thee.ay.ter

joe2 dishes out Cake and other theatre goodies

thee.ay.ter header image 4

REVIEWS for LITTLE DOG LAUGHED!

August 14th, 2010 by admin
Respond

Button


“…Though I’d seen a production of Little Dog before, director Joe Bailey’s slick staging provided me with a greater appreciation for the ways in which Beane’s script playfully and smartly dissects itself while also telling an intriguing story.
-Jenn McKee
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
_________________________________________________

Button

As directed by Joe Bailey, this Who Wants Cake? production is an emotionally bloody work wrapped up in the tenderest of love stories.
-Carolyn Hayes
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW

Tags:   · · · · · · · No Comments.

JoeJoe’s Wedding Vlog is LIVE!

August 14th, 2010 by admin
Respond

hey all! as many of you know, joe bailey and i (joe plambeck) are getting hitched on september 4th at the ringwald theatre (check out complete details on our wedding website HERE). i’ve decided to video blog (or vlog) the 30 days leading up to september 4th. since the wedding is taking place at the ringwald (and a lot of my vlogging includes clips of shows seen there & interviews with familiar Ringwald faces) i thought i would include the videos here. you can catch the vlogs below (you can select the different days by clicking the arrows on either side of the video screen…you can also watch in full screen by clicking the button on the lower right hand corner!). keep checking back to see the latest vlog and we hope to see you on september 4th!!!

Tags: 1 Comment

LITTLE DOG LAUGHED is playing NOW!

August 14th, 2010 by admin
Respond

oh my land! i am so sorry for my delayed postings of the latest happenings at The Ringwald! i’ve been so busy with wedding planning (see related post HERE with my vlog’s leading up to the big day!) that i just realized i never go the deats up for our august show, The Little Dog Laughed, which plays through august 30th (except sat, aug 21 due to the dream cruise). YES, we are totally crazy and have opened another show a mere 5 days after Sordid Lives closed! the show is great and you can check out some of the publicity shots below! reviews should be up shortly and you can get your tickets HERE! The Little Dog Laughed stars Suzan M. Jacokes as Diane, Vince Kelley as Mitch, Matthew Turner Shelton as Alex, and Crystal Rhoney as Ellen.

Tags:   · · · · · · No Comments.

SORDID LIVES show pix UP!

August 9th, 2010 by admin
Respond

sorry for the late posting on this! here are some of the show pix that colleen scribner took of our summer show, SORDID LIVES: IT’S A DRAG! thank you to everyone who came out and made it such a great run!!

Tags:   · · · · · No Comments.

REVIEWS for SORDID LIVES: IT’S A DRAG!

July 16th, 2010 by admin
Respond

Button

“…[Sordid Lives] is anything BUT a drag! …Audiences can expect to laugh a lot – and for long periods of time – which is what we expect from Who Wants Cake? Theatre at The Ringwald!” 
-Donald V. Calamia
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
__________________________________________________

Button
“…the drag of this Sordid Lives isn’t afraid to be funny, but goes for laughs on more than appearances alone. Even better, this gleefully trashy production reveals a pretty fine play beneath its falsies and mascara.”.
-Carolyn Hayes
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW

Tags:   · · · · · · · · No Comments.

SORDID LIVES: IT’S A DRAG! opens TONIGHT!!!

July 10th, 2010 by admin
Respond

wow, i cannot believe that our summer show is already opening!! i am SO very excited to get Del Shores’ Sordid Lives: It’s a Drag! in front of an audience!! if you enjoyed Southern Baptist Sissies three years ago, chances are you’re going to love this show!! the cast and crew have been amazing and we’ve been having the best time putting this bad boy up! so get your reservations HERE and check back for more fun diddies as the weeks progress!

The "men" of SORDID LIVES: IT'S A DRAG!

Tags:   · · · · No Comments.

MOTOWN MIScAST CABARET Videos Up!!

June 30th, 2010 by admin
Respond

the first annual GPS festival went AMAZINGLY! congrats to everyone involved and a big thanks to everyone who cam out to make it such a smashing success! we closed our first annual Gay Play Series with the Motown MisCast Cabaret which featured a few Ringwald favorites singing showtunes that they couldn’t traditionally sing because they are sung by characters of the opposite gender. below you can check out 10 of these performances. you’ll notice when you play the file that the other 9 performances pull up along the bottom, you can select whichever you’d like or let them play all the way through! you can also watch full screen and select to view it in 720p HD (the pull up option right next to the Full Screen button). enjoy and we hope to see you all next year!!

