The Rundown | April 3, 2025
- John Sloan III
- 39 minutes ago
- 9 min read
Welcome to THE RUNDOWN, a quick hit highlight of what's on stage in Michigan. Shows are closing, while new ones open and audiences across The Mitten are welcomed into Spring by amazing new plays, musicals, concerts, and ballets. There's something for everyone this weekend, and you don't have to pay $900 for a night of great theatre.
Everybody Look Around, 'Cause There's a Reason to Rejoice You See.
PLACES PLEASE, THIS IS YOUR PLACES CALL!
Here's THE RUNDOWN for Thursday, April 3, 2025.
CLOSING SOON
ENGLISH | Tipping Point Theatre | Runs March 12 - April 6
Tipping Point Theatre’s (TPT) 17th theatrical season continues with English, by Sanaz Toossi, another Michigan premiere! In an Iranian classroom for adult English learners, the teacher, Marjan, leads four students through a linguistic playground as they
prepare for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam.
Will “English only” expand or limit what they truly want to say? This comic and heartfelt play about language and identity won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize.
Written by: Sanaz Toosi
Directed by: Suzi Regan
RIPCORD | Open Book Theatre | Runs March 14-April 6
Open Book Theatre Company in Trenton will ignite the stage March 14 through April 6 with a production that promises equal measures of riotous humor and genuine heart in Ripcord, a play by David Lindsay-Abaire.
The story follows prickly Abby, who is forced to share her room at Bristol Place Senior Living Facility with the sunny and chipper Marilyn. What begins as a seemingly harmless bet between the two quickly escalates into hilarious battles and a wild adventure that unveils unexpected depths and surprising friendships. The show features Connie Cowper and Linda Rabin Hammell as the warring roommates.
Written by: David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by: Kevin T. Keller
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OPENING THIS WEEKEND
MY MOTHER AND THE MICHIGAN/OHIO WAR | The Purple Rose | April 3-March 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
COSI FAN TUTTE | Detroit Opera | Runs April 5-13
Detroit Opera will present three performances of Così fan tutte, in a new staging by Artistic Director Yuval Sharon, April 5, 11 and 13.
The production is a futuristic take on Mozart’s dark comedy about human relationships—an exploration of artificial intelligence, with Don Alfonso’s “school for lovers” recast as a laboratory where the four lovers are his robotic inventions, created with the support of Despina. Will this laboratory of lovers lead to a breakthrough for “Humanity 2.0,” or are human habits of jealousy and deceit hardwired into us?
Conductor: Corinna Niemeyer
Director: Yuval Sharon
A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN | Farmers Alley Theatre | Runs April 3-20
Farmers Alley Theatre presents the Kalamazoo premiere of A Jukebox for the Algonquin, a brand-new comedy with heart.
At a senior living community in the Adirondack region of upstate New York, a small group of residents decide they’re not quite ready to go “gentle into that good night.” This band of displaced former city dwellers from Brooklyn and The Bronx devise a plot to prove that “old” is not a New York state of mind.
Written & Directed by: Paul Stroili
THE GROWN UPS | Detroit Mercy Theatre Company | Runs April 4-13
Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) presents The Grown Ups at the Marlene Boll Theatre inside Detroit’s Boll Family YMCA.
The play follows a group of camp counselors in the world of a remote sleepaway camp as they navigate the highs and lows of camp life. As they swap stories by the fire, form unlikely bonds, and challenge each other’s perspectives, an unsettling presence looms, forcing the counselors to examine their own values
and the unpredictable forces beyond the campfire’s glow.
“This is one of those plays that I hope audiences discuss the entire drive home,” -- Andrew Papa
Pappa, director and department chair continued, “...What can we do to ensure the story of the show doesn’t become a reality?"
Written by: Simon Henriques and Skylar Fox
Directed by: Andrew Papa
THE CITY IN THE CITY IN THE CITY | Penny Seats Theatre Company | Runs April 4-19
The Penny Seats is proud to begin its 15th season with the Michigan premiere production of The City in the City in the City by Matthew Capodicasa.
Two women, each marked by loss and linked together by a strange twist of fate, journey to an ancient city—a storied city without borders—in search of answers and escape. But what they discover there will change their lives in ways neither of them could expect. Two actors play more than thirty characters on
this wild ride.
Written by: Matthew Capodicasa
Directed by: Wendy Katz Hiller
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NOW PLAYING
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
VANITIES | Meadow Brooke Theatre | March 19-April 13
Vanities: The Musical makes its Michigan premiere at Meadow Brook Theatre on the campus of Oakland University. The life-affirming journey of three vivacious Texas teens from cheerleaders to sorority sisters to housewives to liberated women and beyond. This musical captures a snapshot of the lives, loves, disappointments, and dreams of these young women. A funny and poignant look at three best friends who discover that, through thirty years of rapidly changing times, the one thing they can rely on is each other.
