A MICHIGAN PREMIERE!

THE LADIES OF HARMONY

A Comedy by Ron Hill
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm
and Select Sundays at 2pm
July 18 through August 16

THE LADIES OF HARMONY, an award winning play by Ohio playwright Ron Hill, is the first show of the 15th Season for Broadway Onstage Live Theatre when it opens on Friday, July 18. Winning the Community Theatre Association of Michigan Playwriting Contest in 2007 and an Honorable Mention winner in the 75th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition, THE LADIES OF HARMONY is a delightful comedy that will run at Broadway Onstage every Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Select Sundays at 2pm through Saturday, August 16. The production is a Michigan Premiere. Select Sunday Matinees are only performed at Broadway Onstage when a prearranged group of 30 or more is scheduled to attend. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 ½ Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe. It is the home of the patented TeeVeeStage™ Presentation system, which employs cameras above the audience and monitors above the stage to provide audience members with different viewing perspectives of the live stage performance. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is also the home of Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc., which began producing Non-Equity professional live theatre on the Eastside of Detroit in February of 1980.
	THE LADIES OF HARMONY introduces us to the funeral committee of Harmony Church. The ladies are planning the funeral dinner for Clarence Bowers, a man they despised and are sure everyone else in town hated as well. The fact that not one of the ladies really knew old man Bowers ever enters into the equation. In the process of planning for a small gathering, they begin to drink "coffee" made by Russell, the church's janitor, who is a worthless drunk and is following in the reeling footsteps of his alcoholic family. All of the women talk more than they should, and begin making confessions that wouldn't have been made without the help of Russell's special blend of coffee and the kahlua he has dumped in the pot. By the end of Act I, the kahlua is doing more of the talking than anyone.
The cast of THE LADIES OF HARMONY at Broadway Onstage is wonderfully suited to their roles. Portraying Maude, the self-appointed leader of the group, is CeCe Reuter Lesner. Ms. Lesner has been seen in a number of productions at Broadway Onstage, including the annual Christmas Production of THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS as Dorothy. Donna DiSante, was just seen this past Christmas as Minnie in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS at Broadway Onstage, portrays Addie, Maude's friend and confidante. Newcomer to Broadway Onstage, Stella Woitulewicz takes on the role of Stella, a woman with a need to make flower arrangements. Shirely Biggs-Urkshus, who has acted and directed at the Eastpointe Theatre, takes on the role of Grace, a lady who makes more than a few trips to the women's lavatory. Two more newcomers to Broadway Onstage, Pamela Williams and Beverly J. Miller take on the roles of Thelma and Leah respectively. The production is under the able direction of Mary Lou Britton, a past president of Grosse Pointe Theatre and a playwright herself. Tickets for Opening Night Friday, July 18 are $14. Tickets for all other performances are $16. Group Rates and Performances are available. Again, Broadway Onstage is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 1/2 Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe, Michigan. Ticket Reservations are recommended by calling (586) 771-6333.

