The Rundown | July 3, 2025
- John Sloan III
- 5 days ago
- 10 min read
Welcome to THE RUNDOWN, a quick hit highlight of what's on stage in Michigan. There's a long weekend ahead of us with plenty of opportunity to kick back, relax, and take in some art. With musicals and plays, concerts and comedy -- it's all right at your fingertips.
America, You Great Unfinished Symphony, You Sent for Me.
You Let Me Make a Difference.
A Place Where Even Orphan Immigrants Can Leave Their Fingerprints
and Rise Up.
PLACES PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR PLACES CALL!
Here's THE RUNDOWN for Thursday, July 3, 2025.
CLOSING SOON
COVENANT | The Detroit Repertory Theatre | Runs May 16 - July 6
Two years after his sudden disappearance, struggling guitarist Johnny “Honeycomb” James returns to his small town a blues star, sparking rumors that he may have made a deal with the devil to attain his musical genius. Inspired by the myth of Robert Johnson, this haunting, Gothic play explores the power of belief and tests the thin veil between rumor and truth.
Written by: York Walker
Directed by: Will Bryson
WEST SIDE STORY | The Encore Musical Theatre | Runs June 5-July 6
The Encore Musical Theatre Company proudly presents West Side Story, the groundbreaking Broadway musical inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, running for a strictly limited five weeks from June 5 through July 6 on The Encore’s Maas Main Stage.
This production is helmed by Broadway veteran Michael Berry, with choreography by Deanna Aguinaga-Whyte, who appeared in the show's most recent Broadway revival. The cast includes Daniela Rodriguez Del Bosque as Maria, Conor Jordan as Tony, along with fan favorites Gayle E. Martin, Keith Kalinowski, and Dan Morrison.
Directed by: Michael Berry
Choreography by: Deanna Aguinaga-Whyte
Music Direction by: R. MackKenzie Lewis
ACT THREE | The Tibbits Opera House | Runs June 27-July 5
Three acting legends return to the stage where it all began. Frankie Hart, Eddie Ford, and Kay Byrd first lit up the historic Barton Playhouse three decades ago, and their journey has taken them from Topeka to the Poconos, dazzling audiences with everything from Shakespeare to side-splitting antics. Now, in Act Three of their lives, they’re back at the theatre that started it all, headlining the most successful residency in Barton Playhouse history with their hilarious act, “Frankie, Eddie, and Kay.”
Don’t miss the world premiere of Act Three at Tibbits—will their past bring them closer, or tear them apart once and for all?
Written by: Brenda Sparks
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NOW PLAYING
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ANNIE | Runs May 27 - Nov. 2
The sun will come out tomorrow when the Stratford Festival begins its 2025 season with the fabulous musical Annie.
Ever-optimistic Annie makes it her job to improve the lives of everyone around her – except maybe Miss Hannigan, who has made life a misery for all the little girls in her care at the New York Municipal Orphanage.
Annieofficially opens on May 27 and runs until November 2 at the Festival Theatre.
“Where we came from and where we want to go define who and what we aspire to be – our vision shapes us,” says director Donna Feore.
“Annie... embodies the best of every human reaction to adversity and she speaks to us in a language so simple and clear that it’s hard to deny her power.”
Directed & Choreographed by: Donna Feore
Musical Direction by: Laura Burton
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS | Runs May 29 - Oct 25
Prepare for the Avon Theatre to be transformed into the glamorous French Riviera as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels hits the stage tomorrow, offering huge laughs and high energy. It showcases exhilarating performances by Shakura Dickson as Christine Colgate, Jonathan Goad as Lawrence Jameson, Liam Tobin as Freddy Benson, Sara-Jeanne Hosie as Muriel Eubanks, Derek Kwan as Andre Thibault, and Michele Shuster as Jolene Oakes.
Shakura Dickson ("Christine") sat down recently for an interview with Encore's John Sloan III. Stay tuned for the piece dropping soon!
THE WINTER'S TALE | Runs May 30 - September 27
Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino’s production of The Winter’s Tale starts performances today, opening the Tom Patterson Theatre for the 2025 season. Filled with sprightly comedy, heartwarming serendipity and fantastical surprises, this beautiful play features a stellar cast led by Graham Abbey as Leontes, Yanna McIntosh as Paulina and Sara Topham as Paulina.
