Michael Alan Herman

Schoolcraft College Theatre opens the 2022-23 season with a new interpretation of a familiar tale with “The Gravedigger: A Frankenstein Play.” Written by Joseph Zettelmaier, the piece includes many of the elements of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” while exploring more deeply some of the themes presented in her book.

Michael Alan Herman, in his second year teaching theatre arts at Schoolcraft, is the director. The veteran actor and playwright said the audience won’t see Boris Karloff’s “Frankenstein” stomping around the James R. Hartman Theatre.

“A lot of people know theUniversal Studios version of Frankenstein – this big hulking green monster that has bolts on the side of his neck,” Herman said. “But that is not the monster that Mary Shelley wrote in her genius book. Her monster is poetic and yearns for love, sees the world with wide-eye fascination, and takes criticism very personally.

“This is the same monster that Joe wrote in ‘Gravedigger.’ The story is a deep dive into the human condition and asks these powerful questions like ‘What does it mean to be human?’ and ‘What does it mean to be a good human?’ The actors really go to 11 when it comes to the drama and the excitement, and I can’t wait for Schoolcraft audiences to see what we are making for them.”

Zettelmaier is a familiar name to patrons of Schoolcraft College Theatre. His play “It Came From Mars” was to be the spring 2020 production, but had to be canceled due to COVID-19. A year later, Zettelmaier and Herman collaborated on “Alone/Together,” which was presented in March 2021.

“Joe is just the best,” Herman said. “He’s a genius writer, a visionary director, and on top of that, he is just the nicest person you would have the chance to meet. I love working with Joe. He, my wife, and I work together all the time and we just love it.

“Joe is so good at writing plays that are heartwarming, meaningful and funny at the same time. ‘Gravedigger’ is no different. It’s set in a world of monsters and villains, but it has so much heart and I couldn’t love it more.”

Herman has had a busy past few months acting as he landed the role of Dylan in the movie “Chasing Hope.” His parts were filmed in nearby Brighton.

“’Chasing Hope’ is a Christian feature film about a man named David Jakes who is trying to save himself from a degenerative disease,” Herman said. “In the process, he recruits my character to find him a donor. I’m a hacker/part-time criminal that has some experience poking around places that I’m not supposed to. We find a woman named Hope, who is a good match for Jake, and I spend a lot of the film pursuing her – or … ‘chasing’ Hope.”

Herman said “Chasing Hope” premiered a few weeks ago and should be distributed soon on a streaming service. View the trailer.

“Gravedigger: A Frankenstein Play” will open at 8 p.m. on Friday, October 28 – just in time for Halloween – in the James R. Hartman Theatre on the campus of Schoolcraft College.

Other performance times are:

Saturday, October 29 – 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 30 – 2 p.m. (matinee)
Friday, November 4 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 5 – 8 p.m.

Tickets are $20. Purchase Online

It’s a companion piece to last winter’s “Alone Together”

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact lives, it’s appropriate that Schoolcraft College Theatre opens the season with “Something at Last,” a companion piece to last winter’s “Alone Together.”

Where “Alone Together” explored the isolation brought on by the pandemic, “Something at Last” explores how we are emerging from isolation. Written by award-winning Michigan playwrights Joseph Zettelmaier and Michael Alan Herman, “Something at Last” features six separate stories told in monologue form.

Professor Paul Beer directed the production, which will be available for viewing on YouTube beginning on Monday, November 1, and will be open for viewing for a week.

Professor Beer graciously provided his insight in the following interview:

Q: Like “Alone Together,” this production was filmed and then will be presented on a video stream. From your perspective as a director, what are the challenges of presented the work this way? What sort of changes have you had to make in terms of your style, how you work with the actors and so forth?

Professor Beer: Joe Zettelmaier and I conceived of the idea of a monologue show as we considered alternatives for our season within the constraints of the pandemic, and Joe offered to work with his writing partner, Michael Alan Herman, to produce a script. Our original goal was to provide our students a performance opportunity, and to stay connected with our base of patrons who have support Schoolcraft Theatre over time.

