OCTOBER 24 • 2024 | 45

of somebody and how it all made 
people feel more confident. I can look 
at somebody and know their colors 
and how to reshape each face. 
“That’s what I’ve been doing. I 
have my own freelance company 
called Breathe Beauty, and I do 
bridal parties, bar mitzvahs, bridal 
showers and any occasions. I have 
clients I see on a monthly basis and 
do their makeup if they go out. I 
also represent the Chanel company 
at Nordstrom in Troy, where I’ve 
worked for 24 years.
”

A SERIOUS LOOK AT 
MENTAL HEALTH
McDonald’s understanding of Next to 
Normal came from knowing a friend 
who died from suicide and another 
friend subjected to family violence.
“I thought this play has a very 
important message, and I wanted 
to be part of it in any way that I 
can,
” McDonald said. “That’s why I 
stepped on to be the board liaison. I 
wanted to be an advocate and get the 
message out that we can’t hide behind 
mental illness. 
“I believe everyone has issues, 
and it’s very important that people 
understand that there are ways to 

get around mental health issues. 
People need to ask for help and 
not be ashamed of emotional 
problems.
” 
The cosmetician-actress is 
impressed with the depth of 
every song. She finds each one 
very riveting with an important 
message. The mother, who 
is bipolar, sings “I Miss the 
Mountains,
” which can be 
interpreted in many ways. The 
daughter sings “Perfect for You,
” 
trying to be what the mother wants. 
McDonald, who has watched a 
show production on YouTube, is glad 
to work with musical director Curtis 
Rowe, a friend from high school.
McDonald has been involved with 
Village Players since 2022. A friend 
from college, Russell Boyle, had 
moved to New York but moved back 
to Michigan during the pandemic. 
They reconnected, and he called her 
about being in the ensemble for The 
Producers. Her skills with makeup let 
her comfortably transform among 
five different characters, from a choir 
boy to an older woman. 
Acting in Arsenic and Old Lace, she 
was able to use makeup to fashion 
herself as someone 20 years older.
McDonald’s family participated in 
Temple Israel in her youth, and she 
currently celebrates Jewish religious 
holidays with relatives. In a marriage 
that shares religious observances, 
she wants her two teenagers to 
experience rituals from their Jewish 
heritage.
She is proud that her sister, Alison 
Blau, is a longtime employee of 
Congregation Beth Ahm and works 
on membership and marketing. 

Details
Next to Normal runs Oct. 
25-Nov. 10 at Village Players 
of Birmingham, 34660 
Woodward. 8 p.m. Tuesday-
Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. 
$30. (248) 644-2075, 
birminghamvillageplayers.com.

Andrea 
Krass 
McDonald 

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PUZZLE ANSWERS

Solution to puzzle in 10/17/24 issue.

1. 
 48 Hours

2. 
 16 Candles

3. 
 Apollo 13

4. 
 10 Things I Hate 

 About You

5. 
 127 Hours

6. 
 42