CECE LESNER (Maude) - CeCe was seen as Flavia in GIFT OF MURDER and as Irene Adler in SHERLOCK'S VEILED SECRET two seasons ago. She was also seen as Kandall in our summer 2006 production of IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE. She was seen as Theresa in CHEATING CHEATERS, our 2004 summer production. CeCe was also seen as Ouiser in STEEL MAGNOLIAS here at Broadway Onstage several seasons ago. She appeared as Dorothy in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS during our first two versions of the show in 2001 and 2002, and repeated her performance for the last three years. She has appeared in a number of other productions here at Broadway Onstage, including COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN and BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, among others. She has also performed in other theaters in performances of LET'S MURDER MARSHA and THE CEMETERY CLUB. Thanks,CeCe. It's always a joy working with you!
DONNA DISANTE (Addie) - Donna just appeared as Minnie last Christmas in our Holiday Comedy THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. Donna directed each prior version of that production (6 of them). She also appeared on our stage several seasons ago in two productions. She was Miss Prism in our season closer in 2005, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and appeared as Person 1 in EPIC PROPORTIONS. Donna also directed our production of ARSENIC AND OLD LACE at the Golden Lion Dinner Theatre in 1984. She was very involved in the early years of the Attic Theatre, and the Grand Circus Exchange in Detroit. She is a Past President of Grosse Pointe Theatre, and has directed a number of productions for them, including SABRINA several seasons ago. She is always a joy to work with, and we're happy to have her lend her considerable talents to THE LADIES OF HARMONY. Thanks, Donna!
SHIRLEY BIGGS-URKSHUS (Grace) - Shirley was seen last summer as Sarah in our production RED HOT MAMAS. She portrayed Dora Winslow in our fall 2006 production OVER MY DEAD BODY. She directed our season closing production THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST several seasons ago. She also appeared onstage as Lane/Merriman in that production. Shirley portrayed Polly in CLIFFHANGER here four seasons ago to great acclaim. She also has portrayed Elvira in our Holiday Production THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS seven times. Shirley appeared in our production of I HATE HAMLET, in 2001, as Felicia. In addition, she appeared as Sis in 2000's production of THE QUEEN OF BINGO to everyone's delight. Shirley first appeared for us several seasons ago in our original murder-mystery THE THEATRE MURDERS aka THE DINNER THEATRE MURDERS as Mrs. Buldheiss/Olivia. Shirley has also directed for other companies, including such productions as STEPPIN' OUT, among others. Welcome back, Shirley!
STELLA WOITULEWICZ (Stella) - It's a pleasure to have Stella with us for THE LADIES OF HARMONY. She has been active with Eastpointe Players and a number of other local groups. She has taken on a variety of roles including Blanche in BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, the Housekeeper in DAVID AND LISA and Edna, the Mayor's Wife, in BYE BYE BIRDIE. She is a Graduate of Second City's Detroit Conservatory Program and portrayed a waitress in the film WE'RE NOT STRANGERS. She brings with her a geniune love for the theatre and we're very pleased to have her with us. Her husband, Daniel, appeared for us last season in our summer comedy RED HOT MAMAS. Theatre truly is a family affair. Welcome, Stella!
PAMELA WILLIAMS (Thelma) - A newcomer to Broadway Onstage, Pamela's talents are quite evident by her performance tonight as Thelma. She has appeared with a number of other groups on a professional and community level, and has taken on a number of varied and exciting roles. She has studied at the Detroit Repertory Theatre and Plowshares Theatre Company. She has also appeared in THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES. It's a pleasure to have her with us for THE LADIES OF HARMONY and hope that her performance tonight is the first of many roles for our company. Thanks, Pamela!
ELIZABETH RAGER (Leah) - Elizabeth was just seen as "Wolf Moon Dance" in ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT and Mrs. McGee in CORPSE! here at Broadway Onstage. She was also Stage Manager for ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT and our fall 2007 production of A THOUSAND CLOWNS. She made her acting debut with her performance as Stella in our September/October 2007 production of SOMETHING TO HIDE. She is no stranger to the stage, peforming parody songs as part of a singing group as well as performing skits in theatre-in-the-round. She is also an able pianist, playing in a variety of venues including accompaniment for soloists and musicals. She believes her occupation as a trainer helped prepare her for the stage: "In training others, you design and present everything for learning with a little entertainment spread throughout; with theatre, you design and present everything for entertainment with a little learning spread throughout." We welcome you back, Elizabeth.
JOE URKSHUS (Stage Manager) - Joe appeared as Edvard, the groom, in our summer 2006 production IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE and as Inspector John Smith in OVER MY DEAD BODY that same season. He appeared as D.W. DeWitt in our spring 2005 comedy EPIC PROPORTIONS. He also acted as Stage Manager for our season closer in 2005, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Joe appeared as Henry, a thoughtful philosophy professor, in our production of CLIFFHANGER several seasons ago. He has also appeared as Hector in all of our productions of THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. He also portrayed Jonathan Small in SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CURSE OF THE SIGN OF FOUR several seasons ago. Joe appeared as Gary in our production of I HATE HAMLET in the fall of 2001 to great acclaim. He first appeared for us in 2000, as Father Mac and the Bingo Caller, in THE QUEEN OF BINGO. Joe has been seen in a number of local venues on a community and professional level. He was seen in NOISES OFF for Avon Players several seasons ago, and he was recently seen in the comedy MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON'S for RJO Productions. It's a pleasure to have him back with us again!
MARY LOU BRITTON (Director, Set Design) - Mary Lou has been involved with Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc. since the beginning in 1980 at Stouffer's Eastland Dinner Theatre and directed our 1982 production of THE SUNSHINE BOYS there, and later directed BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE for us at the Golden Lion Dinner Theatre. She has been a talented associate and a great friend. She is a Past President of Grosse Pointe Theatre and also a Playwright herself. As one of the judges in the Community Theatre Association of Michigan Playwriting Contest, she brought THE LADIES OF HARMONY to our attention last summer. There is no wonder that it won the competition in 2007. Mary Lou has been very active with Grosse Pointe Theatre and has acted in almost every capacity for them. Not only has she been President, but Treasurer and a number of other Board positions. She has directed for them (COMIC POTENTIAL) and also serves as co-building Manager for their facility on Fisher Rd. in Grosse Pointe. It's a pleasure to have her direct THE LADIES OF HARMONY for us. Thanks, Mary Lou!
DENNIS WICKLINE (Producer) - Dennis was just seen as Major Powell in CORPSE and Frank in WEEKEND COMEDY here. He just directed JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT for Grosse Pointe Theatre. Dennis portrayed Marc in ART and Weller Martin in THE GIN GAME here at Broadway Onstage three seasons ago. He was seen as Henry in THE BOOK OF MURDER in the winter of 2005, as Bradley in THE COCKTAIL HOUR in the fall of 2004. He is the producer of all shows at Broadway Onstage. He began producing theatre in February of 1980 at Stouffer's Eastland. This season is his twenty-eighth of producing non-Equity professional theatre in the Detroit Metropolitan area. He is the author of a number of plays and musicals, including THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. Dennis portrayed Vernon in THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG in the spring of 2000 here, and portrayed Herbert Bracewell in THE RETURN OF HERBERT BRACEWELL in 2001. He also appeared as Fagin in Grosse Pointe Theatre's 2001 production of OLIVER! and was seen as Joe Keller in their production of ALL MY SONS in March of 2005. Dennis was also seen here in the thriller THE WOMAN IN BLACK in the fall of 2002, portraying 5 separate characters. He also directed GPT's 2005 SHOWBOAT.

BACK TO HOMEPAGE