By D.B. Schroeder, Puzzle Piece Theatre

Puzzle Piece Theatre, Detroit’s newest professional company, will debut with the Michigan premiere of Anthony Clarvoe’s “Show and Tell”.  The play’s setting could not be timelier; the plot follows the investigation after an explosion in an elementary school that leaves a class of 24 students dead.

“When we announced “Show and Tell” as our inaugural production last October, there was no way to fathom that an event like the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook would so alter the cultural landscape weeks before our opening.” says D.B. Schroeder, Puzzle Piece’s Producing Artistic Director and director of the production. “I thought we would be producing a play that would resonate in Detroit because of the increased murder rate and the senseless string of child murders last spring.  Now the play has taken on new meaning as school shootings once again dominate the national conversation.”  The company will facilitate post show conversations after every performance for audience members to respond to the play’s subject matter.  “My desire is for Puzzle Piece to become a destination theatre where audience members expect our productions to spark powerfully charged conversations.” adds Schroeder.

“Show and Tell” opens Thursday February 7^th and runs through Sunday February 24^th.  Thursday and Sunday evening performances are at 7pm- Friday and Saturday performances have an 8pm curtain time.  All performances take place at Puzzle Studio, located inside Russell Industrial Center at 1600 Clay street, Detroit, MI 48211.  Puzzle Studio is on the third floor of building 2, the one with the mural.  Signs will be posted in the guarded parking lot to direct patrons, and the company provides a video demonstration of finding the space on their website www.puzzlestage.org. Tickets for “Show and Tell” are $15 and can be purchased at www.puzzlestage.org; reservations can be through the box office at 313.303.8019.  The play contains mature content and is not recommended for those under 17.

Funding for “Show and Tell” was made possible by Michigan Corps and Kiva Detroit’s pilot Kiva Zip loan program.  Lenders from all over the world have invested in Puzzle Piece Theatre; Schroeder is grateful and exhilarated by the outpouring of support.  “I came to Detroit because of what I was hearing about the energy of the artistic community, but the excitement level of community leaders, the citizen investors and the amazing cast that have joined this project have blown me away.  I am thankful that the Knight foundation invested in this production as one of our largest lenders”.