Croswell to present 2-hour revue this weekend

Cindy Bilby, left, as Patty and Barbara Barkan as Margaret in a scene from 'Walter Cronkite is Dead.' The show will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday in the Mansion View Inn.

THOM JENKINS

Cindy Bilby, left, as Patty and Barbara Barkan as Margaret in a scene from 'Walter Cronkite is Dead.' The show will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday in the Mansion View Inn.

ADRIAN — 45 Summers at the Croswell this weekend reflects the past and looks to the future at the Croswell Opera House.

Gordon 'Big' Dooley will perform at 9 tonight at L.O.L. Comedy Lounge in Our Brothers Place, 233 N. Huron St.

Two years ago the last revue was well received, so the powers that be decided to do it again and spice it up. “It was all song, song, song, production number, production number, production number. It was fun, everybody enjoyed it, but we thought we would mix it up a little bit,” said director Betsy Lackey. Medleys will be added to the solo and ensemble selections in the two-hour performance.

Actors returning to perform some of their favorite numbers include the director’s husband, professional actor Michael Lackey, who’s worked on Broadway. Some of his selections include “Soliloquy” from Carousel and “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera.

Director Dave Rains and Ms. Lackey have arranged the music. “‘45 in 4.5’ is where we took snippets from the past 45 seasons and smashed into 4.5 minutes”" she said. The “Pirate Medley” includes songs from The Scarlet Pimpernel.  and The Pirates of Penzance, Peter Pan,The “Factory Medley” combines numbers from Kinky Boots. and The Pajama Game

Toledoans Brenda Sweeney, Stephanie Stephan, Brittanie Kuhr, Natalie Kissinger, and Steven Kiss are among the performers; Allison Steele is the choreographer.

“45 Summers at the Croswell” will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday with matinee performances at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian. Ticket prices range from $15 to $35. Information: 517-264-7469 or croswell.org.

Comedian recording

Gordon “Big” Dooley is recording his first solo DVD, 15 Minutes of Funny, tonight where he feels at home, in L.O.L. Comedy Lounge in Our Brother's Place on North Huron Street.

.“I want to go back to where it began to where they showed me the most love in the beginning,” Dooley said in a recent phone interview from his Ypsilanti home

Dooley, 35, left the shipping and receiving field two years ago to tackle the world of stand-up comedy. His R-rated show touches on relationships, race, and a sense of self.

"I've really embraced my size. I'm a big man, and my love for big women is my claim to fame... My audience is so diverse because funny is funny. When I write material, I write for everyone."

The comedian says his niche is simplicity. 

“I think when I do jokes the simpler is better. I’ve kind of found my lane and have been traveling down this road.”

15 Minutes of Funny will be sold for $10 on Amazon.com. The release date is to be determined.

Dooley also will appear in Papers 3: Rise of the Notes, the third in a series of independent films about different aspects of money. It is set to be released later this year.

Gordon “Big” Dooley will perform at 9 tonight at L.O.L. Comedy Lounge in Our Brothers Place, 233 N. Huron St. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is free. Information: bigdooleyjokes.com.

Cronkite

Actors Collaborative Toledo, a new community theater group, makes its debut with Walter Cronkite is Dead Friday at the Mansion View Inn.

Actors Collaborative “is what has morphed out of J& J Productions,” said Jeffrey Albright, one of the founders.

He and theater veterans Barbara Barkan and John Duvall plan to complement other area community groups by presenting new or sometimes overlooked plays, Albright said.

This Joe Calarco play examines what happens between two women from very different backgrounds with opposing political views. They are pushed together by extenuating circumstances and decide to share a bottle of wine and some frank conversation.

“Walter Cronkite is Dead” will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday in the Mansion View Inn, 2035 Collingwood Blvd. Tickets are $12. Information: 419-244-5676.

Contact Julie Njaim at: jnjaim@theblade.com.