The Rundown | April 23, 2026 - Now Playing!
- 4 days ago
- 14 min read
Welcome to THE RUNDOWN, a quick hit highlight of the plays, musicals, concerts, and cabarets now playing on stages in Michigan.
This week's Rundown is JAM PACKED with new plays, musicals, film screenings, and concerts. And, as always, we have discounts available ONLY to Encore Subscribers! Come on now, you know what we're gonna say,.. Get On Up and Go See A Show!
I Have Often Walked,
Down This Street Before.
But The Pavement Always Stayed Beneath My Feet Before.
PLACES PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR PLACES CALL!
Here's THE RUNDOWN for Thursday, April 23, 2026.
CLOSING THIS WEEKEND
PARADISE LOST | Wayne State University | Runs April 17 - 26
Erin Shields’ Paradise Lost reinvents John Milton’s epic poem through a bold, contemporary lens.
Satan, cast out of Heaven, seeks revenge by tempting humanity, setting the stage for a cosmic battle of free will versus divine power. Blending sharp wit, modern feminism, and classical mythology, Shields’ adaptation challenges traditional notions of good and evil while exploring oppression, rebellion, and knowledge. With rich language and a fresh perspective, this powerful play reimagines one of literature’s most profound stories, making it both deeply relevant and strikingly theatrical.
Use the code ENCORE25 for a $5 discount (Two Ticket Max)
Written by: Erin Shields
Directed by: Laura Quigley
BUT THEY'RE SHRIMP | Planet Ant Theatre | Runs April 10 - 25
Planet Ant invites audiences to experience a hilarious one-act show But They’re Shrimp!!!, a comedy written and directed by Katie Della Mora.
Pip, a small-town freshwater shrimp, has to make a choice when she turns 30 this year: marry and mate like every other middle-age shrimp in the sea, or become an entree in an eternal shrimp buffet. Those are the only two options in their shrimp world. While Pip longs for her name in lights and a colorful future, everyone around her seems to envision something else for her.
But They’re Shrimp!!! is a laugh out loud hilarious and heartfelt production that reimagines the age-old societal pressures on women to conform: told entirely through the eyes of a petite, plucky freshwater shrimp.
Written & Directed by: Katie Della Mora
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OPENING THIS WEEKEND
BAD BOOKS | Williamston Theatre | Runs April 23 - May 31
Mid-Michigan’s Williamston Theatre will present Bad Books by Sharyn Rothstein. Performances for this National New Play Network Rolling Premiere begin Thursday, April 23 and run through Sunday, May 31. Tickets are now on sale.
Some conversations don’t stay quiet – even in a library. What begins as a concerned mother’s inquiry about a book her son received from the library elevates into an unexpected debate with the town’s
devoted librarian. As tensions rise, the consequences grow much larger than either of them anticipated.
Written by: Sharyn Rothstein
Directed by: Tony Caselli
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET | Meadow Brook Theatre | Runs April 22 - May 17
Million Dollar Quartet rocks ‘n rolls into Meadow Brook Theatre.
The 1956 jam session-inspired musical runs April 22 through May 17, 2026
at Meadow Brook Theatre on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.
For one day in 1956, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley held an
impromptu jam session that would go down in history. Through Million Dollar Quartet,
audiences get to drop in and hear the songs and stories they shared.
Directed by: Travis W. Walter
PIRATES OF PENZANCE | SLK MEDIA at The Howell Opera House | April 24 - May 2
Filmmaker Sam Logan Khaleghi leads a talented cast of buccaneers with his stage debut, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE at the historic Howell Opera House.
The How Well We Live Foundation, in association with SLK Media Group, and in cooperation with the Livingston Arts Council, will present one of opera’s most beloved comic works at The Howell Opera House.
This will be the first official show in over
a century to take place on the historic second floor stage.
The two-weekend run is based on the original Gilbert & Sullivan operetta that debuted in 1879.
Directed by: Sam Logan Khaleghi
ENCORE PARTNERS
EM is happy to announce a new program called Encore Partners. This exciting opportunity gives you, our Encore Michigan Subscribers, special discounts with productions across the state.
Look for this badge and check for discounts on tickets for plays, musicals, and productions with our dedicated Encore Partners.
