The Rundown | May 15, 2026 - Now Playing!
- 2 days 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.
This week's Rundown is JAM PACKED with new plays, musicals, film screenings, 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!
You could start by pretending you're a dancer with grace
You wiggle 'till they're giggling all over the place
And then you get a great big custard pie in the face
Make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh
PLACES PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR PLACES CALL!
Here's THE RUNDOWN for Friday, May 15, 2026.
CLOSING THIS WEEKEND
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET | Meadow Brook Theatre | Runs April 22 - May 17
Million Dollar Quartet rocks ‘n rolls into Meadow Brook Theatre.
The 1956 jam session-inspired musical runs April 22 through May 17, 2026
at Meadow Brook Theatre on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.
For one day in 1956, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley held an
impromptu jam session that would go down in history. Through Million Dollar Quartet,
audiences get to drop in and hear the songs and stories they shared.
Directed by: Travis W. Walter
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC | Birmingham Village Players | May 1-17
Enjoy the brilliance of one of the masters of American musicals when Birmingham
Village Players (BVP) presents a Stephen Sondheim classic, A Little Night Music, May 1-17, 2026.
Members of the BVP production shared their thoughts about being part of this iconic show.
“Sondheim is far and away my favorite Broadway composer,” said Director Holly Conroy. “A Little Night Music, in particular, is full of luscious music and characters that challenge our actors."
Individual reserved tickets are $30 (includes ticketing fee). Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office, 248-644-2075, or by placing an order on the website.
Directed by: Holly Conroy
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OPENING THIS WEEKEND
CIDER HOUSE RULES | The Ringwald | Runs May 15 - 31
The Ringwald Theatre is thrilled to present their next production, the epic, two-part play The Cider House Rules.
Based on John Irving’s beloved, bestselling novel, The Cider House Rules is an epic examination of family, reproductive rights, and what it means to call a place home The play adaptation was conceived by Tom Hulce, Jane Jones and Peter Parnell, and adapted by Parnell. Part One: The Cider House Rules: Here in St. Cloud’s will open on May 15 and play exclusively for two weekends at which point Part Two: In Other Parts of the World opens on May 29 and plays through May 31. Then both parts will play in repertory from June 5 through June 14 with Part One playing Friday nights at 7:00 pm, Part Two playing on Saturday nights at 7:00 pm, and both parts playing on Sundays (June 7 and June 14) with Part One at 2:00 pm and Part Two at 7:00 pm.
Written by: Peter Parnell
Directed by: Joe Bailey
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
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
KING JAMES | Detroit Public Theatre | Runs May 6 - June 7
In Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph’s slam-dunk comedy, superfans Matt and Shawn forge an unexpected friendship through a shared love of their hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. Spanning 12 years from LeBron James’ 2004 rookie season to the 2016 NBA championship, tensions mount both on and off the court for the duo in this hilarious, adrenaline infused exploration of love, grace, and the power of a good game to bring people together.
Use the code ENCORE and receive a $5 discount on all General Admission - Standard tickets.
Written by: Rajiv Joseph
Directed by: Courtney Burkett
LETTICE AND LOVAGE | Open Book Theatre Company | Runs May 8 - 30
History is about to get a dramatic makeover at Open Book Theatre Company
(OBTC). From May 8 to 31, 2026, OBTC presents Lettice and Lovage, the witty and heartwarming comedy by Peter Shaffer, the legendary playwright behind Amadeus and Equus.
Lettice and Lovage follows the eccentric Lettice Douffet: a tour guide with a flair for the dramatic and a questionable regard for the truth. Learn More and Read the Full Encore Michigan Piece Here!
Written by: Peter Shaffer
Directed by: Krista Schafer
BAD BOOKS | Williamston Theatre | Runs April 23 - May 31
Mid-Michigan’s Williamston Theatre will present Bad Books by Sharyn Rothstein. Performances for this National New Play Network Rolling Premiere begin Thursday, April 23 and run through Sunday, May 31. Tickets are now on sale.
Some conversations don’t stay quiet – even in a library. What begins as a concerned mother’s inquiry about a book her son received from the library elevates into an unexpected debate with the town’s
devoted librarian. As tensions rise, the consequences grow much larger than either of them anticipated.
