The Rundown | April 3, 2026 - Now Playing!
- 57 minutes ago
- 15 min read
Welcome to THE RUNDOWN, a quick hit highlight of the plays, musicals, concerts, and cabarets now playing on stages in Michigan.
Dive in to this week's Rundown and make sure you don't miss a thing! New plays, musicals, events, 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!
Try Not To Get Worried,
Try Not To turn Onto,
Problems That Upset You, Oh
Don't You Know Everything's Alright,
Yes, Everything's Fine
PLACES PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR PLACES CALL!
Here's THE RUNDOWN for Friday, April 3, 2026.
CLOSING THIS WEEKEND
THE SPONGEBOG MUSICAL! | Wayne State University | Runs through April 4
Who lives in Hilberry Gateway under the sea? The SpongeBob Musical! Dive into this vibrant underwater adventure for all ages, where friendship (and a splash of optimism) saves the day. SpongeBob and his friends must come together to protect their home when a volcano threatens to destroy Bikini Bottom. Featuring original songs by music legends like Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, and Panic! At the Disco, this musical blends humor, heart, and spectacular high-energy performances. With famous characters and music, this family-friendly show promises an unforgettable journey of courage, community, and the power of positivity.
Written by: Kyle Jarrow
Directed by: Eric Van Tielen
Use the code ENCORE25 for a $5 discount (Two Ticket Max)
April 3, 9:30-11:30 p.m., Hilberry Gateway - LOBBY | Join us in the lobby following the performance for Clubbin’ at Bikini Bottom, an immersive, EDM‑influenced post‑show experience. The event features: a live DJ set by Alesyn McCall-Brown, themed decor inspired by the musical, Shibam specialty refresher available for sale, and a relaxed social environment that extends the musical's energy beyond curtain call! RSVPs are required-spots are limited.
LUCKY STIFF | Flint Repertory Theatre | Runs March 20 - April 4
Flint Repertory Theatre and University of Michigan Flint’s Program of Theatre & Dance are combining forces for this first-ever co-production, featuring a cast composed of both professional and student actors along with a professional creative team of UMF faculty and Flint Rep artists.
From the Tony Award-winning writing team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island, Anastasia), Lucky Stiff is an offbeat, hilarious murder mystery farce, complete with mistaken identities, six million bucks in diamonds and a corpse in a wheelchair.
The cast features Connor Allston as "Harry Witherspoon", Mara Jill Herman as "Annabel Glick", Aviva Pressman as "Rita La Porta", and Henry Ballesteros as "Vincent 'Vinnie' Di Ruzzio". Other professional cast members include Emily Begley, Emir Garcia, Kennedy Vernengo, Antonio Vettraino, who will be joined by UM-Flint student cast members Noah Anthony, Austin Bishop, Ariel Crowder, Cassandra Justice, Claire Milton, Logan Reeves, Finn Stanley, and Morgan Wright.
Directed by: Stephanie Dean
Musid Direction by: Eric Shorey
Choreography by: Molly Garner
HOW WE GOT ON | Open Book Theatre Company | Runs March 13 - April 4
This March, Open Book Theatre Company (OBTC) invites audiences to rewind to
the 1980s for a story about big dreams, fresh beats, and the power of art. Running from March 13 through April 4, 2026, Idris Goodwin’s How We Got On is a rhythmic, uplifting theatrical mixtape that celebrates the origins of hip-hop through the eyes of three suburban teenagers.
The play follows Hank, Julian, and Luann as they navigate the hurdles of adolescence while trying to find their "flow." Guided by a mysterious DJ known as The Selector, played by LaShannette Harrison, these young artists discover that their voices matter—even in a world that hasn't started listening yet.
How We Got On is a 90-minute experience (performed without intermission) that promises to be one of the most unique and inspirational productions of the season. True to Open Book's mission of providing an intimate and engaging theatrical experience, this production invites audiences of all ages to remember what it felt like to be young, hungry, and full of music.
Written by: Idris Goodwin
Directed by: Shardai R. Davis
Looking for talent? Teaching a workshop? Hiring new staff?
