The Rundown | March 19, 2026 - Now Playing!
- 1 hour 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.
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!
Whenever My Life Gets Me So Down,
I Know I Can Go Down,
To Where the Music & the Fun Never Ends.
As Long As the Music Keeps Playing,
You Know What I'm Saying,
I Know That I Can Find A Friend...
PLACES PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR PLACES CALL!
Here's THE RUNDOWN for Thursday, March 19, 2026.
CLOSING THIS WEEKEND
THE DANGER OF HOPE | Shakespeare in Detroit | March 13-21
Shakespeare in Detroit (SiD) has announced The Danger of Hope, running March 13 through March 21 at the Marlene Boll Family YMCA.
The production launches the company’s 2026 Griot Season – a new chapter featuring original, one-person shows that center on the storyteller exploring personal truths and community. Inspired by West African traditions, it marks a departure from the traditional Shakespearean canon, though will feature some adjacent work.
Set inside a Detroit high school, The Danger of Hope is a one woman play drawing from Breon’s own experiences as a behavioral specialist navigating rumor, fear, care and belief in young people’s futures. Tickets for the show, written and performed by Morgan Broen and directed by Sam White, are on sale now.
Written by: Morgan Breon
Directed by: Sam White
HOLMES AND WATSON | Avon Players | March 6 - 21
Mystery lovers will have an intriguing puzzle to ponder as Avon Players presents Holmes and Watson by Jeffrey Hatcher, running March 6-21.
Sherlock Holmes is dead…or so it is assumed. But as Holmes’ body was never retrieved, a number of frauds, fakes, and charlatans have come forward to lay claim to his identity. Holmes and Watson is rated PG for adult themes.
Jeffrey Hatcher is a prolific playwright and screenwriter whose work has been performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway and regionally across the US and abroad. In 2023, the magazine American Theatre noted that Hatcher was tied for the fifth most-produced playwright in America with his 2022 Adaptation of Dial M for Murder being one of the top-produced plays that year.
Written by: Jeffrey Hatcher
Directed by: Lori Smith
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OPENING THIS WEEKEND
MUSIC IN BILLTOWN | Williamston Theatre | March 19
Mid-Michigan’s award-winning professional theatre company, Williamston Theatre announces a new program which will bring a
new form of entertainment to the Williamston Theatre stage – Music in Billtown.
The evening will feature some of Williamston Theatre’s favorite performers bringing their gift of song to the stage in a night of cabaret music inspired by the music of Broadway. The cast includes Caitlin Cavannaugh, Matt Durland, Grant Hendrickson, Tobin Hissong, Leslie Hull, Emily Sutton-Smith, and Adam Yankowy.
The first event in the two-performance series in Season 19 will be at the Williamston Theatre on Thursday, March 19 at 7:30pm. Tickets are priced at $30, with a limited number of VIP seats available for $100. VIP seats are on the stage, include a drink and table service. Tickets are now on sale.
Directed by: Sarah Hendrickson
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
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
Fri 03.20.26 | 7:30 pm
Frauenthal Center | www.westmichigansymphony.org
“This month at The Block starts with these two very distinctive programs,” said West Michigan Symphony CEO Andy Buelow. “Aesthetically it would be hard to get further apart than mid-20th century jazz and 18th century Baroque. But what they have in common is the focus on great past artists, from Couperin to Coltrane. This is what The Block is made for.”
Located in downtown Muskegon, the 120-seat venue is known for its elegant but casual atmosphere, excellent acoustics, and intimate ambiance. Patron seating is a mixture of rows and grouped cocktail tables. Audience members enjoy sipping their favorite beverage while experiencing live music with exceptionally close proximity to the artists.
THE COURAGE TO RIGHT A WOMAN'S WRONGS | Oakland University Theatre |
March 19-29 | https://oakland.edu/smtd
Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance will present The
Courage to Right a Woman’s Wrongs, in the Varner Studio Theatre.
