THE SOCIAL SECURITY MURDERS, a comic mystery by Dennis Wickline, is the 111th live theatrical production to be presented at Eastpointe's Broadway Onstage Live Theatre, and the beginning of the 30th Season of Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc., when it opens on Friday, July 23, 2010. Running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Select Sundays at 2pm through Saturday, August 21, this unique comic mystery tells the story of three elderly sisters who attempt to solve a series of murders involving the elderly and misappropriated Social Security Checks. |  |
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. Because of West Bound road construction on Kelly Rd. between Toepfer and 8 Mile Rd. during this production, parking access may also be available through temporary lot entrances on Toepfer Dr. and Lincoln Ave. The theatre is also 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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THE SOCIAL SECURITY MURDERS tells the story of Emma, Bert and Dorothy Lancaster, three elderly sisters who have been taken in by their niece, Elynor. They have moved in with Elynor because local seniors are being victimized by a predator who is appropriating money from elderly murder victims. Emma, Bert and Dorothy do not take all this in passing, however. Dorothy has her own cable program, Bert is a computer enthusiast and Emma has her nose into everyone's affairs as the three sisters decide to investigate the crimes on their own, including their suspicions of their next door neighbor. Even an FBI agent who appears cannot stop the three "snoopy sisters" from turning amateur detectives. |
The cast of THE SOCIAL SECURITY MURDERS at Broadway Onstage is exceptional. Portraying Emma, Bert and Dorothy are Broadway Onstage favorites Shirley Biggs-Urkshus, CeCe Reuter Lesner and Elizabeth Rager. All three have appeared in numerous productions at Broadway Onstage and at other local venues on a community and professional level. Broadway Onstage newcomer Sara Felarca takes on the role of Elynor. Ms. Felarca has appeared in a number of feature films and theatrical productions in New York. Don Couture takes on the role of FBI agent Spencer. Mr. Couture was just seen as Al in THE SCOTTISH PLAY at Broadway Onstage. Ed Thomas, author of THE SCOTTISH PLAY, appears in THE SOCIAL SECURITY MURDERS as Emory, the mysterious neighbor. John Arden McClure completes the cast as Howard, Elynor's boyfriend. Mr. McClure was also seen in THE SCOTTISH PLAY this past spring, as Jeff the Stage Manager. The production is under the able direction of Christopher Oakley. Mr. Oakley has directed a number of productions at Broadway Onstage, including MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS two seasons ago. |  |
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Tickets for Opening Night Friday, July 23 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.
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SHIRLEY BIGGS-URKSHUS (Emma) - Shirley directed our spring production THE CRAZY TIME. She was also seen as Mrs. Chauvenet and Mrs. Chumley in HARVEY and Grace in THE LADIES OF HARMONY two seasons ago. 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 2008's ART OF MURDER and 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 several 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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CECE LESNER (Bert) - CeCe appeared as Bea in our season opener LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS last summer. She was seen as Christine in our spring 2008 comedy MIXED EMOTIONS. She was seen as Maude in THE LADIES OF HARMONY two summers ago and originated the role of Dorothy in our Holiday Comedy THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS. She was seen as Flavia in GIFT OF MURDER and as Irene Adler in SHERLOCK'S VEILED SECRET several seasons ago. She was also seen as Kandall in our summer 2006 production of IMPOSSIBLE MARRIAGE. CeCe portrayed Theresa in CHEATING CHEATERS, our 2004 summer production, and was seen as Ouiser in STEEL MAGNOLIAS here at Broadway Onstage several seasons ago. 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! |
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ELIZABETH RAGER (Dorothy) - Elizabeth was our Stage Manager for MURDERER to begin 2010. She appeared as Alberta in THE NUTCRACKER'S NUTS and as Susan in our summer show LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS last season. She was seen in our closer two seasons ago 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. |  |
