The Rundown | Jan. 8, 2025- Now Playing!
- John Sloan III
- Jan 8
- 14 min read
Welcome to THE RUNDOWN, a quick hit highlight of the plays, musicals, concerts, and cabarets now playing on stage in Michigan.
The second half of the 25-26 season is in full swing as companies across the state debut opening performances this weekend. New plays, musicals, dance concerts and more are gearing up to grace our stages. So go ahead, dive in, and keep an eye open for special discounts available ONLY to Encore Subscribers! You know what we're gonna say...Get On Up and Go See A Show!
Some birds sing when the sun shines bright
My praise is not for them
But the one who sings in the dead of night
I raise my cup to him
PLACES PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR PLACES CALL!
Here's THE RUNDOWN for Thursday, January 8, 2025.
CLOSING THIS WEEKEND
FROZEN | The Encore Musical Theatre Company | Runs Dec 4 - Jan. 11
This winter, The Encore Musical Theatre Company invites audiences to step into the kingdom of Arendelle with its upcoming production of Disney’s Frozen. The highly anticipated musical marks the first professional regional production of Frozen in Michigan, and early ticket sales are already breaking records. With extra matinees added throughout the limited six-week run, plus an early 7PM curtain time, the show promises to be a centerpiece of the holiday season—and an unforgettable family outing.
““Frozen is a story about connection and love—and in our intimate space, you can feel that in a very real way.” Artistic Director Dan Cooney,
With its stunning visuals, touching story, and timeless message of love and courage, Frozen is
ideal for audiences of all ages.
Directed by: Dan Cooney
OPENING THIS WEEKEND
THE PIANO LESSON | Detroit Repertory Theatre | Runs Jan 9 - March 15
The Detroit Repertory Theatre continues its 69th Season and the production of the American Century Cycle with August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, winner of the 1990 Pulitzer Prize. The production opens on Friday, January 9, 2026 at 8pm.
August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is the fourth installment of the American Century Cycle and a haunting play about legacy. Berniece and her brother Boy Willie fight over the fate of the family piano; she treasures it as a precious connection to their ancestors, and he sees it as the means to a more prosperous future.
Use The Code ENCORE for special $25 tickets.
Written by: August Wilson
Directed by: Janai Lashon
FOR COLORED GIRLS... | The Cholate Box Theatre Company (at Planet Ant) | Runs Jan 9-17
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf is a powerful choreopoem that weaves together poetry, music, dance, and storytelling to illuminate the emotional journeys of women of color. Through deeply personal and collective narratives, the cast explores love, betrayal, abandonment, trauma, joy, and healing with unapologetic truth.
Each piece reflects both the pain and power of survival, giving voice to stories too often silenced. This production serves as both a mirror and a balm—confronting darkness while celebrating resilience, sisterhood, and self-worth. Audiences will laugh, cry, reflect, and ultimately leave uplifted.
Written by: Ntozake Shange
Directed by: CJ Williams
A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS | Avon Players | Runs Jan 9- 24
One well-meaning family man will learn just how quickly compromising one’s principles can lead to calamity as Avon Players Theatre presents A Small Family Business,
running January 9-24.
Jack McCracken (Ryan Gigliotti) has the opportunity of a lifetime: he is the new head of a family furniture business and believes he will initiate a new age of honesty and integrity within the company. He quickly learns that all others involved in the enterprise—namely his own relations and their associates—have a vested interest
in maintaining business as usual, rife with dishonesty and deceit. From a master of satire comes a darkly comic play that asks just how long a person’s good intentions can stand up to a system in which blackmail, adultery, drug use, and even murder are the status quo.
Written by: Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by: Kelly Miller
NEW WORKS WEEKEND | Flint Community Players | Jan 8-11
Flint Community Players kicks off 2026 with an exciting weekend of new works featuring Champagne Problems by Nicole Lawrence, and Lam by Abby Burgess.
Champagne Problems is an exciting romantic dramedy that will play tug of war with your heartstrings. In a small town Texas coffee shop during the War in Afghanistan, Catherine is living a modern day fairytale as a recent college graduate and soon to be bride. But one day, her presumed dead ex-fiancé returns with amnesia, forcing her to confront her past grief to embrace her future.
Following the “Great Collapse of ‘47,” Denton County has relied on the guidance of “The Council.” As residents ring in the 60’s, a singer, a stranger and a lamb make their way across a retro-rodeo wasteland in search of justice, companionship and the truth behind “The Council’s” rules. Underscored with an eclectic Country-Western sound, Lam is a post-apocalyptic drama that explores what exactly it is you’re supposed to do when you turn 26.
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS | Birmingham Village Players | Runs Jan 9-25
Bring warmth, charm, laughter and cheer to your new year when Birmingham Village
Players presents the classic musical comedy, Once Upon a Mattress, January 9-25, 2026.
This delightful show is a re-telling of the fable, “The Princess and the Pea.” It has been a fan-favorite for over 60 years that gets its spunk from a host of upbeat songs and quirky characters.
