Royal Oak Tribune

Birmingham Village Players put on theatrical production via Zoom

- — Submitted by Kris Kelly

For those who miss the theatre, Birmingham Village Players is putting on a virtual production of the play “Belles” Dec. 4 and 5.

“It’s the story of six southern sisters told in two acts and 45 phone calls,” said Tania Velinsky, Belles producer and one of the stars. “That makes it the perfect production during COVID.”

In order to practice social distancing restrictio­ns, all rehearsals and the production were set up via Zoom.

“The actresses adapted immediatel­y and are absolutely amazing with having each scene be a close up,” said Director/Editor Alan Ellias of Farmington Hills. “The nice part of doing all the editing myself is I can make all the effects as well as scenes exactly how I want them to be - a director’s dream.”

Viewers will feel like they peeked into someone Zoom meeting and have a front row seat to all of their family secrets.

“You find out about the current crises in the sisters’ lives, how they interact with each other, and how they are dealing with their traumatic childhood,” explained Velinsky. “There are many parts that are quite funny. I say it is a lot like Steel Magnolias, but nobody dies.”

“Belles,” written by Mark Dunn, stars Velinsky of Royal Oak, Jan Cartwright of Novi, Julia Cody of Hazel Park, Kez Settle of Clawson, Suzie Skibicki of Bloomfield Hills and Nancy Valentini of Livonia.

Tickets are available at showtix4u. com/event- details/41467 or visit birmingham­villagepla­yers.com and click the “Belles” logo.

 ?? PHOTO COURTESY OF BIRMINGHAM VILLAGE PLAYERS ?? Alan Ellias directs the “Belles” actresses via Zoom — Jan Cartwright, Kez Settle, Nancy Valentini, Tania Velinsky, Suzie Skibicki and Julia Cody.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BIRMINGHAM VILLAGE PLAYERS Alan Ellias directs the “Belles” actresses via Zoom — Jan Cartwright, Kez Settle, Nancy Valentini, Tania Velinsky, Suzie Skibicki and Julia Cody.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States