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Finding Her Niche

Next Fall actress is happy to be
pursuing a career close to home.

Teaching's theater program at the
University of Michigan, which uses
drama for teaching enhancements, has
Ann Arbor
pursued acting and singing interests
since elementary school. She was a
s many regional theaters
camper at Interlochen for five sum-
slow down for the summer,
mers and appeared in community
the Performance Network
theater.
Theatre in Ann Arbor moves ahead
With a degree in communica-
with Next Fall, a drama just leaving
Broadway.
tions and theater arts from Eastern
Geoffrey Nauffts' play, running June
Michigan University, Myers also works
2-July 3, confronts the lives of a same- with the Blackbird Theatre and sings
sex couple holding differing religious
with Accidentally Hip, a swing band.
beliefs and fac-
She met her hus-
band, Will Myers, at
ing a medical
Eastern, where he
crisis.
also prepared for a
Adam
(Andrew Huff)
theater arts career.
doesn't under-
Appearing in
stand how Luke
Little Shop of
Horrors has been
(Kevin Young)
can remain a
the actress's most
devout Christian
recent work with
Performance
still believing
he has to keep
Network.
silent about sex-
"By day, I employ
ual orientation.
actors in the univer-
Luke fears the
sity program, and
destiny of his
by night, I pursue
atheist partner.
Courtney Myers: "Early on, I
my own acting
After Luke
had aspirations t o go to bigger
career': says Myers,
mother of Elyse, 6.
experiences a
markets."
life-threatening
"I'm very satisfied
accident, family
with where my theater
and friends meet for the first time in
career is taking me.
a hospital waiting room in the pro-
"Early on, I had aspirations to go to
duction that recalls five years of the
bigger markets, but I fell in love with
couple's relationship.
Ann Arbor and wanted to be close to
"Next Fall tells a beautiful and
family. I like that I don't have to audi-
contemporary story about love, corn-
tion so heavily anymore. People know
mitment, religion and family': says
me and call me:"
Courtney Myers, 32, who plays Holly,
Myers recently had fun as an extra
the employer of both men in a New
in The Ides of March, a George Clooney
York candle shop.
film shot locally.
"With the modern story having age-
"I think that audiences will find
old questions, I think the play makes
Next Fall considers all sides of really
audiences think how they feel about
difficult issues:' she says, "and does so
the subjects and how people in gen-
in a really lovely way."
eral relate to one another. It has a lot
of heart with a ton of humor."
Myers, who grew up in Jackson and
Next Fall runs June 2-July 3
was active with the Reform Temple
at the Performance Network
Beth Israel there, relates to her char-
Theatre, 120 E. Huron, in Ann
acter by being close in age and having
Arbor. Performances are at
friendships with gay men.
8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays,
"I love that Holly is a searcher': she
2 p.m. Sundays and 3 p.m.
says. "Of all the people in the play, she
Saturdays, June 18 and July
hasn't decided what she believes and
2. $22-$41, with discounts for
is constantly in search of more faith
seniors, members, students and
and belonging."
groups. (734) 663-0681;
Myers, managing director of the
performancenetwork.org .
Center for Research on Learning and

Suzanne Chessler
Contributing Writer

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