48 | JANUARY 12 • 2023 

Details
Harold & Maude: An Intimate Musical is rated PG for adult 
situations including drug use and suicide. The show runs 
three weekends, Jan. 13-29. Tickets are $25. Birmingham 
Village Players is located at 34600 Woodward Ave. in 
Birmingham. For tickets, go to www.birminghamvillage-
players.com/harold-maude-the-musical. For one night only, 
on Feb. 18, in celebration of Birmingham Village Players’ 
100th anniversary season, BVP will re-create The Maker 
of Dreams, the first production by BVP as it was originally 
staged 100 years ago. Visit www.birminghamvillageplayers 
for more information.

talented, but they’re incredibly 
dedicated and lovely human 
beings. I first met Jonas when 
he was 11 years old. He played 
the role of young Patrick in the 
musical Mame at Birmingham 
Village Players, and I was in 
the chorus,
” says Kaplan, who 
prefers directing over acting. 
“Jonas is now a senior at 
Seaholm High School and has 
grown several feet since then. 
He’s 6’3” and Linda Rabin 
Hammell is a petite 5 feet. 
The contrast of their height 
difference on stage works well 
for the two unlikely characters 
who fall in love,
” Kaplan says.
The intimate musical fea-
tures five actors and a three-
piece band consisting of key-
board, percussion and guitar. 
In the movie, it’s implied that 
Maude is a Holocaust survivor. 
And while the film’s storyline 
is similar to the musical’s, the 
musical provides more backsto-
ry about Maude. 
“In the musical, we learn 
that Maude’s husband and 
family died in the war and that 
she experienced the horrors 
of Kristallnacht — the Night 
of Broken Glass,
” Kaplan says. 
“Maude shares this experience in 
a poignant song called ‘Maude’s 
Waltz.
’
“She also demonstrates that, 
despite what she has gone 
through, Maude believes life 
should be lived to its fullest,
” 

says Kaplan, who attended 
Temple Beth El through 
confirmation and also taught 
high school and confirmation 
classes there for 10 years. 
“Maude’s story is particularly 
relevant at a time where we have 
seen a rise of antisemitism in the 
United States.
“I am so excited and grateful 
that Village Players chose to 
produce this musical version 
of the film, which is beloved 
by many for its humor and 
uplifting messages,
” adds 
Kaplan. “I think audiences will 
appreciate the show’s positive 
message as well as the story’s 
eccentric humor.
” 

PAUL MANOIAN

Jonas Annear and Linda Rabin 
Hammell star in Harold & 
Maude: An Intimate Musical at 
Birmingham Village Players Jan. 
13-29.

continued from page 47

ARTS&LIFE
THEATER

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