BIG ROCK

OPHO gi s t

Playful Parodies

The music of Fiddler on the Roof
has found its way into Christmas
Forbidden Christmas.

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M

ark David Kaplan, whose
stage interests were nur-
tured in Pennsylvania
as his parents led synagogue choirs,
joins the local troupe of Forbidden
Christmas at Detroit's Gem Theatre
Nov. 24-Dec. 31 and takes the part of
Tevye the Milkman to sing "If I Were
a Christian:' a parody of "If I Were a
Rich Man:'
The number joins with a string of
holiday spoofs.
"Vignettes parody all things
Christmas:' says Kaplan, 46, who
appeared at the Gem/Century
Theatres in a 1999 run of Forbidden
Hollywood and in the 2007 version of
Forbidden Christmas.
"We take different personalities or
things that have to do with Christmas
and parody lyrics to popular and
famous holiday and Broadway tunes:'
Joining Kaplan in rotating
through some 15 vignettes are Janet
Caine, Jennifer George Consiglio,
Jason Richards and Kimberly
Vanbiesbrouck. Among the stars being
mimicked are Britney Spears, Elvis,
Cher, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby
— all to the piano style of Ed Wells.
"It's poking fun with love:' says
Kaplan, who recently won Chicago's
2009 Joseph Jefferson Award for his
work in Forbidden Broadway Dances
With the Stars. "I'll also be performing
as Tony Bennett and the Grinch.
"We're constantly changing person-
alities and costumes for the vaude-
ville, variety style. The production
allows us to revisit material and work
on new material, and it's light and
frivolous:'
Kaplan, who has been cast in
Forbidden shows around the U.S.
and in other countries since 1995,
has veered into a number of produc-
tions since studying musical theater
at Syracuse University and settling in
Chicago.
Besides touring for three years in
The Lion King, he has taken roles on
regional stages in The 25th annual
Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the

Zucchini Bread 2.5 lb. loaf, $9

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Pint Raspberry Topping, $7.50

Mark David Kaplan

Forum and You're a Good Man, Charlie
Brown.
"Judaism always has been inter-
preted for me through music:' says
Kaplan, whose parents, also secular
music teachers, encouraged his stud-
ies of piano and French horn and
participation in community theater.
"Interpretation through music had a
lot to do with having a career in the-
ater and music?'
Kaplan, a cooking hobbyist who
enjoys making tzimmes and kugel
with his own noodles, has a long-term
partnership with Michael Camp, cur-
rently company manager for a produc-
tion of Wicked in California.
When the Detroit run of Forbidden
Christmas is completed, the actor will
be with a company staging a regional
run of Ragtime. He is to portray the
Jewish character Tateh.
An Actors Equity cardholder since
1986, Kaplan serves as a principal
board member for the Actor's Equity
Association.
"I love stretching the boundaries
of any performance:' says Kaplan,
who will be visiting with his West
Bloomfield cousin, Lori Sachs. "I love
the physical and vocal varieties I'm
able to employ?'

Forbidden Christmas will be
performed Nov. 24-Dec. 31 at
the Gem Theatre, 333 Madison,
in Detroit. Times vary for after-
noon and evening performances.
$19.75-$45. (313) 963-9800;
www.gemtheatre.com .

Deadline for ordering holiday pastries is Tuesday, November 24,2009 at noon.
For more information or to place your order, please contact
Laurie Dyja at Idyja@bigrockchophouse.com or at 248.647.7774.

248.6477774 • b grockchophousescom

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Novel. i er

2009

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