0
"It's almost unheard of for a com-
munity theater to take a chance on
a new play by a relatively unknown
playwright, so I am especially
appreciative that the Village Players
wanted to go ahead and work on this
project."
Feinstein, who taught English at
Oakland University and later estab-
lished a second career as a substance
abuse therapist, has thought of play-
writing as much more than a hobby.
He tests his projects during meetings
of Playwrights at Work, a group of
seven who critique members' scripts.
Affiliating with Playwrights at
Work helped realize the upcom-
ing production. The writers use the
facilities of Village Players for meet-
ings, and members of Village Players
volunteer to act out the dialogue.
After learning about Feinstein's play,
the troupe decided to stage it.
"The characters represent people
I've known and cared about:' says
Feinstein, married to Temple Kol
Ami administrator Brenda Brook. "I
helped director Laurie Fundukian do
the casting."
Aztec actors include George Moore
as Danny, Benn Perry as Walter,
Maureen Cook as Danny's wife Joyce,
Joan Reddy as Helen, Del Moore as
Victoria, Leslie Thompson as Allie
and Elizabeth Berry as Lila.
Feinstein, who writes every day
and has studied theater writing at
the university level and in work-
shops, is beginning a play about a
dentist who develops a script for his
family to act out at a birthday party.
After living in New York and
California, Feinstein moved to
Michigan about seven years ago. He
has had other work represented in
a staged reading presented by Ed
Asner, and his scripts also have been
read in programs planned by the
Jewish Ensemble Theatre and the Los
Angeles Jewish Community Center.
"I hope the production of The Last
of the Aztecs serves as encourage-
ment for the Village Players to do
more new plays by emerging writers:'
says Feinstein, of West Bloomfield. "I
also hope it will encourage other local
community theaters to take the plunge
with other area playwrights." II
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Steve Guttenberg, 47, was a
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His career hasn't been exactly
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Not widely known is
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Steve Guttenberg
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He explained: "It's about this
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