RED HOT MAMAS

A comedy by David W. Christner

Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Select Sundays at 2pm
July 20 through August 18, 2007

The Fourteenth Season of Broadway Onstage and the Twenty-Seventh Season of Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc. get under way on Friday, July 20 when the delightful comedy RED HOT MAMAS opens at the Eastpointe Theatre. RED HOT MAMAS tells the story of a married couple who suddenly have their lives turned upside down by their respective mothers moving in with them. The production runs Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm and select Sundays at 2pm through Saturday, August 18. 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.
	RED HOT MAMAS introduces us to Abby and Dan. They are a successful married couple whose children are grown and out of the house. The peace and solitude they enjoy, however, abruptly changes when Abby invites her newly widowed mother-in-law, Sarah, to move in with them. In a classic case of one-upmanship common amongst in-laws, Sarah immediately phones Claudia, Abby's mother, to tell her the good news. Not to be out maneuvered, Claudia masterfully applies the guilt routine with Dan, and before you know it, both mothers-in-law have packed their belongings and moved in with their now beleaguered children. It doesn't help that Sarah is an avid drinker to the point of excess, and Claudia tries to date a different man almost every night. At one point, Claudia confuses herself and schedules dates with two men on the same night. During the course of the play we are also introduced to Russ and Stan, suitors to each of the mothers, as well as Sarah's AA sponsor, Peter.
The cast of RED HOT MAMAS at Broadway Onstage is exceptional. Portraying Abby is Sharron Nelson. Ms. Nelson was just seen at Broadway Onstage as Sophia in NEIL SIMON'S FOOLS, and has been seen locally in a number of productions on a professional and community level. Bill McCarthy, who portrayed Leon in FOOLS, takes on the role of Dan, Abby's wife. Mr. McCarthy is also a local professional with a number of varied roles to his credit. Shirley Biggs-Urkshus, Elvira in the annual Broadway Onstage Christmas production THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS, will be seen as Sarah, Dan's mother. Jann Hight, who plays Alberta in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS each Christmas, will take on the role of Claudia, Abby's mother. Stan Newman, who was just seen in NEIL SIMON'S FOOLS at Broadway Onstage, will take on the role of Russ, one of the suitors, and Broadway Onstage newcomer Dan Woitulewicz will be seen as Stan, the other suitor. The cast is completed by Jack Abella, who was seen in several shows at Broadway Onstage last season, as Peter, Sarah's AA sponsor. The Production at Broadway Onstage is under the able direction of Molly Dodge, who directed last summer's production of IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE there, as well as many other productions during its fourteen year history. Producer and Set Design are by Dennis Wickline.

