[nfbmi-talk] Fw: FYI, audio described performances of Wait Until Dark Jan. 20 and 27 in Royal Oak

Thu Jan 13 15:15:53 UTC 2011

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Turney, Susan (DELEG) 
To: Turney, Susan (DELEG) 
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:02 AM
Subject: FYI, audio described performances of Wait Until Dark Jan. 20 and 27 in Royal Oak

Please share the information below with others who may be interested in these audio described live theater performances.

From: Colleen Muench [mailto:colleenm at stagecrafters.org] 
Sent: Monday, December 27, 2010 4:16 PM
Subject: Audio described performances

Greetings!

I am writing to you on behalf of Stagecrafters, a community theatre located in Royal Oak, MI. In January 2011, we are mounting the production of Wait Until Dark, and would like to pass the word to the visually impaired community that we will be offering two audio-described performances. These performances will be on January 20th and 27th. The audio description will be provided by a talented volunteer that works with Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS). DRIS is southeast Michigan's Radio Reading/Audio Information Service for people with disabilities.

The audio description will be via headsets. The headsets will allow audiences members with vision impairments to hear audio description about what is happening on the stage. Because the headsets are wireless infrared, they may be used anywhere in the auditorium. 

In addition to the audio description, each of these evenings will include a post-show Talkback. Our guest speaker for the Talkback is Joe Pelle of Huntington Woods. Joe will share his about his loss of sight and give audience members a chance to ask questions. 

Below is the press release for our upcoming production of Wait Until Dark. The show runs January 14th through January 30th. Please share this information with the visually impaired community with whom you are in contact with. A key element of Stagecrafters' mission is to make the performing arts available to all. Based on demand, this pilot effort in audio description could result in future shows offering this 

This information is also available in our Media Section on our website if you would like to access the press release in a Word document format. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

Thanks!

Colleen Muench

Stagecrafters at the Baldwin Theatre
415 S. Lafayette Ave
Royal Oak, MI 48067
248.541.8027
www.stagecrafters.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:           Colleen Muench, 248.541.8027, colleenm at stagecrafters.org
Stagecrafterspresents "Wait Until Dark"

Cat-and-mouse thriller ignites the stage

ROYAL OAK, Mich., December 27, 2010 - No need to stay outside in the cold this January if you want to get chilled - Stagecrafters' theatrical thriller, Wait Until Dark can do the job. The show runs January 14th through 30th at the Baldwin Theatre, 415 S. Lafayette in downtown Royal Oak. 

Set in 1960's Greenwich Village, Susy Hendrix (Beth Tetrault of Troy) is a housewife who has recently become blind from an accident. After a business trip, her husband Sam (Tony H. LaMacchio of Troy) brings home a doll as a favor to a woman. Sam is unaware that the woman is now dead, and that the doll contains a hefty stash of drugs. Con-men are searching for the doll and will go to any lengths to retrieve it - even murder. 

When Sam leaves the apartment, so begins the well-crafted game of cat-and-mouse. Harry Roat (Daniel Muldoon of Madison Heights), mastermind behind the con, convinces a fellow thug to pose as one of Sam's old Army buddies, Mike Talman (Ben Feliciano of Berkley), in a ruse to gain Susy's trust. He's hoping that Susy will hand over the doll to someone she trusts. Roat also brings in phony policeman, Sergeant Carlino (Paul Venditti of Shelby Twp.), to convince Susy that the doll may be incriminating evidence against her husband in a murder case, and by handing the doll over, she'd clear his name. 

Although Susy's blindness makes her more vulnerable, her other senses are heightened and she begins to pick up clues of the deception. She enlists the help of the feisty girl who lives upstairs (Regan Castle of Pleasant Ridge, Emily Muench of Huntington Woods) in a game of her own as she turns her disability into her greatest weapon. 

