DETROIT (WWJ) - Two local actors are teaming up to headline two separate sketch comedy shows, all in one night, and it's all for charity. One of the shows will be performed by actor Michael Fish, who has trained with Second City instructors and appeared in a multitude of local productions.
"Michael Fish's project is 'My Friend Freud,' and it's a one-man show with regards to analyzing dreams and Freud analyzes the dreams," said Phil Elam, a Metro Detroit-based actor, singer, producer and host of the annual I See You Awards. Elam will perform the evening's other show, 'Fortunate Faces'.
"What this show is, 'Fortunate Faces' basically, all based upon challenges, things that happened to me -- good and bad -- and they've all been like guests in my house,"Elam told WWJ's Terri Lee. "And you treat your guests, whether good or bad, with respect and love. And when that guest leaves, you learn from them. So, basically, what this show's all about -- these five characters -- basically are guests that have been in my house, in the house of my soul, basically, and I'm hoping to share that and let it be a rainbow ... and share that with everyone else."
If you've never seen a one-man show before, you just might wonder how a show like this is able to keep the audience's attention. Elam says the show was performed in Chicago previously and went over very well. Even still, he's been refining it before he performs it again.
"I've really taken a lot of time making sure that it's absolutely right, and I'm working with Jeff Fish, who's the director/producer of the show," Elam said. "He's helping me really hone things down, so there's other eyes and ears that are involved ... to make sure that it's absolutely right."
And it's all for charity.
"Mike Fish is donating his proceeds to the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Detroit, and I'm donating the proceeds from my portion to the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh."
Both shows will be performed on Saturday, November 2nd, at the Boll Family YMCA Theater in downtown Detroit. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets.
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Member:Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA)African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA)SAG-AFTRA