Written by: Sharyn Rothstein
Directed by: Tony Caselli
PLAYHOUSE CREATURES | Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company | Runs May 1 - 22
The West Michigan-based Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company will present April De Angelis’ Playhouse Creatures at three different Michigan venues from May 1-May 22, 2026. The production is directed by Kristina McCloskey, who is also the artistic director of the Muskegon Civic Theater.
Playhouse Creatures follows the backstage intrigues, rivalries, struggles, and triumphs of the first women professional actors in England in the 1660s. Based on the lives of several historical figures, this script is by turns funny and poignant as these trailblazing women navigate the theatrical world.
Written by: April De Angelis
Directed by: Kristina McCloskey
Get A Gig!
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SCREENINGS & STREAMING
THIS ABOVE ALL | The Stratford Festival | April 27th premiere
The Stratford Festival is delighted to announce that This Above All: The Theatrical Life of Antoni Cimolino, a film by Melbar Entertainment Group, will make its world premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival this month.
Directed by Barry Avrich and produced by Mark Selby, the documentary follows Antoni Cimolino as he prepares for his final season as Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival after nearly four decades with the organization.
The documentary will premiere at Hot Docs on Monday, April 27, at 7:45pm at the TIFF Lightbox, with a repeat screening Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 11:15am.
Following the premiere, This Above All: The Theatrical Life of Antoni Cimolino will air on The Documentary Channel on Sunday, August 30 at 9pm ET/PT with a CBC Gem release to follow on Friday, September 18.
Directed by: Barry Avrich
AN AUTUMN SUMMER | Blue Harbor Entertainment
An Autumn Summer tells the tale of Kevin (McKenna) and Cody (Maxwell), a young couple spending the final month before college in a magical Michigan lake town, chasing an endless summer.
Starring Lukita Maxwell (Apple+ hit series Shrinking, upcoming in A24's Backrooms) & Mark McKenna (Sing Street, YouTube cult series Wayne).
Written & Directed by: Jared Isaac
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
THE LAST WIDE OPEN | Theatre Nova | May 22 – June 14
What if love isn’t about destiny—but timing? Theatre NOVA, Ann Arbor’s resident nonprofit professional theatre specializing in new plays, presents the Michigan
premiere of The Last Wide Open by Audrey Cefaly, a tender, time-bending romance unfolding across parallel possibilities. The production runs May 22 – June 14, 2026.
Performed with live music by the actors themselves, the production weaves song into the
storytelling, creating an immediate and intimate theatrical experience.
Written by: Audrey Cefaly
Directed by: Diane Hill
GUYS & DOLLS | The Stratford Festival | Runs May 26 - Nov 1
Place your bets and roll the dice! From the electric streets of New York City to the sultry rhythms of Havana, the Stratford Festival ignites its 2026 season with the irresistible musical Guys and Dolls. Directed and choreographed by acclaimed theatre veteran Donna Feore, this high-spirited production stars Dan Chameroy as Sky Masterson, Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Miss Adelaide, Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane as Sarah Brown and Mark Uhre as Nathan Detroit, and features a score packed with Broadway favourites including “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” and “A Bushel and a Peck.”
Guys and Dolls officially opens on May 26 and runs until November 1 at the Festival Theatre. Learn more and Read The Full Encore Michigan Article Here!
Directed by: Donna Feore
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
THE TEMPEST | The Stratford Festival | May 25 - Oct 24
A theatrical event of rare scale and emotional resonance has arrived. The Tempest, directed by Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino in his final Shakespeare production before concluding his tenure at the end of the 2026 season, is now on stage at the Stratford Festival, captivating audiences with its breathtaking scope, ethereal design and profound humanity.
Through romance, illusion and mischief, long-buried truths rise to the surface and hearts are irrevocably changed. The Tempest officially opens on May 25 and runs until October 24 at the Festival Theatre. Tickets are available at stratfordfestival.ca or by calling 1.800.567.1600.
Directed by: Antoni Cimolino
A GENTLEMEN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER | Avon Players | May 22 - June 6
Avon Players’ 79 th season ends with the knock-‘em-dead, uproarious hit musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, running May 22-June 6.