We're thrilled to welcome our first three Encore Partners to this program:
Wayne State University
The Detroit Repertory Theatre
and Detroit Public Theatre!
Visit these amazing producing organizations and get special discounts available ONLY for EM Subscribers.
Interested in becoming an Encore Partner? Email info@encoremichigan.com and join the team!
NOW PLAYING
ECLIPSED | Detroit Repertory Theatre | Rus March 27 - May 17
The Detroit Repertory Theatre continues its 69th Season with the Michigan Premiere of Eclipsed by Danai Gurira. The production opens on March 27, 2026, at 8pm with a Champagne Afterglow, and runs through May 17, 2026, with four shows a week on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
In Eclipsed, five extraordinary women, who have formed an unlikely sisterhood, struggle to negotiate power, protection and peace as they try to survive. With wit, compassion, and defiance, this gripping play unearths the wreckage of war and celebrates the women who navigate and survive the most hostile of circumstances. From actress-playwright Danai Gurira (Black Panther, The Walking Dead), comes a stunning tale of hope and resilience set in the midst of the Liberian Civil War.
Use The Code ENCORE for special $25 tickets.
Written by: Danai Gurira
Directed by: Shavonne Coleman
RENT | The Encore Musical Theatre Company | Runs April 9 - May 3
The Encore Musical Theatre Company presents Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking rock musical RENT, running April 9–May 3, 2026, in the Maas Theatre.
Directed by Matt Bogart, who returns following last season’s acclaimed Sense and Sensibility, this new production brings fresh immediacy to a work that continues to shape the landscape of musical theatre.
First premiering Off-Broadway in 1996 before transferring to Broadway, RENT redefined the genre for a new generation. Inspired by Puccini’s La Bohème, the musical follows a group of young artists navigating life, love, and creative ambition in New York City’s East Village during the height of the AIDS crisis.
Written by : Jonathan Larson
Directed by: Matt Bogart
GENE & GILDA | Tipping Point Theatre | Runs April 11 - May 3
On the heels of three Off-Broadway productions in New York and New Jersey, Tipping Point Theatre is counting down the days until the Michigan Premiere of Gene & Gilda, by Cary Gitter.
The play, which follows the private world of one of Hollywood’s most beloved pairings, Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner, begins previews on Wednesday, April 8. The stars tasked with bringing the Hollywood duo back to life are no strangers to Michigan’s theatre scene: Kevin O’Callaghan (AEA) will be starring as Gene Wilder and Kristin Shields (AEA) as Gilda Radner.
Through playful turns both comedic and bittersweet, Gene & Gilda is an examination of the importance and unconditional love that defined their relationship, and the lives they led beyond the laughter.
Written by: Cary Gitter
Directed by: Brian Sage
GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR | Farmers Alley Theatre | Runs April 16 - May 2
Farmers Alley Theatre is once again honored to collaborate with the Gilmore Piano Festival this spring for the brilliantly funny and unexpectedly tender, GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR by Doug Wright, running April 16th-May 2.
Good Night, Oscar is slated to run from April 16th-May 2nd. Performances dates are Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays at 7:30pm with matinees on both Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm.
Written by: Doug Wright
Directed by: Suzanne Regan
Get A Gig!
Wanna be booked and busy?!
Check out the Encore Michigan jobs board to find opportunities across the state.
SCREENINGS & STREAMING
WICKED: FOR GOOD | Tibbits Opera House | April 25
Grab your broomstick or wand and come to Tibbits Opera House on Saturday, April 25 for the theatre’s special screening of Wicked: For Good as part of the Tibbits Film Series.
In addition to the screening, moviegoers are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite character to the Ozdust Ballroom before the film at 5:30pm, where concessions and a cash bar will be available.
THIS ABOVE ALL | The Stratford Festival | April 27th premiere
The Stratford Festival is delighted to announce that This Above All: The Theatrical Life of Antoni Cimolino, a film by Melbar Entertainment Group, will make its world premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival this month.
Directed by Barry Avrich and produced by Mark Selby, the documentary follows Antoni Cimolino as he prepares for his final season as Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival after nearly four decades with the organization.
The documentary will premiere at Hot Docs on Monday, April 27, at 7:45pm at the TIFF Lightbox, with a repeat screening Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 11:15am.
