REVIEW: Believe in the Timeless Magic of Avon Players’ ‘Miracle on 34th Street’

‘I’ll believe it when I see it.,’ is a famous phrase. Well, believe me when I say you will want to see Avon Players’ production of Miracle on 34th Street running now through Saturday, December 9, 2023, in Rochester Hills, Mich. Avon Players last staged this show nearly a decade ago and it was refreshing to see the updates made to this production, while still staying true to the spirit of the story so many cherish. For those who may not know, there are two movie versions. The first is the 1947 … [Read more...]

REVIEW: Avon Players’ ‘The Full Monty’ is Cheeky Fun

Friday night, in front of a packed audience, Avon Players Theatre put the adage — ‘Fortune favors the bold’ — to the test with the comedy musical, The Full Monty running now until September 30, 2023, in Rochester Hills, MI. If The Full Monty sounds familiar, chances are you have either heard of or seen the 1997 British comedy film of the same name. In 2000, the Americanized version of the story hit Broadway as a musical with the book by Terrence McNally and score by David Yazbeck. And just … [Read more...]

Let Your Inhibitions Go with Avon Players’ Musical Comedy ‘The Full Monty’

Desperate circumstances lead to hilariously desperate measures in this stage adaptation of the popular movie    A group of down-on-their-luck workers tests whether fortune really does favor the bold as Avon Players presents The Full Monty running September 15-30. Based on the hit film of the same name, The Full Monty follows the misfortunes of six unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, New York. With no job, money, or prospects, these men are fed up with the state of their lives. When they … [Read more...]

REVIEW: Avon Players’ ‘First Date’ Makes the Right Impression

Adam Silorey as Aaron and Lori Smith as Casey in 'First Date.' Photo courtesy of Bryan Clifford These days, dating – especially first dates – are akin to maneuvering through a minefield. There is constant second-guessing over where to meet, what to wear, and what topics are ‘safe’ to discuss. All while in the back of your mind, you’re wondering, “Will this finally be THE ONE that gets you off the dating merry-go-round? Avon Players’ presentation of the rom-com musical First Date hysterically … [Read more...]

Fall in Love at First Sight with Avon Players’ Musical Rom-Com ‘First Date’

Crowd-pleasing comedy chronicles the horrors, humiliations, and occasional happy surprises of blind dating. The classic romantic comedy setup of two mismatched suitors navigating the minefield of relationships gets a fresh musical treatment as Avon Players presents First Date running May 26-June 10. When blind date newbie Aaron (Adam Silorey) is set up with serial-dater Casey (Lori Smith), a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious exploration of modern … [Read more...]

Avon Players’ ‘Misery’ Highlights the High Price of Fame

There is a well-known adage advising people not to meet their heroes because they’ll only end up disappointed. And nowhere is this sentiment truer than in the story of Avon Players’ latest production, Misery running now through March 25, 2023, in Rochester Hills, MI. Misery is a best-selling book by famed horror novelist Stephen King, which went on to become an iconic film starring Kathy Bates and the late James Caan. The Broadway play is written by William Goldman and starred Laurie Metcalf … [Read more...]

Avon Players Presents Psychological Suspense with Stephen King’s ‘Misery’

A quaint country cabin becomes a terrifying prison for one unlucky accident victim. A writer discovers the dark side of fandom when he finds himself at the mercy of an unhinged stranger as Avon Players presents Misery running March 10 through 25 in Rochester, MI. Based on the bestselling novel by the master of horror Stephen King that became the iconic film, Misery follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon (Jeff Stillman), who is rescued from a car crash by his number one fan, Annie … [Read more...]

REVIEW: Make a Date to See the Fearless and Funny ‘Calendar Girls’ at Avon Players

Singer/songwriter Neil Sedaka was right on the money when he sang, “I love, I love, I love my calendar girl.” Or in this case, I loved the opening night of Avon Players’ spirited production of Calendar Girls, running now until Saturday, January 28 in Rochester Hills, MI. If the name of this play sounds familiar, chances are you may have seen the 2003 movie starring Dames Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. Inspired by real-life events, the action mainly takes place in the quaint village of … [Read more...]

Avon Players Presents Heartwarming Comedy ‘Calendar Girls’

Friends navigate loss by taking bold actions and find that the world is watching  See how far a group of friends will go to bring attention to a good cause and how that attention alters their relationships as Avon Players presents Calendar Girls running January 13-28. When Annie's (Lesa Bydalek) husband John (Anthony Sherman) dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris (Joy Oetjens) resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room in remembrance of him. With help from … [Read more...]

REVIEW: Avon Players ‘A Few Good Men’ Inspires with Commanding Performances that Electrify

“A pushy broad, a smart Jew and a Harvard mouth" walk into a military courtroom to take on the United States Marine Corps in Avon Players’ powerful production of A Few Good Men, running from now until November 26, 2022, in Rochester, Mich. L to R: Lance Cpl. Harold Dawson (Matt Druminski), PFC William Santiago (Kyle Kiesler), and PFC Louden Downey (Jacob Rayl) find themselves caught up in deadly lies and deceit. Photo courtesy of Avon Players' Facebook. Thanks to the popularity of the 1992 … [Read more...]