57th season gets off to a ‘Red Hot’ start

Neil Simon comedy to open at Village Players Theatre

Starring in the Village Players' production of 'Last of the Red Hot Lovers' are, from left, Cindy Bilby, Emily Remaklus, Zac Gilley, and Aggie Alt.

A middle-aged man looks for romantic adventure this weekend when the Village Players opens its 57th season and a year of comedy with Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers.

“It's very funny. I think some of his work gets dated, but this takes place in the 1960s and I think the overall premise is as current today as it was then,” said director Carol Ann Erford.

Barney, played by Zac Gilley, “is realizing his own mortality. It’s all of a sudden hitting him. He’s happy with his wife and kids but wonders what it would be like with another woman so he makes three attempts,” Erford said.

His three choices have little in common — Elaine, played by Aggie Alt, is a housewife; Bobbi, played by Emily Remaklus, is a hippie, and Jeannette, played by Cindy Bilby, is a member of Barney’s circle of friends. His mother’s apartment, empty one day a week, provides the perfect setting for his intended clandestine activity, if only he can make it happen.

“Last of the Rest of the Red Hot Lovers” will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Sept. 21 at Village Players Theatre, 2740 Upton Ave. Additional performances will be at 8 p.m. Sept. 12 and 19. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for seniors and students. Information: 419-472-6817 or thevillageplayers.org.

Plaza Party

The Valentine Theatre will celebrate the performing arts from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday with its Season of the Arts Plaza pARTy at the theater, 400 N. Superior St.

The Toledo Opera, Toledo School for the Arts, Toledo Symphony Orchestra School of Music, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, harpist Nancy Lendrim, Masterworks Chorale, Ballet Theatre of Toledo, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, Toledo Repertoire Theatre, and The Blue Kazoo will perform on the Key Bank gifted outdoor stage and throughout the historic theater. Jennifer Jarrett will offer dance lessons in the Grand Lobby.

Food, beer, and wine will be available for purchase. The sing-along version of Mama Mia! will be shown at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free to the event and the film. Information: 419-242-2787.

Fund-raiser

The Toledo Repertoire Theatre will hold its Workin' Joe fund-raiser from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday to benefit the theater, 16 10th St.

Emilie Voss of WTOL-TV, Channel 11 and WUPW-TV (Fox Toledo), and Mark Benson of WXKR-FM, 94.5, will emcee the event featuring the musical groups Bliss, Skoobie Snaks, Bob Rex Trio, and a jazz combo from the Toledo School of the Arts (TSA). The Toledo Rep and Young Rep along with TSA also will perform. There will be raffles and 50/​50 drawings held throughout the day. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Admission is $5 for guests ages 13 and older. Information: 419-243-9277.

Living history

Jeremy Meier will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie with his performance of Oliver Hazard Perry: Hero of Lake Erie at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Franciscan Center Theatre at Lourdes University in Sylvania.

The assistant professor of fine and performing arts at Owens Community College was commissioned by the Ohio Humanities Council to write the 35-minute monologue and has performed it in several area venues. A meet and greet will be held with Meier in character after the performance.

“Oliver Hazard Perry: Hero of Lake Erie” will be performed at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Franciscan Center Theatre at Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania. Tickets are $5 and free to Lourdes students. Information: 419-824-3999.

Help needed

ADRIAN — Volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today to do maintenance projects on the Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian.

Projects include minor electrical upgrades, carpet replacement, carpentry, painting, and organizational and cleaning chores. All those ready to work are welcome. Licensed electrical workers, plumbers, and carpenters also are needed for larger projects.

The Croswell is Michigan's oldest continually operating theater. Information: 517-263-6868.