The Rundown | May 1, 2025
- John Sloan III
- May 1
- 10 min read
Welcome to THE RUNDOWN, a quick hit highlight of what's on stage in Michigan. This weekend is FULL with plays, musicals, and film screenings all across the state. So, get on up and get out to a theatre near you.
For Real, Though, I'll Take a Break From the Wheel and We'll Throw
The Biggest Block Party, Everybody Here
It's a Weekend When We Can Breathe, Take it Easy
PLACES PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR PLACES CALL!
Here's THE RUNDOWN for Thursday, May 1, 2025.
CLOSING SOON
HYSTERICAL! | The Detroit Repertory Theatre | Runs March 14-May 4
The Detroit Repertory Theatre presents Hysterical! Inspired by true events, the play tells the story of a school cheerleading squad and what they think will be the "best year ever"... until chaos strikes. One by one, each of the girls begins to suffer from uncontrollable tics and outbursts as a mysterious illness ravages the squad. Featuring laugh-out-loud hijinks and epic choreography, this is a story so crazy it has to be seen.
Written by: Elena Stauffer
Directed by: Leah Smith
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NOW PLAYING
ECLIPSED: THE SUN, THE MOOD, AND GLADY'S ATKINSON SWEET | Theatre Nova |
Runs April 11-May 11 | www.theatrenova.org
Theatre NOVA is thrilled to present the World Premiere of ECLIPSED, a play documenting the all-too-real 1925 case of an African American married couple and their friends charged with first-degree murder following the attack on the Sweet's Detroit home by over 700 white neighbors. Although much has been written about Dr. Sweet and the two Sweet trials, litigated by Clarence Darrow, this play imagines the perspective of Gladys Sweet and the women who populated her life. It is about what women do, and have always done, in the shadows.
"Years of research, writing, and workshopping have finally resulted in an experience that I think audiences will find both moving and edifying." - D.L. Patrick
Written by: D.L. Patrick
Directed by: Bryana Hall
MY MOTHER AND THE MICHIGAN/OHIO WAR | The Purple Rose | April 3-May 25
The Purple Rose Theatre Company announces the third production of their 34th season, My Mother and the Michigan/Ohio War a World Premiere comedy written by Paul Stroili.
Izzy’s history buff husband Freddy had a dream: a full-scale reenactment of The Michigan-Ohio War. But when a bizarre papier-mâché accident leaves Izzy a widow, she calls on her Wolverine daughter and Buckeye son to see Freddy’s vision realized.
Written by: Paul Stroli
Directed by: Susan Angelo
THE RAT PACK LOUNGE | Meadow Brook Theatre | Runs April 23-May 18
The Rat Pack Lounge at Meadow Brook Theatre Runs April 23 – May 18, 2025, on the campus of Oakland University.
Frank, Dean, and Sammy are up in heaven, but God tells them they left some unfinished business back on Earth. It seems Frank made an unfulfilled promise to Vic, the owner of the Rat Pack Lounge. Now he and the boys have one night to make things right. With hits like “My Way,” “What Kind of Fool Am I?” and “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime,” this show will leave you singing and savoring the days of highballs and high rollers.
Written by: James Hindman, Ray Roderick
Musical Arrangements by: John Glaudin
JURASSIC PARK | Planet Ant | Runs April 25 - May 10
Welcome to Jurassic Park: The Musical, a hilarious, high-energy parody of the beloved 1993 classic film. When greedy billionaire John Hammond invites a group of scientists and his grandkids to preview his groundbreaking dinosaur theme park, he promises a safe, controlled experience (cue ominous music). But when the power fails and the dinosaurs are set loose…chaos, uh, follows.
“We wanted to showcase Jurassic Park’s nostalgia, but also poke fun at things..." - Nuverre Naami
Hold onto your butts - Jurassic Park: The Musical is a prehistoric spectacle like no other!
Written & Directed by: Nuverre Naami
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST | The Encore Musical Theatre | April 24-May 4
The Encore Musical Theatre Company is delighted to present a fresh take on Oscar Wilde’s iconic comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, starring Fred Grandy as the formidable Lady Bracknell. Grandy, beloved for his role as Gopher on The Love Boat, leads a cast of rising and established talent in this timeless satire of manners, identity, and the absurdities of upper-class society.
