The Rundown | Oct,9 2026 - Now Playing!
Welcome to THE RUNDOWN, a quick hit highlight of the plays, musicals, concerts, and cabarets now playing on stages in Michigan.
It's officially Fall, and this weekend is full of openings and closings as companies across the state move though their new season. This week's Rundown is filled with options just for you! Come on now, you know what we're gonna say,.. Get On Up and Go See A Show!
When I First Saw You,
I Said,
Oh, My.
Oh, My That's a Dream
PLACES PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR PLACES CALL!
Here's THE RUNDOWN for Friday, October 9, 2026.
OPENING THIS WEEKEND
MY DADDY IS HAUNTED | Planet Ant | Runs Oct 9-31
Planet Ant invites audiences to the Ant Hall this October for the debut of the original horror comedy, My Daddy is Haunted!
A long time ago, in a small eastern European town , Sterling Mandrake (a really evil warlock), was accused of heresy and burned alive by a righteous nun trying to save the
village. For 164 years his castle lay dormant, perched upon a crumbling mountain. That is until the Maplesquatch family arrives.
Written & Directed by: Scott Sanford
THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VANCE | Meadow Brook Theatre | Runs Oct 7 - Nov 1
Meadow Brook Theatre debuts a hilarious classic western comedy to open their season with The Man Who Shot Liberty Vance this October.
Set in 1890, a young scholar from New York City trades his books for the brutal reality of the American frontier as he travels in search of a new life.
Written by: Jethro Compton
Directed by: Travis W. Walter
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.
EQUUS | The Ringwald | Runs Oct 9 - Nov 2
The Ringwald Theatre is thrilled to present its production of Peter Shaffer’s rarely-produced classic Equus. Performances run October 9-November 2, 2026, with shows on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 7:00 p.m. and matinees on Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Please note: Equus contains nudity and no one under the age of 18 will be admitted.
Written by: Peter Shaffer
Directed by: Jamie Warrow
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CLOSING THIS WEEKEND
ONE MONKEY DON'T STOP NO SHOW | Wayne State University | Runs through Oct 10
When a successful lawyer and his social-climbing wife become obsessed with status, appearances, and respectability, their carefully constructed world begins to crack—especially when an unexpected visitor disrupts their plans. Through biting humor and lively dialogue, the play satirizes class aspirations, colorism, and the pressures of assimilation, revealing the tensions between cultural identity and the pursuit of social prestige. Bold, fast-paced, and thought-provoking, the play remains a timely exploration of ambition, family, and authenticity.
Directed by: John Sloan III
Use the Code ENCORE to receive a discount on tickets! (limited 2 per person)
PLANT SECURITY | Buckham Alley Theatre | Closes Oct 10
Buckham Alley Theatre is proud to bring PLANT SECURITY to the newly renovated stage at GFAC (Greater Flint Arts Council).
PLANT SECURITY is written and directed by local playwright, Richard W. Hlngst and is a hilarious and heartfelt look at the people who kept a 1980s midwestern auto plant running - or at least tried to.
Inspired by true stories, PLANT SECURITY is a comedy about work. dignity, and the people who make it all happen.
Bored?! Stressed?!!
Take a minute and unwind with the new Encore Michigan FUN & GAMES.
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ENCORE PARTNERS
EM is happy to return the Encore Partners Program. This exciting opportunity gives you, our Encore Michigan Subscribers, special discounts with companies across the state.
Look for this badge and check for discounts on tickets for plays, musicals, and productions with our dedicated Encore Partners.
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
EUREKA DAY | Detroit Public Theatre | Runs Sept 23 - Oct 26
Detroit Public Theatre (DPT) is thrilled to open the 12 season with EUREKA DAY, the Tony Award-winning play by Jonathan Spector, in its Michigan premiere. Directed by Courtney Burkett, this award-winning, wildly relevant and bitingly funny play features Sarah Winkler, Mona Moriya, Halima Nurullah, Matt Hollerbach, Tobin Hissong, and Jala Jackson.
When a mumps outbreak at a progressive elementary school forces the school's well-meaning executive committee to confront what happens when facts become subjective and every solution divisive. How do you build consensus when no one can agree on truth?
Use the code ENCORE and receive a $5 discount on all General Admission - Standard tickets.
Written by: Jonathan Spector
Directed by: Courtney Burkett
THE ONE GOOD THING OR "ARE YA PATRICK SWAYZE?" | Williamston Theatre |
Sept 24- Oct 25 | www.williamstontheatre.org
Williamston Theatre will present the Michigan Premiere of The One Good Thing Or “Are Ya Patrick Swazye?” by Joe Bravaco. Performances begin Thursday, September 24 and run through Sunday, October 25. Tickets are now on sale.
The One Good Thing or “Are Ya Patrick Swazye?” features two newcomers to the Williamston Theatre stage, Cody Robison as Jamie and Connor Allston as Tommy.
Written by: Joe Bravco
Directed by: John Lepard
MY MOTHER & THE MICHIGAN /OHIO WAR | Farmers Alley Theatre | Sept 17 - Oct 14
Farmers Alley Theatre is set to open its 19th season with a new comedy, My Mother and the Michigan/Ohio War, by Paul Stroili, running September 17-October 4. Stroili, who wrote and directed the theatre’s Season 17 hit, A Jukebox for the Algonquin returns to direct.
Written & directed by: Paul Stroili
THE OPERA GHOST | The Penny Seats Theatre Company | Runs Oct 2 - 17
The Penny Seats Theatre Company is eager to welcome the Halloween season with The Opera Ghost, a World Premiere Play by Joseph Zettelmaier. This one-man-show is the latest in their Penny Dreadful tradition, and asks us to turn our attention to Erik, the infamous Phantom of the Opera, as he recounts his life and how he found himself at the center of that familiar tale in Paris. Performing October 2 through 17 at Cahoots Event Center in downtown Ann Arbor.