Tags:   · · · · · · No Comments.

MY DULL FRIEND voted Audience Favorite at GPS!

June 27th, 2010 by admin
Respond

2010 GPS Audience Favorite: MY DULL FRIEND by Margaret Edwartowski

what an awesome weekend! our first annual gay play festival, GPS (gay play series), kicked off on friday with a reading of Valley of the Dolls and then the five selected one acts performed last night and today in the GPS Main Event. after each round of shows the audience was asked to vote for their favorite. the production voted Audience Favorite is My Dull Friend written by Margaret Edwartowski. the production is directed by Gary Lehman and stars Emily Clark, Brian E. Buckner, and Brett Thurmond. the production will kick off the final night of the festival tomorrow, monday, june 28th at 8PM and will also receive a late night run in the upcoming Who Wants Cake? season! following the encore of My Dull Friend is the Motown MisCast Cabaret. the cabaret features men singing showtunes traditionally sung by women and vice versa. it stars Joe Bailey, Jamie Richards, Allyson Ortwein, Jeff Bobick, Jeremy Ryan Mossman, Courtney Burkett, Vince Kelley, Richard Payton, Vanessa Sawson and yours truly singing songs from such musicals as Next to Normal, Rent, Chicago, Ragtime, Les Mis, Songs for a New World, Godspell, Into the Woods, and many more! the night is only $10 and doors open at 7:15PM. thank you to all the participants in GPS and to the amazing audiences that made our first year such a success! can’t wait for next year!

Tags:   · · · · · · · No Comments.

GPS – Meet the Playwright – Kristian O’Hare

June 25th, 2010 by admin
Respond

take a moment to get to know Kristian O’Hare, playwright of the one act play, He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss), showing this weekend as a part of the first annual Gay Play Series at The Ringwald Theatre. you can catch He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss) on saturday, june 26th at 8PM or sunday, june 27th at 3PM.

Kristian O'Hare, playwright of He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)

You have 100 words to tell us everything about yourself. Go!

Kristian O’Hare has a PhD in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. He has worked with playwrights Steve Feffer, Kate Snodgrass, and Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott. His plays have been produced or developed in Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, NYC, and Kalamazoo. His turn-ons are: hairy chests, lemon pistachio donuts, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. His turn-offs are: leather couches, Levolor blinds, and other tasteless décor in amateur porn.

In one sentence, tell us what your play is all about:

To quote one of my idols, Whitney Houston: “Love is a contact sport.”

How long have you been writing plays?

When I was an undergrad, I had taken every fiction and poetry writing course I could, but didn’t explore playwriting until my senior year. I never went to plays and I didn’t know the first thing about writing one. I just wrote something I wanted to see and it worked – the play won an award and was selected to be part of the Kalamazoo Playwrights Festival. So I said fuck fiction and poetry and decided to pursue playwriting.

Why is this play important to you?

I’d never written about my experiences as a gay man until this script. In a way, this was my “coming out” play.

What was the inspiration for writing your script?

Aside from Whitney Houston, I’d have to say boxing inspired me. I’ve always been intrigued (and turned on) by boxing.


When I came out, I would go out to the bars in Chicago’s Boystown and by the end of each night I felt clobbered. Just physically and mentally drained. Beat up. It made sense to set up the play like a boxing match (with ring boys, refs, bells ringing, the whole deal).

Is this the first script of yours to get produced?

My most recent production was in May. The Ruckus Theatre (Chicago) produced my full-length play The Gay American about the downfall of Jim McGreevey, the former New Jersey governor who resigned – and came out at the same time – after having an affair with a male aide.

What are you most looking forward to in regards to the GPS experience?

I saw an interview with John Waters where they asked him what he was looking for in the new generation of gay artists, and he said, “Someone who will offend me.” Well, I recently had a critic/blogger call my work “offensive to gay men,” so I must be doing something right. Offended or not, I hope the GPS audience gets that same gut-punch feeling I had when I was trying to figure out how to get used to “the lifestyle.”

To see all available playwright interviews, click HERE

make your reservations for GPS by clicking HERE

Tags:   · · · · · · · No Comments.

GPS – Meet the Playwright – Megan Buckley

June 24th, 2010 by admin
Respond

take a moment to get to know Megan Buckley, playwright of the one act play, The Single Life, showing this weekend as a part of the first annual Gay Play Series at The Ringwald Theatre. you can catch The Single Life on saturday, june 26th at 8PM or sunday, june 27th at 3PM.