Following the premiere, This Above All: The Theatrical Life of Antoni Cimolino will air on The Documentary Channel on Sunday, August 30 at 9pm ET/PT with a CBC Gem release to follow on Friday, September 18.
Directed by: Barry Avrich
AN AUTUMN SUMMER | Blue Harbor Entertainment
An Autumn Summer tells the tale of Kevin (McKenna) and Cody (Maxwell), a young couple spending the final month before college in a magical Michigan lake town, chasing an endless summer.
Starring Lukita Maxwell (Apple+ hit series Shrinking, upcoming in A24's Backrooms) & Mark McKenna (Sing Street, YouTube cult series Wayne).
Written & Directed by: Jared Isaac
THE WINTER'S TALE | Stratfest@Home | The Stratford Festival | Now Streaming
The Stratford Festival’s acclaimed 2025 production of The Winter’s Tale is now available to audiences worldwide on the Festival’s exclusive streaming platform Stratfest@Home. Directed for the stage by Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and for film by Nicholas Shields, this visually stunning adaptation reveals new emotional depths in Shakespeare’s enduring tale of atonement, forgiveness and renewal.
The Winter’s Tale is now available on Stratfest@Home, the Stratford Festival’s subscription streaming service. Subscribe to Stratfest@Home for just $7.99 a month and gain access to the best in Canadian digital theatrical productions, including the Stratford Festival’s acclaimed Shakespeare films, selected productions from our past seasons, exclusive behind-the-scenes videos and podcasts and original, award-winning digital content from around the world.
(TITLE PENDING) | The Obsidian Theatre Festival | Now Streaming
Watch the hilarious comedy title pending, now streaming.
Featured during The Obsidian Theatre Festival's 2023 season, this raucous new play features several amazing Detroit artists and is written by New York playwright, April Amara.
A small, black theatre company in Poughkeepsie, New York, is deep in the rehearsal process when suddenly, they receive word that the estate of the play’s legendary playwright has revoked their rights to the script. To save the already flailing company, artistic director Tommy enlists the help of world-renowned famous playwright, Marcel Lamareaux, to premiere his new play, launching the theatre (and its actors) into stardom. But everything comes to head when Marcel sustains a possibly life-threatening injury in the midst of a tense workshop process. Do they call an ambulance to save his life, damning the company in the process? Or can they come together to find a way to ensure all their big plans come to fruition… with or without Marcel Lamareaux?
Written by: April Amara
Directed by: Asia Mark
BLACK SANTA | The Obsidian Theatre Festival | Now Streaming
The Obsidian Theatre Festival releases BLACK SANTS for streaming, this December 13th.
Before Abbott Elementary, there was Patrice at Dartmouth Day School....Shortly before Christmas break, a third grader named Sharifa stands in front of her class and says, “Santa Claus is a black man from Detroit," sending the school into an uproar. To quell the storm, Patrice Patterson, the school's only black teacher, is asked to create an ad campaign within the school to make Santa white again. As events unfold, Sharifa’s enrollment is placed in jeopardy, and Patrice must decide how to protect Sharifa and ultimately herself. This absurdist comedy examines how race and racial bias can have a foothold on one of the most benign figures—Santa Claus.
Written by: Aaron Mays
Directed by: Will Bryson
TI'MON | The Obsidian Theatre Festival | Now Streaming
TI’MON is a bold new musical centered on the immigrant experience, family, and imagination.
With an incredible score and amazing heart, this piece was featured as part of The Obsidian Theatre Festival's 2024 season.
What makes this piece truly unique is the accompanying behind-the-scenes documentary following the development process with dramaturg Kanoa Sims. The documentary is available on the GhostLight YouTube channel . The full feature piece is now available to stream on obsidianfest.org.
Written by: Ashlee K. Tomas & Ziyan Yang
Directed by: Rueben Echols
THE GOLDEN LOC | The Obsidian Theatre Festival | Now Streaming
Prentiss Matthew III's award-winning play for young audiences, The Golden Loc, is set to premiere on August 19th. The piece, which was presented as part of The Obsidian Theatre Festival's 4th Season, was directed by Asia Mark and starred local actors Khalia Damali, Jarquita Evans, DeNitria Gibson, Tayler Jones, Princess Beyonce Jones, Chelsea King, and QueenMakeeda Taylor as "Zia".
