Broadway stars lead discussion group at West Bloomfield library
There’s a Broadway buzz in Oakland County, attracting audiences of all ages.
Through the combined efforts of a local nonprofit theater arts organization and Friends of the West Bloomfield Township Public Library, local theater fans are queuing up each month to discuss the best of Broadway.
It’s all part of a Theatre for All initiative driven by Michigan Stage, founded three years ago to provide year-round programming in Oakland County and the metropolitan Detroit area.
The group’s self-described mission is to expand “the boundaries of where theater can take us.”
Among the group’s popular offerings is the monthly Talkin’ Broadway program, produced with the support of the West Bloomfield library.
The play-reading and discussion group was created to give local theater buffs a free outlet to examine and explore some of Broadway’s most distinguished offerings.
This month the public is invited to gather from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 24 in the library’s community room, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, to discuss the ever-popular musical “West Side Story.”
The session will include performances and insights from Broadway veterans Liz Lombard and Tim Paré, each a graduate of Michigan State University with New York theater experience.
Paré, a 2003 graduate of Warren Mott High School and a Southfield resident, is the founding artistic director of Michigan Stage. He has served as chair of the Ferndale Arts and Cultural Commission and has taught workshops in auditioning and the business of theater at universities in New York, Massachusetts, Colorado and Texas.
“Our goal is to get as many people excited about the theater as we are,” Paré said in describing the Talkin’ Broadway series. “Call it ‘Book Club meets intimate cabaret.’”
Now in its second year, the program has included discussions about some of Broadway’s biggest hits and critically acclaimed works. Among those in the lineup: “Pirates of Penzance,” “Hairspray,” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
Works selected for discussion usually flow from dinner meetings among Michigan State and West Bloomfield Library representatives. The library’s support is essential, Paré said.
“We sit and talk about favorite shows and what an audience might value,” he said. “We are fortunate to have this model.”
Robin Kaufman, chair of the library’s Talkin’ Broadway effort, called the program a “new and exciting addition to the Friends of the Library.”
“All are welcome to hear monthly discussions and musical arrangements from some of the greatest shows ever written,” she said. “Tim’s expertise and leadership have provided the library with a great program.”
Talkin’ Broadway is one of several theater offerings of Michigan Stage, including after-school workshops for students; programs to help hopeful actors gain theater industry knowledge; a year-long program to teach young professionals how to produce, market and cast a show; and theater workshops for residential senior communities.
“Our mission is to produce accessible, often mobile theater, which celebrates artists, audiences and collaborators while inspiring the communities we serve to explore new cultures and opportunities,” Michigan Stage said in describing its role. “We work with our local public schools and municipalities to create an ecosystem for preserving the arts in our region.”