Valencia Morgan of Southfield plays Princess Winifred, Noah Hanahan of St. Clair Shores has a gawkiness and nerdy energy as Prince Dauntless, and husband and wife, Mike and Pam Dundas of Southfield, have been members of BVP since the mid-
1990’s and are delighted to be appearing on stage together.
“There's a reason why Mattress remains such a popular musical more than 60 years later. It’s fun, it's upbeat, and it's all about how we should never underestimate the underdog,” said Director Jay Kaplan.
Looking for talent? Teaching a workshop? Hiring new staff?
We've got you! Post your audition notice, job, or workshop information with Encore Michigan and reach thousands of performing arts professionals across the state. Your posting will get in front of people who want to audition, work, and learn at arts orgs statewide.
Posting is simple and easy!
CLUE | Open Book Theatre Company | Runs Jan 9 - Feb 1
It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party.
Open Book Theatre is thrilled to kick off the new year with Clue, running January 9 through February 1, 2026. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, this madcap comedy features iconic characters like Scarlet, Plum, and Mustard racing to find a killer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up.
The cast includes Kevin T. Keller as "Wadsworth", Lindel Salow as "Colonel Mustard", Danielle Wright as "Mrs. White", Jan Cartwright as "Mrs. Peacock", Jordan Climie as "Mr. Green", Phil Hughes as "Professor Plum", Krista Schafer as "Miss Scarlet", Arianna Engnell as "Yvette", and Eric Niece, Allison Megroet, and Trevor Maher in various roles.
Directed by: Henry Ballesteros
FREE STAGED READINGS | Tipping Point Theatre | Runs Jan 5, 9, 10
Looking for something easy, cheap, and fun to
do before the kids go back to school? Tipping Point Theatre (TPT) in Downtown Northville will present free readings of a new play and new musical as part of its 2026 IN THE WORKS developmental theatre series.
Throughout this series, playwrights collaborate with Tipping Point Theatre’s artistic staff to develop and work through the process of “page to stage”. General admission to these readings is free, but a $10-20 donation is suggested.
First up in the series is a table reading of the award-winning play KARA & EMMA &
BARBARA & MIRANDA by Ariel Stess on Monday, January 5th, 2026 at 7:00 P.M.
The weekend following that reading will have two more readings of THE BREAK, written
by the Emmy-nominated duo of Christopher Dimond (Book & Lyrics) and Michael
Kooman (Music), on Friday, January 9, and Saturday, January 10 at 7:00 P.M.
ALL SHOOK UP | Meadow Brook Theatre | Runs Jan 7 - Feb 1
Travel back to the 1950s as Meadow Brook Theatre, in collaboration with
Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, brings the musical
All Shook Up to the stage.
All Shook Up tells the story of a guitar-playing young man, rolling into a small town and changing everything and everyone he meets. Elvis Presley songs are the musical component that will keep audiences rocking and rolling.
Directed by: Travis W. Walter
Choreographed by: Jacob ben Widmar
Music Direction by: Eric Shorey
Get A Gig!
Wanna be booked and busy?!
Check out the Encore Michigan jobs board to find opportunities across the state.
SCREENINGS & STREAMING
(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 | Streaming Dec. 13 | The Obsidian Theatre Festival
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
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!
COMING SOON
THE MOUNTAINTOP | Detroit Public Theatre | Runs Feb 4 - March 8
The Mountaintop is a gripping re-imagining of events the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Taking place on April 3, 1968, after the legendary civil right leader delivers one of his most memorable speeches, the exhausted Dr. King retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel while a storm rages outside. When a mysterious stranger arrives and reveals a secret, Dr. King is forced to confront his destiny and his legacy to his people.
Use the code ENCORE and receive a $5 discount on all General Admission - Standard tickets.
Written by: Katori Hall
Directed by: Brian Marable
JULIUS CAESAR | Wayne State University | Runs Feb 6 - 15
William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is a gripping political drama about power, ambition, and betrayal. When the beloved Roman leader Julius Caesar’s rise sparks fear of tyranny, his closest allies conspire against him, leading to one of history’s most infamous assassinations. As Rome plunges into chaos, Mark Antony’s impassioned rhetoric turns the tide, setting the stage for war and tragedy. A timeless exploration of political intrigue and moral dilemmas, Julius Caesar remains a compelling reflection on leadership, loyalty, and the consequences of ambition.
Use the code ENCORE25 and receive a $5 discount.
Directed by: Karen Sheridan
HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO | Detroit Opera | Jan 24-25
Dance @ Detroit Opera’s third 2025–26 dance presentation will be Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, one of the most original forces in contemporary dance, at the Detroit Opera House on January 24 and 25. The program will feature top contemporary choreographers Amy Hall Garner, Matthew Rushing, and Johan Inger, plus Sweet Gwen Suite by Tony Award-winning Broadway choreographer Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon and Percussion IV by Bob Fosse.
THE CLASSIC KING | Purple Rose Theatre Company | Runs Jan 29 - March 8
The Purple Rose Theatre Company (PRTC) announces the winter production of their 35th season, The Classic King a world-premiere comedy by Richard Johnson. Tickets are on sale now.