DRESS REHEARSAL, THE SHOW | Planet Ant Black Box | Runs March 28-April 5
What do you do when your lead actor quits the night before the big show? In this case, you throw in a brand-new one—completely unprepared.
Dress Rehearsal is a must-see for fans of live improv, unpredictable comedy, and interactive theater. Each night, a different special guest is thrown into the lead role with no script, no rehearsal, and no clue what’s coming next.
Written & Directed by: Robyn Whitelaw
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS | ThumbCoast Theatre | Runs March 22 - April 19
The Boardwalk Theatre invites you on a fantastical journey beyond the mirror with our upcoming production of Alice Through the Looking Glass! This mesmerizing adaptation brings Lewis Carroll’s whimsical world to life, where logic is reversed, time bends in unexpected ways, and a giant chessboard becomes the stage for adventure.
Written by: James Reaney
Directed by: Brittany Everitt Smith
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COMING SOON
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
MANY STORIES, ONE STAGE | Pontiac Youth Theatre | April 11
Pontiac Youth Theatre (PYT) invites the public to attend its ‘Many Stories, One Stage’ Gala, a memorable evening celebrating the power of youth in the performing arts. This special event will feature masterfully produced performances by talented young artists, an afterglow reception, and live entertainment. Proceeds from the Gala support PYT’s performing arts training program, which provides access to arts education, mentorship, and a peer community for Oakland County students ages 8-18.
AWAKENED | Planet Ant | April 11-26
AWAKENED is a black & brown retelling of the classic Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. Loosely inspired by the original story from the Brothers Grimm, this play flips the script on its head and asks what happens after, happily ever after?
Using modern story elements combined with the vibe of classic Disney fairy-tales and childhood stories, AWAKENED explores themes of lost love, deep trauma, abuse and what hope and triumph really looks like. We invite you to sit down, listen and ask yourself - Would you lose everything to become whole again?
Written & Directed by: CeceElla Mitchell
¡BRILLA! GLOW! | A Host of People & La Carpa Theatre | April 24-27
A Host of People, and the La Carpa Teen Ensemble, proudly presents ¡Brilla! El Despertar del Alebrije en Mi (¡Brilla! Glow! The Awakening of the Alebrijes in Me) an original, bilingual production inspired by the origin story of alebrijes, the mythical creatures imagined by Mexican artisan Pedro Linares. This playful and powerful performance will run from April 24-27, 2025, at The Senate Theater.
In ¡Brilla! Glow!, audiences are transported to 1930s Mexico City, where Pedro Linares, stricken with illness, falls into a fever dream that takes him into Prismatica, a world where alebrijes exist but remain divided by color and ideology. Believing that humans possess infinite wisdom, the creatures battle to claim Pedro as their own.
Directed by: Karilú Alarcón Forshee
THE WHARTON CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS
CHICAGO | April 8-13
CHICAGO is coming to East Lansing and is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with one show stopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CHICAGO is the #1 longest-running American musical in Broadway history—and it shows no sign of ever slowing down!
BROADWAY'S NEXT HIT MUSICAL | April 22
Every song is fresh, every scene is new, and every night is different with Broadway's Next Hit Musical, an immersive, unscripted comedic performance. Broadway’s Next Hit Musical will appear at Wharton Center on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 7:30PM.
During Broadway’s Next Hit Musical, audience members control the fate of all nominees at "The Phony Awards," a fictitious and improvised version of the Tony Awards®. The audience engages with incredible actors on stage by writing down made up song titles for the master improvisers to present as "nominated songs" for this coveted award.
READY, SET, ZYDECO with TERRANCE SIMIEN and the ZYDECO EXPERIENCE | April 26
When it comes to Creole culture and Zydeco music, two-time Grammy award-winning Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience bring generations of passion, training, and spirit to life. Simien and the Zydeco Experience have performed nearly 10,000 concerts across more than 45 countries throughout their career. Their music is featured on television, radio, and in multiple major studio release films including Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.
BLACK VIOLIN | April 30
Grammy-nominated duo Black Violin, known for their innovative fusion of classical and hip-hop, will take the stage at Wharton Center for one night only on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Black Violin’s work extends far beyond the stage, reaching deep into communities nationwide with numerous free performances for students and hands-on engagement with youth symphonies and community centers.
BALLET BIARRITZ
Be whisked into the night with Ballet Biarritz and their most recent work, The Seasons. This gorgeous ballet captivates audiences with breathtaking movement, storytelling, and passion. Wharton Center is only one of seven tour stops The Seasons will make in the United States.
In addition to the performance, join us for MEGA BARRE with Malandain Ballet Biarritz at Wharton Center on Monday, April 28, at 6PM. This free, fun, large scale dance event is designed to demystify the experience of ballet barre exercised for non-dancers and beginners, while also providing coaching tips and technique refreshers for more experienced dancers. USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER
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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