Written by Ana Caro Mallén de Soto, one of the few women playwrights of Spain’s Golden
Age, the play blends romance, intrigue, and questions of identity in a bold and timely story. The production follows Doña Leonor, a woman betrayed by the charming nobleman Don Juan, who promises marriage before abandoning her to pursue adventure abroad. Determined to reclaim her honor, Leonor disguises herself as Leonardo and travels to Flanders seeking revenge.
This Oakland University production highlights the play’s enduring relevance while also centering
conversations around queer and trans identity within the historical context of early modern
Spain.
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
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
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK | Birmingham Village Players | Runs March 6-22
The story of 13-year-old Anne Frank who spent two years hiding with her family
from the Nazis during World War II has captivated generations since her diary was discovered and published. This is especially true of the cast members for Birmingham Village Players upcoming production of The Diary of Anne Frank, running March 6-22, 2026.
Although the ensemble cast tells the story, the heart of it is carried by Josephine O’Reilly, the 13-year- old actress from Grosse Pointe who plays Anne.
“I am honored to portray Anne,” said O’Reilly. “Since I have been working on the role, I have really come to understand that Anne’s optimism in parts of her diary was not innocence, but rather her intentional choice not to let hatred and evil define her existence.”
Written by: Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
Directed by: Michael A. Gravame
THE DOG DOESN'T DIE | Planet Ant Theatre | Runs March 13 - 28
Planet Ant invites audiences to experience a bold, riotous, and deeply touching theatrical event with The Dog Doesn’t Die, an original zombie dramedy written and directed by Ariel Everitt.
Control freak Will and his loyal, goofy dog have been through a lot together. Breakups. Tampon-related digestive fiascos. Oh, yeah – and four years of the zombie apocalypse. What Will isn’t prepared to confront are the mistakes of his past and another survivor who won’t let any bullcrap slide.
Written & Directed by: Ariel Everitt
BOEING, BOEING | Thumbcoast Theaters | Runs March 14 - 29
ThumbCoast Theaters is bringing the high-flying, farcical comedy Boeing Boeing to The Riverbank Theatre stage this spring, running March 14 – March 29, 2026. This production follows the winter hit Groundhog Day
the Musical and promises a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud experience for audiences.
Set in the 1960s, the story follows Bernard, a Parisian womanizer who has cleverly juggled three different fiancées, all flight attendants, by carefully tracking their flight schedules. However, his perfectly timed system hits a "turbulent" patch when a new, faster Boeing jet is introduced, and weather delays bring all three women to his apartment at the same time.
Written by: Marc Camoletti
Directed by: Brittany Everitt Smith
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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
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
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
NEWFOUND FRIENDS | Meadow Brook Theatre | March 23rd, 7pm
In conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and
Meadow Brook Theatre’s production of Come From Away Meadow Brook Theatre will host a powerful, one-night-only fundraising event on March 23 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
There will be a moderated panel hosted by Artistic Director, Travis Walter featuring four
special guests from Newfoundland whose real-life experiences inspired the Broadway hit
Come From Away. The evening will conclude with a reception for all in attendance.
The theatre welcomes the following guests:
Claude Elliott, Mayor of Gander
Derm Flynn, Mayor of Appleton
Oz Fudge, Constable in Gander
Brian Mosher, News Reporter from Gander
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
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
Experience Wharton Center’s 2026 Show Lineup |
Wharton Center’s must-see 2025-2026 season are on sale!
KIMBERLY AKIMBO Mar 10–15, 2026 HARE & TORTOISE Sat, Mar 21, 2026, at 1:30PM & 4PM THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY Sun, Mar 22, 2026, at 3PM UNLIMITED MILES: MILES DAVIS AT 100 Thurs, Mar 26, 2026, at 7:30PM DIRTY DANCING IN CONCERT Sat, Mar 28, 2026, at 8PM 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.
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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