Farmington Hills Resident Picks Up Wilde Theatre Award Nomination

Imagine having to create the look and feel of nearly three decades, in 5-year increments, over a span of about two hours. 

That was the task Farmington Hills resident Barbie Amann Weisserman faced in this year's Two Muses Theatre production of Same Time, Next Year, a romantic comedy about two lovers who meet on the same weekend for 25 years. Her work on props for the show has earned her a Wilde Award nomination, the only professional awards program for theatre in Michigan.

"For our company, since we're brand new, it puts us on the map," said Weisserman, who co-founded Two Muses last year with friend Diane Hill, also of Farmington Hills. "This nomination was exciting for me, because (the show) was so prop intensive. The costumes had to be more of a prop, because (the actors) changed so often." 

Two Muses opened their inaugural season last November, with an all-female version of The Odd Couple on stage inside the . They produced two other shows this year and will present A Little Work by Anita Diamant and Stephen McCauley Sept. 7-30. 

Diamant, who wrote the New York Times bestseller The Red Tent, plans to come in for the premiere Weisserman said. "The show is perfect for our mission to provide opportunities for women in the theatre, whether it's on stage or backstage," she added. The company seeks out shows with "good, strong lead roles for women."

"We've had a great season so far," Weisserman said. "We've gotten a good response from the public and a great response from the critics."

For more information about Two Muses, visit twomusestheatre.org. To learn more about the Wilde Awards, visit encoremichigan.com.