A Spirited Strut! Nostalgic holiday musical premieres at Gem Theatre in Detroit. Thanksgiving Feast with a French touch Tuesday, November 22 through Saturday, November 26 Suzanne Chessler Contributing Writer C elebration envy led to the development of The All Night Strut Holiday Show!, being staged Nov. 23-Dec. 31 at the Gem Theatre in Detroit. The two-act production, featuring two couples in song and dance, show- cases sounds of the swing era moved through the imagination of Fran Charnas. "As a young Jewish kid, I had a little Christmas envy," confesses Charnas, building on the success of her earlier production, The All Night Strut! (also staged at the Gem Theatre). "My best friend in high school was the oldest of eight kids in a Catholic family, and I spent one Christmas with them. "I loved that Christmas gave people time off to spend with their relatives and sing together. People just seemed their best selves at that time of year:' Charnas, past 40 and single, remem- bered those experiences and feelings when she joined them with the tradi- tions of musical theater and the big band sounds for the holiday show, which includes one Chanukah song, "Light One Candle." The production, focusing on the time period between the Depression and just beyond World War II, calls up jazz, blues, bebop and standards, representing legendary songwriters including Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Loesser and Duke Ellington. While the choreography spotlights the lindy hop, shag and tango, a med- ley incorporates songs like "I'll Be Home for Christmas" to bring the war and holidays together. "I cast the Detroit production in New York',' Charnas says. "I was instrumen- tal in the costumes, set designs and lighting. My associate, Gary Thompson, who'll be re-creating the show, is in communication with me every day." The Strut shows were begun at the prompting of a club owner in Cleveland, where Charnas was living. While he suggested a broader time span for a production, she proposed focusing on one era • chestnut soup • baguette with maple butter • turkey with Madeira sauce • bourbon sweet potato & apple casserole with pecan crust • brussel sprouts with toasted-hazelnut butter • ratatouille • French green beans, carrots, crispy pancetta, mushrooms & shallots in pistou sauce • mulberry Linzer torte with homemade mulberry mead & amaretto ice cream "As a young Jewish kid, I had a little Christmas envy." $45 plus drinks, tax & tip we have custom-roasted coffee, spirits, & a very select all-French wine list with the lowest prices in Michigan firm reservations only to (248) 541 1200 - — Fran Charnas "There were songs that came in and out [of the shows] over the years:' says Charnas, who enjoys antiquing. "The shows evolved. We even had a PBS special." The club owner connected with Charnas through a newspaper critic. An Ohio University theater gradu- ate with a master's degree in direct- ing from Boston's Emerson College, Charnas taught theater in Cleveland and had her own company sponsored by the school system and the city. She went on to work with other theaters and caught the attention of critics. "We played and traveled all over the country, and I began teaching at the Boston Conservatory, where I offer musical theater classes:' says Charnas, developing a production based on the life of Ethel Waters. "I've directed and created shows with my students. "The music in The All Night Strut Holiday Show! celebrates the richness of spirit during the times covered — when my parents were among the people who never felt sorry for them- selves. There's great sentiment in the music but no sentimentality." The All Night Strut Holiday Show! runs Nov. 23-Dec. 31 at the Gem Theatre, 333 Madison Ave., Detroit. Performances are 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Thursdays and 3 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. There are no shows on Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve and Day. $19.75- $44.50. (313) 963-9800; gemtheatre.com . 23421 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale between 9 8c-10 Mile Roads, nine blocks south of 1-696 on the west side, corner of Woodland. Parking in our adjacent lighted lot and on Woodland for all our menus & wine lists, follow us on Facebook at The French Gourmet - Ferndale Restaurant Ii. ti.ui Cuisine 248.476.0044 Buy onilunch or dinner entree 1 and get the second 1/2 off 1 Of equal or lesser value Not good with any other coupons Not good on holidays. One coupon per couple. , 1/15/12 15% of I total food bill I Not good with any other coupon One coupon per table. Exp 1/15/12 Farmington Hills • Corner of Grand River & Haggerty Road Auburn Hills • 1 I, miles south of the Palace of Auburn Hills 1 k94470 DON'T MISS THE HEALTH & FITNESS SECTION INSIDE THE JN THE LAST WEEK EVERY MONTH 4 -4 Call 248.351.5107 for more information November 17 • 2011 55