Director David Zublick (of Royal Oak) has a penchant for thrillers and mystery. He, himself, once portrayed Mike Talman in another theatre's production of Wait Until Dark and when the opportunity arose to direct it at Stagecrafters', he jumped on it. "As with film, the stage is a visual medium.  For this show though, it's what you can't see that is the most thrilling!" says Zublick.

Wait Until Dark, by Frederick Knott, opened on February 2, 1966 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It ran for the next eleven months at various theatres for a total 374 performances. The cast included Lee Remick, Robert Duvall, and Mitchell Ryan. Remick was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. Warner Bros.-Seven Arts purchased the film rights in 1966 soon after the play's Broadway premiere. It starred Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and Jack Weston. Hepburn was nominated for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actress, and Zimbalist was nominated for a Globe in the supporting category.

The Thursday performances, January 20th and 27th, will be audio described for the visually impaired. The Baldwin's Main Stage auditorium is equipped with an infrared system that will allow those with visual impairments to use special headsets to hear the audio description. The headsets will work anywhere within the auditorium so specific seating is not necessary. Visually-impaired patrons are asked to reserve the headsets at the time of ordering their tickets. 

In addition to the audio description on the Thursday performances, a special audience interactive talkback is planned. Guest speaker Joe Pelle of Huntington Woods will share his experience of losing his sight at age 30, and how it has impacted his life and heightened his other senses. 

Advance tickets for performances are $16 and $18. Stagecrafters is offering a special of 4 tickets for $50 for the Thursday night performances.  Tickets may be purchased online at www.stagecrafters.org or by phone at 248-541-6430 using Visa and MasterCard. All seats are reserved.  If shows have not sold out, tickets can be purchased at the box office one hour prior to the performance for an additional $2.00 fee. 

Show dates and times follow:

Friday, January 14                  8:00 pm

Saturday, January 15              8:00 pm

Sunday, January 16                2:00 pm

Thursday, January 20             8:00 pm

Friday, January 21                  8:00 pm

Saturday, January 22              8:00 pm

Sunday, January 23                2:00 pm

Thursday, January 27             8:00 pm

Friday, January 28                  8:00 pm

Saturday, January 29              8:00 pm

Sunday, January 30                2:00 pm

About Stagecrafters 

Stagecrafters, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit community theatre, is in its 55th year of providing opportunities for members of the community to develop their talents and to volunteer their time to create an enriching, quality theatrical experience through its Main Stage, 2nd Stage, and Youth Theatre productions. Stagecrafters has been at the Baldwin Theatre since 1985.

Stagecrafters offers shows that appeal to a wide variety of ages and interests and prides itself on providing professional quality shows at affordable prices, making the performing arts accessible to individuals in our "regional" community. The remaining 2010-2011 Main Stage Season includes: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (musical), and Hairspray (musical comedy). The remaining 2010-2011 2nd Stage season productions include: Rent (rock musical), and Grey Gardens (musical). 

# # #

Wait Until Dark Cast and Production Staff List By Community

Berkley

Ben Feliciano (Mike Talman)

Beverly Hills

Sandra LaJoie (Patrolman 2)

Clawson

Gerry Ochoa (Patrolman 1)

Huntington Woods

Emily Muench (Gloria)

Madison Heights

Daniel T. Muldoon (Harry Roat)

Pleasant Ridge

Regan Castle (Gloria)

Royal Oak

Theresa Williams (Asst. Director)

David Zublick (Director)

Linda Zublick (Producer)

Shelby Twp

Paul Venditti (Sgt. Carlino)

Troy

Tony H. LaMacchio (Sam Hendrix)

Beth Tetrault (Susy Hendrix)

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CAPTION: wud_publicity1.jpg 

Blind housewife, Susy Hendrix (Beth Tetrault of Troy), threatens the stranger in her apartment with the deadly mix of fire and gasoline in Stagecrafters' production of Wait Until Dark. The theatrical thriller runs January 14 through January 30 at the Baldwin Theatre in downtown Royal Oak. Photo by Lance Luce.

NOTE: Digital photographs are available in our media section on our website at www.stagecrafters.org > About Us > Media