Planet Ant Takes Aim at Hallmark tropes in new comedy HOW ROMANTIQUE
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
HAMTRAMCK, MICH – March 6, 2026 - Planet Ant Theatre presents How Romantique, a sharp-witted spoof of the “small-town homecoming” genre. A brand-new original production from the Planet Ant Home Team, the play runs March 6th – 21st, offering a hilarious collision between rustic romance and high-stakes corporate scandal.
In a comedic twist on the classic Hallmark movie formula, Emily Burnett stars as Memory, a high-flying entrepreneur in the vein of Elizabeth Holmes. When her latest venture collapses into a mess of legal and financial trouble, Memory flees the city for her long-lost roots: her family’s struggling antique store in Northern Michigan. The catch? Her parents haven't seen her in years, and they certainly aren't prepared for the baggage she’s bringing home.
While Memory attempts to blend into small-town life, she meets Dusty, played by Alex Bergmans, a simple, well-meaning man who swapped city stress for country quiet. But the Hallmark-style peace is threatened by the looming shadow of Memory’s ultra-wealthy city boyfriend, Alan. Though the family has never met him, Alan’s immense influence and hidden motives cast a dark cloud over the town’s future, putting the entire community, and the antique store, on the brink of disaster.
Co-writer, performer and director, Mike McGettigan says, "The big arc of the show is Emily’s journey of figuring out how to be a better person... maybe she’s in town to lay low because she liquefied a child with a tech product."
A true Home Team Original, this production highlights the collaborative, high-energy comedy that has made Planet Ant a Detroit institution for over 30 years. The ensemble cast also features veteran performers Mike McGettigan and Andrew Reid, alongside Mary Soo Anderson and Tom Novik.
Mike McGettigan comments on the writing process "I don't want to make the actors feel bound by the dialogue, but more by the beats. We're using classic comedy as a template to create something original." Co-star Andy Reid adds, "I’m a big fan of the schmaltziness and cutesy feeling of Hallmark movies, but I’m also fully on board to make this show really silly".
All performances take place in the Ant Hall (Planet Ant Theatre) (2320 Caniff St, Hamtramck, MI). Tickets can be purchased at planetant.com/events for $30 or $35 at the door.
