ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Acting student animates stage in local play

David Crews, a WCC theater student, and Haley Cook rehearsing their roles in “The Real Inspector Hound”. Torrence Williams | Washtenaw Voice

By Kristy King
Staff Writers

WCC theater major David Crews takes the stage this week as the character Simon in “The Real Inspector Hound,” a play from Petie The Dog Productions.

Crews, 27, auditioned for “The Real Inspector Hound” after hearing about it when he starred in another production, “Hayfever.”

He said “The Real Inspector Hound” is interesting because of its nuances.

“There are many layers to the play,” said Crews. “The play is about two people watching another play, so the audience will have to embrace how chaotic it is.”

Crews first started acting in 2015 when he took an acting class at WCC. He said WCC performing arts faculty member Tracy Jaffe inspired him to get on the stage.

“Tracy gets non-actors into acting,” Crews said.

“What I love about acting at WCC is that I can focus on the students,” Jaffe said. “To see them progress and grow through the semester.”

She said PTD Productions plays are a good place for WCC performing arts students to start.

“The WCC theater department really compliments PTD Productions because it lays the foundation for these actors to go onto other platforms,” said Jaffe. “It allows them to focus on their skills here at WCC and perfecting their craft.”

Crews said the thing he loves most about acting is the magic of becoming someone else on the stage, even if it’s just for a little while.

Jaffe guides her students to hone their talents and utilize adaptability.

“I teach students to embrace themselves and their uniqueness and to let go and go for it,” Jaffe said. “I want students to be flexible and open to things, because that helps them out in the world. In your job, or even life, you’re going to be handed things that you may not be comfortable with, but you’ll adapt and figure it out. That’s what I teach in theater, but with a little twist.”

Crews has starred in five plays outside of WCC. In the future, Crews wants to have a career in voice acting, either in animation or gaming.

“The Real Inspector Hound” is set to show at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti. The preview performance with a talkback will be Feb. 27 at 8 p.m., with seating at 7:30 p.m.. Opening night for the show is Feb. 28 and the play will run through March 7. Tickets range from $12-18 and are available on ptdproductions.com.