OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS, a comedy about family by Joe DiPietro, is the six offering of the 18th Season at Eastpointe’s Broadway Onstage Theatre when it opens on Friday, February 24. Running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Select Sundays at 2pm, the popular comedy will entertain through Saturday, March 24.
Select Sunday Matinees are only performed at Broadway Onstage when a prearranged group of 30 or more is scheduled to attend. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 ½ Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe. The theatre is the home of the patented TeeVeeStage™ Presentation system, which employs cameras above the audience and monitors above the stage to provide audience members with different viewing perspectives of the live stage performance. Broadway Onstage Live Theatre is also the home of Dennis Wickline Productions, Inc., which began producing Non-Equity professional live theatre on the Eastside of Detroit in February of 1980.
The charming story of OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS tells us about Nick Cristano, a man in his thirties who is about to move from Hoboken, New Jersey to Seattle, Washington, and the relationship he has with both sets of his grandparents. His parents have already moved away from Hoboken to Florida, “..to live with a bunch of old people who love humidity.” Nick’s sister lives in San Diego, so Nick is the last of the younger generation to be in Hoboken. Nick has made it a point to come to Sunday dinner with both sets of grandparents every Sunday that he can remember. The play begins with Nick visiting his grandparents to tell them the story of his promotion and his move. They don’t take it well. In fact, they think the reason that he is leaving is because “He has no reason to stay. So…we give him a reason to stay.” With that, the grandparents, Frank and Aida, his mother’s parents, and Nunzio and Emma, his father’s parents, arrange a blind date with Emma’s canasta partner’s granddaughter, Caitlain. It is not a match or an evening made in heaven, but it is certainly fun and entertaining.
Portraying Nick is Broadway Onstage favorite John Arden McClure. Mr. McClure has appeared in a number of productions at Broadway Onstage including the title role in DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE several seasons ago. Dennis Wickline and his wife, Olivia, portray Frank and Aida. Ms. Wickline appeared in the same role for Grosse Pointe Theatre when they presented the play in 2005. Also appearing from that 2005 Grosse Pointe Theatre production are Sal Rubino as Nunzio and Francesca Catalfio as Emma. Star Rothe returns to Broadway Onstage to portray Caitlain. Ms. Rothe first appeared at Broadway Onstage as Luisa in THE SOUND OF MUSIC in 1995 at the age of 8.
The production is under the able direction of Donna DiSante, who directed a number of versions of THE NUTCRACKER’S NUTS at Broadway Onstage as well as appearing as Minnie in the popular production.
Tickets for Opening Night Friday, February 24 are $14. Tickets for all other performances are $16. Group Rates and Performances are available. Again, Broadway Onstage is located at 21517 Kelly Rd. at Toepfer (8 1/2 Mile Rd.) in Eastpointe, Michigan. Ticket Reservations are recommended by calling (586) 771-6333.
