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.
I had the opportunity to hear David Cole, Chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, speak yesterday about the Michigan economy and its road to recovery. Cole was cautiously optimistic that within the next couple years we would see the state's largest industry get back on its running legs. In recent years, the US automakers have been crippled by the rising costs of pension benefits. About $2,500 of every car made went to cover these benefits, a huge amount. Now the unions are responsible for these benefits, allowing the US automakers to compete more effectively with foreign automakers. Despite reduced labor costs abroad, shipping and import costs will make US automobiles a much better value than they were in the past. The US automakers can now bring a product line to the market in two years where it used to take five. This will allow quicker responses to demand and technological improvements.
Cole also spoke about the relative impact of the auto industry's troubles versus Pfizer's impact on the area economy. He claimed that one auto production job loss results in the loss of ten more jobs. In comparison, one job loss at Pfizer (which is primarily research and development) results in a single job loss. I appreciated this informative perspective and was comforted that the pullout of Pfizer might not be as bad as many of us were anticipating. And I'm hopeful that the US carmakers will be able to increase their share of the auto market.
Additionally, the development of hybrid engines and alternative fuels are moving in the right direction to help relieve the US's reliance on fossil fuels and imported oil.
In this challenging real estate market, I was heartened to hear a hopeful voice from a knowledgeable insider. I welcome your comments and incite to help the community forecast its future and plan for the upcoming selling season.
As the Burns Park resident expert I can help with all your real estate needs. Let me show you why this is a great place to live. Relocating to the area? I'll make your transition smooth.
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