Blinded by jealousy, King Leontes falsely accuses his pregnant wife of infidelity, setting into motion a series of catastrophes that will destroy his wife and son and leave his infant daughter abandoned to the elements on a distant island. Seeing the folly of his ways, Leontes vows to live out his days atoning for his actions. Sixteen years later, the king is offered an unlikely chance at redemption.
FORGIVENESS | June 18 - Sept 27
Forgiveness, the story of two families profoundly affected by the events of the Second World War, starts performances at the Stratford Festival today. This deeply moving stage adaptation, written by Hiro Kanagawa and directed by Stafford Arima, is based on the Canada Reads-winning memoir Forgiveness: A Gift From My Grandparents by Mark Sakamoto.
Led by Yoshie Bancroft and Jeff Lillico, the play spans two generations and two families who in their union live as a testament to the power of choosing forgiveness over hatred.
Written by: Hiro Kanagawa
Directed by: Stafford Arima
SENSE & SENSIBILITY | June 19 - Oct 20
Mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen with a trip to the Stratford Festival for a beautiful and captivating production of Sense and Sensibility. Filled with simmering gossip, swooning assemblies and fierce wit, Kate Hamill’s stage adaptation of the classic novel hits the stage today. Directed by Daryl Cloran and led by Jessica B. Hill and Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane, this tale of sisters bound by love is a pure Regency Period delight.
“This is a story about love in its many forms. Romantic love. Love between sisters. Love between a mother and her daughters,” says Cloran
SHEAR MADNESS | Meadow Brook Theatre | Runs May 28 - June 22
Shear Madness gives audiences a chance to help figure out “whodunit” and determine the direction the show will take each night.
This unique comedy-whodunit takes place today in the Shear Madness hair salon and is chock full of up-to-the minute spontaneous humor. During the course of the action, a murder is committed and the audience gets to spot the clues, question the suspects, and solve the funniest mystery in the annals of crime. The outcome is never the same, which is why many audience members return again and again to the scene of the mayhem.
Written by: Paul Portner
Directed by: Travis W. Walter
MY SUMMER AT CAMP-O-CHE-MO | July 17-19
Buckham Alley Theatre is excited to announce a special stage reading of the original play My Summer at Camp-O-CHE-MO. The performances will take place at the Hospitality House at McLaren Flint (G-3170 Beecher Road) on July 17th and 18th at 7 PM, and July 19th at 2 PM. The piece tells the poignant story of a retired schoolteacher and her diverse group of fellow patients navigating the challenges of chemotherapy treatments with humor, hope, and camaraderie.
Written by: Carol Kushion and Richard W. Hingst
BERT & TRIXIE VISIT THE VET | The Purple Rose Theatre | Runs June 20 - Aug. 31
The Purple Rose Theatre Company (PRTC) announces the final production of their 34th season, Bert & Trixie Visit the Vet a World Premiere comedy written by Matt Letscher.
Four pets in a veterinarian’s waiting room plan an escape when they suspect one of them is in danger. A comedy about what it means to truly be free. This production of “Bert & Trixie Visit the Vet” contains adult content and may not be suitable for children under the age of 13.
Written by: Matt Letscher
Directed by: Rhiannon Ragland
INCIDENT OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP | Williamston Theatre |
Runs June 26-Aug 3 | www.williamstontheatre.org
Mid-Michigan’s award-winning professional theatre company, finishes off Season 18 with the Michigan Premiere of Incident
at Our Lady of Perpetual Help by Katie Forgette. Performances for this production begin Thursday, June 26 and run through Sunday, August 3. Tickets are now on sale.
It’s 1973: Nixon is president, bell bottoms are in, and Aerosmith is releasing their first album. Nineteen-
year-old Linda O’Shea has been tasked by her mother with explaining the birds and the bees to her little sister. Things quickly snowball into a hilarious crisis after the conversation is overheard by the parish priest.
This wild and tender comedy explores the foolishness of first love, the pains of Catholic
guilt, and ultimately, the power of family.
Written by: Katie Forgette.
Directed by: Karen Sheridan
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COMING SOON
NOW. HEAR. THIS. | Inspired Acting Company | Runs July 11-27
Inspired Acting Company debuts Now. Hear. This., a musical from the creators of [title of show].
This lively and introspective musical revolves around four friends in a science museum as they navigate through life's challenges and triumphs, delving into themes such as friendship, self-discovery, and the pursuit of happiness. The show, which wraps the theatre’s second season, will feature Dawn Rasnick, Mike Sandusky, Diana Turner, and Antonio Vettraino.