SARA FELARCA (Elynor) - This is Sara's first appearance on our stage, but she has a wealth of experience and is a graduate of the Americal Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. She has appeared in feature films and television, including HBO's HUNG which films here in Detroit. She was seen as Babe in CRIMES OF THE HEART and Liz in LOOSE KNIT for the 61st Studio in New York. She was seen as Annie in THE MIRACLE WORKER here in Michigan as well as Francesca in WEST SIDE STORY. She has also been featured in the HEALTHY ME! live presentations by Imagination Theatre here in our state. Sara was also seen as Claire in PROOF for Ridedale Community Theatre. She has also received training at Jeff Daniel's Purple Rose Theatre and has trained at the Broadway Dance Center in New York. It's a pleasure to have her with us, and she will be appearing in our next production THE LAST GREAT BRITISH SEX FARCE EVER! Welcome, Sara! |  |
DONALD COUTURE (Agent Spencer) - Don just portrayed Al in THE SCOTTISH PLAY to close last season. He also portrayed Mr. Utterson in our season closer in 2008, DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. It was his first role after a twenty-six year absence from performing. It was a great performance. He comes to us with a true love for the theatre as his talents can attest. He performed a number of varied roles in his younger days. Don is also a skilled woodworker, and created our "Welcome to Broadway Onstage" greeting sign at the entrance of our theatre. It's always a pleaure to work with him and we hope to do so again in the very near future. Thanks and welcome back, Don! |  |
JOHN ARDEN MCCLURE (Warren) - John was just seen as Jeff in THE SCOTTISH PLAY here. He also portrayed Dirk in THE CRAZY TIME. John was seen as Richie in LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS and Mitch in MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON'S earlier last season. He followed that by portraying Dr. Emrich in THE WEREWOLF OF THE FULL MOON. He took on the title roles in our closer in 2008 DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE to great acclaim. John was seen as Remnar in our 2007-2008 closer ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT and was seen in our fall 2008 production of HARVEY as Mr. Wilson. He portrayed CHUCK, one of the moving men, in MIXED EMOTIONS here two seasons ago. John was also seen as Inspector Davies in SOMETHING TO HIDE, and also in A THOUSAND CLOWNS in the fall of 2007. 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 2007'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. |  |
ED THOMAS (Emory) - Ed has written three productions that have been premiered here at Broadway Onstage, including last season's closer THE SCOTTISH PLAY. He authored ALL'S WELL IN 804 that was presented here in 2003, as well as APRIL MAE, AND JUNE which was premiered here in 2006. Ed also appeared as Harry Lambert in that production and Ted in THE FOURSOME that same season. Ed was seen here in MY DAUGHTER'S RATED "X"(as Cliff) in the summer of 2005. He was also seen in the spring of 2005 in EPIC PROPORTIONS (as Phil)and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (as Algernon). Ed appeared in 2003's summer production UNDER THE YUM YUM TREE. Ed was also seen as Captain Faragut in our world premiere musical 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA in the spring of 2003. He was seen as Ron, the biker in our production CANDY AND SHELLY GO TO THE DESERT, also in 2003. He appeared on a number of occasions at Dave and Buster's Mystery Theatre. Ed is very active with Grosse Pointe Theatre and appeared as Jack in their CHARLEY'S AUNT several seasons ago, and portrayed Ray in Neil Simon's PROPOSALS for GPT in the spring of 2003. He has created a number of memorable theatrical scripts and is an award winner of the Community Theatre Association of Michigan's annual playwrighting contest, and several national contests. His WORKING STIFFS was premiered by Stagecrafters in 2007. Congratulations, Ed! |  |
CHRISTOPHER OAKLEY (Director) - Christopher directed last fall's MURDER AT THE HOWARD JOHNSON'S and our fall 2008 production of MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS. He also directed our 2007 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. 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! |  |
DENNIS WICKLINE (Producer, Set Design) - Dennis portrayed Miles in our spring comedy THE CRAZY TIME as well as appearing as Ty in THE SCOTTISH PLAY to close last season. He portrayed David O Selznick in MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS and Elwood P. Dowd in HARVEY in the fall of 2008. He was seen as Major Powell in CORPSE and Frank in WEEKEND COMEDY here in 2008. Dennis was also seen as Bradley in THE COCKTAIL HOUR in the fall of 2004, among other productions. 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 thirtieth 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. 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 and 2008's JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. |  |
