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Here There Are Blueberries

By Moisés Kaufman

May 13 - June 5, 2016

“The greatest detective story ever written.” — Charles McNulty, LA Times

Here There Are Blueberries tells the story behind these historical photographs—what they reveal about the perpetrators of the Holocaust, and ultimately, about our own humanity.
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In 2007, a mysterious album of never before seen World War II-era photographs arrives at the desk of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum archivist. As curators unravel the shocking truth behind the images, the album soon makes headlines around the world. Based on real events, Here There Are Blueberries tells the story behind these historical photographs—what they reveal about the perpetrators of the Holocaust, and ultimately, about our own humanity.

The Detroit Public Theatre production will be the first licensed production of Tectonic’s play in the United States.

Content Advisory

Here There Are Blueberries engages with the subject of Nazis and historical events of the Holocaust. The production contains loud sounds and photographic flash.

Meet The Cast

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Eric Gutman

Hocker

ERIC GUTMAN (Höcker and others) is thrilled to return to DPT in Here There Are Blueberries and in the DPT HOLIDAY CABARET (third year as performer, music director, and vocal arranger). He is grateful to DPT’s artistic staff and proud to call DPT his “home” theatre since its inception. More: ericgutman.com |
IG: @theguter.

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Diane Hill

Judy

DIANE HILL (Judy and others) has performed across Michigan at Flint Rep, the Fisher, Meadow Brook, MOT, Gem Theatre, Purple Rose, Tipping Point, Encore Musical Theatre, Croswell Opera House, Open Book, Theatre NOVA, The DIO, and The Ringwald. Awards include Wilde Awards for Wit and The How and the Why; additional honors for ’night, Mother and I Do! I Do! Favorite roles: Diana (Next to Normal), Margaret (The Light in the Piazza), Fraulein Schneider (Cabaret), Amanda (The Glass Menagerie). Ph.D. (WSU), B.M. and M.A. (U-M). Catch her in Kayak at Theatre NOVA (Feb 2026).

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Kate McClain

Melta

KATE McCLAINE (Melita and others) has appeared in over 30 films/TV/commercials and performed more than two-thirds of Shakespeare’s canon during her 41-year career. Recent stage: Shakespeare Royal Oak (Macbeth), Detroit Repertory Theatre (Covenant, Between Riverside & Crazy), and Detroit Actors Theatre 4 Company (The Laramie Project / Ten Years Later). She co-owned The Swiss Avenue Theatre Center (Dallas), co-founded the Dallas Theatre League, and served as Artistic Director of The Collected Works Theatre Company.

Some of her favourite performance credits include: Sheri in Detroit Public Theatre’s inaugural production of American Hero, Danielle in the world premiere UK tour of The Tinderbox (Glasgow, London, Edinburgh), and Cordelia in the world premier of As Flies to Wanton Boys (The Arches, Glasgow). Lisa has also acted around the United States and Canada with CubeCity Entertainment, The Berman Centre, Missoula Children’s Theatre, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, and the Henry Ford/Greenfield Village.

In addition to acting, Lisa is a trained classical opera singer, fencer, and avid traveler, She is also a core member of the Greenfield Singers. with whom she regularly sings turn of the 19th century trio repertoire.

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Rebecca Rose Mims

Charlotte

(Charlotte and others) returns to DPT after playing Sara in Confederates. Other credits include Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit, Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Miranda (The Tempest), Emilia (Othello), Intimate Apparel (Esther u/s), Taylor (Stick Fly), and Elinor (Sense and Sensibility). A proud Detroiter, she dedicates her work to moving audiences toward action.

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Samuel Reeder

Rainer

SAM REEDER (Rainer and others) is making his DPT debut. A frequent collaborator with Tectonic Theater Project, he has appeared in Here There Are Blueberries at New York Theatre Workshop and on the National Tour, as well as developmental presentations of Treatment & Data and Gross Indecency. Other favorites: Hal (Henry IV, LiveArts), Actor 2 (Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville, Virginia Theater Festival), KJ (The Aliens), Panch/Olive’s Dad (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and Septimus (Arcadia).

