November 11,2007 - Westland Public Library

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Observer & Eccentric | Sunday, November 11,2007 (W) A3
Wayne thespians go 1950s
BY SUE MASON
STAFF WRITER
When Kate Sullivan needed
two elementary-aged youngsters
to play roles in Wayne Memorial
High School's upcoming production
of Father Knows Best,
she turned to her husband, Tim.
A teacher at Edison
Elementary in Westland, he
asked fifth-graders Andrea
Macek and Jennafer Bizek if
they would be interested.
"When Mr. Sullivan called,
he said I was the first one he
thought of," said Jennafer. "He
asked about my friends. They
needed us to be friends who
fight a lot."
"Yeah, but we're still able to
get along," added Andrea.
Jennafer plays the youngest
daughter and Andrea her friend
in the three-act play that will be
presented at 7 p.m. Thursday-
Saturday, Nov. 15-17, at the
Stockmeyer Auditorium of the
Wayne Memorial campus in
Wayne.
"This the first time I've done
this," said Sullivan, the play's
director. "I wanted something
that had a larger cast. This has
a good mix of male and female
roles."
In all the play has a cast of
15 students and a crew of four.
Senior Briana Dewyer is doing
double duty playing the role of
the older daughter and serving
as an assistant director along
with Alyssa Lucas.
The play is set in the 1950s
and is a spin-off of the Father
Knows Best radio and TV show,
and according to Sullivan, "it's
the ail-American family show."
"It's a show the whole family
can come and see," Sullivan
said.
Sophomore Doug Malcomb
plays the frustrated father who
wants the family to spend time
together at home. They do, but
things seem to go wrong. His
wife, played by senior Kristina
Monty, has have her garden
club come to the house for their
meeting, while his son, played
by Andrew Roberts of Marshall
Middle School, has his basketball
team come over to play. His
oldest daughter (Dewyer) has
her first date at home.
"He sees all the antics
that occur and he realizes
he shouldn't try to control so
much," said Sullivan. "He realizes
that he should let them have
their freedom and ultimately
they let him have his freedom."
Also helping with the production
is Wayne Memorial
alumnus Evan Williams, who
provides the cast with feedback
and critiques performances as
Sullivan's production assistant.
"He's a huge help to me, doing
all of the behind-the-scenes
things I don't have time to do,"
said Sullivan. "Evan spent his
whole high school career in the
drama program. He'll be leaving
for New York soon and quite
possibly may go into theater."
The students have been in
rehearsal since early October,
putting in long hours after
school three days a week. The
schedule hasn't been a problem
for the cast. According to
Sullivan, they've "done a phenomenal
job" rehearsing their
PHOTOS BY TOM HAWLEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Doug Malcolm (from left) plays the father, Jim Anderson, Briana Dewyer is
the oldest daughter Betty and Kristina Monty his wife Margaret in the Wayne
Memorial High School production of 'Father Knows Best.'
Rehearsing a scene are Doug Malcolm (from left), Andrew Roberts, Jennafer
Bezik, Kristina Monty and Andrea Macek.
lines and getting into their characters.
As the youngest cast members,
Jennafer and Andrea said
it was "a little hard" to learn
their lines, but the two girls used
recess to practice them.
"I didn't know it would be a
lot fun," said Jennafer.
"We've made a lot of new
friends," added Andrea.
They also admit that the play
has them wanting to pursue
theater productions in middle
school and high school.
"It's their first time on stage
and they're doing a great job,"
Sullivan said. "It's wonderful
because they're such close
friends. They work on their lines
together and come to rehearsals
together."
Tickets still available for 'A Tribute to the Stars' show
Tickets still are available
for A Tribute to the Stars — a
celebrity impersonator show
aimed at raising money to help
the Westland Goodfellows.
The Goodfellows group
raises money to buy Christmas
gifts for children who might
otherwise not have any, and
the nonprofit organization
this year is expecting an even
larger demand due to tough
economic times.
Westland Jaycees members
have stepped in with A Tribute
to the Stars, with doors opening
at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov.
16, at the Wayne-Ford Civic
League. A mostaccioli dinner
will be served at 6:30 p.m.,
and the show will begin at 8
p.m.
Celebrity impersonators will
perform the songs of Shania
Twain, Toby Keith, Neil
Diamond, Jerry Lee Lewis,
THE
(Dtoeruer §1Eccentrit
Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley.
The event will include dancing,
a 50/50 raffle and a silent
auction.
Tickets cost $25. Call
Westland Jaycees chaplain
Gary Bulson at (734)
729-6683 or the Westland
Chamber of Commerce at
(734) 326-7222.
Tickets also may be bought
at chamber offices on Ford
Road between Newburgh
ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE
FAMILY 4-PACK
OF TICKETS TO SEE
and Wayne. They also will be
available at the door, Bulson
said.
THINKING ABOUT...
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