The show received the "Best Play" award in 2024 from BroadwayWorld Michigan and recently became available for production through Plays For New Audiences.
Written by: Prentiss Matthews III
Directed by: Asia Mark
COMING SOON
KING JAMES | Detroit Public Theatre | Runs May 6 - June 7
In Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph’s slam-dunk comedy, superfans Matt and Shawn forge an unexpected friendship through a shared love of their hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. Spanning 12 years from LeBron James’ 2004 rookie season to the 2016 NBA championship, tensions mount both on and off the court for the duo in this hilarious, adrenaline infused exploration of love, grace, and the power of a good game to bring people together.
Use the code ENCORE and receive a $5 discount on all General Admission - Standard tickets.
Written by: Rajiv Joseph
Directed by: Courtney Burkett
MY VOICE, MY CITY | Cabaret 313 & The GhostLight Arts Initiative | May 8th
Two Detroit-based arts organizations are joining forces to spotlight local talent and expand access to live performances with the launch of a new series, Cabaret in Conversation. The inaugural event, My Voice, My City, will take place on Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM at Wildemere Bar in Detroit.
Presented by Cabaret 313 and The GhostLight Arts Initiative (GLAI), the performance features Detroit vocalist Jynn Cole, joined by pianist Brian Buckner, in an intimate evening of music and storytelling rooted in the city’s rich creative legacy.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to using the performing arts as a tool for connection and community impact. Through this partnership, both organizations continue to create a space for Detroit artists to share their voices.
ROBERTO CLEMENTE: A DIAMOND WITHIN | Plowshares Theatre Company | June 5-28
Plowshares Theatre Company, is proud to announce the world premiere of Roberto Clemente: A Diamond Within, an original play by acclaimed playwright Cándido Tirado. The production will be directed by Plowshare founder, Gary Anderson.
The production, a key part of the company's commitment to diverse storytelling, will run from June 5 through June 28, 2026, at the Marlene Boll Theatre at The Boll Family YMCA, 1401 Broadway, Detroit, MI.
The play centers on the life of the legendary Afro-Latino baseball player and humanitarian, Roberto Clemente. A true icon, Clemente was a colossal figure in both sports and humanitarianism.
Written by: Cándido Tirado
Directed by: Gary Anderson
THE LAST WIDE OPEN | Theatre Nova | May 22 – June 14
What if love isn’t about destiny—but timing? Theatre NOVA, Ann Arbor’s resident nonprofit professional theatre specializing in new plays, presents the Michigan
premiere of The Last Wide Open by Audrey Cefaly, a tender, time-bending romance unfolding across parallel possibilities. The production runs May 22 – June 14, 2026.
Performed with live music by the actors themselves, the production weaves song into the
storytelling, creating an immediate and intimate theatrical experience.
Written by: Audrey Cefaly
Directed by: Diane Hill
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC | Birmingham Village Players | May 1-17
Enjoy the brilliance of one of the masters of American musicals when Birmingham
Village Players (BVP) presents a Stephen Sondheim classic, A Little Night Music, May 1-17, 2026.
Members of the BVP production shared their thoughts about being part of this iconic show.
“Sondheim is far and away my favorite Broadway composer,” said Director Holly Conroy. “A Little Night Music, in particular, is full of luscious music and characters that challenge our actors."
Individual reserved tickets are $30 (includes ticketing fee). Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office, 248-644-2075, or by placing an order on the website.
Directed by: Holly Conroy
CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE SCARAB CLUB | The Scarab Club | May 3
Chamber Music at the Scarab Club is thrilled to present the next concert of its 27th season on Sunday, May 3rd, from 3-5 p.m. in the main gallery of The Scarab Club.
This concert features wind and string players who are members of the Detroit Opera Orchestra, performing an exciting program that includes works with a connection to the amazing world of opera!
PLAYHOUSE CREATURES | Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company | Runs May 1 - 22
The West Michigan-based Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company will present April De Angelis’ Playhouse Creatures at three different Michigan venues from May 1-May 22, 2026. The production is directed by Kristina McCloskey, who is also the artistic director of the Muskegon Civic Theater.
Playhouse Creatures follows the backstage intrigues, rivalries, struggles, and triumphs of the first women professional actors in England in the 1660s. Based on the lives of several historical figures, this script is by turns funny and poignant as these trailblazing women navigate the theatrical world.
