CHELSEA, Mich. — Manufacturing bigwigs and industrial designers; automotive part suppliers and mechanics. By the time Richard Johnson retired as Automotive News’ print editor, he’d met anyone and everyone who made their living in cars, from Frankfurt, Germany, to Tokyo.
“They had their own language, their own world, own community. And I thought, ‘there’s drama in there. There’s a play in there somewhere,’” said Johnson, who lives in the Detroit suburb Farmington Hills.
He was right. Johnson’s play, The Classic King, premiered at the Purple Rose Theatre Company earlier this month.
IF YOU GOWHAT: ‘The Classic King’WHERE: The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park St., Chelsea, Mich.WHEN: Through March 15ADMISSION: $57.75 for adults, $52.50 for teachers, military, and seniors 65 and over, $31.50 for those under 30WEBSITE: purplerosetheatre.org
Directed by Jeff Daniels, the play follows three used car salesmen whose worlds are turned upside down when a bushy-tailed newcomer proposes a radical solution to save the faltering dealership…