Arts I Life Uses Kosher products in separate kitchen HAIRSPRAY from page 61 S&Zeee. Veadat Wishes everyone a Happy Passover LAST MINUTE FOR PASSOVER ORDERS CALL (248) 855-9463 Nibbles and Nuts PASSOVER WINE SALE Passover Gifts chrieraws Nuts, Chocolates & Dried Fruit Trays Nationwide Delivery DELI BASKET 248-855-9463 248-737-8088 ■ www.NibblesandNuts-com 32418 Northwestern Hwy., between I4 & Middlebelt 4, = www.vineyarddeli.com Rosalie Beer: "I have to decide these things on a gut feeling." Now Open Fridays for Lunch SPOSITA'S r OFF 10% RISTORANTE TOTAL FOOD BILL Fine Italian Dining in a Casual Atmosphere OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! OUR NEW HOURS Theatre in May, although she declined to invest in the 2003 Broadway produc- tion of that show. It was a wise decision because the show closed and lost money. "I have to decide these things on a gut feeling," she explains. "I think the road version will be better here. Investing is often like going to the casino; you're tak- ing chances, and you have to be lucky." Licht's first investment was in a show called Baby 22 years ago, in which he made money after a long time period. He followed that investment with The (MON-THURS. ONLY) PLEASE PRESENT THIS COUPON TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT! ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER • EXPIRES 05/31/05 am ow gm Mt MIN onda -Thursda 4pm- 1 Opm Friday I am- 11 pm Saturday 4pm- 11pm Sunday 3pm-9pm 33210 W. 14 Mile Road In Simsbury Plaza Just East of Farmington Road West Bloomfield SPOSITITS1 RISTORANTE (248) 538-8954 962510 Wishing our friends and family a healthy Passover Temporarily closed due to a kitchen fire Sorry for the inconvenience Look for re-opening end of April • A brand new look • New menu with new menu items • Same great waitstaff iTN 4/21 2005 62 22921 Northwestern Hwy (Corner of 12 Mile Southfield Rd.) 248.358.2353 966630 Real Thing Hurly Burly, Angels in America, The Odd Couple (male and female versions) and other shows. "But The Producers and Hairspray have been my most rewarding investments," he said. "I've added money for the tour versions in London, Australia and two road companies in North America." He'll also be involved in the planned movie of Hairspray, the Musicah by New Line Cinema. "Historically, the movie always has made the stage show even more popular," he said. "Chicago is a classic example of that." No Biz Like Show Biz Beer and Licht figure they have a 70 percent success rate in their overall investments — "and some shows return six or eight times the original amount of money," Licht beamed. Both investors attend New York open- ing nights free and meet the star per- formers but have to pay for tickets if they see the shows again. Beer has seen The Producers six times. Licht also has attended several Tony Award shows and other show business events in New York. Beer and her husband are active sup- porters of the Jewish Ensemble Theatre in West Bloomfield; she helps advise JET on new playwrights and scripts. The couple attend the opera, Hilberry Theatre and just about any stage show they hear about in the Detroit area. "I have the Playbill of every theater production I've seen since 1969," she mused. "And I own posters of all the shows I've invested in." Her advice: "Anyone who doesn't attend the theater is really missing out; there's great passion and excitement in the live theater." Hairspray will bring some of that excitement to the Masonic. The show will maintain the tradition of having a man play the role of Tracy Turnblad's mother, Edna. He is J.P. Dougherty, who gets his big chance after being an understudy for the role for almost three years to Jewish actor Harvey Fierstein, who won a Tony Award for the part. (Fierstein's now playing Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway.) Dougherty previously played Thenardier, the "mas- ter of the house," in Les Miserables. Ron Licht: "The Producers" and "Hairspray" have been my most reward- ing investments." Tracy is played by Keala Settle of Hawaii, who's been acting since the age of 2. The original Tracy was Marissa Jaret Winokur, a relatively unknown Jewish actress who shot to stardom in the role and also won a Tony. Two Detroiters in the cast are Leonard Sullivan as Thad and Brent Davin Vance as Duane. Sullivan graduated from Western Michigan University and Vance is a Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines dance veteran. ❑ Hairspray opens Tuesday, April 26, at Detroit's Masonic Temple Theatre and plays through Sunday, May 15. Performances are 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets, at $33- $75.50, may be purchased at the box office, (313) 872-1000; through Ticketmaster, (248) 656- 6666; or on the Web at www.NederlanderDetroit.com .