Toll HO C TO HOMO Homegrown Talent The Jazz Gospel Messiah, 99 FAMILY 4 PACK! Royal Oak's Eric Gutman is part of the ensemble cast in Jersey Boys. Includes tickets and parking while quantity lasts! Sponsored Dg macR mime Records One show 01119! Saturgag December 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The Holing Event Thars "Too Hot To miss"! Eric Gutman: "I'm playing Norm, the bad guy, as well as a half dozen or so other roles." Presented by the Detroit Opera House and the Rackham Symphony Choir With tenor Rodrick Dixon, Soprano Atfreda Burke, Alto Karen Marie Richardson. Joined by Alvin Waddles, piano, Dave Taylor, drums, Marion Hayden, bass and the Too Hot Orchestra. Conducted by Suzanne Mallare Acton FREE! PRE-PERFORMANCE CHAT WITH THE ARTISTS AT 7:00 P.M. For Group Sales, Call 313.404.0222 New This Year! Take the "Too Hot" Express from Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe on Kercheval to the Opera House, Just $15 Round Trip. Call 313.404.0222 for details. Suzanne Chessler Special to the Jewish News E ric Gutman has been in the ensemble cast of Jersey Boys on Broadway, in Chicago and along stops on a lengthy tour, but his upcoming run in Detroit is anticipated as the most dramatic experience on a very personal level. Gutman, who grew up listening to the singing of his grandfather, Cantor David Gutman of Temple Beit Kodesh in Livonia, soon will be singing as the 97-year-old joins an audience watch- ing the Tony Award-winning produc- tion at the Fisher Theatre. "After three years of being in the show, I find it awesome that my grandfa- ther will be seeing it:' says Gutman, 32, based in Royal Oak and pursuing stage work amid business opportunities. "My grandfather always has given me his full support, and that's meant a great deal over the years:" The show, which spotlights about 30 songs as it follows the lives of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, includes Gutman performing in nearly 80 per- cent of the numbers. During some of the songs, the ensemble singers are backstage adding harmonies and giv- ing the effects of recordings. "I'm playing Norm, the bad guy, as well as a half dozen or so other roles:' explains Gutman, who earned a fine arts degree from Western Michigan University and has appeared locally in Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back and Forbidden Christmas. "The bad guy is kind of a fun departure for me:' Norm loans money to the group's guitarist, Tommy, who uses the cash to indulge in gambling. Norm also goes between Tommy and other lenders and has to find ways to get the money back. "The great part of the musical is that it's a true story about four blue collar kids who came together and [established themselves] in pop music history," says Gutman, who also has been in the cast of Tony n' Tina's Wedding in New York. "It's a dramatic story with great humor, and I think people will relate to the characters and the problems they have as they become superstars:' Gutman has met the three surviving members of the Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio and Tommy DeVito. Gutman, who started with Jersey Boys for the national tour, moved on to Broadway for a year. He returned to Michigan so his wife, Sarah, could deliver their daughter, Riley, close to family and friends. Soon after the birth, he was asked to join the Chicago troupe and left that company to appear in Detroit. "Dawn" is one of Gutman's favorite songs in the show. He likes the up- tempo sounds and the visual effects in the staging at the end of the number. "The music of the Four Seasons is pretty close to the kind of music Detroit lived and breathed back in the big days of Motown," Gutman says. "They talk about Detroit in the musicar Jersey Boys runs Dec. 17-Jan. 23 at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. Show times and ticket information: (313) 872-1000; www.BroadwayinDetroit.com . DETROIT Home of lAchigen Opera Theatre David DiChiera. General Director' FOR TICKETS AND PRE-PAID PARKING CALL 313.237.SING or visit michiganopera.org `Tod HatTo Harder made poesi* by lark Aver ue Recces 10-voi 0 The Pre Party" First Seating - 7:30pm $65 per person ++ 4-Course Dinner 7 6 5 "The Party" Second Seating - 9:30pm $85 per person ++ 4-Course Dinner Champagne Mast at Midnight Party Favors Live Entertainment 3 2 For New Years Eve Reservations Call 313-962-9366 • Mosaic Gift Card', make the Perfect Holiday Gift MOSAIC 2010 ,4„.4110 4 501 Monroe Street. Greektown Detroit 1'v1148226 www mosaic-detroit corn December 3 • 2009 47