In paying tribute to timeless automobiles, The Classic King paints a comic and heartbreaking portrait of three veteran used-car salesmen at a Metro Detroit dealership, struggling to cope with a changing industry and modern customers. When a sharp Gen Z salesman joins the team, he proposes a daring scheme to save the dealership — and its “dinosaur” salesmen — from extinction.
This production of The Classic King contains adult content and may not be suitable for children under the age of 13.
Written by: Richard Johnson
Directed by: Jeff Daniels
KAYAK | Theatre Nova | Runs Jan 30 - Feb 22
Theatre NOVA, Ann Arbor’s resident nonprofit professional theatre specializing in new plays presents Kayak by Jordan Hall, running January 30 - February 22, 2026.
Alone on a vast stretch of water, Annie Iversen recounts the chain of events that stranded her in her son’s old kayak. A doting suburban mother, Annie is blindsided when her son, Peter, falls in love with Julie, a passionate environmental activist. What begins as a series of tense—and frequently funny—family and ideological clashes becomes something far more dangerous, as Annie, desperate to protect her son from what she sees as a reckless path, fights to hold on—until the danger she feared finds her instead.
Theatre NOVA’s mission is to raise awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and playwrights and to provide resources for playwrights to develop their craft by importing, exporting, and developing new work.
Written by: Jordan Hall
Directed by: Briana O'Neal
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. The musicians perform with tight ensemble precision, featuring polished arrangements that often include vocal solos, duets, or trios. Sets span a variety of mariachi styles: sones, rancheras, huapangos, polkas, valses, and more, with singers joined by violins, trumpets, harp, guitarron, vilhuera, and guitar.
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.
PRIMARY TRUST | Farmers Alley Theatre | Runs Jan 22 - Feb 1
The hits just keep coming for Farmers Alley Theatre in its 18th Season! Following the
box-office smashing hit production of Come From Away, then the wildly popular A Very Kalamazoo Christmas, Farmers Alley Theatre is proud to ring in the new year and present Primary Trust by Eboni Booth.
Directing the production of is Broadway veteran and Kalamazoo native, Jerry Dixon. Jerry
mounted the Farmers Alley Theatre production of Songs for a New World in 2021. Primary Trust is slated to run from January 22nd thru February 1st, 2026. Performances dates are
Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30pm with matinees on both Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm.
Written by: Eboni Booth
Directed by: Jerry Dixon
A WALK IN THE PARK | Buckham Alley Theatre | Runs Jan 23-25, 2026
Join us for A Walk in the Park, an original play written by local playwright, Steven Shelton. As we stroll through this lovely park setting, we encounter characters in the Buckham Bistro, witness meet-ups in the Wiggly Field dog park, and get to know two old friends playing their usual game of chess. There is much laughter, surprise encounters, and some sweet moments that will have you saying "Awww!" A visit to this sunny city park will make you forget all the snow outside!
In Act II, the laughter continues, with four short original vignettes, creating zany situations with surprise endings. You will think you are on the set of Saturday Night Live.
Written by: Steven Shelton
Directed by: Matthew Osterberg
SUPERHEROES AT THE SYMPHONY | West Michigan Symphony | Jan 30th, 7:30pm
One of West Michigan Symphony’s (WMS) core mantras is Classical Music for Everyone—and how better to show it than with an evening of music from great iconic movies like Superman, Batman, Spider-Man and others? The scores came from the pens of two legendary names in show biz: John Williams and Danny Elfman. The program will also feature music by two great composers who inspired them: Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird and Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet.
In addition to an out-of-this-world concert experience, the WMS invites guests to suit up for an epic adventure! Ticket holders are encouraged to participate in the first ever Superheroes Costume Contest during the Superheroes at the Symphony concert. Guests are encouraged to arrive in capes, masks, or any comic-inspired flair that sparks one’s heroic alter ego.
HADESTOWN | The Wharton Center | Runs Jan 30 - Feb 1
Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards®, including Best New Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, will arrive in East Lansing in 2026. As part of the 2025 26 Broadway Season, the show will play at Wharton Center from January 30 to February 1, 2026.
Hadestown is the most honored show of the 2018-2019 Broadway season. In addition to the show’s eight Tony Awards®, it has been honored with four Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical, and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical.
Following two intertwining love stories—that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone—Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers, and singers, Hadestown delivers a deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience.
HANDEL'S ALCINA | Oakland University School of Music | Runs Jan 15 - 18
Oakland Opera proudly announces its upcoming production of G.F. Handel’s Alcina, presented January 15–18, 2026. Performed by Oakland Opera’s talented students, this reimagined staging places Handel’s exquisite music within a contemporary influencer-house setting, blending classical artistry with modern visual culture.
The production incorporates live image capture, immersive projection design, and an entirely
re-envisioned script developed with the support of artificial intelligence. The result is a bold,
innovative interpretation that promises to both captivate and challenge audiences, offering a
fresh perspective on one of Handel’s most beloved operas.
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.
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!
Get featured in THE RUNDOWN!
Email press@encoremichigan.com ATTN: THE RUNDOWN.
Make sure to get your info to us by Wednesday morning to make it into the Thursday edition.
