Fridays February 8 & 15 at 7:30 PM and Saturdays 9 & 16 at 4:30 PM --  The Burns Park Players will present the family fun musical Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" at the Tappan Middle School.  Tickets are available at "Morgan & York" on Packard just south of Stadium Blvd.  Seats are reserved.

When I first tell people about the Burns Park Players, they tend to have a skeptical response.  How can a bunch of busy professionals with little theatrical training from one elementary school area mount an elaborate stage musical, and make it worth watching?  Let alone charge admission?  Truth be told, I wonder that myself sometimes, and every year in February I'm amazed how beautifully and lovingly a small community comes together to create an entertaining and spirit raising event for its lucky audiences.

Sure, I'm a little biased.  I'm a member of the group.  But I wasn't easily won over.  I was introduced to the Players by a client involved with the group.  She said "You live in Burns Park, you have a theater background, you should get involved, come with me."  (Yes, I have a degree in theater & English, did graduate work in theater at U-M, and managed the historic Michigan Theater and the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre.)  What could a rag-tag bunch of well-intentioned parents putting on a show with tons of school kids have to offer me?  Six years later, I can say more than I ever imagined.  It's like trying sushi for the first time...the concept of eating raw fish is hard to stomach.  And then after those first few bites, when the wasabi kicks in and makes you giddy, you discover it's one of the most amazing taste treats you've ever had.  The Burns Park Players are like that.

I invite everyone in the neighborhood to get involved.  There is a job for you.  Whether it's on stage or behind the scenes, it takes a ton of people hours to produce the quality production that we produce.

In less than two weeks, our audiences will see the fruits of our labor and dedication.  The set is looking beautiful with lots of color, the costumes are dazzling, and the performances get better every time we rehearse.  I will write more soon about my role in all this fun.

For 25 years the Burns Park Players have been putting on shows to raise funds to support Burns Park elementary and Tappan middle schools' arts programs.  Since 1992, the Burns Park Players have donated over $200,000 for grants, stage improvements, and program support for the arts curricula.