The Avon Players Theatre Present The Full Monty

The Avon Players Theatre presents the hilarious and heartwarming musical comedy, The Full Monty, opening on May 17 and continuing on weekends through June 1. 

The Full Monty, a musical based on the film of the same name, is the story of two best friends, Jerry Lukowski (played by Joshua Monterosso) and Dave Bukatinsky (played by Tym Falk), in Buffalo, New York, who have recently lost their jobs when the steel mill where they worked is shut down.

Feeling desperate and after observing how much their wives enjoy watching male strippers during their "Girls' Night Out," the guys come up with a bold way to make some quick cash: put on their own act!

They manage to pull together a motley crew of equally down and out men and begin creating their show. Of course, they soon learn it’s easier said than done as personal insecurities, family crises, and even a trip to a police station threaten to make them lose their nerve.

But as they rehearse together, the men rediscover the importance of friendship and find renewed self esteem. Working through their fears, they come to find that not only are they stronger as a group, but the strength they find in each other gives them the courage to face their demons and ultimately overcome them.

Avon Players’ production is directed by John (JD) Deierlein with associate direction by Ryan Moore and musical direction by Steve Woznicki. Joining Monterosso and Falk in this remarkable cast are eighteen other talented men and women, both seasoned veterans and newcomers, from across the Detroit metro area. 

The Full Monty may be considered a bold choice by some for a community theatre, but director John Deierlein says, “…it's important to offer our audiences a balanced season. Although classic family productions like Annie or The Sound of Music are great shows, it is also nice for us to share more modern pieces with our audiences as well.” 

While certainly different in many ways, The Full Monty still offers all of the things traditional musical fans love. According to Deierlein, “There are many great moments in this show. It’s very funny with a lot of laughs, but also has a lot of heart as well, with great musical numbers full of great singing and dancing!” 

Performances will be on May 17-19, 24-26, 31 and June 1. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8:00 PM and Sunday performances are at 2:00 PM. Ticket prices range from $16- $18 and may be purchased at the box office in person, by phone at (248) 608-9077, or online at www.avonplayers.org. Student, senior, and group rates are available. This production is recommended for adults only.

The Avon Players Theatre is located at 1185 Washington Road, Rochester, MI 48306 and is a 501(c) (3) non-profit community theatre serving Oakland and Macomb counties since 1947.

This information is provided by John Deierlein.