Pirate King and Crew; Adam El-Zein as The Pirate King, Indigo DeVito as First Mate Sam, Jovon Jawad as Crowsnest, Ryan Lewis as Righty, Andrew Cutting as Lefty, Mikaila Kaigler as Smithee, Alexsys Giraud as Siren Sal, and Katherine Kummer as Mad Magda. Photo courtesy of HFC Theatre Program

During the first two weekends of April, Henry Ford College’s theatre department put on a show-stopping performance of “Freddy, Mabel, & the Pirate King!” (or “Pirates” for short). With an entirely sold-out show and seven months of production, “Pirates” is nothing short of an achievement for the students and staff who took part. From performing in the round to live band accompaniment, “Pirates” was a one-of-a-kind production.

“Freddy, Mabel, & the Pirate King!” is by far the most ambitious project we’ve taken on in the post-COVID era,” said staging director, Dr. John Michael Sefel.

Described as a heartfelt comedy, “Pirates” was a breath of fresh air amidst the everyday distress and uncertainty. Sefel put it as “we could all really, really use an excuse to smile,” with “Pirates” instrumental director, Anthony Lai, wholeheartedly agreeing.

Vanessa El-Zein, the vocal director, said, “It was so much fun to work on a comedy. My favorite part about it was how it honestly still had me laughing by the fifth run.”

While “Pirates” was a side-stitching journey of silliness and absurdity, an undertone of introspection over the changing tides remained–a deeply relatable feeling. Despite its exterior appearance, this show contained a deeper message about being a misfit and seeking a personal purpose in a chaotic world.

“As I looked around at our campus late last school year, I just saw the exhaustion on everyone’s faces,” Sefel reflected, “In the current environment, it felt like allowing ourselves a chance to laugh and spread joy could be its own sort of revolutionary behavior.” As it turns out, the pirates of the play aren’t actually pirates—they are librarians! The band seeks out adventure after reading “Treasure Island,” desperate to hold onto a sense of innocence in their rapidly changing world.

“The period of economic and technological upheaval that we’re currently living through has happened many times before,” said Sefel, “for all its silliness and laughter, this show explores what it’s like to live through such a transition, the pull to try to hide from it, and, ultimately, the need to be open and embrace tomorrow.”

Mariam Jeradi, who played the titular character, Mabel, was the standout of the show due to her vocal talent, leaving the audience excited every time she returned to the stage.

Jeradi voiced gratitude and appreciation for the staff who put “Pirates” together.

“John Michael, Anthony, and Vanessa were amazing in guiding us through the entire process,” Jeradi said, “Their dedication and love for the show truly shone through, and it was clear to everyone how deeply they cared. Their passion and devotion to the arts is truly inspiring.”

Both Sefel and Lai worked this show from the ground up, using the play, “The Pirates of Penzance” as the skeleton for their iteration of “Freddy, Mabel, & the Pirate King!”

“None of this could have been remotely possible without Anthony Lai,” Sefel expressed, “I’ve collaborated with plenty of people over the years, but it’s a rare and wonderful thing to luck into a true creative partnership, and to do so with someone that is also a dear friend is an amazing gift,” Sefel continued, “working alongside Anthony, whether around his dining room table, in the rehearsal room, or on the band platform, has unquestionably been a top highlight of my career.”

The support and dedication established by the cast and crew alike bred camaraderie and friendship.

Khalil Al-Rayyes, who played the titular character, Freddy, said, “There is a unique bond that forms when a group of people comes together with a shared goal and puts in the work to make it a reality. Getting to spend so much time with the cast and build those friendships through the creative process was the highlight of the entire project for me.”

“One of the greatest qualities of theatre is its ability to create community,” Sefel expressed, “It’s not a guarantee, and it doesn’t happen on every show, but sometimes a cast really comes together as a sort of ‘stage family,’ and truly connects and supports one another. That was certainly the case on this show.”

“The community was definitely the best part,” shared Alejandro Bueno, who played Officer Carte. “I met so many new people and made many new friends,” Bueno added.

“The entire production became such a welcoming and loving space, and I sincerely believe several lifelong friendships were forged,” Sefel said, “This truly was something special, and I’m so proud to have worked on it with such wonderful, dedicated people from all over campus.”

