MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS, a comedy by Ron Hutchison about the making of GONE WITH THE WIND, is the next production at Broadway Onstage Live Theatre in Eastpointe. Opening on Friday, October 17, and running Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm and Select Sundays at 2pm through Saturday, November 15, the comedy tells the story of an actual occurrence in the early stages of the production of GONE WITH THE WIND in which David O Selznick closed down production, fired Director George Cukor, and hired author Ben Hecht to help "doctor" the script. There will be no performance of MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS on Friday, November 7.
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 ˝ 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.
|  |
 |
MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS takes place in the office of legendary film producer David O Selznick, three weeks into the production of GONE WITH THE WIND. Selznick has closed down production and will not shoot another foot of film until he has "a scenario I can believe in." He has brought in writer Ben Hecht not only to "doctor" the existing script, but create a new one. He has also summoned acclaimed director Victor Fleming off of his WIZARD OF OZ duties and put him in charge of his epic GONE WITH THE WIND. For a week the three will be confined to Selznick's office to recreate a workable script for the classic film. They will do this on a diet of Selznick's idea of "brain food," unlimited bananas and peanuts. Their only other companion in this wacky effort is Selznick's Executive Assistant, Miss Poppenghul. The caveat to the situation is that Hecht has never read the book, and Selznick and Fleming are forced to act out the book for him with Selznick acting as Scarlett and Fleming taking on almost every other role.
|
The cast of MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS is well up to the comic challenges of the script. Portraying David O Selznick is Broadway Onstage producer Dennis Wickline. Mr. Wickline just portrayed Elwood P. Dowd in HARVEY at the Eastpointe Theatre. Joe Urkshus takes on the role of Victor Fleming. Mr. Urkshus was just seen as Dr. Chumley in HARVEY. John Arden McClure, Mr. Wilson in HARVEY, will portray writer Ben Hecht. Sharron Nelson, who was just seen as Nurse Kelly in HARVEY, completes the cast as Miss Poppenghul. The production is under the able direction of Christopher Oakley. Mr. Oakley has directed for a variety of groups throughout the area on a professional and community level. He directed last season's A THOUSAND CLOWNS for Broadway Onstage Live Theatre
|  |
 |
Tickets for Opening Night Friday, October 17 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.
|
|
DENNIS WICKLINE (David O Selznick) - Dennis just portrayed Elwood P. Dowd in HARVEY. He was seen as Major Powell in CORPSE and Frank in WEEKEND COMEDY here earlier this year. 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. |  |
JOHN ARDEN MCCLURE (Ben Hecht) - John just appeared as Mr. Wilson in HARVEY. He was just seen as Remnar in last season's closer ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT. He was seen last season as Inspector Davies in SOMETHING TO HIDE, and also in A THOUSAND CLOWNS. John's first appearance on our stage was in 2005 as Charley in THE BOOK OF MURDER. Since then he has been in numerous productions here, including Charles Wellington York in last season's SHERLOCK'S VEILED SECRET and Dr. Zubritsky in FOOLS.He has also appeared as Benny in EPIC PROPORTIONS, Reverend Chasuble in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Donnie in THE FOURSOME, Charlie Dugan in APRIL, MAE AND JUNE, and Mellersh Wilton in ENCHANTED APRIL. John is a theatrical veteran, having portrayed Ranger Tom in ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, Bozidar in DEAR SANTA, and Trent in THE LAST RESORT for Starbrite Dinner Theatre. He is also a member of Grosse Pointe Theatre, having portrayed Anthony Marston in TEN LITTLE INDIANS and Kenny Norman in PROPOSALS. We welcome him back to our stage. |  |
JOE URKSHUS (Victor Fleming) - Joe just appeared as Dr. Chumley in HARVEY. He 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 and just stage managed THE LADIES OF HARMONY. 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! |  |
SHARRON NELSON (Miss Poppenghul) - Sharron was just in HARVEY as Nurse Kelly. She is a theatrical veteran. She was seen last spring in WEEKEND COMEDY (as Jill) and last summer as Abby in our hit comedy RED HOT MAMAS. She portrayed Sophia for us last spring in NEIL SIMON'S FOOLS. She has appeared in a number of theatrical venues on a professional and community level. She has appeared in a number of roles for the Heidelberg Dinner Theatre, and interactive theatre on the Michigan Star Clipper and Detroit Princess. She is also quite active with Grosse Pointe Theatre, and portrayed Louise in their version of EPIC PROPORTIONS in January 2007. She also serves on their Board of Directors. Sharron teaches power skating at University Liggett School and runs clinics in power skating at other arenas. She also has appeared in two independent films that are premiering soon. It's a pleasure to have her with us. Welcome, Sharron! |  |
CHRISTOPHER OAKLEY (Director) - Christopher directed last fall's production of A THOUSAND CLOWNS and our fall 2006 production MISTER 80%. He directed Avon Players' 2007 production of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, and also directed YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU there earlier this year. In September of 2006, he directed Grosse Pointe Theatre's opening production DIAL "M" FOR MURDER, and he directed our production of THE FOURSOME in January of 2006, and our EPIC PROPORTIONS in the spring of 2005. He has directed a number of our most successful productions, including BREAKING LEGS several seasons ago, and our production of CRIMES OF THE HEART in the summer of 2001. He also directed our spring 2002 production of MISERY. In January of 2002, Christopher portrayed Lord Fancourt Babberly to great acclaim in Grosse Pointe Theatre's CHARLEY'S AUNT. He has been with us since the beginning of Broadway Onstage. Thanks for everything, Chris! |  |
