Joel Mapes Lives the Life of Brian: Laid-Back, Fat and Friendly

Joel Mapes plays his alter ego, Brian,
and pleads his case to Christmas Eve (Katie Evitts)

In the Farmington Players’ upcoming production of Avenue Q, Joel Mapes plays Brian, a 32-year-old unemployed comedian, who is married to Christmas Eve. Brian is one of the three human (non-puppet) characters in the show.  Joel can easily relate to Brian: “I enjoy the fact that Brian and I are quite similar.  We are both in our 30s, fat, laid-back, friendly, and wear Converse All-Stars.  Brian thinks he's very funny... but no one else does.  Brian is a good friend, though.  He cares about his fellow friends on Avenue Q.”

Although Joel only recently became aware of Avenue Q, “I wanted to do a show and get involved with the Farmington Players.  The timing was right, and I felt I would 'fit in' to this show just fine. … There is a lot of talent in the cast, and the Farmington Players is clearly a top-notch, well put together organization.  I'm very happy to be a part of this show, and a member here.”

Joel says, “There’s nothing I like better than performing for others!”  Some of his previous show highlights include: Horace Vandergelder - Hello Dolly! (Franklin High School); Fakir - Secret Garden (Players Guild of Dearborn); Moonface Martin - Anything Goes (Wing and a Prayer Players of Birmingham); The Snake - The Apple Tree (Wing and a Prayer Players); and Flint - Something's Afoot (Wing and a Prayer Players). Professionally, he’s sung in the AGMA chorus in eight different productions with the Michigan Opera Theatre between 1997-2001, and as the tenor soloist at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Birmingham, from 2005-2010.

When not on stage, Joel works inside sales at Material Sales in Redford (a carbide tool distributor). He enjoys many types of music, but mostly old-school rock and classical.  He says, “I also like karaoke, movies, keeping in touch with friends on Facebook, and most of all, riding my Suzuki chopper.” 

Avenue Q opens Friday August 10 and runs through Saturday August 25.  Get your tickets at www.farmingtonplayers.org or by calling the Farmington Players box office at 248-553-2955.  Find us on Facebook under “Farmington Players.”

Jim Snideman is Right on “Q” as Trekkie Monster

Jim Snideman as ...

... Trekkie Monster!

In the Farmington Players’ upcoming production of Avenue Q, Jim Snideman plays Trekkie Monster, a parody of the Sesame Street character Cookie Monster.  As Jim explains, “Every neighborhood has a Trekkie Monster. He's that weird individual that you both want on your side and are squeamish to admit you talk with him.  You really don't want to know what he does in his abode.”  As a Star Trek fan himself, Jim is well suited to this role, although he prefers the term “Trekker” to the more derogatory “Trekkie.”  Jim says, “If I had permission to perform this role in Klingon, I most certainly would.”

Jim has been entertaining himself “since brathood with characters and voices.  Trekkie is an interesting characterization to perform. The fine line between ‘gravelly’ and ‘blown vocal cords’ certainly comes into play here. … I also like the fact that Trekkie is such a raw, untamed fellow.  He's the local eccentric.”  While Jim has never puppeteered for an audience, doing so while “singing naughty songs in a gravelly voice and choreographing all the movements will present a most enjoyable challenge.”

Jim wanted to be in Avenue Q for the music, the parody, and the chance to play Trekkie Monster.  But he also wants to “dedicate this performance to my late uncle, Philip Molby.  Phil was a long time one-man puppet show in the Detroit area.”   Jim has been performing onstage since high school and gravitates toward the “character roles” like Trekkie.  He has also worked in radio, where he created, wrote and performed in a weekly sketch show called The Kold Kut Revue at Central Michigan University.  He’s been a street character at the Renaissance Festival, and has worked in TV and film, lately more behind than in front of the camera.  During his spare time, he is “a card carrying Gear Head. … I have also been known to write and perform songs, sing the blues with a friend's band, enjoy Sci-Fi and ‘not-so-gourmet’ cooking.”

Jim was last onstage at the Barn in 2003’s The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) where he worked with Allison Boufford, director of Avenue Q.  He has also worked with co-producer John Boufford (as “Candy”) in Of Mice and Men.

Avenue Q opens Friday August 10 and runs through Saturday August 25.  Get your tickets at www.farmingtonplayers.org or by calling the Farmington Players box office at 248-553-2955.  Find us on Facebook under “Farmington Players.” 

Early Bird Season Ticket Discount by June 15th!

  

Whatever you fancy, you’re likely to find it in the 2012-13 season at the Farmington Players barn theater.  You want drama?  Check.  You want comedy?   Check.  Musicals?  Oh, we’ve got musicals.  But you'd better act fast to get your early bird discount!  Purchase season tickets to all four shows by June 15 for only $58 and get first crack at choosing your own reserved seats. Call the Farmington Players box office at 248-553-2955 or go online at www.farmingtonplayers.org. 

The slate officially kicks off this fall with The Dixie Swim Club, a poignant comedy featuring five southern women who bonded as friends on their college swim team.  The quintet reunites every summer at a North Carolina beach house to rekindle relationships. The play spans 33 years as the women come together to face life’s challenges, such as men, sex, parenting, divorce, and aging.   Director Tim Timmer is holding auditions on June 17th (callbacks the 18th) and show runs from October 5 – 27.

Be prepared to travel back in time to New York City on December 21, 1942, to experience The 1940s Radio Hour.   The play is reminiscent of an actual radio variety show, with songs and commercials from the World War II era, including 40’s favorites such as “Strike Up the Band” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” Before the radio show goes on the air, the colorful characters play out their own backstage drama.  And the Barn’s patrons play the live studio audience!  Rachael Rose directs this entertaining romp that runs from November 30 – December 22, which is a great holiday group outing!

The vicissitudes of life sometimes result in tragedy that defies logic or reason.  Bad things happen to good people.  Rabbit Hole explores how one couple, Becca and Howie, try to put their lives back together after the accidental death of their four year-old son.  The resulting story, while heartrending, inspires hope and even humor as we commiserate with the grieving family and embrace our shared human condition.  Brian Tupper directs this touching drama (February 15 to March 2, 2013).

Okay, so there’s this musical – Legally Blonde – which is like based on the movie, but “OhMyGod!” who knew that Delta Nu could rock your socks like this!  Elle Woods takes on Harvard Law School to prove that she’s “serious” enough for her preppy boyfriend Warner, but somewhere along the way to earning her MRS degree, Elle instead learns that being true to yourself is like totally awesome!  And don’t even get me starting on the singing, and the dancing, and the costumes!  This show has it all!  Jason Wilhoite directs this spring fling, which runs from April 26 to May 18, 2013.

And first, but not least, in a special pre-season addition (not part of the season ticket package), the Tony Award winning Avenue Q is coming to the Barn this August! The show has been called a “zany, adult-themed spoof on Sesame Street”.  And yet, Avenue Q is about real life. It's about finding and losing a job, getting and losing your apartment, learning about racism, being different, falling in love, promiscuity, avoiding commitment, hangovers, Internet porn and discovering the world.  All acted and sung by players with puppets.   Allison Boufford is directing this unique musical comedy which runs from August 10 – 25.