Looking for some good company?  Head on over to the Village Players of Birmingham. The community theater, currently celebrating its 91 season, is performing the Broadway musical Company in November.
The Tony Award winning hit has a unique connection to the area. Renowned actress, Elaine Stritch, who recently moved back to her hometown of Birmingham, originated the role of Joanne in the Broadway production. This is the Village Players’ second time performing Company, and Stritch is connected to both productions. In the 1970s, Stritch gave some character advice to Village Players’ actress Maureen Cook who played the role of Joanne. For the current run, Stritch will attend a benefit performance of the Village Players’ production on November 3. The benefit is sponsored by the Birmingham Senior Men’s Club and the Friends of the Birmingham Museum and Park.
Village Players’ brings a modern energy and sharp style to its current production with a stark set housing a live band on stage. The story is a study of contemporary relationships told through scrappy vignettes. It centers on 35-year-old confirmed bachelor Robert (played by Patrick Kilbourn of Berkley) and his relationships with his best friends, five couples, mostly married, portrayed by a superlative cast including Kilbourn’s wife, Audrey as flight attendant, April.
For Stephen Sondheim aficionados, his music for Company is some of his best—he won Tony Awards for Best Original Music and Best Lyrics for the show.  Even those less familiar with Sondheim’s work will recognize some favorites:  “The Ladies Who Lunch” made famous by Stritch, and “Being Alive” recorded by Barbra Streisand.
The Village Players of Birmingham will perform “Company” November 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. and November 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. at its playhouse located at 34660 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham. Tickets for the show are $19 and are available online at www.birminghamvillageplayers.com or by phone at 248-644-2075. Tickets for the November 3 benefit performance are $25 and are available by calling 248-642-7024.