For HFC music student, Mo Albaiaty, “Pirates” was his first taste of theatre.

“I’ve never been part of a musical or play before,” Albaiaty said, “the process was very new and exciting, and scary at times.”

Albaiaty played Professor Stanley and truly embodied the character. His vocal intonation was a crowd-pleaser and one of the most memorable, touching, and funny of the night.

“I learned that actors and directors have it tough,” Albaiaty reflected, “As someone who is primarily a musician, there was a lot to take away from this in terms of appreciating a different art form, and cooperating with people who feel very passionate about it.”

The same could be said for Al-Rayyes, a music student who had never been part of a theatre production before. Despite this, he swept the crowd off their feet with his charming stage presence and voice.

Al-Rayyes said, “I learned exactly how much discipline and technical detail goes into a production of this scale. From memorizing the lines and music to mastering the blocking, the hours of rehearsal were intense.” He reflected on how seeing the audience’s enjoyment of the show made every hour of rehearsal worth it.

A fundamental aspect of this production was that it was not a mere musical but a full-blown operetta.

“Putting on an operetta was not easy, but we all pulled it off,” Jeradi expressed.

El-Zein observed, “Some of the cast had never been in a musical before, and then they went out and performed an operetta?! Proud is an understatement.”

“Pirates” was a unique experience for many actors, from experiencing an operetta to performing in the Adray Auditorium’s round. The audience was on stage with the performers, making the experience immersive and intimate—and making the music much more pristine.

“My favorite part of ‘Pirates’ was that it was performed in the round,” Jovon Jawad, who played the pirate Crowsnest, said, “It made the experience feel so alive and fun. Not only playing with the actors but with the audience.”

Staff and students alike beamed with pride in the production of “Pirates.”

“Originally, I didn’t even audition for the lead role, so when I ended up getting it, I felt a lot of pressure and even a little bit of self-doubt at first,” Al-Rayyes said reflectively, “This experience taught me a lot about my own capacity to perform under pressure. Stepping into that role and seeing the effort result in a successful show for the crowd left me feeling very content and confident in what I’m capable of achieving.”

Jeradi explained, “I definitely had to learn to give myself grace and have confidence in my work. Throughout the process, I had some doubts as to whether or not I was good enough to play this role, but I learned to trust myself and my abilities. I learned to turn those doubts into motivation to improve and become a stronger performer.”

“I am absolutely proud, and everybody who worked on the production should be proud too, cast, crew, and all,” Albaiaty stressed.

“I’m proud I got to work with so many different talented people and be able to make art with them,” Jawad reflected, “I’m proud I was able to take all the lessons I’ve been learning about acting for two years and showcase them through this beautiful piece.”

Jawad observed how the lightheartedness of “Pirates,” paired with the large cast and ability to interact with the audience, brought back nostalgic memories of acting out scenes with his siblings as children.

“Time travel does not exist yet, but going out there on stage made me feel like I was reliving memories,” Jawad said, “Maybe theatre is a way to time travel, at least I know it is for me.”

Jawad noted, “Every time we were there on stage, living in the moment, it felt like a gift. I think “Pirates” is a reminder that you should always live in the moment.”

Jeradi concluded, “I’ve had so much fun the past seven months getting the show ready. I will miss the time that I had on stage and everyone involved with the show. Cast, directors, and crew. This has been a wonderful experience, and it’s brought me great joy. What a bittersweet ending to an amazing production.”

There were numerous show highlights from the rest of the talented cast of “Freddy, Mabel, & the Pirate King!”

Adam El-Zein, who played the Pirate King, is a Dearborn theatre legend at a young age. He put his all into his performance, and it paid off, making him memorable long after the show was over. His vocal talent is Broadway-level.

Emily Belfinger, who played a sorority sister–Kate–played the piccolo during one of the musical numbers with the live band. It was unique and delightful. She expressed a trifecta of talent in acting, singing, and instrumentation.

Indigo DeVito was an eye-catching talent as Firstmate Sam. With a captivating stage presence and seamless chemistry with The Pirate King, it was enjoyable every time DeVito took the stage.

Chris Connelly, the dedicated Stage Manager of HFC’s theatre program, is graduating this semester. His devotion is outstanding and motivating. Over the past couple years, the show truly would not go on without Connelly.