Acting Brothers Going Separate Ways After 'Chicago'

Farmington Hills brothers Evan and Avery Rausch have acted together for years, but after this summer, they're going separate ways. 

The teens will perform this weekend with Forever After Productions in Chicago, which opens Thursday at The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield. Then Evan, a 2013 North Farmington High graduate, goes on to Western Michigan University, while Avery begins his junior year at North Farmington. 

"It's very weird," Avery said of their impending separation. "It's going to be very strange being an only child." 

While Avery plans to continue acting at North, Evan's attention will be focused on earning a degree in music education. He said he will specialize in strings and hopes to be a voice major as well.

"I knew that I was doing some form of fine arts since my sophomore year-ish," Evan said. "I just started getting really serious about the bass."

Avery has not yet selected a college, but he knows he will major in musical theater. "I made that decision in eighth grade," he said. "That's my ambition. It's my passion." 

The brothers decided to try out for Chicago because the edgy tale of love and murder is one of their favorites. Evan will understudy the part of flashy lawyer "Billy Flynn" and plays the role of "Harry", a married man who sleeps around and ends up getting shot by his wife. 

Avery's role is a mysterious secret, part of a surprising production directed by Brian Buckner. "He is amazing," Avery said, adding high praise for Forever After Productions. "They really know what they're doing, and they make it fun in the process."

Performances of Chicago are scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Purchase tickets by phone, 734-547-5156, at foreverafterrpoductions.com, or at the door. The box office opens one hour before show time. All tickets are $15 ($12 for groups of 15 or more).

Correction: Showtimes have been updated.