EASER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC Presents Easier Jazz Celebration with Alexander Zonjic, his award winning band and special guests Jeff Lorber & Chuck Loeb Sunday April 20, 2014 7:00pm Cast of Sister Act Tour Talented Jews make up the creative team behind Sister Act. I Suzanne Chessler Contributing Writer D irector Jerry Zaks was afraid of nuns as a young child after seeing a large group walking together in the Catskills. Then again, he was afraid of the rabbis when he started Hebrew school. Neither reaction lasted very long. Now, many decades later, he has directed a musical comedy about nuns, Sister Act, and believes it will be touching and funny for Jewish audi- ences. The show runs April 22-May 4 at the Fisher Theatre. "The story takes two people who couldn't be more different from each other and puts them through a won- derful journey," Zaks says in a phone conversation from New York. "At the end, they find out that they have much more in common as human beings than they don't have in common. "I'm a proud Jew who loves telling a good story, and I love telling a good story on stage. Whether they're nuns or any other group, as long as they're hon- esty portrayed, I feel totally at home The plot involves disco diva Deloris Van Cartier after she witnesses a murder. Put into protective custody disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with the rigid convent lifestyle and Mother Superior. As she inspires the choir, she is discovered but is assisted by the sisterhood. "I love the [Whoopi Goldberg] movie ver- sion, but we had to do something different to translate the story to stage," says Zaks, the son of Holocaust survivors. Jerry Zaks "We wanted to make the Mother Superior learn as much about herself as Deloris learned about herself, and we had to figure out a way for our nuns to sing and dance without looking ridicu- lous and without being disrespectful. "In the movie, all the music was existing tracks of songs of the day. In the play, we've got an original score by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater; says Zaks. The duo was nominated for a 2011 Tony Award for Best Score of a Musical. "This is a show about Roman Catholic nuns in which two of the book writers (Cheri and her husband Bill Steinkellner) — and the composer, and Glenn Slater the lyricist, and the director — were all Jewish," Slater told Playbill.com in an interview when the musical opened. "So we bring a slightly skewed point of view. "I did a lot of research and went to several church services and took a lot of notes," he added. "I studied up on my saints and tried to get as much of the language into my system as I could." "Members of the audience who have seen the movie but not the play are often surprised because of all the new music; adds Zaks. "Inevitably, they get involved with the characters because the show has a life of its own and takes off with them:' Zaks, who has directed more than 30 New York productions and has received four Tony Awards, considers Sister Act in line with his stage credits, including Guys and Dolls, A Bronx Tale and The Addams Family, the last two most recently toured to Michigan. "My favorite shows bring joy to audi- ences and weave a spell that allows them to forget everything else for two hours:' Zaks says. "I like to think that Sister Act does that with a story that's pretty universal and will affect every- one regardless of religious beliefs:' A Jeff Lorber TICKETS ONLY the Fisher Theatre. Curtain times are 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets start at $40. (313) 872-1000; broadwayindetroit.com . $30 Trenton Village Theatre 2447 W. Jefferson Trenton, MI 48183 1905840 Go to www.clypac.com for tickets or more info call 313-964-5050 Try Our New Boneyard Beef Ribs! e ,Orlginal Orchard Lake Rd. South of 14 Mile Excluding tax, tip and beverages • With this ad Dine in only • Expires 4/24/14 JN Farmington Hills 851-7000 Catering for all Occasions • Carry-Out • Our Speciality "Low Carb Ribs & Chicken & Lamb Ribs" Buy $100 worth of gift cards and get a $20.00 Complimentary gift card for yourself 1 .!! Kids Eat Free Monday Restaurant ❑ Sister Act runs April 22-May 4 at Chuck Loeb Alexander Zonjic Italian Cuisine 248.476.0044 Buy on- lunch or dinner entree I and get the second 1/2 off I Of equal or lesser value 15% off total food bill Not good with any other coupon. Not good with any other coupons Not good on holidays. One coupon per couple. Up to $30 I Not good on holidays. One coupon per couple. Up to $30 Expires 5/09/14 Expires 5/09/14 of Grand River & Haggerty Road Auburn Hills • 1 1/2 miles south of the Palace of Auburn Hills Farmington Hills • Corner April 10 • 2014 1808328 67