The Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea has opened their 35^th season with “Norma & Wanda,” a holiday comedy by theatre founder, actor, and playwright Jeff Daniels. The dark comedy follows two sisters preparing for Christmas as a whirlwind of chaos brews due to their clashing personalities, a nosy neighbor, an old high school boyfriend and a secret family recipe for Christmas sausage.

The play debuted at The Purple Rose in 2005 and has been revived for its 20^th anniversary. This year’s production is directed by Rhiannon Ragland, a long-time Purple Rose Theatre Company actress turned director, who is also one of the theatre company’s artistic associates. The play runs at The Purple Rose through Dec. 21.

Founded by Jeff Daniels in 1991, The Purple Rose Theatre Company focuses on cultivating local and regional playwrights. Most of the plays produced there are Michigan or world premieres. The theatre holds only 168 seats positioned around the stage. It’s designed to create an intimate theatrical experience, which puts the audience close to the play.

Other plays that will be featured in The Purple Rose’s 35^th season are “The Classic King,” a world premiere by Richard Johnson that is directed by Jeff Daniels, “Murder on the Links,” a Michigan premiere by Steven Dietz, based on an Agatha Christie novel and directed by David Bendena, and “Emma’s Wedding(s),”  a world premiere by Carey Crim that is directed by Kate Thomsen. 

One Detroit’s Chris Jordan attended a rehearsal for “Norma & Wanda,” and discussed the play with director Rhiannon Ragland and actors Henri Franklin and Kristin Shields.

Last year, Jordan interviewed Jeff Daniels about his work at the theater, the process of writing plays with a Michigan audience in mind, and his original comedy which The Purple Rose debuted for the 2024 holiday season.