I don’t know about anyone else, but the theater nerds over here at Cosmic Circus Broadway are simply buzzing that the 2024-2025 seasons of shows have finally begun to roll out across the Metro Detroit area and on Broadway in NYC. With so many incredible local theaters warming up their productions, if not already neck deep in their opening shows of the season, we are excited to be able to shine a spotlight on what you can expect! To begin our spotlight series, we will return to a theater that helped us kick off our season of Broadway coverage: Avon Players Theatre!
The impressive A-Frame structure sits in the Rochester/Rochester Hills area, right at the corner of Tienken and Washington, and is entering into the final weekend of its first show of the 2024-2025 season, Sweeney Todd. Starting with a Stephen Sondheim classic sets the tone of what audiences can expect. Let me tell you, the season is nothing short of spectacular if the work Avon Players Theatre has put into Sweeney Todd is any indication.
So, what shows can you catch at Avon Players, and when exactly can you see them? Don’t worry, dear readers; we here at Cosmic Circus Broadway will break down all the exciting plays and musicals you can find at this one-of-a-kind theater!
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
If you’ve been following along with our most recent coverage, you’ll have seen a few pieces about Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. From interviews with the director, John Deierlein, to some of the cast, we’ve received an incredible behind-the-scenes look at the work and magic it takes to bring a show like this to life on stage. Having seen the show twice and looking to catch it one more time before the curtains close, I can also say that it’s an impressive show, full of talented cast and crew.
At its core, Sweeney Todd is a story of love and the lengths people go to achieve it. Sweeney, the main character of the musical, is a broken man who has lost his wife and child, having been shipped away to Australia on some trumped-up charges. Having returned after an extended period of time, he’s looking to seek revenge against those who wronged him. Doing so proves difficult, but with the help of Mrs. Lovett, a down-on-her-luck Piemaker, perhaps he can achieve his goal and rescue his daughter from the greasy mitts of Judge Turpin and his slimy right-hand man, The Beadle.
As stated above, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a quintessential Stephen Sondheim musical, with his trademark musical and lyrics that are challenging to learn but rewarding to succeed in. This is a huge show for Avon Players Theatre to begin their season on, but they are crushing it spectacularly, so catch it before it’s gone!
Cast:
Mario Simone | Sweeney Todd
Joy Oetjens | Mrs. Lovett
Nicholas Kwiechski | Anthony Hope
Maia Fetter | Johanna
Jack Stoll | Tobias Ragg
Steve Grady | Judge Turpin
RJ Miller-Zelinko | The Beadle
Tracy Murray | Beggar Woman
Adam Wager | Adolfo Pirelli/Ensemble
Olivia Langsdorf | Ensemble
Pamela Plewa | Ensemble
Lori Smith | Ensemble
Katelyn Brackney | Ensemble
Mariah Lieckfelt | Ensemble
Leah Frazier | Ensemble
Matt Cason | Ensemble
Tagg Smith | Ensemble
Andy Livernois | Ensemble
Logan Synnestvedt | Ensemble
Jeffrey Monterosso | Ensemble
You can still purchase tickets for the final two shows, but you must act fast, as the tickets are almost gone!
Crimes of the Heart
After Sweeney Todd wraps up at the end of September, Avon Players will begin prepping their next show, Crimes of the Heart! Written by Beth Henley, who received a Pulitzer Prize in Drama for the play in 1981 and was nominated for a Tony Award in Best Play. It was even adapted into a movie of the same name, which starred Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, and Sissy Spacek, which received three Academy Award nominations. So, what exactly is Crimes of the Heart about?
Set in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, during the mid-20th century, this play follows the story of three Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny. Reuniting in the home of their dying grandfather, the sisters must confront the harsh realities of their lives with heavy doses of humor and just as much sadness. The eldest, Lenny, is the caretaker of the family, who remains unmarried and sees the fantasies of marriage dwindling in front of her eyes. Meg is the fun-loving and free-wheeling middle child who has returned home after a failed music career. And, of course, Babe has arrived on the heels of shooting her husband and being released on bail from jail.
