8 Sep 2011

Rev. Derrick Vermulen (a.k.a. Micah Sterenberg), Out of Character, Friday at 8pm.

The Playground’s newest production, Out of Character, focuses on well-written and performed solo character sketches, turning each piece into a fully-realized improvised show. This week the Out of Character cast explores the life of Rev. Derrick Vermulen, as played by Micah Sterenberg, Friday at 8pm.

Derrick grew up in Kalamazoo, MI the son of a pastor of a Lutheran church with about 50 members.  In his early years, Derrick followed the old Pastor’s kid stereotype and rebelled against his father’s beliefs and spent most of his time in church in an apathetic daze.  Directionless after graduating high school, he enrolled at Kalamazoo Community College where he fell into drinking, drugs, and sex.  He dropped out mid-way through his second semester.  All but alienated from his parents and lost, it was then that Christ put his hand on Derrick’s shoulder and pointed him to his own calling: youth ministry.  He enrolled and graduated from college and later, seminary, and is now the Assoc. Youth Pastor at Christview Community Church (Christviewcc.tv).

Out of Character is performed by Mel Evans, Sarah Fineout, Sayjal Joshi, Lisa Linke, Wendy Mateo, Anthony Oberbeck, Conner O’Malley, Patrick Raynor, Patrick Rowland, Micah Sterenberg, and Rob White. The show is directed and produced by Matt Barbera.

Tickets are just $10, and our theater is always BYOB. Two Playground improv ensembles — K.C. Redheart and Karate Van — also perform.