This uproarious hit musical comedy was the most nominated show of its Broadway season, winning four Tony Awards including Best Musical. A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder is rated PG for adult themes and comical violence.
Directed by: Joy Oetjens
TANGLED ROOTS | Authentic Opera | June 19, 7pm
The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, Face Off Theatre
Company and Authentic Opera Company announce the Juneteenth performance of Tangled Roots, an opera in one act with music composed and arranged by Rufus Ferguson, Jordan Hamilton and Carmen Bell. This marks the first time the work will be presented at The Festival Playhouse.
Tangled Roots draws from Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers Project, 1936 to 1938, using firsthand accounts of former slaves to illuminate stories that shaped
generations.
THE INSIDERS: A TRIBUTE TO TOM PETTY | Tibbits Opera House | July 2, 7:30pm
Get ready to run down the dream! Experience the sound, the soul and the songs that shaped a generation when The Insiders: A Tribute to Tom Petty come to Tibbits Opera House on Thursday, July 2 at 7:30 pm!
Close your eyes and you won’t know the difference. Open them and you still might be fooled! The Insiders bring the ultimate Heartbreakers tribute to life with six seasoned pros and a whole lot of heart.
DEATH OF A SALESMAN | The Stratford Festival | May 28 - Oct 24
Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize–winning classic Death of a Salesman takes the stage at the Stratford Festival, immersing audiences into the fragile, deeply human world of Willy Loman. Directed by Dean Gabourie and starring Tom McCamus as Willy alongside Lucy Peacock as Linda Loman, the production remains one of theatre’s most piercing explorations of ambition, identity and the cost of the American dream.
Death of a Salesman officially opens on May 28 and runs until October 24 at the Avon.
Written by: Arthur Miller
Directed by: Dean Gabourie
FRAT RAT | Planet Ant | Runs May 29 - June 13
Planet Ant invites audiences to experience an
immersive and silly theatrical event with FRAT RAT, an original satirical one act, written
and directed by Helen Rose Consiglio III. Running May 29th–June 13th at the Planet
Ant Black Box, the show explores what happens when a poorly behaved co-ed
fraternity has to successfully elect their next chapter president and avoid being banned
from campus…forever!
FRAT RAT is an original one act play from the Planet Ant One Act Farm Team.
Written &
Directed by: Helen Rose Consiglio III
INTO THE WOODS | Farmers Alley Theatre | Runs May 28 - June 14
Farmers Alley Theatre is set to produce an enchanting small-cast version of INTO THE
WOODS by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, running May 28th-June 14th. It’s the stories you know, with the music you love, told in magical and inventive ways.
Directed by: Leonard E. Sullivan
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.
LABRINTH UNDOING TOUR | Detroit Opera | September 3, 8pm
Detroit Opera House will present Labrinth on September 3, 2026, as the final stop of his seven-city U.S. tour entitled Undoing Tour Presented by the cosmic opera. This special orchestra performance will feature Labrinth performing his acclaimed catalog and new material from Cosmic Opera Act II alongside the Detroit Opera Orchestra. Blending cinematic composition, emotional storytelling, and live symphonic production, this unique concert experience bridges contemporary music with orchestral artistry. Local pre-sales begin Thursday, April 23 at 12 p.m. ET at Ticketmaster, detroitoperahouse.org, and in person at the Detroit Opera House. The public on-sale date is Friday, April 24 at 12 p.m. ET.
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.
PUCCINI'S TOSCA | Detroit Opera | Nov 1, 5, 7
Detroit Opera announces three performances of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca at the Detroit Opera House on November 1, 5, and 7, conducted by Music Director Roberto Kalb and featuring Louisa Proske’s staging that debuted at the Glimmerglass Festival in 2025. Tosca will be the first opera production in Detroit Opera's previously announced season-long exploration of faith.
The cast of Tosca will feature, in the title role of Floria Tosca, the stunning South African
soprano Masabane Rangwanasha, whose 2025 Metropolitan Opera debut as Liù in
Turandot was “ravishingly nuanced” (Bachtrack) and whose voice the London Times has
described as “one of the glories of the age.”
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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