Written by: April De Angelis
Directed by: Kristina McCloskey
AN ALL-STAR SEASON FINALE | West Michigan Symphony | May 8, 7:30pm
West Michigan Symphony’s (WMS) 2025-2026 Mainstage Season comes to a super-sized finish with the thundering “Organ” Symphony No. 3 of French composer Camille Saint-Saëns and the rock-infused Cello Concerto of the iconoclastic Austrian Friedrich Gulda. Opening the concert will be Russian composer Mikhail Glinka’s exuberant Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla. Conducted by Scott Speck, the concert will be held at 7:30pm Friday, May 8 at the Frauenthal Center, 425 W. Western Avenue in Muskegon.
Experience Wharton Center’s 2026 Show Lineup |
Wharton Center’s must-see 2025-2026 season tickets are on sale!
CLUB 750 MUSIC: ACROSTRUM Date/Time: Wed, Apr 22, 2026, 7PM CLUB 750 BROADWAY CABARET: ADAM JACOBS - THE SONGS OF ALAN MENKEN Date/Time: Thurs, Apr 23, 2026, 7PM CLUB 750 COMEDY: KEVIN LEE Date/Time: Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 7PM WORLD BALLET COMPANY: CINDERELLA Date/Time: Tues, Apr 28, 2026, 7PM |
EIMEAR NOONE IN GAMESYMPHONIC | Detroit Opera Orchestra | June 13
Detroit will be home to magical worlds, post-apocalyptic wastelands, Godly labyrinths, and more, when GameSymphonic comes to the Detroit Opera House on June 13, 2026 at 7:30pm. GameSymphonic will feature iconic music from some of the world’s best-loved videogames, performed live by the Detroit Opera Orchestra and award-winning videogame conductor/composer Eímear Noone. Ticket presale begins on December 16 at 12pmET and continues through December 18 at 11:59pmET. Public tickets go on sale on December 19 at 10amET. Tickets start at $39 (plus fees), and available at the Detroit Opera box office and Ticketmaster.
MARIACHI VARGAS de TECALITLAN | Detroit Opera | May 9
Detroit Opera House presents Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán for a special performance on May 9 at 7:30pm, the day before Mother’s Day, which is celebrated in the U.S. and in Mexico on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Mariachi Vargas has performed internationally for six generations and is widely recognized as “El Mejor Mariachi del Mundo” (the best mariachi in the world). The legendary Mariachi Vargas ensemble brings more than a century of tradition, virtuosity, and passion to the performance.
Tickets for Mariachi Vargas go on pre-sale Monday, November 3 at 12pmET at Ticketmaster, detroitopera.org, and in person at the Detroit Opera House. The public on-sale date is Thursday, November 6 at 12pmET. Tickets start at $39. Special VIP seating with beverage service is available.
THE VOICE OF WHITNEY | Detroit Opera | October 10, 8pm
Audiences will experience Whitney Houston’s astounding musical legacy, when The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration comes to the Detroit Opera House for one night only, Saturday, October 10, 2026.
The Voice of Whitney: A Symphonic Celebration concert tribute will feature original master and remastered recordings of Whitney’s actual vocals, set to new orchestral arrangements of her classic hits and landmark songs, backed by the powerhouse Detroit Opera Orchestra, led by Sean Mayes.
Tickets start at $39 (plus fees) and go on pre-sale January 21 at 12:00 p.m.
PUCCINI'S TOSCA | Detroit Opera | Nov 1, 5, 7
Detroit Opera announces three performances of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca at the Detroit Opera House on November 1, 5, and 7, conducted by Music Director Roberto Kalb and featuring Louisa Proske’s staging that debuted at the Glimmerglass Festival in 2025. Tosca will be the first opera production in Detroit Opera's previously announced season-long exploration of faith.
The cast of Tosca will feature, in the title role of Floria Tosca, the stunning South African
soprano Masabane Rangwanasha, whose 2025 Metropolitan Opera debut as Liù in
Turandot was “ravishingly nuanced” (Bachtrack) and whose voice the London Times has
described as “one of the glories of the age.”
AND THAT'S THE RUNDOWN! There is so much going on across the state, and WE KNOW this isn't a comprehensive list. So, if you think there's something we missed, please reach out.
Until Next Time. Break Legs!
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