Megan Buckley, playwright of The Single Life

You have 100 words to tell us everything about yourself. Go!

I am an Equity Stage Manager and the Company Manager at Matrix Theatre Company. In all of my spare time, I bartend at Donovan’s Pub in Southwest Detroit and spend as much time as possible with my girlfriend, Birdie. I live in Ferndale, attend as many Tigers and Wings games and live theatre as possible, and spend far too much money on haircuts. My favorite shot is a Raspberry Kamikaze, I love letting out pent up aggression at the batting cages, and spending a Saturday strolling around downtown Detroit is the way to my heart.

In one sentence, tell us what your play is all about:

Finding the ability to change your outlook on life.

How long have you been writing plays?

I’ve been playing around with writing plays for the last two years or so, but didn’t get serious about it until January of this year.

Why is this play important to you?

This is the first script I’ve ever completed. That being said, it’s actually a cut from a longer script that isn’t done. It’s all about the baby steps.

What was the inspiration for writing your script?

When I started writing it, I was going through a pretty messy situation with a girl. This script became part of my healing process. It was as if the computer screen and the keyboard took on the role of therapist and I was able to use humor to help myself heal.

Is this the first script of yours to get produced?

Yep.

What are you most looking forward to in regards to the GPS experience?

I’m really looking forward to hearing an audience’s reactions to my words – it’s not a luxury I have had before. Other than that, I’m really excited and thankful to be a part of the inaugural Gay Play Series and can’t wait for the weekend to get underway!

To see all available playwright interviews, click HERE

make your reservations for GPS by clicking HERE

Tags:   · · · · · · · No Comments.

GPS – Meet the Playwright – Dave DeChristopher

June 24th, 2010 by admin
Respond

take a moment to get to know Dave DeChristopher, playwright of the one act play, In, showing this weekend as a part of the first annual Gay Play Series at The Ringwald Theatre. you can catch In on saturday, june 26th at 8PM or sunday, june 27th at 3PM.

Dave DeChristopher, playwright of IN (from one Crumpet to another, i just HAD to use this pic!)

You have 100 words to tell us everything about yourself. Go!

I’m a theatre generalist — acting, directing, playwriting, singing, teaching — born in Toledo, lived and worked in NYC from 1980-2004, can’t remember why i came back (!@#$@), incredibly impressed with the vibrancy of the theatre scene in Southeastern Michigan. Co-founder of an aspiring professional theatre here, Glacity Theatre Collective.

In one sentence, tell us what your play is all about:

Ageism. (wanted to say “fifteen minutes puff puff” but that sounded so 1992)

How long have you been writing plays?

Since 1990. Started in fiction — long story — I studied with the glorious Tina Howe and equally glorious but less famous Lavonne Muller.

Why is this play important to you?

It’s what’s on my mind lately. Better to write a play than to bore (and maybe lose) your friends or drive yourself crazy.

What was the inspiration for writing your script?

The feeling that i’m getting more and more invisible

Is this the first script of yours to get produced?

No. Google me.

What are you most looking forward to in regards to the GPS experience?

Seeing for myself what the play really is and if it reaches the audience. The actors can save you or kill you (and sometimes you deserve to be killed). When you’re not involved in the production, it’s always very exciting especially if you leave your ego at home.

To see all available playwright interviews, click HERE

make your reservations for GPS by clicking HERE

Tags:   · · · · · · No Comments.

GPS – Meet the Playwright – Margaret Edwartowski

June 23rd, 2010 by admin
Respond

take a moment to get to know Margaret Edwartowski, playwright of the one act play, My Dull Friend, showing this weekend as a part of the first annual Gay Play Series at The Ringwald Theatre. you can catch My Dull Friend on saturday, june 26th at 8PM or sunday, june 27th at 3PM.

Margaret Edwartowski, playwright of MY DULL FRIEND

You have 100 words to tell us everything about yourself. Go!

Margaret has a BFA in Acting from Wayne State University and is an alum of The Second City Detroit having written and performed in 10 original productions as well as teaching improv and writing for over ten years with them.  She  is a founding member of the Planet Ant Improv Colony (celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this summer).  Margaret spends her days working for Y Arts (at the Boll Family YMCA) teaching media arts, acting, and writing in schools.  Her play, Snowbound, was nominated for best new script in this year’s Wilde Awards.  Margaret is married to musician/composer John Edwartowski.

