The Rundown | May 15, 2025
- John Sloan III
- May 15
- 10 min read
Welcome to THE RUNDOWN, a quick hit highlight of what's on stage in Michigan. It's a beautiful day, and this coming weekend is full of music, theatre, comedy, and drama. Go see a show or opera, and make sure to take advantage of ticket discounts available to Encore Subscribers!
Shining In the Eyes of Every Child
Or In the Flame of Dawn Reflecting on the Open Sea
In Every Fury and Every Love
You Are Awaiting Me
PLACES PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR PLACES CALL!
Here's THE RUNDOWN for Thursday, May 15, 2025.
CLOSING SOON
THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE | Detroit Opera | Runs May 16-18
Detroit Opera presents this gripping opera which follows five Black and Hispanic teenagers Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana Jr., and Korey Wise, who were wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for the 1989 assault of a white female jogger in New York City's Central Park. Audiences will experience the injustice, attack on their freedom, and more importantly, their resilience and redemption. 36 years later, this story has real-time resonance as wrongful incarcerations continue to happen in NYC, in Michigan, and across the nation. The May 16 and 18 performances feature a new, expanded orchestration by composer Anthony Davis (X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X), who won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Music for this true story adaptation. Nataki Garrett, who staged the production at Portland Opera in 2022, directs the Detroit production. Anthony Parnther, who has conducted the score for Sinners, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and many blockbuster films, conducts in Detroit.
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
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
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NOW PLAYING
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 Use code ENCORE18 and get 50% OFF on tickets!
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
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 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
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
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OPENING THIS WEEKEND
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
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COMING SOON
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 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
THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL | www.stratfordfestival.ca
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.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has its press opening on May 29 and runs until October 25 at the Avon Theatre. Tickets are available at stratfordfestival.ca or by calling 1.800.567.1600.
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.
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
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.
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
JORGE BORGES GIVES A LECTURE ON ANATOMY | Theatre Nova | Runs June 6 - 29
Theatre NOVA presents the World Premiere of Jorge Borges Gives a Lecture on Anatomy by Carla Milarch, with music by Michael Riccinto, June 6 -29, 2025.
In a magical reality, inside a labyrinth, the famed Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges gives a lecture. Inspired by Borges’ short stories, and featuring his poetry set to music, this dreamlike play takes us into the fantastical world of one of literature’s most outrageous imaginations.
"I’ve been fascinated by Borges for years — his stories are full of hidden worlds, heartbreak, and wonder. " - Carla Milarch, Playwright
Written by: Carla Milarch
Directed by: Kat Walsh
HAROLD'S BIG BREAK | Planet Ant | Runs June 6 - 21
Enter a world of absurdist comedy. Harold’s Big Break takes aim at Hollywood and corporations all while bringing big laughs to its audience.
Brewligan's Coffee has a PR crisis on its hands. They look to create a groundbreaking commercial to distract the public from their evil scandal. Enter Harold, a no name actor looking for his big break. As the commercial shoot progresses, hell on earth unfolds.
Harold’s Big Break contains over the top ridiculousness guaranteed to make the audience crack up. It could be seen as a fun comedy but after closer inspection, the show explores themes of fame, greed, and bravery.
Written & Directed by:
Randall Floyd Cooper
LOVE, WAR AND JAZZ | Aux Media | June 14 2025
Michigan composers will be in concert on a national touring show in Detroit on June 14, 2025. Love, War and Jazz is based on the true story of soldier-musicians who served in WWI Paris, bringing jazz for the first time. The composers are Heather Buchanan and Detroit Music Awards winner Tracy Kash, Best Jazz Vocalist.
The show is at the acclaimed Marygrove Theatre, where premiere shows take place. The cast features world-class vocalists Angela Celeste May and Smada Adams. The emcee is Detroit film awards winner Grover McCants.
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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