“Now. Here. This. is a beautiful reminder of how messy, funny, and deeply moving it is to simply be alive." - Artistic Director Jeff Thomakos
BEAUTIFUL, THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL | Farmer's Alley Theatre | Runs July 10-20
Celebrate the career of an American music icon, as Farmers Alley Theatre tells the life story of Carole King at the Nelda K. Balch Festival Playhouse on the campus of Kalamazoo College!
Beautiful is the inspiring tale about a girl who became King with a stirring book by the late Oscar and Tony-nominated Douglas McGrath and the music and lyrics of icons Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Featuring such unforgettable classics as "You've Got a Friend", "One Fine Day", "So Far Away", and more! American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted performance on Saturday July 12th at 7:30pm.
Directed by: Kathy Mulay
WAITRESS | Michigan Stage | Runs July 18-27
Michigan Stage is proud to announce the Michigan regional professional premiere of Waitress, with music and lyrics by Sara Barielles and book by Jessie Nelson based on the film by Adrienne Shelley. Waitress is the cornerstone production in Michigan Stage’s Broadway in the ‘Burbs summer festival and will feature visiting Broadway performers mixed with local talent.
Additionally to Waitress, the festival will include on July 12, 2025 a one-night-only concert
headlined by Michigan native Tom Butwin.
Directed by: Tim Paré
Music Director: Maurice Draughn
NEW SUMMER LINEUP | Tipping Point Theatre | Beginning July 17
Tipping Point Theatre (TPT) announces a brand-new collection of summer performances beginning on July 17, 2025. “You can count on Detroit talent to bring the fun” states TPT Artistic Director Julia Glander. “We are excited to kick back with the Planet Ant Home Team led by Tipping Point Theatre favorite, Dave Davies, for three nights of improv comedy to lead off our Summer Sessions. Then, returning Detroiter Michelle Murphy transports audiences back to her 13-year-old self at summer camp in her critically-acclaimed one person show, Keeper. Plus, audiences can enjoy our outdoor patio and courtyard with a beer or a glass of wine before each show—a true Michigan summer treat!”
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM | The Container Globe Detroit | Runs July 25 - 27
2937 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48211
The magic of Shakespeare meets the industrial soul of Detroit this summer as the Container Globe proudly presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream, opening July 25, 2025, for a limited run in the city’s most visionary open-air theater. Did you know that Detroit has its very own Globe Theatre? Built from repurposed shipping containers and inspired by the architecture of Shakespeare’s original Globe Theatre, the Container Globe provides an electrifying stage for one of the Bard’s most beloved comedies.
Directed by: Cassandra Svacha
THE SPITFIRE GRILL | The Great Escape Stage Company | Runs July 17-27
The Great Escape Stage Company proudly presents The Spitfire Grill, opening Thursday, July 17th.
Based on the Ellen Burstein film of the same name from 1996, The Spitfire Grill is a beautiful musical about second chances, as a young woman just released from prison decides to start her life anew in a small town, where she helps to save the town's only
restaurant from going under.
The powerhouse cast includes local favorites Kyra Hill as PERCY and Kelly VanRyswyk as SHELBY, with Alan Elliott reprising his role as THE VISITOR from GESC’s original production in 2012.
Directed by: Charles Burr
Musical Direction by: John Vreeland
EVICTION | Plant Ant Theatre | Runs July 18 - August 2
This summer, The Planet Ant Farm Team combines the terror of abduction with the absurdity of Monty Python-style humor with Eviction. This original one act comedy is a darkly hilarious, offbeat theatrical experience that explores loneliness, obsession, and the weirdest laundry night ever.
Eviction features three main characters: Norman, a lonely landlord in desperate need of friends, and his newest (and only) tenants, Marley and Brittney. When a dryer breaks down, things take a turn when Norman tries to “help” the girls. Marley and Brittney unwittingly become a part of Norman’s elaborate (and unhinged) plan to make them his captive best friends… forever.
Written & Directed by: Mary Moore-Butler
SIDE-BY-SIDE | West Michigan Symphony | Saturday, July 12
Fans and community members who play an instrument, or used to, will be dusting off their fiddles, flutes and horns for a day of music making side by side with members of the West Michigan Symphony (WMS) on Saturday, July 12. Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and 1812 Overture, Bizet’s Carmen Suite and more are on the bill for the first WMS “Side-by-Side” concert. The musicians—amateur and professional—will be gathering in the morning for a full day of rehearsing. The concert itself is free to the public and starts at 6:30 pm in the Frauenthal Center.
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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