Back by popular demand for the Ninth Holiday Season in a row, Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is again pleased to present the Holiday Comedy by Dennis Wickline, THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. Opening on Friday, December 4, THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS is the most popular show ever presented at Broadway Onstage Live Theatre and tells the story of a retirement community's efforts to present a new holiday production. The show will run on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm from December 4 through December 26. There will be no performance on Christmas Day, December 25. There will also be a 2pm Sunday matinee on Sunday, December 6, but there is only a waiting list for that performance. Good seats are available for all other performances.
Tickets are $16, and this year Broadway Onstage is again offering special Holiday Group Rates for this popular production. Groups of 13 or more pay only $13 each, and groups of 21 or more pay only $11 each. 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.
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Originally premiered in December of 2001, the comedy has been presented every December since then to great acclaim. Other productions of THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS have been done by Midland Theatre Guild, and by other groups in Kentucky, Canada, and Upper Michigan.
THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS takes place in the Northern Lower Peninsula. Simon's Rest is a retirement community in Frankfort, Michigan. Every Christmas the residents perform their traditional, boring, and harder and harder to produce version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Every Christmas, that is, except this one. Minnie Winchester, an elderly piano teacher, suggests that the residents do something new, something like THE NUTCRACKER. Everyone agrees that it would be wonderful to try something new and THE NUTCRACKER is accepted immediately. Tickets are quickly sold out. Just as rehearsals begin, however, the retirees discover one important and overlooked detail, THE NUTCRACKER is a ballet, and Minnie Winchester, a rather rotund lady who always wanted to play Clara, the lead, doesn't know how to dance.
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Two of the cast members have been with the show since the beginning. Shirley Urkshus appears as Elvira, the bitchy former bait store owner, and Joe Urkshus returns as Hector, the former Scrooge who kept forgetting his lines and is now cast as The Nutcracker. Michael Kowalski returns to the role of Malcolm, the President of the Resident's Council. Attic Theatre veteran and former Grosse Pointe Theatre President Donna DiSante will be seen again this year as Minnie, the slightly delusional prima ballerina who takes on the role of Clara. Two new cast members are featured this year. Elizabeth Rager, who has been seen in several productions at Broadway Onstage, takes on the role of Alberta, a former school teacher and Beverly Dickinson will appear as Dorothy, the former librarian who becomes director of "The Nutcracker" at Simon's Rest. Ms. Dickinson has directed a number of productions for area groups, including last season's INTO THE WOODS at Village Players in Birmingham. Dennis Wickline again acts as Director of this year's production. Choreographer for the production since the beginning is Arlene Marie Schoenherr and Shirley Urkshus acts as Dance Captain.
Tickets for Opening Night, Friday, December 4 are $14. Tickets for all other performances are $16. Again, Broadway Onstage is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 1/2 Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe, Michigan. Ticket Reservations are strongly recommended by calling (586) 771-6333.
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DONNA DISANTE (Minnie) - Donna directed each prior version of this production through 2006 and now again takes on the role of Minnie. Donna appeared as Veta in HARVEY and Addie in THE LADIES OF HARMONY last season, as well as directing last spring's MIXED EMOTIONS. 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 NUTCRACKER'S NUTS for the eighth time. Thanks, Donna! |
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JOE URKSHUS (Hector) - Joe was just seen as Frank in our summer show LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS. He was seen as Herman in our spring comedy MIXED EMOTIONS. He was seen as Dr. Chumley in HARVEY and Victor Fleming in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS last fall. 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 stage managed THE LADIES OF HARMONY last summer, and last January's ART OF MURDER. 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, including the one coming up this December. 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! |  |
BEVERLY DICKINSON (Dorothy) - Beverly has been involved in the local theatrical community for many years. She is a past president of Stagecrafters and just recently directed INTO THE WOODS for Village Players in Birmingham. She also directed last season's production of I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE! for Grosse Pointe Theatre and appeared in their 2005 production of SHOWBOAT. For our company, Bev was seen was Adelaide in GUYS AND DOLLS at the Golden Lion Dinner Theatre. Bev has also directed a number of wonderful productions for other companies, including CAMELOT and WEST SIDE STORY. It's always a pleasure working with her and we're happy to have to with us for THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. Welcome, Bev! |  |
MIKE KOWALSKI (Malcolm) - Mike directed CORPSE! for us two seasons ago and appeared as Dennis in our January 2006 GIFT OF MURDER. He appeared as Ralph, the father, in our summer 2005 production MY DAUGHTER'S RATED "X". He also appeared in our spring 2005 comedy, EPIC PROPORTIONS. He appeared as Bozo in our summer 2004 production of CHEATING CHEATERS. Mike portrayed Sherlock Holmes in SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CURSE OF THE SIGN OF FOUR several seasons ago, and is appearing as Malcolm for the seventh time. He has been involved with our productions since he portrayed the Kralahome in our version of THE KING AND I at the Golden Lion in 1990. Since then he has portrayed Moriarty in SHERLOCK HOLMES, Ernst in CABARET, and many other roles to great acclaim. Mike was in our first two productions here at Broadway Onstage, BANG, BANG, YOU'RE DEAD (as Hugo Armando) and THE GREAT AMERICAN SEX FARCE (as Captain "Bangs"). Mike was also seen here as the Judge in our production of MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET. He has also been seen at Dave and Busters and other professional venues. Welcome back, Mike! |  |
SHIRLEY BIGGS-URKSHUS (Elvira, Dance Captain) - Shirley was seen as Mrs. Chauvenet and Mrs. Chumley in HARVEY and Grace in THE LADIES OF HARMONY last season. She was also seen in the summer of 2007 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 five seasons ago to great acclaim. She also has portrayed Elvira in our Holiday Production THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS all nine 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 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! |
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ELIZABETH RAGER (Alberta) - Elizabeth just appeared as Susan in our summer show LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS. She was seen in last season's closer DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE as Pauline. She was seen as Leah in our summer 2008 production of LADIES OF HARMONY. She was also seen in the 2007-2008 season closer, ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, as "Wolf Moon Dance." Elizabeth also portrayed Mrs. McGee in CORPSE! in January 2008 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. |  |
ARLENE MARIE SCHOENHERR (Choreographer) - Arlene was in our very first production at Stouffer's Eastland Dinner Theatre, MINNIE'S BOYS. She choreographed that production as well. Arlene directed a number of productions for us at Stouffer's and at the Golden Lion, including LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS, CAROUSEL and CORPSE! Arlene is also very involved in Grosse Pointe Theatre, and directed their production of ANNIE several seasons ago, and COMPANY last season. She also was Co-Choreographer for GPT's production of SHOW BOAT to end their 2004-2005 Season. Welcome back, Arlene! |
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DENNIS WICKLINE (Producer, Author) - Dennis just portrayed David O Selznick in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS and 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. |  |
