MAGENTA GIRAFFE THEATRE COMPANY: As part of its mission "to reestablish and expand Detroit's theatre district," Magenta Giraffe has chosen plays by Michigan natives or current Michigan residents to stage as part of a festival to take place May 30 at the Gryphon Theatre. Attendees will see a reading of each play and are encouraged to participate in discussion afterward. Tickets are $4 for each play or $8 for all three.
Plays to be read are "Into the D" by Jacquelyn Priskorn and directed by Kevin Beltz (2 p.m.); "Speed Dating!" by Audra Lord and directed by LoriGoe Nowak (4 p.m.); and "To Dog" by Ed Shaw and directed by Frannie Shepherd-Bates (6 p.m.).
The Gryphon Theatre is located above the Park Bar at 2040 Park Ave, Detroit, Michigan.
BOARSHEAD THEATER:
Mary Martello returns to Michigan to perform her entertaining one-woman cabaret show, "The Reluctant Optimist." Performances will be held at 8 p.m. June 5 and 6, with a 2 p.m. performance June 7.
Are you a reluctant optimist? Can optimism change the world? Join Martello as she explores these questions through the second definition of optimism as it appears in Webster's unabridged dictionary with the music of well-known and not-so-well-known composers, stories of her life, your life and life in general.
Martello will be accompanied by John Dale Smith on the piano.
BoarsHead Theater is located at 425 S. Grand Avenue, Lansing.
To purchase tickets call the Box Office at 517-484-7805.
ENCORE MUSICAL THEATRE: The Encore Musical Theatre Company is pleased to present is third show of the season, "Little Shop of Horrors," the story of a down-and out skid row floral assistant who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. Soon "Audrey II" grows into an ill-tempered, foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore who offers him fame and fortune in exchange for feeding its growing appetite, finally revealing itself to be an alien creature poised for global domination! Not recommended for children under 13.
The cast features local and Broadway talent, including Steve DeBruyne as Seymour, Sarah Litzsinger as Audrey, and Paul Hopper as Mr. Mushnik.
"Little Shop of Horrors" opens June 4 and runs through June 21, with performances Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. There is also one weekday matinee on Thursday, June 11 at 3 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased calling the box office at 734-268-6200.