BILL MCCARTHY (Dan) - Bill was seen as Leon in our spring production of NEIL SIMON'S FOOLS. He followed that by portraying Turlough O'Brennan in SHERLOCK'S VEILED SECRET. Bill was in the very first production of our company, appearing as Harpo Marx in MINNIE'S BOYS twenty-six years ago. He also appeared in our version of GODSPELL at the Golden Lion Dinner Theatre in the late eighties. He recently appeared as Eddie in Grosse Pointe Theatre's fall production of 70 GIRLS 70. Bill has been very active in the Fine Arts Society of Detroit. There he has directed, performed and served on their Board of Directors. Bill also studied fine arts for two years at University of Detroit/Marygrove. He will also be seen in our season closer SHERLOCK'S VEILED SECRET, and it's a pleasure to have him back with us. Welcome back, Bill!
SHARRON NELSON (Abby) - Sharron is a theatrical veteran. She portrayed Sophia for us earlier this year 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 just recently portrayed Louise in their version of EPIC PROPORTIONS. 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 this spring. It's a pleasure to have her with us. Welcome, Sharron!
SHIRLEY BIGGS-URKSHUS (Sarah) - Shirley directed our comic-mystery GIFT OF MURDER this past January to great acclaim. She followed that by portraying Madame Zubritsky in NEIL SIMON'S FOOLS. Prior to that, Shirley portrayed Elvira in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS for the sixth time, and Dora Winslow in our fall production OVER MY DEAD BODY. She directed our season closing production THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST two seasons ago. She also appeared onstage as Lane/Merriman in that production. Shirley portrayed Polly in CLIFFHANGER here three seasons ago to great acclaim. 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!
JANN HIGHT (Claudia) - Jann portrayed Anne, the mother, in THE COCKTAIL HOUR here at Broadway Onstage two seasons ago. She recreated her role as Clairee in STEEL MAGNOLIAS in 2002, which she first performed for Wickline Productions at the Golden Lion in 1991. She has been in many productions here at Broadway Onstage. She has also appeared as Alberta in each of our six productions of THE NUTCRACKERS NUTS, a role she will recreate this coming December. Jann was also seen in 2001's I HATE HAMLET, and 2000's YOU KNOW I CAN'T HEAR YOU WHEN THE WATER'S RUNNING, in which she portrayed three very different and complicated ladies. We're honored to have her back again. Thanks, Jann.
DANIEL WOITULEWICZ (Stan) - While this is Dan's first appearance for our company he is no stranger to theatre. He is a graduate of the Second City Detroit Conservatory Program. He has appeared locally in a number of venues on a professional and community level in a number of varied roles. These roles include Bill in HUMANAE VITAE, Dad in CAUGHT IN THE NET, Jim Singleton in BOOMTOWN 1925 and the Colonel in 101 DALMATIONS, among others. It's a pleasure to have him with us, and we hope his role tonight in RED HOT MAMAS is the first of many for our company. Welcome, Dan!
JACK ABELLA (Peter) - Jack appeared for our company for the first time this past fall in OVER MY DEAD BODY as Bartie Cruikshank. His performance was a delight. He followed that by playing Oliver Keane in GIFT OF MURDER. Jack comes to us with a wealth of experience. He has portrayed a number of varied and exciting roles for a variety of area groups, including Frank Gianelli in OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS for Ridgedale Players in 2003, Gaston in PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE in 2004 for Birmingham Village Players, and Ernie Cusack in RUMORS for Pontiac Theatre IV in 2005. Most recently Jack was seen as Joe Zutti in WORKING (THE MUSICAL) and as Caesar Rodney in 1776, both for Birmingham Village Players. It's a pleasure to have him back with us again!
STAN NEWMAN (Russ) - Stan was seen as Mishkin in our spring production of NEIL SIMON'S FOOLS. He appeared as Jonas in our summer 2005 production of MY DAUGHTER'S RATED "X." He was the original Malcolm in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS during its first two productions in 2001 and 2002. He has been involved with our company since the days of Dinner Theatre at the Golden Lion. He portrayed Doctor Zubritsky in our original production of Neil Simon's FOOLS at the Golden Lion and also appeared in our production of THE THEATRE MURDERS here at Broadway Onstage several seasons ago. He has been very involved in a number of professional venues throughout the area. He has a role in the recurring local production of TONY 'N TINA'S WEDDING, and has been seen a number of times in the Mystery Productions at Dave 'n Busters. We welcome him back to our stage.
MOLLY DODGE (Director) - Molly appeared as Wimpie in GIFT OF MURDER and Yenchna in NEIL SIMON'S FOOLS earlier this year. She was also seen as Minnie in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS for the sixth time this past December. Prior to that she appeared as Charters in OVER MY DEAD BODY and stage managed MR. 80%. She was seen in the spring of 2006 as Mrs. Graves in our production of ENCHANTED APRIL. She also directed our summer 2006 production IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE. She appeared as Angelica in our summer 2004 production of CHEATING CHEATERS, and directed our next production DEAD CERTAIN, both to great acclaim. She also appeared as Bev in 2004's GRACELAND AND ASLEEP ON THE WIND, and was seen as Ani, the Spirit of the Sea in 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA several seasons ago. Molly portrayed Annie Wilkes, one of her favorite roles, several seasons ago in the thriller, MISERY. Each role she takes on displays her talent and versatility. Molly has been with our company since 1982, when she portrayed Yente in our first production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Since then she has appeared in countless productions, creating a number of varied and exciting roles. Thanks for all the years of memories, Muff!
DENNIS WICKLINE (Producer/Set Design) - Dennis portrayed Marc in ART and Weller Martin in THE GIN GAME here at Broadway Onstage last fall. 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-seventh 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 directed GPT's production of SHOW BOAT in May of 2005.

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