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| * Press Releases and Reviews * |
The Journal Newspaper
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Theater takes on ‘Elephant Man’
Lester L. Holmes, Jr.
Staff Writer
lholmes@journalgroup.com
During her visits to Fairywood Medical Clinic, Plymouth resident Delores Cruz
would spend time talking to office manager Craig A. Hane about how live
theatre would be perfect for downtown Plymouth. Now Hane is working to turn
their conversations into reality.
Hane, along with his partner Pete Podolski, founded Barefoot Productions, a
Plymouth-based community theater company on a mission to bring professional
style theater to Plymouth with an atmosphere so comfortable patrons can take
off their shoes during the performances.
“We want to keep local, community theater alive here in Plymouth,” said Hane,
who believes his efforts will also enhance downtown.
“We envision people from all over Plymouth and surrounding communities
eating a meal downtown and then walking over to see quality theater,” Hane
added.
The inaugural show, Talking With… drew more than 50 people to the Plymouth
Historical Society Museum during the Oct. 27-29 run despite competing with a
World Series. The next production, The Elephant Man, is scheduled from Dec. 8-
17 and is expected to draw even larger crowds.
Amateur actors of all experience levels are welcome to audition for the
company, but Hane demands a professional level of performance from all the
actors.
“No matter your experience level, I will get an off-Broadway quality
performance from you,” he said.
According to Cruz, the Plymouth community seems responsive to the theater.
After fulfilling her career obligations as a Realtor, Cruz passes out flyers and
other advertisements for the shows. She also talks to many of the business
owners in the downtown district encouraging support. The Book Cellar and
Café sells advance tickets for Barefoot Productions shows.
“The response from the community has been phenomenal. All of the
businesses are eager to post a sign. The theater is bringing the community
together,” said Cruz who said she joined the Barefoot Productions team
because of her love for the arts and Plymouth.
“Everybody involved is doing this for the community. People come from all
over the area to support us,” Cruz said.
Barefoot Productions is in the process of applying for non-profit tax-exempt
status with the Internal Revenue Service and has several shows planned for
2007. The immediate goals are to have a successful run with The Elephant Man
and become more familiar to the community.
“We don’t want to fade away. We will work as hard as we can to offer what we
have for Plymouth,” added Hane.
For more information about Barefoot Productions, phone Hane at 734-582-9688.
http://www.journalgroup.com/index.php?id=2017
Theater company aims to stage productions in Plymouth
BY TONY BRUSCATO
STAFF WRITER
Plymouth Observer & Eccentric
The Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, founded by actor Jeff Daniels, has become one of
southeast Michigan's biggest supporters of small theater productions by developing
playwrights, actors, designers and directors, while drawing audiences from all over.
With that success story in mind, Craig Hane believes Plymouth can become the Next
Chelsea, and the Plymouth Historical Museum -- or even a renovated Penn Theatre --
the Next Purple Rose Theater.
Hane, a Farmington Hills native who now lives in Plymouth, is more than mindful of the
idea; he's banking on it to fulfill his dream of operating his own community theater
production company, which will conduct live performances in the Plymouth Historical
Museum this fall.
"Plymouth is screaming for a venue like this," said Hane, whose love of community
theater has challenged him for 25 years, most recently with a production company in
Dearborn Heights. "I can tell Plymouth is supportive of the arts ... there are art events
and concerts. But, the one thing we feel is missing is live theater.
"We want to keep it small and intimate, the same kind of intimacy as the Purple Rose,"
he said.
For those reasons, Hane dubbed his community theater company Barefoot Productions.
"We want you to come to the show and feel comfortable and relaxed, for the love and fun
of it," Hane said. "I want these shows to be a very intimate connection between the
audience and the show, to feel like you're right there in someone's living room."
Hane said the venue may even look like someone's living room, with the stage simply
represented by a 5-foot-by-7-foot rug, with handmade costumes and donated props.
Seating will be limited to about 100 people, reminiscent of the old 99-cent theaters.
"In the old days, 99-cent houses didn't have to pay professional actors the going rate if
there were less than 100 seats in the theater," said Hane. "Many of the smaller stock
houses throughout the country had only 99 seats so they could contract with
professional actors, but not have to pay the higher wages."