In one sentence, tell us what your play is all about:

A dull, lonely cat lady meets a fun and fabulous gay man and (hopefully) hilarity ensues.

How long have you been writing plays?

I’ve been writing sketch/original comedies since 1996.  I started writing plays on my own about five years ago, just for fun.  I only started showing them to people in the last year or so.

Why is this play important to you?

Going to theatre school in the 90′s meant that the lion’s share of plays I saw in my formative years with gay themes were all (for good reason of course) AIDS themed, heart wrenching and depressing.  I wanted to write something that reflected my experience with my very wonderful and dear gay friends…fun.  I wanted to put something light and joyful out there on this topic.

What was the inspiration for writing your script?

It’s maybe not so kind, but I recently re-connected with a girl I kind of knew many years ago.  In talking to her, she WAS the main character of this piece.  The girl needed some fun.  As I knew the play needed to have a gay theme, I had planned to write from my own experience (i.e. Gay best friendships).  So I took the voice of my dull, lonely acquaintance from the past and added the voice of my current gay bestie and voila, there was a play.

Is this the first script of yours to get produced?

Nope.  A couple of scenes from a full length play I wrote called His and Hers were performed at BoxFest a few years ago and my one act, Snowbound was produced last January at Planet Ant Theatre.

What are you most looking forward to in regards to the GPS experience?

Playwrighting is great because unlike acting and directing, you don’t see the entire production process and labor over every choice.  It’s like choosing the menu for the night and just having it served to you instead of having to cook it all yourself.  I hope it tastes good.  I also can’t wait to see all of the other works involved.  I learn so much from seeing other people’s works.  It’s going to be an exciting weekend.

To see all available playwright interviews, click HERE

make your reservations for GPS by clicking HERE

Tags:   · · · · · · · No Comments.

GPS – Meet the Playwright – Audra Lord

June 22nd, 2010 by admin
Respond

take a moment to get to know Audra Lord, playwright of the one act play, Joy, showing this weekend as a part of the first annual Gay Play Series at The Ringwald Theatre. you can catch Joy on saturday, june 26th at 8PM or sunday, june 27th at 3PM.

Audra Lord, playwright of JOY

You have 100 words to tell us everything about yourself. Go!

Audra Lord is a playwright and actor from Detroit, Michigan.  Her original work has received readings and productions in Detroit, New York and New Jersey.  Her play Speed Dating! was critically received as a “festival highlight” at Detroit’s Boxfest 2009 and was recently featured in the 2010 Great Plains Theatre Conference.  Joy premiered in New York City in May 2010 to rave reviews.  Audra is a Ringwald alum whose acting credits include appearances in Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Betty’s Summer Vacation and Bug.

In one sentence, tell us what your play is all about:

An almost-fifty-something-semi-alcoholic-professional-fag-hag offers a depressed “fairy” a little bit of joy…

How long have you been writing plays?

About five years.  I was looking for a project for myself and some of my actor-friends.  We had a hard time finding good, true and funny material for three women in their ’30s, so…one day, when I was bored, I picked up a pen and began to write.

Why is this play important to you?

I am very fond of these characters, and–no pun intended–it’s a very joyful little play.

What was the inspiration for writing your script?

Joy was my first assignment in Kitty Dubin’s wonderful playwriting class at Oakland University.  We were asked to draw a slip of paper with a location, and then we had to write a short play using said location.  Mine was “nightclub,” so I started to think about the many unusual characters I have met in various gay clubs over the years, and this play just…came out (for lack of a better expression).  I tend to write very quickly, without thinking about the process too much.

Is this the first script of yours to get produced?

Nope.  Since I began to write, my plays have been very well received.  Knock on wood.

What are you most looking forward to in regards to the GPS experience?

I can’t wait to see what a new group of people bring to this play!  For me, the real joy of being a playwright, is in the collaboration–the magic that happens when I hand the script over to a new (or different) group of people.  I love seeing the discoveries that other people make about my writing.

To see all available playwright interviews, click HERE

make your reservations for GPS by clicking HERE

Tags:   · · · · · · · No Comments.

GAY PLAY SERIES opens this weekend!

