Finlandia to present "Two By Two" Mar. 14, 15, 16

HANCOCK -- Finlandia University will present a production of the hit Broadway musical Two By Two Mar. 14, 15 and 16 at the Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock.

Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. A Sunday matinee performance begins at 3 p.m.

Co-directed by Dan Maki and Mike Aubin, the light-hearted musical tells the story of Noah’s preparation for the Great Flood and its aftermath.

"Two By Two is a lively, humorous musical that everyone will enjoy," Maki says. "But while the show is generally lighthearted, it has somber moments, too. Noah’s family has its dysfunctional aspects, and there is a good bit of generational conflict."

The story of Noah, his family, and the ark full of animals is well known. In the musical, Maki says, the characters are very human and God is presented as an entity whose existence is both a comfort and a mystery to those He created.

Maki, local thespian and Finlandia professor, plays Noah. Aubin, a local school teacher and longtime Calumet Players actor and director, plays Noah's son Japheth.

Finlandia students Samantha Horst, Emily Pierce, Amanda Moyer, and Lauren Logue play, respectively, the parts of Noah’s wife, Esther, Noah’s daughters-in-law Leah and Rachel and Goldie the priestess.

Finlandia student David Petretti-Watring plays Shem, Noah’s eldest son, and Calumet Player Pete Manderfield plays Noah’s son, Ham. Local musician and Finlandia associate music professor Melvin Kangas is the music director.

The liner notes from the play’s soundtrack introduce the story line as follows: "Start by imagining Noah as your average 600-year-old, working-class guy from the Bronx, somehow transported back to the days of Genesis. He has a loving wife, three sons, two daughters-in-law, and a chicken farm. One day, God plays a visit, informs him that the world is going to be destroyed and gives him the job of saving two of every living species, along with his own family. Noah reacts as many of us would with the song, 'Why Me?'"

Two By Two is based on a book by Peter Stone, with lyrics by Martin Charnin and music by Richard Rogers. It is a musical version of a 1954 play, The Flowering Peach, by Clifford Odets.

Tickets are $8 per person. They will be available at the door prior to each performance, or they can be reserved in advance. To obtain additional information and to reserve tickets, contact Lynne Sweeney at 906-487-7204.

Editor's Note: This press release courtesy Karen Johnson, Finlandia University.