entrees served with Soup or Salad and S.a•hetti
Skewered cubes of Tenderloin,
fresh peppers and onions served
over a bed of spanish rice.
S
5 9 93
BUTTERFLY PASTA
MANDARIN
SPINACH SALAD
Finely sliced boneless breast of
chicken lightly sauteed in olive oil
with gar ic, peppers and basil
tossed with tarfalla pasta.
5995
Fresh spinach, mandarin oranges
and pine nuts ladled with our
raspberry vinaigrette dressing
S850
SANDWICHES
Sliced beef tenderloin sandwich
covered in our famous "ZIP" sauce.
5950
And many more delicious dishes!
Our regular menu is also available.
248-373-4440
Call us for details and reservations
885 Opdyke Road (Across from the Silverdome)
Serving memorable Italian lunches and dinners since 1939
Monday Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. • Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. • Sunday 12 noon to 9 p.m.
-
The Theatre Company
Inhlanzi Ishelwe Amanzi — As Fish
Out of Water, the result of the three
months Block and Ramsden spent as
guest artists at the University of Natal
in South Africa. They returned to
Michigan with 10 South African per-
formers and staged the show in sever-
al locations over six weeks.
The organization has five staff
members, and two other member's of
the area's Jewish community recently
joined the ensemble: Jeffrey Steiger of
Ann Arbor, who is an actor and
director, and Tara Rubinstein, an
apprentice actress, who performed at
Ann Arbor's Community High
School.
"It's refreshing to be here as a per-
former," said Rubenstein, "because
we have freedom of expression, and
we re encouraged to be creative and
help shape new plays."
The Walk & Squawk
Performance Project stages
Bodyland Oct. 11-Nov. 11 at the
Furniture Factory, 4126 Third
St., (between Alexandrine and
Willis), Detroit. Preview is at 8
p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11; pay
what you can. Other perform-
ances are 8 p.m. Fridays and
Saturdays, S24; and 4 p.m.
Sundays, $18. (313) 832-8890.
BEEF SHISH KABOB
OSSO BUCCO
Veal Shank slowly marinated
in a seasoned vegetable
sauce served over rice.
at the University of Detroit Mercy
The Best of Italian Cuisine
Ol n pub chk 2 FULL DINNER1
iu of ENTREES OR I
% LUNCH ENTREES
OFF
I 1
-•
FREE SOUP
OR
SALAD W/LUNCH
I
L
I
OFF
FREE APPETIZER W/PURCHASE
OF 2 FULL DINNER ENTREES I
(Mon. - Thurs. only.Z___
Enjoy Our New Chef From Tuscany
Catering, Weddings, Parties, Birthday Parties and Carry Out Available
Open for Lunch
Mon-Fri 11:30-2:30
1
DINNER
RISTORANTE
SUGAR TREE PLAZA
Mon-Thurs 4:30-10:00
Fri-Sat 4:30-11:00
Sun 4:30-9:00
6263 ORCHARD LAKE RD., N. OF 15 • WEST BLOOMFIELD • (248) 855-3993
10/5
2001
73