Hane said ticket prices, which have yet to be set, are expected to be in the range of $10.
Sanford Burr, the interim executive director of the Plymouth Historical Museum -- whose
son is an artistic director at 124-year-old Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater -- said he
likes the idea of live theater downtown.
"It would expose more people to the theater," Burr said. "It would also give potential
actors an opportunity to be involved in theater, and learn from the exposure."
Barbara Bloom is the president of Spotlight Players -- formerly the Plymouth Theater
Guild -- which holds four productions a year at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill in
Canton Township. Bloom said there's room for more live theater in the Plymouth and
Canton communities.
"I'd like to see one on every corner," Bloom said. "I think Plymouth is a viable area for
something like that.
"In a survey by the (Canton) Leisure Services Department, the No. 1 entertainment
source was live theater, and the No. 1 way to get involved was volunteering," she said. "It
would make sense that would spill over into Plymouth."
Hane, 44, has been producing, directing and designing since 1980. He founded and ran
Theatre Pacifica in Santa Barbara, Calif., for five years before returning to his roots in
Michigan.
Hane's partner in Barefoot Productions is Pete Podolski, 20, of Riverview, a junior at
Wayne State University who has trained with Second City-Detroit and the American
Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
Hane said the first production will be Talking With ... by Jane Martin, Oct. 26-28, a
collection of 11 female monologues with the characters interacting with the audience. It
was a production he directed at the Dearborn Heights Civic Theatre that will be
transformed to the Plymouth Historical Museum.
While most of the same actors will be pre-cast for the first production, Hane promises
future works will include open auditions for local talent, including The Elephant Man,
which is scheduled for December.
"Whenever we hold open auditions, and we cast somebody, that person becomes part of
the company," Hane said. "I start a file on them, and then two or three shows down the
line, when I need someone for a specific part, they could be cast again without trying
out."
By day, Hane is the office manager at the Fairwood Medical Clinic in Plymouth. However,
his dream is to someday take the nonprofit Barefoot Productions to new heights.
"My dream has been to have my own production company," Hane said. "Theater is a
dying art. Somebody has to keep it going."
Originally published August 24, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Theater takes on ‘Elephant Man’
Lester L. Holmes, Jr.
Staff Writer
lholmes@journalgroup.com
During her visits to Fairywood Medical Clinic, Plymouth resident Delores Cruz
would spend time talking to office manager Craig A. Hane about how live
theatre would be perfect for downtown Plymouth. Now Hane is working to turn
their conversations into reality.
Hane, along with his partner Pete Podolski, founded Barefoot Productions, a
Plymouth-based community theater company on a mission to bring professional
style theater to Plymouth with an atmosphere so comfortable patrons can take
off their shoes during the performances.
“We want to keep local, community theater alive here in Plymouth,” said Hane,
who believes his efforts will also enhance downtown.
“We envision people from all over Plymouth and surrounding communities
eating a meal downtown and then walking over to see quality theater,” Hane
added.
The inaugural show, Talking With… drew more than 50 people to the Plymouth
Historical Society Museum during the Oct. 27-29 run despite competing with a
World Series. The next production, The Elephant Man, is scheduled from Dec. 8-
17 and is expected to draw even larger crowds.
Amateur actors of all experience levels are welcome to audition for the
company, but Hane demands a professional level of performance from all the
actors.
“No matter your experience level, I will get an off-Broadway quality
performance from you,” he said.
According to Cruz, the Plymouth community seems responsive to the theater.
After fulfilling her career obligations as a Realtor, Cruz passes out flyers and
other advertisements for the shows. She also talks to many of the business
owners in the downtown district encouraging support. The Book Cellar and
Café sells advance tickets for Barefoot Productions shows.
“The response from the community has been phenomenal. All of the
businesses are eager to post a sign. The theater is bringing the community
together,” said Cruz who said she joined the Barefoot Productions team
because of her love for the arts and Plymouth.
“Everybody involved is doing this for the community. People come from all
over the area to support us,” Cruz said.
Barefoot Productions is in the process of applying for non-profit tax-exempt
status with the Internal Revenue Service and has several shows planned for
2007. The immediate goals are to have a successful run with The Elephant Man
and become more familiar to the community.