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Cheryl Turski

Rebecca

CHERYL TURSKI (Rebecca and others) is delighted to work with DPT for the first time. Regional credits include Meadow Brook Theatre, Tipping Point Theatre, The Purple Rose Theatre, American Repertory Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. She serves on the Wayne State University faculty and thanks the DPT team for the opportunity to help bring this moving story to life.CHERYL TURSKI (Rebecca and others) is delighted to work with DPT for the first time. Regional credits include Meadow Brook Theatre, Tipping Point Theatre, The Purple Rose Theatre, American Repertory Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival. She serves on the Wayne State University faculty and thanks the DPT team for the opportunity to help bring this moving story to life.

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Ron Williams

Peter

Ron Williams is proud to make his DPT debut with this remarkable play, and he thanks the creative team for welcoming him! Since moving back to his native Michigan from NYC in 2012, Ron has had the pleasure of performing in dozens of productions throughout the state.  Highlights include Next to Normal (the Encore), Strangers on a Train, Murder on the Orient Express, Noises Off! (Meadow Brook Theatre), The Diary of Anne Frank (JET@DIA) among many others. NY/Touring/Regional credits include The Rocky Horror Show (25th Ann. European Tour), Grease (US National), A Bronx Tale (w/Chazz Palminteri), Jesus Christ Superstar (both Judas and Jesus!) and Under My Apron written by his incredibly talented wife Debbie! Ron is a Hillsdale College alum and proud AEA member for 26 years and counting. Cure Type 1 Diabetes. JDRF.com. This performance is dedicated to my stars Daphne and Debbie.  You truly inspire and guide me.

Meet The Creative Team

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Amy Marie Seidel

Director

AMY MARIE SEIDEL (Director) is thrilled to be making her Detroit debut with Here There Are Blueberries. Amy is a NYC-based theater artist who specializes in interview-based, archival-based, and otherwise historically inspired storytelling. She is a member of Tectonic Theater Project where she has developed
numerous plays, including Here There Are Blueberries (2025 Lortel winner and 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalist) and Seven Deadly Sins (Drama Desk winner), primarily through the practice of devising. Most recently as director, Amy premiered a tap dance and practical foley-driven production of Machinal at New York City Center. Other select credits: Broadway – The Great Gatsby, Paradise Square. Regional – Billie Jean (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). www.amymarieseidel.com

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Moisés Kaufman

Playwright

MOISÉS KAUFFMAN (Playwright) Tony-and Emmy-nominated director and playwright, and recipient of the National Medal of Arts from President Obama, Moisés Kaufman has led Tectonic Theater Project since its founding in 1991. Broadway credits include Paradise Square (10 Tony Award nominations), the revival of Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song, Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo with Robin Williams, the revival of The Heiress starring Jessica Chastain, 33 Variations starring Jane Fonda (Tony Award nomination for Best Play), and Doug Wright’s I Am My Own Wife (Obie Award and Tony, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Lucille Lortel Award nominations). West End: Gross Indecency, I Am My Own Wife, This Is How It Goes. Off-Broadway / Regional: Here There Are Blueberries (Tectonic Theater Project/La Jolla Playhouse), Seven Deadly Sins (Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience, Tectonic Theater Project/Madison Wells Live), One Arm by Tennessee Williams (Tectonic Theater Project/The New Group); The Laramie Project (writer/director; Theater in the Square, Drama Desk nomination); The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later (writer/director; Alice Tully Hall); Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde (writer/director; Lucille Lortel Award for Best Play, Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Play and the Joe A. Callaway Award for Direction); Macbeth with Liev Schreiber (Delacorte Theater); Master Class with Rita Moreno (Berkeley Repertory Theatre). Opera: El Gato Con Botas (New Victory Theater). Film/TV: The Laramie Project (HBO; two Emmy nominations for writing and directing, Opening Night Selection at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, National Board of Review Award, the Humanitas Prize); The L Word. Kaufman is the Artistic Director of Tectonic Theater Project, a Guggenheim Fellow in Playwriting, and an Obie Award and Lucille Lortel Award winner.

