I admit I was pretty bummed out when Diane Hill told me a few months ago that Two Muses was losing its great performance space in West Bloomfield at the Barnes & Noble. True, it was a bit quirky to enter the bookstore to make one’s way into the theatre space, but it was a fine, well-located space and the work being performed was first-rate.

Once Over Lightly with David Kiley

But Paul Stark, managing artistic director of Monster Box Theatre in Waterford came through on a white horse and offered his theatre space at 2529 Elizabeth Lake Rd. for Two Muse’s new home. That enables Two Muses to go ahead with its 2016 season as planned, which will begin April 1 with the Pulitzer-Prize winning comedy, How I learned to Drive. It’s no joke, the opening date notwithstanding.

Two Muses, for the past five years, has operated out of the Barnes & Noble on Orchard Lake Rd. If you haven’t been there…No, the performances did not take place amidst the shelves of romance novels and World War Two history. On the other side of the wall where the coffee kiosk operates is a spacious black-box theatre. Hill was informed recently that the property owner is closing down the building.

The theatre packed its boxes following the excellent run of The Light in the Piazza. Earlier this year, I had seen a terrific performance of God of Carnage, and had the pleasure of reviewing Clybourne Park.

But, now, a new home and a new beginning for Hill. “The intimate performance space at Monster Box Theatre is perfect for our audience and will ensure a familiar environment,” said Hill. “The location of Monster Box Theatre in Waterford is not too far from our original space, and we look forward to gaining a new following in the area.” Indeed, Two Muses will retain its followers, and find new ones .

Light in the Piazza at Two Muses. Diane Hill on right.

Stark and Hill are collaborating to develop a cohesive performance schedule that will allow both theatre companies to independently, and in rotation, produce their own shows, but do it under one roof, at Stark’s Monster Box site. “Two Muses has done a fantastic job of building a strong audience base of theatre-goers interested in first-rate professional productions in Oakland County,” said Stark. Two Muses’ patrons, who have become accustomed to enjoying refreshments at the soon-to-be-closed Barnes & Noble Starbucks, will appreciate similar hospitality at the Monster Box Café.

Tickets for the remaining two shows of Two Muses’ season, How I Learned to Drive in April and the hilarious musical comedy I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change in June, can be purchased online at www.twomusestheatre.org or by calling (248) 850-9919.

Two Muses Theatre’s mission is to provide opportunities for women in theatre. It is the proud recipient, for the third year, of an operational grant from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) and the National Endowment of the Arts. For more information, go to www.twomusestheatre.org.