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.”