Theater Events for the period Jan. 13 – 22

Professional Theater:

Boston Marriage Two Victorian women walk into a relationship: Are they sparring partners or each others’ true love? Presented Thursday through Sunday at Performance Network Theatre, Ann Arbor, Jan. 13 – Feb. 20. Tickets: $20 – $34.50. 734-663-0681. www.performancenetwork.org.
Contact Three thematically-linked short stories are told mostly through dance. Presented at the Stranahan Theater, Toledo, Jan. 13 – 16 only. Tickets: $30.50 – $39.50. 419-381-8851. www.stranahantheater.com.
Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning drama about the downward spiral of a simple, flawed man whose time has come and gone. Performed in Repertory at the Hilberry Theatre, Detroit, through March 24. Tickets: $15 – $22. (313) 577-2960. www.theatre.wayne.edu/t_hilberry.html.
Door to Door Three generations of women from the same family learn how we take what we get from our parents and make choices about what we will or won’t pass on to our children. Presented Wednesday through Sunday by the Jewish Ensemble Theatre Company at the Aaron DeRoy Theatre, West Bloomfield, Jan. 19 – Feb. 13. Tickets: $25 – $37. 248-788-2900. www.jettheatre.org.
Driving Miss Daisy Two stubborn outsiders, an elderly Jewish matron and her black chauffer, gain mutual respect and deep-rooted affection over a period of 25 years. Presented Wednesday through Sunday at Meadow Brook Theatre, Rochester Hills, through Jan. 30. Tickets: $20 – $36. 248-377-3300. www.mbtheatre.com.
Duck Hunter Shoots Angel A tabloid journalist searches for two Alabama swamp poachers who believe they shot a celestial being. Presented Tuesday through Sunday at the City Theatre, Detroit, extended through Jan. 30. Tickets: $35 – $40. 313-872-1000. www.nederlanderdetroit.com.
42nd Street The Tony Award-winning Broadway legendary musical comedy taps its way back into the heart of Metro Detroiters! Staged by Big league Theatricals, Inc. at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, Clinton Twp, Jan. 21 & 22 only. Tickets: $45. 586-286-2222. www.macombcenter.com.
Intimate Apparel At the dawn of the 20th century, an African American woman’s gift for sewing catapults her to independence, but at what cost? Presented Thursday through Sunday at the Detroit Repertory Theatre, Detroit, Jan. 13 – March 20. Tickets: $17. 313-868-1347. www.detroitreptheatre.com.
The King and I The timeless love story between a powerful and stubborn king and a determined governess. Presented Tuesday through Sunday at the Fisher Theatre, Detroit, through Jan. 30. Tickets: $30.50 – $68. 313-872-1000. www.nederlanderdetroit.com.
Men in Suits An evening of theater that features two dark comedies that fans of “Goodfellas” and “The Godfather” will love, “Men in Suits” and “Family Values.” Presented Friday and Saturday by the Detroit Ensemble Theatre, Roseville, Jan. 14 – 29, plus Sunday, Jan. 16. Tickets: $15. 888-220-8471. www.detroitensembletheatre.com. Suggested for mature audiences.
Menopause The Musical A joyful musical parody about four women who have nothing in common except a certain shared experience! Presented Tuesday through Sunday at the Gem Theatre, Detroit, for an open run. Tickets: $39.50. 313-963-9800. www.gemtheatre.com.
Mother Courage and Her Children Bertoit Brecht’s masterpiece that follows Anna Fierling and her family during the Thirty Years War in Eastern Europe. Performed in Repertory at the Hilberry Theatre, Detroit, through Jan. 29. Tickets: $15 – $22. (313) 577-2960. www.theatre.wayne.edu/t_hilberry.html.
Norma & Wanda A world-premiere comedy by Jeff Daniels in which two very different sisters get themselves into an outrageous pickle with an old boyfriend, a chaotic church social and a secret family recipe. Presented Wednesday through Sunday at the Purple Rose Theatre Company, Chlesea, Jan. 20 – March 19. Tickets: $17.50 – $32.50. 734-433-7673. www.purplerosetheatre.org. Suggested for mature audiences.
Side by Side by Sondheim A dazzling array of Stephen Sondheim’s greatest Broadway hits. Presented Wednesday through Sunday at the BoarsHead Theatre, Jan. 13 – Feb. 6. Tickets: $25 – $33. 517-484-7805. www.boarshead.org.
Rent A joyous, breathtaking and often bittersweet musical that celebrates a community of artists as they struggle with the realities of the world. Presented at Masonic Temple Theatre, Detroit, Jan. 21 – 26 only. Tickets: $18 – $56. 313-872-1000. www.nederlanderdetroit.com.
True West Two estranged brothers discover just how much alike, and different, they really are. Staged Friday and Saturday by Breathe Art Theatre Project at the Capitol Theatre, Windsor, Jan. 21 – 29. Tickets: $22 CAD. 519-253-7729.
Untitled Parts 1 & 2: The Architect and the Storyteller A modern tragic cycle by Eric W. Maher that captures the art of creation amidst fated human self-destruction. Presented Thursday through Sunday at Planet Ant, Hamtramck, Jan. 21 – Feb. 20. Tickets: $10 – $15. 313-365-4948. www.planetant.com.

College/University Theater:

Metamorphoses While Ovid might have completed his collection of 250 Greek Myths around 8 A.D., eight have adapted to the modern stage. Presented Friday through Sunday at the Bonstelle Theatre, Detroit, Jan. 21 – 30. Tickets: $12. 313-577-2960. http://www.theatre.wayne.edu/t_bonstelle.html.