“I am lucky enough at this point in my life and career to do the shows I want with the people I want in the places I want to do them,” says Grandy.
Tickets for The Importance of Being Earnest are $57 ($55 for seniors/military, $28 for children under 12). Seating is limited in The Encore's intimate Maas Theatre space, so early booking is recommended.
Written by: Oscar Wilde (Adapted by: Jon Jory)
Directed by: Vincent J. Cardinal
BABA | Williamston Theatre | Runs through May 25
Mid-Michigan’s award-winning professional theatre company, Williamston Theatre, presents the Michigan Premiere of Baba by Denmo Ibrahim.
1980’s, Manhattan. Trapped in the absurd circus of the office of US Passport & Immigration, Mohammed, an Egyptian immigrant, pleads his case – a passport for his little girl. 2010’s, JFK Int’l Airport. His daughter Layla embarks on a journey halfway across the world in hopes of reclaiming the lost pieces of her culture, her father, and herself. Audience favorite Sarab Kamoo portrays both characters in a tender and touching father-daughter tale.
Written by: Denmo Ibrahim
Directed by: Tony Caselli
A DOLL'S HOUSE | Inspired Acting Company | Runs through May 11
The Inspired Acting Company, led by artistic director Jeff Thomakos, debuts their production of the Tony-award winning revival of Henrik Ibsen’s
A DOLL’S HOUSE.
This modern adaptation of Ibsen's iconic play by Amy Herzog, revives the timeless tale in a concise and contemporary 110-minute production. This enduring classic raises questions of freedom, individuality, and the pursuit of self-fulfillment, maintaining its relevance and impact on audiences over a century later.
Written by: Henrik Ibsen
Adapted by: Amy Herzog
Directed by: Jeff Thomakos
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OPENING THIS WEEKEND
SOFT TARGET | Detroit Public Theatre | Runs April 30 -June 8
Detroit Public Theatre (DPT) is thrilled to announce the cast for SOFT TARGET, a world premiere play written by Emily Kaczmarek, and directed by Jaki Bradley, who comes to DPT fresh from directing the Off-Broadway hit All Nighter. Soft Target is a new work about childhood, guns, and all the wounds we cannot see. Told from the perspective of a young girl and the toys that love her, this story is deeply imaginative and brimming with humanity, humor and hope while delving into one of the most urgent issues of our time.
“The piece is challenging, healing, moving, and invites us into the belly of a tough and terrifying issue through a profoundly human and non-polarizing lens." - Sarah Clare Corporandy, DPT Co-Producing AD
Written by: Emily Kaczmarek
Directed by: Jaki Bradley
THE MUSIC MAN | Birmingham Village Players | Runs May 2-18
Go back in time to small-town America with Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. Meet the delightful characters who populate the place. This six-time Tony-Award winning classic has entertained audiences for generations.
Don’t miss your chance to experience this delightful production. May 2-18, 2025 at Birmingham Village Players.
Directed by: Joe Vercellone
UNCLOCKING DESIRE | Special Event | Sunday, May 4
UNLOCKING DESIRE, an event to introduce the Unlocking Desire film project to the Ann Arbor community will be held Sunday May 4 from 3-5 p.m. at Third Mind Books, one of Ann Arbor’s most outstanding bookstores, 118 E. Washington Street.
Unlocking Desire was originally a play written and produced by Barbara Neri
in 2011 at the Boll Y Theater in Detroit. Neri wrote a screen adaptation of her
play that went on to win the 2017 Marfa Film Festival.
Get A Gig!
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Check out the Encore Michigan jobs board to find opportunities across the state.
COMING SOON
WHO'S IN THE HOUSE | One World Theatre Co. | Runs May 9-10
One World Theatre Co. is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of Who's in the House?, an original and imaginative retelling of an African folk tale. This vibrant and engaging theatrical experience will take place at Alkebulan Village, located at 7701 Harper Avenue in Detroit, with performances at 7:00 PM on May 9th and 2:00pm and 7:00 PM on May 10th.
"We are incredibly excited to bring this original retelling to the stage," - Phillip & Yolanda Jack.
