BY MATT MACKINDER
Clarkston News Editor

After presenting their first production in a year and a half this past September, Clarkston Village Players will now get set to preform the classic play “Bus Stop,” by William Inge.
The show opens this Friday, November 5 and runs through Saturday, November 20.
Emotions run high when a group of bus passengers circa the 1950s are stranded at a bus stop diner overnight.
“Like most people, we are all thrilled to be able to work in the theater again,” said Sara Sanger, member of the group who also handles publicity. “Some of the cast and crew commented it feels ‘wonderful,’ ‘like coming home,’ and ‘about time.’”
The last production was “Escanaba in da Moonlight” in September and prior to that, Clarkston Village Players had to shut down before the final three performances of “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily” in March 2020.
According to Sanger, “Bus Stop” is “a bittersweet comedy that explores and celebrates the ‘everyman’ in all of us.”
“It offers audiences a little bit of everything – drama, comedy, romance and self-introspection as each of the characters represents aspects of what the average person struggles with during the course of their life,” said Sanger.
The production is being performed at the Clarkston Village Players’ Depot Theatre, located at 4861 White Lake Road, Clarkston. A converted train depot, the theatre only seats 59 people. Seating is not assigned in advance and refreshments are available before the show and during intermission.
Ticket prices are $17 for Friday and Saturday 8 p.m. performances and $15 for 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees and the Thursday 7:30 p.m. performance. Tickets can be reserved by calling the ticket hotline at 248-425-5842 or emailing ticket requests to cvptickets@comcast.net. Show dates are November 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20.
Open auditions for the January production of “Murder at the Howard Johnson’s” are held Sunday, Nov. 7 and Monday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at Depot Theatre. No experience is necessary.
Clarkston Village Players is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization.
“We welcome anyone in the community who is interested in any aspect of theater to join us, either on the stage or behind the scenes,” Sanger said. “We are always looking for help with costume design, props, set construction, lights and sound, etcetera.”
More info, clarkstonvillageplayers.org.

PHOTO: From left, Clarkston Village Players cast members Brooklyn Nicole (Cherie), Sara Sanger (Grace), Tagg Smith (Virgil), Tim Wheeling (Bo), Roger Moule (Will), Colleen Flanagan (Elma) perform a scene from “Bus Stop.” Not pictured is Steve Sanger (Dr. Lyman). Photo provided by Karen McClellan