Professional Theater:
And The Winner Is An Oscar-nominated Hollywood actor wakes up in a strange bar where time has no meaning and where nothing is as it seems. Purple Rose Theatre Company, Chelsea. Wed.-Sun. through Sep. 24. $17.50-32.50. 734-433-7673. http://www.purplerosetheatre.org.
Columbina's Cure A comic romp with star-crossed lovers and mischievous pranksters, cowardly braggarts and bogeyman Maestro Boombatz! Ellipsis Ensemble Theatre's Commedia in the Courtyard at Downtown Home and Garden, Ann Arbor. Thu.-Sat. through Aug. 13. $12. 734-662-8122.
Honky-Tonk Highway A foot-stomping new musical about a Country Western star and his wise-cracking band. Mason Street Warehouse, Saugatuck. Tue-Sun. through Aug. 21. $27.50 & $30. 269-857-4898. http://www.masonstreetwarehouse.org.
Menopause The Musical A joyful musical parody about four women who have nothing in common except a certain shared experience! Gem Theatre, Detroit. Tue.-Sun. Open run. $39.50. 313-963-9800. http://www.gemtheatre.com.
Pandora's Box Fest A festival of powerful theater, film and art showcases the work of local women directors and mostly local writers. Planet Ant Theatre, Hamtramck. Fri.-Sun. Aug. 12-14. $15. 313-365-4948. http://www.planetant.com.
Take Me Out A star baseball player with a multimillion dollar contract outs himself on national TV and then faces the consequences of his actions. Performance Network Theatre, Ann Arbor. Thu.-Sun. through Aug. 28. $24.50-$34.50. 734-663-0681. http://www.performancenetwork.org. Contains adult language and male nudity.
Civic/Community Theater:
Treasure Island A coming of age story complete with pirates, stolen maps, swashbuckling battles and Long John Silver. Riverwalk Theatre, Lansing. Thu.-Sun. Aug. 11-21. $10-$12. 517-482-5700. http://www.riverwalktheatre.com. Not for children under the age of 9.
College/University Theater:
Coconut, a work in progress A one-man show featuring Rudy Valdez that looks at the lives of six characters and reveals a complex portrait of redemption. Lansing Community College's Performing Arts Dept. in room 232 of the Old Central Building on the LCC Main Campus, Lansing. Thu.-Fri. August 18-19 only. Free admission. 517-483-1488.
Theater for Young Audiences:
Honk, Jr. A re-telling of the tale, "The Ugly Duckling." The Junior Youth Theatre of the Marshall Civic Players at Franke Center for the Arts, Marshall. Thu.-Sat., August 11-13. $8. 269-781-3335. http://www.marshallcivicplayers.org.
Improvisation/Late Night/Interactive/Dinner Theater:
Get a Clue! Interactive Musical Murder Mysteries Board a train, eat dinner and solve a murder mystery, all in one evening! Random Acts on the Old Road Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Charlotte. Every Saturday through Sep. 3. $57.95 includes dinner and show. 888-726-8277. http://www.random-acts.net.
Heavenly Body Ralph convinces Carmen to finish writing her science fiction novel in an isolated cabin, but the possibility of a romantic interlude gets complicated with the arrival of a scantily clad female who claims to be an alien. StarBrite Presents Dinner Theater at the 14th Street Pub, Madison Heights. Fri. & Sat. through Aug 27. $39.50 includes three-course dinner. 248-390-5443. http://www.starbriteprod.com.
Improv Inferno A new comedy lounge in Downtown Ann Arbor with five nights of fun: "Super Fun Karaoke" hit the stage on Wednesday nights; Thursday hosts "Catfight" and "High Octane"; Friday features "The Ladies Show," "The Damnation Game," and at Midnight, "The X Show"; "The Detroit Neutrino Project" premieres on Saturday, followed by "The Damnation Game," and at Midnight, "The X Show"; The week closes on Sunday with "Get Up! Stand Up!" and "The Sweet Spot with Eye Candy." $5-$10. 734-214-7080. http://www.improvinferno.com.
In iPod We Trust Second City's 26th review explores political and societal elements from Detroit, Novi and national perspectives. The Second City, Novi. Wed.-Sun. beginning Aug. 18. $15-$20. 248-348-4448. http://www.secondcity.com.
It's All in the Words A fast-paced cabaret-style musical romp featuring songstress Kate Brennan and musical director Harvey Reed of songs by such notables as Cole Porter, Joni Mitchel and Michael Franks. Cuisine Restaurant, Detroit. Fridays in Aug. beginning Aug. 12. $45 includes three-course dinner. 313-872-5110.
Monday Night @ Planet Ant The Ant's resident improvisational troupe, the Improv Colony, is joined each week by a Guest Team that performs the evening's first act. Planet Ant, Hamtramck. Every Monday. $5. 313-365-4948. http://www.planetant.com.
The Reality Buffet Short plays selected by the audience are based upon the lives, perspectives and experiences of Detroit's acting and improv communities. Motoprism at the Improv Inferno, Ann Arbor. Every Sunday. $10. 734-214-7080. http://www.improvinferno.com.
