Theater Events for the period Sept. 16 – 25

Professional Theater:

Duck Hunter Shoots Angel A world premiere comedy about a tabloid journalist on a search for two swamp poachers who believe they shot a celestial being. Presented Wednesday through Sunday at Purple Rose Theatre, Chelsea, extended through Sept. 18. Tickets: $17.50 – $32.50. 734-433-7673. www.purplerosetheatre.org.
Friends and Lovers An uncensored, hilarious and outrageously entertaining adventure in seduction, betrayal, heartbreak, revenge and true love. Staged by I’m Ready Productions at the fabulous Fox Theatre, Detroit, Sept. 23 – 26 only. Tickets: $32.50 – $45.40. 313-471-6611. www.olympiaentertainment.com.
Golf: The Musical Vignettes and musical numbers celebrate the passions and foibles of one of America’s favorite pastimes. Presented Wednesday through Sunday at Meadow Brook Theatre, Rochester, through Sept. 19. Tickets: $20 – $36. 248-377-3300. www.mbtheatre.com.
Humble Boy A freewheeling adaptation of “Hamlet” in which an Oxford scholar returns home for his beekeeper father’s funeral only to find a swarm of dysfunctional family troubles. Presented Thursday through Sunday at Performance Network Theatre, Ann Arbor, Sept. 16 – Oct. 31. Tickets: $20 – $32.50. 734-663-0681. www.performancenetwork.org.
Mass Appeal A jaded priest finds his life turned upside down by a seminarian’s passionate views on life and death. Presented Friday through Sunday by the Detroit Ensemble Theatre, Roseville, through Sept. 25. Tickets: $15. 586-246-2523.
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.
The Mercy Seat A complex and brutally honest exploration of how the attacks on the World Trade Center affected a self-absorbed, New York couple. Staged Friday and Saturday by Breathe Art Theatre Project at the Capitol Theatre, Windsor, through Sept. 18. Tickets: $22 CAD. 519-253-7729.
Over the Tavern There are 1,300 religions, and young Rudy Pazinski has decided to “shop around” – much to the dismay of Sister Clarissa. Presented Wednesday through Sunday at BoarsHead Theatre, Lansing, through Sept. 25. Tickets: $20 – $33. 517-484-7805. www.boarshead.org.
Playing Strangers A comedic one-act that follows the journey of a couple willing to try anything to fix their relationship. Presented as a Late Night production at Planet Ant, Hamtramck, Sept. 18 & 23 – 25. Tickets: $5. 313-365-4948. www.planetant.com.
Smokey Joe’s CafŽ A rockin’ party of a show that celebrates the greatest hits of the 1950s and ’60s. Presented at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, Clinton Twp., Sept. 24 & 25 only. Tickets: $45. 586-286-2272. www.macomb.cc.mi.us/macombcenter.
Waking the Witch The sacred feminine energy that lives in both men and women is explored. Presented Thursday through Sunday at Planet Ant, Hamtramck, through Oct. 10. Tickets: $10 – $15. 313-365-4948. www.planetant.com.

Civic/Community Theater:

Assassins A dark but darkly funny musical that focuses on nine people who have tried to assassinate American presidents. Staged Thursday through Sunday at the Old Town Playhouse, Traverse City, through Sept. 25. Tickets: $20. 231-947-2443. www.oldtownplayhouse.com.
Breath of Spring A delightful comedy about a modern-day Robin Hood and her band of Merry Thieves. Presented by the Farmington Players, Farmington Hills, Sept. 24 – 26, Oct. 1 – 3, 7 – 10 & 14 – 16. Tickets: $13. 248-553-2955. www.farmingtonplayers.org.
The Exonerated Six innocent men and women tell their stories of life on death row. Staged Thursday through Saturday by Actors’ Theatre at Spectrum, Theatre, Grand Rapids, Sept. 23 – Oct. 2. Tickets: $20. 616-234-3946. www.actorsatspectrum.org.
The Gift of Life After Death Jarrell is about to become a father when a simple twist of fate has him making the ultimate decision. Presented at Buckham Alley Theatre, Flint, Sept. 16 – 18 & 24 – 26. Tickets: $8. 810-239-4477. www.buckhamtheatre.com.
A Little Night Music There’s no need to send clowns to this Stephen Sondheim romantic masterpieceÉthey’re already there! Presented by Avon Players, Rochester Hills, Sept. 17 – 19 & 23 – 25. Tickets: $16. 248-608-9077. www.avonplayers.org.
Man of La Mancha An uplifting evening of chivalry, romance and optimism about a man who dreams “The Impossible Dream” and views the world not as it is, but as it should be. Presented by the Village Players, Birmingham, Sept. 17 – 19 & 24 – 26. Tickets: $15. 248-644-2075. www.birminghamvillageplayers.com.
Marat/Sade An adult musical set in the lunatic asylum of Charenton where the Marquis de Sade was confined and staged plays. Contains brief nudity. Presented Thursday through Sunday at Riverwalk Theatre, Lansing, Sept. 16 – 26. Tickets: $16. 517-482-5700. www.riverwalktheatre.com.
The Music Man There’s trouble in River City as a con-artist-turned-conductor convinces a small town to form a children’s marching band under his direction. Staged by the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre at the Civic Auditorium, Kalamazoo, Sept. 24 – 25, Sept. 30 – Oct. 3 & Oct 7 – 9. Tickets: $13 & $18. 269-343-1313. www.kazoocivic.com.
O Jerusalem An untraditional theater piece that explores terrorism through the lens of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and American foreign policy. Staged Friday through Sunday by Sunsets with Shakespeare at the Woldumar Nature Center’s RE Olds Anderson Rotary Barn, Lansing, Sept. 19. Tickets: $10. For information, contact [email protected]
Quilters A mother and her six daughters stitch a quilt that captures women’s life on the frontier. Presented Friday through Sunday by Marshall Civic Players, Marshall, Sept. 19. Tickets: $15. 269-781-3335. www.marshallcivicplayers.org.
Tommy The 1960s rock opera that chronicles the adventures of Tommy Walker who withdraws from the world following a traumatic childhood experience. Staged by Stagecrafters at the historic Baldwin Theatre, Royal Oak, Sept. 16 – 19, 23 – 26 & Oct. 1 – 3. Tickets: $16 – $18. 248-541-6430. www.stagecrafters.org.
The White Rose A group of students in Nazi Germany try to undermine the tide of hatred. Presented by the Whole Art Theater, Kalamazoo, Sept. 17 – 18, 24 – 26 & Oct. 1 – 2. Tickets: $18. 269-345-PLAY. 222. www.wholeart.org.

Theater for Young Audiences:

Cinderella The age-old tale of a young girl, her wicked step-mother and bossy step-sisters, and the prince all brought to life as a marionette ballet with classical music. Staged Saturday only by PuppetArt at the Detroit Puppet Theater, Detroit, Sept. 18 & 25. Tickets: $5/children, $7/adults. 313-961-7777. www.puppetart.org.

Improvisational/Interactive/Dinner Theater:

Bullets for Broadway A murder mystery musical that answers the question, what happens when “The Producers” meets “The Sopranos.” Staged Friday and Saturday by Starbrite Theatrical Productions at the 14th Street Grille and Bar, Madison Heights, through Oct. 16. Tickets: $39.50 includes dinner. 248-589-9900. www.starbriteprod.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. www.planetant.com.

AUDITIONS AND CLASSES:

Players Guild of Dearborn – “1776,” Sept. 20 & 21, 313-561-TKTS; Ann Arbor Civic Theatre – “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” Oct. 2 & 3, 734-971-0605.