A Fair of Affairs: Ann Arbor Civic Theatre's "The Real Thing" is all about the dangerous game of love

Wed, 12/13/2023 - 10:15am by christopherporter

A typical Tom Stoppard play features a whole lot of words just to get to a basic point. It can be intellectually stimulating—or a wee bit draggy if you're looking for more action on stage.

Deck Halls the Halls With Boughs of Corn: Encore Theatre's "White Christmas" hits all the right nostalgic spots

Wed, 12/06/2023 - 12:45pm by christopherporter

As a starting point, let’s just agree: White Christmas is pure, nostalgic corn. 

This Is Your Song: Jeff Tweedy's New Book Makes Us Think About How We Connect With Our Favorite Music

Wed, 12/06/2023 - 11:30am by strattonl

Much Ado: U-M Theatre's "Imogen Says Nothing" bears bizarre and haunting moments

Tue, 12/05/2023 - 3:00pm by christopherporter

U-M theater professor Malcolm Tulip has long established a reputation for bringing challenging, provocative productions to local stages, going back to his days as a director (and performer) at the sadly defunct Performance Network Theatre.

New Day Rising: Penny Seats' "Sunrise Coven" tackles the opioid epidemic and second chances

Mon, 12/04/2023 - 10:00am by christopherporter

It’s no secret the United States has a drug problem, and painkillers are at the top of the list. The Penny Seats Theatre Company’s Sunrise Coven tackles that conversation and then some.

The Folds of Space: EMU’s "A Wrinkle in Time" was a quick-paced journey for the whole family

Mon, 12/04/2023 - 7:15am by christopherporter

Audiences at Eastern Michigan University’s Liberty Theatre traveled through time and hopped across realms over the weekend.

"Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World" Explores the Challenges of Information Overload and Ubiquity

Fri, 11/17/2023 - 4:00pm by strattonl

My Deer Heart: Jeff Daniels' "Escanaba in Love" tracks love and laughter at an Upper Peninsula hunting camp

Mon, 11/13/2023 - 10:00am by christopherporter

Michiganders know the opening day of deer season is essentially a holiday for many folks, and that's definitely the case in Jeff Daniels’ Escanaba in Love, which PTD Productions is staging at the Riverside Art Center in Ypsilanti.

Public and Personal Policies: Airea D. Matthews’ autobiographical poetry collection questions economic theory amid the realities of poverty and violence

Wed, 11/08/2023 - 9:30am by christopherporter

Necessity and amusement. Sustenance and transaction. Security and turmoil.  

Greetings From Hell: The devil is in the details in the University of Michigan’s "Orpheus in the Underworld"

Fri, 11/03/2023 - 4:30pm by christopherporter

The classic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is everywhere in the performing arts right now. The play Eurydice, written by award-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl, is being performed on stages all over the U.S. and was adapted into an opera by the same name, and the Broadway smash hit musical Hadestown, which won eight Tony awards including Best Musical, is still going strong in New York City, has a thriving national tour, and is opening on the West End in 2024.