“We don’t want to fade away. We will work as hard as we can to offer what we
have for Plymouth,” added Hane.
For more information about Barefoot Productions, phone Hane at 734-582-9688.
http://www.journalgroup.com/index.php?id=2017
Theater company aims to stage productions in Plymouth
BY TONY BRUSCATO
STAFF WRITER
Plymouth Observer & Eccentric
The Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, founded by actor Jeff Daniels, has become one of
southeast Michigan's biggest supporters of small theater productions by developing
playwrights, actors, designers and directors, while drawing audiences from all over.
With that success story in mind, Craig Hane believes Plymouth can become the Next
Chelsea, and the Plymouth Historical Museum -- or even a renovated Penn Theatre --
the Next Purple Rose Theater.
Hane, a Farmington Hills native who now lives in Plymouth, is more than mindful of the
idea; he's banking on it to fulfill his dream of operating his own community theater
production company, which will conduct live performances in the Plymouth Historical
Museum this fall.
"Plymouth is screaming for a venue like this," said Hane, whose love of community
theater has challenged him for 25 years, most recently with a production company in
Dearborn Heights. "I can tell Plymouth is supportive of the arts ... there are art events
and concerts. But, the one thing we feel is missing is live theater.
"We want to keep it small and intimate, the same kind of intimacy as the Purple Rose,"
he said.
For those reasons, Hane dubbed his community theater company Barefoot Productions.
"We want you to come to the show and feel comfortable and relaxed, for the love and fun
of it," Hane said. "I want these shows to be a very intimate connection between the
audience and the show, to feel like you're right there in someone's living room."
Hane said the venue may even look like someone's living room, with the stage simply
represented by a 5-foot-by-7-foot rug, with handmade costumes and donated props.
Seating will be limited to about 100 people, reminiscent of the old 99-cent theaters.
"In the old days, 99-cent houses didn't have to pay professional actors the going rate if
there were less than 100 seats in the theater," said Hane. "Many of the smaller stock
houses throughout the country had only 99 seats so they could contract with
professional actors, but not have to pay the higher wages."
Hane said ticket prices, which have yet to be set, are expected to be in the range of $10.
Sanford Burr, the interim executive director of the Plymouth Historical Museum -- whose
son is an artistic director at 124-year-old Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater -- said he
likes the idea of live theater downtown.
"It would expose more people to the theater," Burr said. "It would also give potential
actors an opportunity to be involved in theater, and learn from the exposure."
Barbara Bloom is the president of Spotlight Players -- formerly the Plymouth Theater
Guild -- which holds four productions a year at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill in
Canton Township. Bloom said there's room for more live theater in the Plymouth and
Canton communities.
"I'd like to see one on every corner," Bloom said. "I think Plymouth is a viable area for
something like that.
"In a survey by the (Canton) Leisure Services Department, the No. 1 entertainment
source was live theater, and the No. 1 way to get involved was volunteering," she said. "It
would make sense that would spill over into Plymouth."
Hane, 44, has been producing, directing and designing since 1980. He founded and ran
Theatre Pacifica in Santa Barbara, Calif., for five years before returning to his roots in
Michigan.
Hane's partner in Barefoot Productions is Pete Podolski, 20, of Riverview, a junior at
Wayne State University who has trained with Second City-Detroit and the American
Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.
Hane said the first production will be Talking With ... by Jane Martin, Oct. 26-28, a
collection of 11 female monologues with the characters interacting with the audience. It
was a production he directed at the Dearborn Heights Civic Theatre that will be
transformed to the Plymouth Historical Museum.
While most of the same actors will be pre-cast for the first production, Hane promises
future works will include open auditions for local talent, including The Elephant Man,
which is scheduled for December.
"Whenever we hold open auditions, and we cast somebody, that person becomes part of
the company," Hane said. "I start a file on them, and then two or three shows down the
line, when I need someone for a specific part, they could be cast again without trying
out."
By day, Hane is the office manager at the Fairwood Medical Clinic in Plymouth. However,
his dream is to someday take the nonprofit Barefoot Productions to new heights.
"My dream has been to have my own production company," Hane said. "Theater is a
dying art. Somebody has to keep it going."
Originally published August 24, 2006
| www.justgobarefoot.com |
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