For the past three years, producer and director Quinn Strassel and Community Ensemble Theatre (CET) have taken Community High School by storm. From modern comedy musicals like AVENUE Q to classic tragedies like JULIUS CAESAR, CET has earned a track record for putting on professional quality plays and musicals in the small Craft Theatre black box. Although students and teachers had rave reviews of CET’s last season, director Strassel said it was missing something important: comedy.

“Last year we [did] really serious shows,” said Strassel, “We [did] Evita and Julius Caesar. This year we are going to do something fun, I promise.” Strassel decided to kick the season off with a new “completely preposterous, completely absurd” comedy, BOB: A LIFE IN FIVE ACTS.

BOB is a comedy that premiered at the Humana Festival for New American Plays in March of 2011. It tells the life tale of a man named Bob who is born in a White Castle bathroom. After being abandoned and adopted, Bob starts his life journey of greatness in five hilarious and ridiculous acts. CET will be the first theatre group in Michigan to perform the play.

“There is something really nice about having a blank slate,” said Strassel, “From an artistic standpoint there are opportunities to put our own stamp on it. We’re writing original music, we’ve got choreography that is totally our own and the acting choices are completely whatever our actors come up with.”

Putting on a new show that few have seen or even heard of has its downsides as well. “I think the hard part is promoting it. Getting people excited about coming to see it [and] selling tickets [is] a challenge.”

“The comedy feels a lot different than what people typically find when they come to see theatre,” said Strassel. “A lot of the comedies that [schools] tend to do are established comedies, and a lot of times those are dated.” BOB will have a unique modern sensibly that, Strassel assures, will resonate with the audience personally. It will be full of references to pop culture, which everybody can relate to.

Strassel has been dedicating his time to CET for over three years. He has encouraged students to participate in theatre in any way they can, from light design, to set building, to performing on stage. He has a goal to help students achieve way more than just theatre experience.

“Ultimately, my goal has always been to help people feel confident about being creative and outspoken in life,” he said. “If they’re scared to death of speaking in public that they actually start to enjoy it. If they don’t have a lot of opportunities to work together in a team environment, CET provides that.”

Students can take these theatre skills and use them to better their future lives. “These opportunities for teamwork and for creativity can apply to any creative endeavors beyond high school.”

With BOB: A LIFE IN FIVE ACTS, CET aims to shock the audience, and create a memorable and funny experience.

“This show is so funny, it’s completely ridiculous at times, and yet I think that people are going to really come away feeling something,” said Strassel. “This one has a lot of elements that resonate with me personally. It’s funny, It’s heartfelt, it’s completely preposterous, completely absurd, but ultimately I think it’s one of those shows that leaves you feeling like: ‘I’m glad I got to know that show. I’m glad I got to know Bob.’”

BOB: A LIFE IN FIVE ACTS will be performed in Community High School’s Craft Theater November 21, 22, and 23 at 7:30 pm and November 24 at 2 pm. Tickets are available at showtix4u.com