THEATRE NOVA PRESENTS THE MICHIGAN PREMIERE OF
Stargazers
by Reina Hardy
Opening night July 12, running through August 4, 2019
Rupert Knox is looking for love in all the wrong planets. He’s an astrophysicist who wants two things in life: to make the astronomical discovery of the millennium and find a date to his sister’s wedding. He may have found both in Claire, a mysterious celestial poet. However, when another woman shows up at Rupert’s door, all three star-crossed lovers will have to make big choices about mortality, true love, and whether to stick with vodka or switch to beer.
Directed by David Wolber, “Stargazers” features Kaitlyn Valor Bourque, Eddie Rothermel, and Katelyn Wilson. The production and design team includes Xavier Williamson (scenic design), Daniel C. Walker (lighting design), Haley Cook (costume design), Carla Milarch (sound design), and Alona Shewach (stage manager, props).
EncoreMichigan Review
‘Stargazers’ explores modern digital love and the stars
“Some plays sneak up on you. Such is the case with 'Stargazers,' now playing at Theatre NOVA. ...the metaphors really start kicking in at the one-hour mark. 'Stargazers' seems to be a story about what can happen to us when we let our heart and search for love remain in the stars, always looking for something better or idealized on online dating sights, rather than taking hold of what is real and in our midst.
It’s as if maybe Ms. Hardy had the revelation of her own life while looking through a telescope at the stars. The writing reveals a certain amount of geekery about space with some hard-won experience in online dating. It also speaks to both the science and poetry of love, loves lost, loves found and loves looked for. ...this is a love story and we care about the characters, which is a win for this play and the playwright."
The Jewish News
Final Weekend for ‘Stargazers’ in Ann Arbor
“This magical story revolves around astrophysicist grad student Rupert (Eddie Rothermel), who is as intent on making the next major astronomical discovery as he is on improving his dismal love life. Things quickly become more interesting, albeit complicated, when he meets two intriguing women: the celestial Claire (Kaitlyn Valor Bourque) and the quirky Elaine (Katelyn Wilson).
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The three excellent actors interact in varying combinations in a series of short, well-paced scenes. And, while the story initially focuses on Rupert and his foibles, it is the women who ultimately have the greatest impact on him as well as on each other."
PULP: Arts Around Ann Arbor Review
LOVE AND PHYSICS COMMINGLE IN THEATRE NOVA’S “STARGAZERS”
“Playwright Reina Hardy has a lot on her mind: the Big Bang Theory, the course of true love, the waxing and waning of sexual passion, personality disruptions caused by social media, the difficulty of making contact at a party when you’re socially awkward, and so much more. Theatre Nova does a great job of bringing new plays to audiences and Hardy’s play concludes a season of thought-provoking theater. The point here, as in the other plays this season, is to present theater that is fresh, different, and worth debating about."
READ THE FULL REVIEW
Detroit Free Press
Things To Do this Weekend
“Though many southeast Michigan theaters have gone dark for the rest of the summer, Ann Arbor’s Theatre Nova is keeping the lights on — and having some fun to boot — with the playful “STARGAZERS.” Conceived by Reina Hardy, who’s known for working elements of science and magic into her plays, the comedy centers on a lovelorn astrophysicist who suddenly finds himself in the middle of an oddball love triangle. Southeast Michigan theater vet David Wolber directs a cast made up of Kaitlyn Valor Bourque, Eddie Rothermel and Katelyn Wilson."