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Amanda Gronich

Playwright

Amanda Gronich is an Emmy-nominated writer who has developed and scripted dozens of hours of television programming for networks including National Geographic Channel, 3 Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, WEtv, Travel Channel, Science Channel and Fine Living. Over a ten-year career, Amanda became the Supervising Senior Writer at Hoff Productions and worked as a lead series writer at National Geographic Television. Prior to her work in television, Amanda trained at NYU and performed as an actor in both theater and film. She also became a charter member of Tectonic Theater Project, where she directed the company’s Toronto production of Moisés Kaufman’s Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde. Amanda was a member of the original group of theater artists who traveled to Wyoming and co-created The Laramie Project. Currently, Amanda teaches graduate-school non-fiction storytelling at City College New York and works as a dramaturg and development consultant.

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Angie Ayriss

Production Stage Manager

Angeline has recently made her way back to the great city of Detroit after graduating with an MFA in Stage Management at Wayne State University in 2004. She is thrilled to be joining DPT’s eleventh season as Resident Stage Manager. Angeline has had the privilege of working across the country with The Midnight Circus, Circus Smirkus, and The Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She is so grateful for the support and love of her mom, partner and two amazing kiddos!

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Jwymon Williams

Assistant Stage Manager

Jwymon is a sound designer from Detroit, Michigan, most recently doing the sound design for Tipping Point Theatre’s production of Brokeology. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2022, majoring in Entertainment Design and Technology, with a minor in Simulation, Animation, and Gaming.

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Sarah Pearline

Scenic Designer

Sarah Pearline (Scenic Designer) is an Associate Professor in the Theatre and Dance Department at Wayne State University in Detroit.  Previous work includes set and projection design for Circus Flora, St. Louis Symphony, Experimental Theatre Wing, Titan Theatre Company, Prospect Theatre Company, SoHo Think Tank, Nickelodeon Networks, and NY Stage and Film.  Locally, she has had a wonderful time working with The Purple Rose Theatre, Hope Summer Rep, Carrie Morris Arts Production and PuppetArt Theatre, Satori Circus and the DIA.  Sarah is thrilled to be designing scenery for Eight Nights and grateful to collaborate with everyone here at Detroit Public Theatre!

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David Shocket

Lighting Designer

David is a Lighting Designer, Associate, and Educator for Live Performance. Recent projects: The Crucible (NYU Lee Strasberg Institute); The Spitfire Grill, The Moors (Adelphi University); The Oresteia (LIU Post), Guys & Dolls (Five Towns College), Bitch Boxer (U.S. Premiere, Krank Gym Brooklyn); The Telling (Waterfire Arts Center, RI); Ballroom with a Twist, Motown with a Twist (Nat’l Tour); An American in Paris, Beauty and the Beast (Argyle Theatre); Masquerade New York City (Assoc. NYC); 25th…Spelling Bee (Assoc. Kennedy Center); Cambodian Rock Band (Assoc. Nat’l Tour); What the Constitution Means to Me (Assoc. B’Way & Nat’l Tour); Outside Lands Music Festival (Asst. Golden Gate Park, SF). Lighting Designer at Tarrytown Music Hall. Artistic Company Member with One Year Lease Theatre Company. Lighting Design Faculty at Pace University.
@dshocketld | www.dshocketdesigns.com

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Sarah Ackerman

Props Designer

SARAH ACKERMAN* [she/they] is a freelance stage manager from Warren, Michigan. She was previously the PSM for the 2024 Holiday Cabaret, Fat Ham, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and the last 3 iterations of Detroit’67, as well as the props designer for Clyde’s and assistant costume designer for Soft Target at DPT. She is very excited to connect to her artistic side again crafting, painting and creating props for this poignant show! Sarah has a BFA in stage management from Michigan State University. Her most recent credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (Fulton Theatre) and The Cook-Off (Nashville Opera). Event stage management credits vary with clients such as Mastercard, Ford, and The Detroit Jazz Festival. She teaches all aspects of theatre at Stoney Creek High School and freelances as a scenic painter, makeup/wig designer, guest lecturer, and vocalist. Proud member of Actors Equity. Many thanks to Mom, Dad, Charlie, and the DPT Staff. @_sarahackerman sarahmackerman.com

