`The Robber Bridegroom' The Theatre Company stages Uhry musical fantasy. "We haven't done a musical comedy in some time, so we thought we'd begin with one that has country music and dancing," says director Arthur Beer. "We'll have a guitar player on stage as well as a syn- laywright Alfred Uhry has written about thesized score. Our cast will be able to learn the Southern Jewish culture in Driving Miss choreography rather quickly because it Daisy, The Last Night of involves square dancing and reels." but Parade, Ballyhoo and The play, based on a novella by Eudora his focus has been less ethnic with Welty, has script and lyrics by Uhry with The Robber Bridegroom, a musical music composed by Robert Waldman. It about a make-believe South of long brought Uhry a Tony nomination when first ago. produced in New York some 30 years ago. The fantasy production, being Uhry, who grew up in Georgia's Jewish staged through April 4 by the community, graduated from Brown Theatre Company of the University and early on was hired as a lyri- University of Detroit Mercy, is a cist for Broadway icon Frank-Loesser. His bawdy fairytale set in 18th-century skills as a comedy writer were used on the Mississippi. Romance and proceed- television shows Hootenanny and That ings that go awry because of mis- Was the Week That Was. While seeking taken identities bring the melodra- Uhry: Pulitzer, Tony and writing opportunities for both stage and ma some humor. Osca•-winning w riter film, Uhry worked as a high-school SUZANNE CHESSLER Special to the Jewish News ro teacher and college instructor in New York. The cast for this production of The Robber Bridegroom features Sarah Shirkey as Rosamund, a rich planter's daughter being pursued by three suit- ors. Peter Proutz plays Jamie Lockhart, a merchant and robber of the woods. Megan Messmer portrays Rosamund's evil stepmother, while Patrick Gough takes the role of Little Harp, who shows another criminal personality. Harold Jurkiewicz, stage manager at the West Bloomfield-based Jewish Ensemble Theatre, appears in the role of Clemment Musgrove, Rosamund's father, a character he played in sum- mer stock at the Gateway Playhouse on Long Island. "I like the charm of the piece and the country music," Jurkiewicz says. "It really is a lot of fun." 17 The Theatre Company performs The Robber Bridegroom 8 p.m. Thursdays- Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through April 4, at the McAuley Theatre, 8200 W. Outer Drive, Detroit. $12/$10 seniors/$8 students. (313) 993-6461. that has to keep on changing. I think it's great to bring out information in an entertaining way, and I've heard that women feel connected by watching this." - The musical, written by Jeanie Linders, debuted just three years ago running. It starts with four women fighting for Off-Broadway, where it is still bargains at a lingerie sale and takes them through the shared knowledge of hot flashes, chocolate binges and other signs of change with the help of 26 classic baby-boomer songs given new lyrics. "Most women know intuitively that every other woman is experiencing memory loss, night sweats or hot flashes, but when they are in a theater with many other women — not just a few friends who are sympathetic by nature — and all are laughing and shouting, `That's me!' then they become a sisterhood," Linders says. The 90-minute musical, co-directed by Kathryn Conte and Patty Bender, has a live band with musical arrangements by C.T. Hollis. The cast features PJ Jenkinson as an Iowa housewife, Rhonda Freya as a powerful executive, Judy Dery as a hippie turned earth mother and Kim Vanbiesbrouck as a soap star. Although different in personalities, the characters find that menopause gives them common ground. Linders, who has worked with arts development and advertising for 30 years, says the musical was inspired by a hot flash and bottle of wine. She believes women should look at menopause as the beginning of an exciting new phase of life. "Facing menopause in groups can be very bonding," King says. "Let's take it out of the closet." Li `Menopause The Musical' Musical parody set to classic baby boomer songs heralds the not-so-silent passage. SUZANNE CHESSLER Special to the Jewish News Jr an King, who tries to lighten the heavy experience of menopause by responding with jokes, looks forward to learning how others have respond- ed by setting their midlife crisis to music. King, author of When You're Hot, You're Hot: How I Laughed My Way Through Menopause, explained her outlook at Michigan's Jewish Book Fair just a couple of years ago, and she is looking out for the time when Menopause The Musical comes to a stage close to her California home. The production begins March 17 at Detroit's Gem Theatre, where, dur- ing its open-ended run, audience mem- bers can attend a pre- show cheese, fruit and wine reception or a post-show dessert, coffee and meet-and- greet with the cast. "I've heard that women go in groups to see this, and I hope to do the same," King says. "Menopause was seen for too long as a taboo subject, and Celebrating "the change" Menopause The Musical opens March 17 at the Gem Theatre, 333 Madison Ave., in Detroit. Performances are 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. $39.50/$36.50 for groups of 10-14; $10 for pre-show party/$7 for post-show party. (313) 963-9800. 3/19 2004 43