Last winter semester, “Alone Together” was quite successful; our audience was at least as big as audiences when we perform live, and we reached well beyond the traditional geography of Schoolcraft Theatre support. When we realized that pandemic precautions this fall semester would still prevent a live performance before an audience, we turned to Joe and Michael again.

While it’s a performance opportunity, it is different. First, the performance of a monologue, without other actors on the stage, requires a different, but very important, set of skills for an actor. The actor must create his character and the audience he is addressing at the same time. Second, our performance for cameras rather than a live audience is a new experience for some of our actors.

We have tried to film the performance as if it were live (rather than doing something truly cinematic), but it is still more intimate than playing to a house full of audience members. With a live audience, the audience becomes part of the performance; in a filmed performance, the actors are missing that partnership, too.

Q: What do you miss most about live productions?

Professor Beer: The audience! We have enjoyed our audience members who have attended Schoolcraft Theatre over the years, and new audience members who come from our student body. The audience is a critical part of live theatre, and we miss communing with them.

We look forward to inviting our audiences back to the James R. Hartman Theatre in March of 2022 when we’ll present a live performance of Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park. (Tickets will go on sale in January 2022.)

Q: Thank you for your time, Professor Beer. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Professor Beer: Schoolcraft Theatre is fortunate to have the support of the College and the community, and we’re very grateful.

Cast and crew bios

Paul Beer

Director

Paul Beer has been teaching at Schoolcraft since 2015 and is thrilled to present this new play. “We conceived of the recorded monologue show last winter to cope with COVID and give our students a chance to act in a safe environment,” he said. “Given the continuing concerns, we’re happy to build on that success and offer ‘Something at Last.’ These are great stories and great characters. We can’t wait for you to meet them!”

Nicole Levine

Stage Manager

Nicole Levine is a Schoolcraft student nearing the completion of her associate degree in Fine Arts and Theatre. She’s worked on many productions and is a great backstage boss for the tech team. Like so many Schoolcraft students, Levine balances her academics, theatre work and employment, keeping many plates spinning in her life.

Emily Betz

Ambrosia

Emily Betz has worked with Schoolcraft Theatre for a number of years as the costumer, and she has many shows to her credit both here and outside Schoolcraft. This is her Schoolcraft acting debut. Her character, Ambrosia, is a COVID-driven career changer finding joy in her line of work.

Hassan Chammout

Devon

Hassan Chammout also performed in “Alone Together” and “Rabbit Hole.” He recently graduated from Schoolcraft and is continuing his education at the University of Michigan (double majoring in Biology and Theatre) while building his professional resume. Devon is a working actor who has a surprise appearance in his childhood home.

Bryan LaMance

Jude

“Something at Last” is Bryan LaMance’s debut at Schoolcraft, where he’s studying broadcasting. He hopes to make his living writing and voice acting. Jude is a hobby fisherman who isn’t so sure he wants the isolation of COVID to end.

Julia Gilewski

Quinn

Julia Gilewski is a Schoolcraft College sophomore, studying education, and this is her first performance on the SC stage. She mentioned in her audition that she’s more comfortable behind the scenes. Quinn discovers her first post-COVID job as a ride share driver might not be the best fit.

Gavin Carrigan

Jim

Gavin Carrigan is a first-year student at Schoolcraft pursuing an associate degree in Communications Studies. He’s done lots of theatre in middle and high school, and this is his first performance in the James R. Hartman Theatre. He’s looking forward to working as a voice actor in the future, and as a “Halloweenie” in “Something at Last.” Jim is thrilled to return to a more normal celebration of his favorite holiday, Halloween.

Essie Weasley

Kennedy

Essie Weasley previously performed in “Alone Together” and “Sylvia.” Offstage she continues to work in healthcare while pursuing a variety of performance opportunities. She plays Kennedy, who discovers secrets about her family’s past after her mother’s death.