Civic/Community Theater:

Blithe Spirit Noel Cowards spirited comedy about a medium who successfully materializes the dead wife of a recently remarried author. Staged by the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre at the Civic Auditorium, Kalamazoo, Jan. 13 – 16 & 21 – 22. Tickets: $13. 269-343-1313. www.kazoocivic.com.
Little Shop of Horrors It’s just your typical musical: boy-meets-girl, plant-eats-world! Staged by the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre at Parish Theater, Kalamazoo, Jan. 21 – 22, 27 – 30 & Feb. 3 – 5. Tickets: $15 – $21. 269-343-1313. http://www.kazoocivic.com.
A New Brain A composer for a children’s television show learns he has a problem in his brain. Presented by Avon Players, Rochester, Jan. 14 – 16, 21 – 23 & 27 – 29. Tickets: $16. 248-608-9077. http://www.avonplayers.org.
Pippin A hip, old-fashioned tale about a young man’s journey of self discovery set to a pop-influenced score. Staged by Stagecrafters at the beautiful Baldwin Theatre, Royal Oak, Jan. 21 – 23, 27 – 30, Feb. 3 – 6 & 11 – 13. Tickets: $16 – $18. 248-541-6430. http://www.stagecrafters.org.
Rumors Eight dinner guests are caught in a hilarious maze of mishaps, misunderstandings, mayhem and myriad rumors! Presented by St. Dunstan’s Guild of Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, Jan. 14 – 15, 21 – 23 & 27 – 29. Tickets: $15. 248-644-0527. www.stdunstanstheatre.com. Contains some adult language.
Shakespeare s R&J A gut-wrenching interpretation of Shakespeare s classic tale set in an all-male Catholic boarding school that tackles such subjects as repression and gender roles. Presented Friday through Sunday by Sunsets with Shakespeare at the RE Olds Anderson Rotary Barn at Woldumar Nature Center, Lansing, Jan. 14 – 23; and at Morning Star 75 Coffee Shop, Grand Rapids, Jan. 27 & 28. Tickets: $10. 517-484-4492.

Theater for Young Audiences:

Firebird A Russian folktale about a young man who goes in search of his true love who has neen captured by dark forces. Presented every Saturday in January at PuppetART, Detroit, beginning Jan. 15. Tickets: $5/children, $7/adults. 313-961-7777. http://www.puppetart.org.
Forever Free: A Story of the Civil War An inspiring new musical about a young slave who is separated from his family and joins the Union Army’s Black Regiment to fight for his freedom. Staged by TheaterworksUSA for Youtheatre at The Millennium Centre, Southfield, Jan. 15 only. Tickets: $8. 248-557-7529. http://www.youtheatre.org.
The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? A successful architect celebrates his 50th birthday, but a shocking revelation sets events in motion that could leave his life in ruins. Staged by Flint Youth Theatre at Elgood Theater, Flint, Jan. 16 only. Tickets: $5. 810-237-1530. An Off The Press staged reading recommended for older teens and adults.
Magic School Bus Live! An original musical production based upon the best-selling Scholastic book series in which Ms. Frizzle takes her class and the audience on two great adventures. Presented at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, Clinton Twp., Jan. 15 only. Tickets: $30 – $36. 586-286-2222. http://www.macombcenter.com.
Sleeping Beauty An exciting new musical based on the classic fairy tale. Staged by The Actors’ Company for Youtheatre at The Millennium Centre, Southfield, Jan. 22 & 23 only. Tickets: $8. 248-557-7529. www.youtheatre.org
Stories Beyond Words A 45 minute performance that centers on themes of self-awareness and how each of us has the power to create our own world presented by mime/physical storyteller Michael Lee & Opus Mime. A Saturday Series for Kids presentation at Performance Network Theatre, Ann Arbor, Jan. 15 only. Tickets: $7/children, $10/adults. 734-663-0681. http://www.performancenetwork.org.

Improvisation/Late Night/Interactive/Dinner Theater:

Improv Inferno A new comedy lounge in Downtown Ann Arbor with five nights of fun: Karaoke is featured on Wednesday nights; Thursday hosts The Lava Club and “The Catfight,” with the area’s hottest improv groups; Friday and Saturday features “The Damnation Game,” and at Midnight, “The X Show”; and open mike night rules on Sunday with “Get Up Stand Up.” Tickets: $5 – $10. 734-214-7080. http://www.improvinferno.com.
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. Presented every Monday night (except holidays) at Planet Ant, Hamtramck. Tickets: $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. Staged every Sunday evening by Motoprism at the Matrix Theatre, Detroit. Tickets: $10. 313-967-0999. http://www.matrixtheatre.org.
Ripe Conditions A pair of bumbling brothers compete for the affection of their attractive and recently widowed sister-in-law. Staged Friday and Saturday by StarBrite Dinner Theater at the 14th Street Grille and Bar, Madison Heights, Jan. 14 – Feb. 19. Tickets: $39.50, includes three-course dinner. 248-589-9900. http://www.starbriteprod.com.

AUDITIONS, NOTICES AND CLASSES:

Avon Players – “Steel Magnolias,” Jan. 16 & 17, 248-608-9077; Lady Bug Productions – “From Little Seeds,” Jan. 18 & 19, (734) 878-2100; September Productions – “Charlotte’s Wed,” Jan. 19, 248-615-0414.
HOW TO CONTACT ‘THEATER EVENTS’ AND ‘CURTAIN CALLS’ Please send all press releases and promotional materials at least three weeks prior to the scheduled event, and your story ideas, comments, brickbats and accolades – preferably via e-mail – to [email protected] or by snail-mail to Curtain Calls, Between The Lines, 20793 Farmington Road, Suite 25, Farmington, Michigan 48336. Unless otherwise noted, tickets prices shown above are for adult general admission tickets only; please contact the theater for questions regarding the availability of discount tickets for preview performances, advance sales, groups, students, seniors and children.