As the play progresses, the Magrath sisters must work through their past to find a brighter future. Directed by Angel Maclean, with the help of assistant director Aaron Barnes and producer Mark Palmer, the show is rated R for adult content and language.
Cast:
Lisa “Dee” Denomme | Lenny
Tara Makar | Meg
Maia Fetter | Babe
Pamela Plewa | Chick
Jeffrey Monterosso | Doc
Luigi Murri | Barnette
Crimes of the Heart runs in November for three weekends, so pick up your tickets now to get prime seats before they are sold out!
Farce of Habit
After Crimes of the Heart, Avon Players takes a break for the Holiday season and returns in early January with a comedy, starting 2025 with a laugh! Farce of Habit looks to make people laugh until they cry, with a tale of hijinx set at an exquisite fishing lodge in the Ozarks. Written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten, this play is chock-full of hilarity and an exciting cast of characters.
Gene Willburn, Inn Keeper of the Reel ‘Em Inn, wants a relaxing weekend at the lake, but fate has other things in store for him. As increasingly wild obstacles keep stacking up in front of him, it seems like relaxation might be the last thing he’ll be getting. Joining him at the Inn is his wife, who is going through severe caffeine withdrawal; his sister, an undercover cop currently on duty; and his grown son, who is rocking a can-can costume!
The only thing complicating this weekend more is the patrons staying at the Inn, which features a stuck-up British talk-show host, a group of nuns, and a serial killer. These are just a few of the offerings in Farce of Habit, but it would be sinful to miss this show!
Farce of Habit runs for three weekends in January between the 10th and the 25th. Get your tickets now!
Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor
From the chills of winter to the beginning of spring, Avon Players brings another comedy play to its stage, with Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor! The play was written in 1993 and is based on Simon’s real-life experiences as a junior writer on the variety show Your Show of Shows and the sketch-comedy series Caesar’s Hour.
Laughter on the 23rd Floor follows the story of Max Prince, a Sid Caesar-like character who is the star of a comedy-variety show and the staff who work for him. Set in the 1950s, Max Prince is tasked with dumbing down his act if he ever wants to make it big on the West Coast. As the star begins to spiral with the impossible task, it’s up to his writers to come up with new and interesting jokes and gags that will appeal to a wider audience.
Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor is rated R for Language and runs March 14-16, 21-23, and 28-29. Purchase your tickets now!
Young Frankenstein
Bookending Avon Player’s 2024-2025 season is another musical, this one based on a classic comedy film that many of us have seen before! Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein is a musical adaptation of the 1974 film of the same name, which is a spoof of Mary Shelley’s classic horror novel Frankenstein.
Gone are the days of Victor Frankenstein, the infamous scientist who brought a monster to life! Instead, this musical tells the story of his grandson, Frederick Frankenstein, whose last name sounds a little different than we’ve come to know. He begrudgingly inherits the family estate in Transylvania. Following in the shoes of his ancestors, although with much less enthusiasm, Frederick creates a monster of his own, with some help from Igor, also pronounced differently than you’d expect, and Inga.
It’s only a matter of time before the monster escapes the prison of the Frankenstein estate, much like the novel it’s based on. However, where it deviates is the trouble and hilarity that it finds itself in. With that trademark Mel Brooks wit and humor, Young Frankenstein will surely be an electrifying way to end the season!
Young Frankenstein is rated PG-13 for some adult content and runs the last weekend of May and continues through June 14. Snag those tickets before they’re gone!
Avon Players 2024-2025 season has something for everyone!
Whether you’re looking for a classic musical, a drama, or something to laugh at, Avon Players has a show for you. Avon is working hard all year to bring wonderful shows and performances to their stage, so if you’re looking for quality entertainment in the Metro Detroit area, Avon Players Theatre should be on your radar!
Check out their website for more about their entire season, as well as information about auditions for future shows and the theatre itself! Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or @boxseatbabes if you’re planning on checking out any of these shows or what community shows you’ve seen recently!
Avon Players’ Sweeney Todd Interview: Director John Deierlein
Avon Players’ Sweeney Todd Interview: Mario Simone and Joy Oetjens