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OPENING THIS WEEKEND
BIG FUN MURDER | Planet Ant Theatre | Runs Apr 3 - 11
Planet Ant Theatre presents Big Fun Murder, a completely improvised murder mystery with a groovy twist.
A ghost has one final chance to solve their own murder as they re-live their last day in the 70’s. Help them remember what happened and guess at who did it in this completely improvised murder mystery. Each night a special guest victim will get the chance for closure as the audience tries to solve the case!
Directed by: Keenan Mullaney
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
THE JONBENÉT GAME | Theatre Nova | Runs March 27 - April 19
Theatre NOVA presents the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of THE JONBENÉT GAME by Tori Keenan-Zelt.
When best friends Molly and Rae were 12, they secretly played JonBenét Ramsey at sleepovers. Twenty years later, in the wake of Molly's tragic death, Rae returns to her hometown school as a guidance counselor. But when Molly’s 12-year-old daughter, Hazel, knocks on Rae’s door, she and Rae slide back into the game, and the dark and liminal spaces of their unresolved grief.
“The thing that moves me about this play is how realistically it portrays the experience of tween girls, in all honesty and complexity." says director, Carla Milarch. "...At a time when both literal and social acts of violence against women are in the news, it's important to think about the lasting scar this violence leaves on victims."
Written by: Tori Keenan-Zelt
Directed by: Carla Milarch
COME FROM AWAY | Meadow Brook Theatre | Runs March 18 - April 12
What happened when the skies emptied on September 11, 2001? In Gander,
Newfoundland, Canada, 38 jets holding nearly 7,000 people from around the world
came to town.
Come From Away runs March 18 through April 12, 2026, at Meadow Brook Theatre on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester.
“Come From Away tells the story of a community that pulled together with no notice or planning to help thousands of strangers,” said Travis Walter, Meadow Brook Theatre Artistic Director. “The actors each play multiple roles, but you always know exactly who they are, and the music just wraps around it all in a beautiful way.”
Directed by: Travis Walter
Choreography by: Tyrick Wiltez Jones
Music Direction by: Matthew Croft
Get A Gig!
Wanna be booked and busy?!
Check out the Encore Michigan jobs board to find opportunities across the state.
SCREENINGS & STREAMING
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
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
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
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
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
I'M GONNA MARY YOU TOBEY MAGUIRE | Detroit Mercy Theatre | April 10-19
Fangirl Culture is Front and Center as Detroit Mercy Theatre Company Presents a Zany Y2K Comedy.
Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) closes the inaugural season of the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre with I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire by Samantha Hurley, playing April 10-19 on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus.
I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire is set in 2004 and follows 14-year-old Shelby Hinkley, who is obsessed with Hollywood star Tobey Maguire and creates a play to kidnap and marry him in her basement.
Written by: Samantha Hurley
Directed by: Cassandra Svacha
TAYLORVILLE, AN UNOFFICIAL TAYLOR SWIFT TRIBUTE BAND | Tibbits Opera House| Saturday, April 11, 2026 | Tibbits.org
Calling all Swifties! Taylorville, an unofficial live Taylor Swift tribute band, will
perform at Tibbits Opera House on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of Taylor Swift like never before! Taylorville is your ticket to a night filled with chart-topping hits and cherished deep cuts. Read the Full Encore Michigan Piece Here!
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
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
PRECIOUS LITTLE | The Penny Seats Theatre Company | Runs April 10-19
The Penny Seats Theatre Company is proud to announce the opening of Precious Little, a thought-provoking theatrical experience by Madeleine George, as the first installment in its season. Performing April 10 through 25 at Cahoots Event Center in downtown Ann Arbor, this beautiful show follows Brodie, a gifted linguist, as she wrestles with unsettling news about the baby she carries, vanishing languages... and a gorilla.
The production features Vicki Morgan, Shelby Bradley, and Chloe Rochefort.
Written by: Madeleine George
Directed by: Julia Garlotte
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
Experience Wharton Center’s 2026 Show Lineup |
Wharton Center’s must-see 2025-2026 season are on sale!
CLUE LIVE ON STAGE April 7 - 12 |
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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