June 22nd, 2010 by admin
Respond

hey guys! this weekend WWC? is pleased to announce our first annual short gay play festival, GPS (Gay Play Series). the festival will go from june 25-28 and a wide variety of events are scheduled. the event kicks off with a rare staged reading of Jacqueline Susann’s Valley of the Dolls on friday, june 25th at 8PM. (i didn’t design this poster to the right, but it sure is cool, isn’t it??)

then on saturday and sunday we will present the 5 one act plays that were selected from the call we put out a few months ago. there were about 22 entries and these were the five best of those submitted. these five short plays will be presented twice throughout the weekend. one of these performances will be saturday, june 26th at 8PM and the other will be at 3PM on sunday, june 27th. at the end of each of these days the audience will be asked to vote for their favorite play. the winner of the festival will perform on monday night at 8PM and also get a late night slot in the upcoming WWC? season.

monday night will kick off with the winning one act which will be followed by the Motown MisCast Cabaret. the cabaret is a fun night where the guys get to sing showtunes usually sung by females and the ladies get to take on the dude’s songs. it’s a concept that is popular in NYC, Boston, and other big cities and we’re thrilled to bring it to Detroit.

each day of the festival is $10 or you may purchase a weekend pass for $20. all tickets can be reserved online by clicking HERE or by phone at 248-545-5545. watch over the next couple of days as i ask each of the five playwrights some questions so we can get to know a little more about them and the play they have written.

hope to see everyone there!!!

Tags:   · · · · · · No Comments.

SORDID LIVES: IT’S A DRAG publicity pix up!

June 13th, 2010 by admin
Respond

the summer show has been announced! wwc? will be performing Sordid Lives: It’s a Drag! by Del Shores (who penned Southern Baptist Sissies which was the first big Ringwald hit back in 2007!) Saturdays-Mondays starting July 10 and ending August 2nd. you may be familiar with Sordid Lives from its film roots (in 2000 with Olivia Newton-John, Delta Burke, and my personal favorite, Beth Grant) or from the short-lived LOGO series in 2008. this version will feature all men playing women roles and vice a versey. we have some newbies to the Ringwald stage (but very familiar with the GO! stage down the street) as you’ll see below. check out the pix and make your reservations HERE!

Sordid Lives: It’s a Drag!
By Del Shores

CAST
Ty – Christa Coulter
Bitsy Mae – Vince Kelley
Sissy – Marke Sobolewski
Noleta – Joe Plambeck
Latrelle – Matt Naas
LaVonda – Jamie Richards
Wardell – Suzan M. Jacokes
Odell – Cara Trautman
G.W. – Lauren Bickers
Brother Boy – Melissa Beckwith
Dr. Eve – Richard Payton

co-directed by Joe Plambeck and Jamie Richards

Tags:   · · · · · No Comments.

READER POLL: Best of 09/10 Season

June 13th, 2010 by admin
Respond

hey guys! thanks to everyone who checks out my blog and who comes to the theatre…we truly had an amazing season. now for a reader poll! sound off below…

What was the best WWC? show of the 09/10 season?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Tags:   · · · · No Comments.

WWC? receives 14 Wilde Award Nominations!!

June 9th, 2010 by admin
Respond

Who Wants Cake? received a whopping 14 Nominations for the 2010 Wilde Awards taking place on Wednesday, September 1st, at the Gem Theatre in Detroit. congrats to all of the nominees and check out the WWC? nominees below!!

Tags:   · · · No Comments.

EXTENSION & Another Review!

June 2nd, 2010 by admin
Respond

Die! Mommie! Die! has been extended through June 12th! This gives you two more chances to catch this killer comedy on Friday, June 11th and Saturday, June 12th at 8PM. get your reservations HERE.

also, one more review has surfaced for Die! Mommie! Die! and it’s awesome! check it out below:

“Once again, WWC? kills it.”

-Nicole Rupersburg

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW

Tags: No Comments.

DIE! MOMMIE! DIE! reviews

May 25th, 2010 by admin
Respond

Button

“…One heck of a loopy, loony night at the theatre. …The true standout is Bailey, who has more fun with his character than the law should allow.” -Donald V. Calamia
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
__________________________________________________

Button
“…Deliciously overacted and overproduced”.
-Carolyn Hayes
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW

Tags:   · · · · · · · · No Comments.

ANGELA ARDEN’S VOICE LEAKED!!!!

May 7th, 2010 by admin
Respond

hey guys! Die! Mommie! Die! opens in one week and i am getting more and more excited. it’s about a washed up movie star and singer, Angela Arden, whose early (and sudden) retirement is interrupted when her two children decide to knock her off.

want a sneak listen to Angie in her prime? check out a snippet below. and make your reservations today!!

Angela Arden – You Made Me Love You

(vocal credit to Vince Kelley with music by Jeremy Ryan Mossman)

Tags:   · · · · · · · · · No Comments.