Directed by Brandy Joe Plambeck, the show features Jonathan Davidson as Erik. Shows are October 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 at 8:00 pm, and October 4 and 11 at 7:00 pm. For tickets: pennyseats.org or (734) 926-5346.
Written by: Joseph Zettelmaier
Directed by: Brandy Joe Plambeck
APING JANE | Tipping Point Theatre | Sep 23 - Oct 18, 2026
Tipping Point Theatre (TPT), a Metro-Detroit-based professional union theatre kicks off its 2026-2027 Season in late September, beginning with a developmental production of a new play, APING JANE by Aurora Real de Asua.
THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, SUNDAYY, MONDAY | The Stratford Festival | Aug 22 - Oct 24
The Stratford Festival is delighted to present the world première of a new English translation of Eduardo De Filippo’s Saturday, Sunday, Monday, a work that celebrates the beauty, complexity and resilience of life. It is the first major English translation of the celebrated Italian classic in decades and the first writing credit for Artistic Directory Antoni Cimolino, who has co-adapted the play with Donato Santeramo.
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
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
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
SOMETHING ROTTEN | The Stratford Festival | Runs May 29 - Oct 31
Following overwhelming audience demand, the Stratford Festival brings the wildly popular musical Something Rotten! back to the Festival stage. Directed and choreographed by Donna Feore and led by a beloved cast including Starr Domingue as Bea Bottom, Henry Firmston as Nigel Bottom, Jeff Lillico as Shakespeare and Mark Uhre as Nick Bottom, this exuberant musical comedy transforms the Renaissance into a dazzling celebration of theatre, filled with spectacular dance numbers, infectious songs and riotous comedy. Hailed by critics as “the smartest and funniest new musical comedy” and named a Critic’s Pick by The Globe and Mail in its celebrated 2024 run, this Stratford favorite returns for another season of irresistible theatrical joy.
THE HOBBITT | The Stratford Festival | Runs May 30 - October 23
The curtain rises on the 2026 season with a thrilling tale of magic, adventure and discovery as Kim Selody’s stage adaptation of The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien arrives at the Stratford Festival. Directed by Pablo Felices-Luna and featuring Richard Lee, Tim Campbell, Sara-Jeanne Hosie and Aaron Krohn, this beloved tale of quiet bravery began performances at the Avon Theatre this May.
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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 BRONZE BUCKAROO RIDES THE GOTHAM HOTEL | Extra Mile Playwrights |
Oct. 21, 6PM | extramilept.carrd.co
What brings a legendary Black singing cowboy back to Detroit's famed Gotham Hotel on the eve of its demolition? That mystery unfolds in The Bronze Buckaroo Rides the Gotham Hotel, a new one-man play by New York Times bestselling author and award-winning songwriter Alice Randall, directed by Lynch Travis and starring Edmund Alyn Jones. The reading will be hosted by Extra Mile Playwrights Theatre, a Detroit-based playwrights group, on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at Live6 Alliance, a nonprofit community organization.
Written by: Alice Randall
Directed by: Lynch Traivis
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW SPOOKTACULAR TOUR | Wharton Center
October 25, 7PM | www.whartoncenter.com
EAST LANSING, MI—The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the longest-running theatrical release in film history, returns to Wharton Center for an evening of musical comedy, live interaction, a costume contest, an onstage Shadow Cast, and more that will leave you doing the Time Warp for days. Tickets will be available at the Wharton Center Ticket Office, online at whartoncenter.com, or by calling 517.432.2000 or 1.800.WHARTON.
Fans will be able to meet and talk with Barry Bostwick—acclaimed star of this original cult classic—in person. Bostwick iconic portrayal of “Brad Majors” has thrilled generations of fans for 50 years.
THE NOTEBOOK | The Wharton Center | Runs Oct 27 - Nov 1
THE NOTEBOOK is coming to Wharton Center this fall. This novel, turned film, turned musical is bringing its iconic love story to East Lansing from October 27 – November 1, 2026.
Based on the best-selling novel that inspired the iconic film, THE NOTEBOOK tells the story of Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, who share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart.
TOTALLY '8-S MIXTAPE LIVE! EXPERIENCE | The Tibbits Opera Housse | Nov. 21, 7pm
Music lovers are invited to dig deep in their closet and find those forgotten duds of yesteryear as Tibbits Opera House welcomes The 1985 and their Totally ‘80s Mixtape LIVE! Experience back to the historic venue on Saturday, November 21 at 7:00pm.
Tickets for The 1985 range from $20 to $30 including fees.
DARK NIGHTS AT BILLTOWN | Williamston Theatre | Runs Oct 13 - July 27
Mid-Michigan’s Williamston Theatre, located announces the Dark Nights in Billtown for its
milestone 20th Season.
Dark Nights in Billtown is Williamston's opportunity to explore interesting plays, topics and conversation with audience members. In Season 20, Williamston takes a trip down memory lane and revisit four iconic WT productions from their first 19 Seasons, reuniting the original cast members! These Tuesday evening readings will start at 7:30pm. No reservation is necessary and this program is free to attend, but there is a $10 suggested donation at the door.
DANCE ME: THE MUSIC OF LEONARD COHEN | Detroit Opera | Oct 17
Explosive, poetic, and completely original, Ballets Jazz Montréal arrives at the Detroit Opera House on October 17with their highly anticipated tour de force Dance Me: The Music of Leonard Cohen. The performance begins at 7:30pm; tickets are available in person at the box office, at 313.237.7464, and at Detroitopera.org.
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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