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Christianne Myers

Costume Designer

Christianne Myers is honored to be designing this play at DPT and to work with director Amy Seidel amplifying this important work. She is a freelance costume designer and the Claribel Halstead Professor of Theatre & Drama at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. New York highlights include the Obie Award-winning productions of Music Theatre Group’s Running Man and Blue Light’s production of Dare Clubb’s Oedipus. Other design credits include productions for The Santa Fe Opera, The Juilliard School, The Vermont Stage Company, The Lincoln Center Institute, The Clarence Brown Theatre, The Syracuse Stage, The Indiana Repertory Theatre, Theatreworks/USA, The Caldwell Theatre, The Irondale Ensemble, and Opera Memphis; most recently, she designed Waitress at Michigan Stage. At U-M, she has designed more than fifty productions, favorites include Henry IV, Bernada Alba, and Turn of the Screw.

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Salvador Zamora

Audio Designer

Salvador “Suavecito” Zamora is a sound designer and composer from Southern California with a BA in Music Production and an MFA in Sound Design from the University of California, San Diego. Designer credits: The Surgeon and her Daughters (Colt Coeur), Indian Princesses (La Jolla Playhouse), Bunny Bunny (The Invisible Dog), Primary Trust (Barrington Stage Co.), The Grown Ups (Baby Teeth LA), Tick, Tick…Boom! (Cygnet Theatre), The Fires (SoHo Rep), Bunny Bunny, Dance Nation, Hells Canyon (UCSD), The Importance of Being Earnest, Everybody (Antaeus Theatre Co.). Select associate credits: Here There are Blueberries (national tour), Sumo (The Public/LJP). Select assistant credits: Derecho, Babbitt, Hunter S. Thompson Musical, Love All (LJP), Destiny of Desire (Old Globe). Upcoming: One of the Good Ones (Kansas City Rep)
@suavecito_sounddesign
www.suavecito.design

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Jeromy Hopgood

Projections Designer

Jeromy Hopgood is a Michigan-based educator, designer, and author whose designs have been seen in venues across the globe. He is a proud member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829 and one of a select group of designers featured in the US National Exhibit at the 2023 Prague Quadrennial as one of the finest media designs created by an American designer. Select design credits include Flint Rep (The Who’s: TOMMY), People’s Light Theatre (Skeleton Crew – Barrymore Award nominated), Meadow Brook Theatre (Ella: First Lady of Song), Detroit Public Theatre (Girlfriend, Pipeline, Skeleton Crew, Temples of Lungs and Air), Williamston Theatre (Predictor, Alabaster), and over 25 productions at Michigan Shakespeare Festival. Jeromy is a Professor of Entertainment Design & Technology at Eastern Michigan University, and is the author of The Projection Designer’s Toolkit, QLab 4, and Dance Production: Design & Technology. Jeromy’s portfolio can be seen at www.HopgoodDesign.com

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Liv Morris

Assistant Director

Hello! My name is Liv Morris, and I am so humbled and grateful to experience my first show at Detroit Public Theatre as Assistant Director. Blueberries is so important towards making a change within ourselves and within our own country. I am Black multidisciplinary artist that specializes in and curates spaces centered in Black cultural facilitation, queer whimsy, and multimedia productions, events, and programming. Recently, I graduated from the University of Michigan with my BFA Performance: Directing degree, and am new to practicing theatre in the Detroit Metro Area. I’m excited to continue experiencing the theatre culture in the city! My current relevant creative credits within the Detroit Metro Area include: Assistant Director (Detroit Public Theatre: SiP Alumni Show), Ayo (To Meet In My Mother’s Prayers), In-Session Facilitator (Detroit Public Theatre: Shakespeare In Prison), Shakespeare In Prison Alumni Mentor (Detroit Public Theatre: Shakespeare In Prison), Production Assistant (Foot Soldiers Dominique Morriseau).

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Vanessa Feil

Projections Assistant

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