Phillip and Yolanda Jack are the founders of One World Theatre Co. Who's in the House? promises to enchant audiences of all ages with its storytelling, dynamic characters, and exploration of timeless themes rooted in friendship and fun. This original adaptation brings a fresh perspective to a beloved narrative, offering a delightful and thought-provoking experience for the community.
Adaptation & Direction by: Yolanda Jack
LUNGS | Tipping Point Theatre | May 7-June 1
Tipping Point Theatre’s (TPT) 17th season closes with Duncan MacMillan’s Lungs.
This smart, funny, thought-provoking play explores the lifecycle of a relationship with all the hope, betrayal, pain and humor that exemplifies our modern-day love.
Written by: Duncan MacMillan
Directed by: Julia Glander
ANNIE | The Stratford Festival | 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
HEISENBERG | The Detroit Theatre Collective | Runs June 6-7
Detroit Theatre Collective is thrilled to present Heisenberg, fresh from a New York run produced by New Music Theatre Project & Rapeteta Theatre Company. The sure-to-be-provocative two-night fundraising event for DTC will be held at Matrix Theatre in southwest Detroit. The intimate performance will feature Detroit native T.M. Rawlins as Georgie Burns and Michael S. Horowitz as Alex Priest.
Doors will open at 7pm on Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th. Wine, cheese, and mingling from 7:00pm — 7:45pm; performance begins at 8:00pm.
Written by: Simon Stephens
Directed by: Mercedes Ruehl
THE LOVE LIST | ThumbCoast Live Theatres | Runs May 3-June 15
Thumbcoast Live Theatres present The Love List, at The Riverbank Theatre May 3 through June 15.
The ideal woman? She does exist!
As a birthday gift, Leon buys Bill a match-making service run by a gypsy woman who guarantees to find the perfect match. The only catch is that Bill has to define his perfect match by writing his top ten desired qualities on a Love List. When the woman of his dreams shows up the next morning Bill is blown away to hilarious effect.
Directed by: Mycah Artis
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW | Brevity Shakespeare | Runs May 30 - June 8
The rocky courtship of two handsome young men is at the center of Brevity Shakespeare's gender-reversed version of The Taming of the Shrew. Three women gadding about Italy are taken with the lovely and charming Bianco. They resort to a variety of disguises and farcical strategies to win his sweet heart. Another young woman, Petruchia, aims to win the hand of Bianco’s older, angrier brother, Nataniele, through a campaign of misdirection and gaslighting. Two attentive parents try to advocate for their children, and two attentive servants try to advocate for their bosses, with varying degrees of success.
Written by: William Shakespeare
Directed by: Veronica Long
RIDE THE CYCLONE | Farmer's Alley Theatre | Runs May 29 - June 15
Put on your safety belt and keep your hands and legs inside the vehicle at all times, as Farmers Alley Theatre presents a delightfully weird musical that’s just plain delightful.
The Kalamazoo premiere of Ride the Cyclone, is a 90-minute thrill ride of a musical, running May 29th through June 15th.
In this hilarious and outlandish story, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. This popular musical is a funny, moving look at what makes a life well-lived.
Directed & Choreographed by: Leonard E. Sullivan
Music Direction by: Brendan Hollins
ARTEMISIA | Open Book Theatre | Runs May 16 - June 8
This spring, Open Book Theatre Company brings a remarkable woman out of
the shadows of history and into the spotlight. Running May 16 through June 8, 2025, Artemisia, by Lauren Gunderson tells the powerful story of 17th-century Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi—a woman whose name and artistry were nearly erased but whose spirit could never be silenced.
Directed by OBTC Artistic Director Krista Schafer, Artemisia is both a celebration and a
reckoning. “I am always drawn to stories of strong, creative women,” Schafer says.
“...Gunderson has such a gift for writing about fascinating women of historical significance who have been largely overlooked.”
Written by: Lauren Gunderson
Directed by: Krista Schafer
HAMILTON | The Wharton Center | May 21 - June 1
Producer Jeffrey Seller and Wharton Center are thrilled to host the Tony Award® winning musical HAMILTON for its return to East Lansing.
There is a maximum purchase limit of nine tickets per account for the engagement. To purchase 10 or more tickets, call 517.884.3130 for group orders. Premium seating is available for select performances. A digital lottery will take place for each performance. Details will be announced closer to performance dates.
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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