Theater Events for the period Sept. 25 – Oct. 4

TE StreetCar.tif: Although Blanche DuBois overstays her visit with sister Stella and brother-in-law Stanley, the Farmington Players is glad to have ÒA Streetcar Named DesireÓ as the opening show of its new season. Photo by Frank Ginis.

Professional Theater:

Bob the Builder Live Children everywhere will want to watch Bob and his team of machines construct a neighborhood park out of an old junkyard. Presented at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, Detroit, Sept. 26 – 28 only. Tickets: $10 – $30. 313-471-6611. www.olympiaentertainment.com.
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea A hard but vulnerable street tough meets an even harder female version of himself who harbors a disturbing secret. Staged Friday through Sunday by the Detroit Ensemble Theater, Roseville, through Sept. 28. Tickets: $12. 586-790-5666.
The Diviners A disenchanted preacher in the early 1930s confronts a traumatized boyÕs fear of water after the drowning of his mother. Presented Thursday through Sunday by The Theatre Company, a mix of professional and student actors, at McAuley Auditorium on the Outer Drive Campus of University Detroit Mercy Oct. 2 – 19. Tickets: $12. 313-993-6461. http://theatre.udmercy.edu.
Fame the Musical A gifted and dedicated group of students engage in a four-year odyssey while attending New YorkÕs High School of the Performing Arts. Presented at The Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, Clinton Twp., Sept. 26 & 27 only. Tickets: $40 – $45. 586-286-2222. www.macombcenter.com
The Glass Menagerie The classic American drama in which a faded Southern Belle constantly meddles in the lives of her grown children. Staged Thursday through Sunday by Planet Ant, Hamtramck, through Oct. 12. Tickets: $15. 313-365-4948. www.planetant.com.
The Good Doctor A composite of sketches and stories written by Neil Simon based on earlier works of Anton Chekhov. Staged Wednesday through Sunday at the Purple Rose Theatre Company, Chelsea, Oct. 2 – Dec. 20. Tickets: $17.50 – 32.50. 734-433-7673. www.purplerosetheatre.org
The House of Blue Leaves A dark, yet comedic look at the values of American society and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles of life. Performed in repertory Wednesday through Saturday at the Hilberry Theatre, Detroit, Oct. 3 – Dec. 6. Tickets: $12 – $20. 313-577-2972. http://www.theatre.wayne.edu/t_hilberry.html
Lord of the Dance Michael FlatleyÕs Celtic dance phenomenon retells Irish folk legends at not one but two local venues: Sept. 25 at Freedom Hill Amphitheater, Sterling Heights, $25.50 – $45.50, 586-268-7820; and Sept. 26 & 27 at Whiting Auditorium, Flint, $32 & $65, 810-237-7333. www.freedomhill.net & www.whitingauditorium.com.
Mama Mia ABBAÕs greatest hits are woven into three love stories that will have audiences singing and dancing in the aisles. Staged Tuesday through Sunday at the Fisher Theatre, Detroit, Oct. 3 – Nov. 15. Tickets: $32.50 – $72.50. 248-645-6666. www.nederlanderdetroit.com
Our Town Thorton WilderÕs Pulitzer Prize-winning classic that reminds us how important it is to savor every moment, no matter how commonplace it may seem. Staged Wednesday through Sunday at the BoarsHead Theatre, Lansing, Sept. 25 – Oct. 26. Tickets: $19 – $29. 517-484-7805. www.boarshead.org.
The Sins of Sor Juana An illegitimate Mexican Child of the 17th century becomes a symbol for the education and emancipation of women throughout the world. Staged Thursday through Sunday at the Performance Network, Ann Arbor, through Oct. 5. Tickets: $22.50 – $27.50. 734-663-0681. www.performancenetwork.org.
The Sound of Music The hills come alive with a family-friendly musical that all ages will love. Staged at DetroitÕs Fabulous Fox Theatre Sept. 30 – Oct. 5. Tickets: $28 – $70.50. 313-471-6611. www.olympiaentertainment.com.
Triple Espresso A high-energy family-friendly comedy featuring songs, parody send-ups and vaudeville-style ensemble comedy. Staged Tuesday through Sunday at the historic Gem Theatre, Detroit, through December. Tickets: $32.50 & $37.50. 313-463-4216. www.gemtheatre.com.

University/College Theater:

Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) A subversive farce about a Ph.D. candidate who sets out to prove ShakespeareÕs ÒOthelloÓ and ÒRomeo and JulietÓ were takeoffs of other comedies. Presented Thursday through Sunday by the University of Michigan Dept. of Theatre & Drama at the Trueblood Theatre, Ann Arbor, Oct. 4 – 12. Tickets: $15. 734-764-2538. www.uprod.music.umich.edu.

Civic/Community Theater:

A Streetcar Named Desire Visiting in-laws are given a bad rap when Blanche DuBois rides into New Orleans to visit her pregnant sister. Staged by the Farmington Players Sept. 26 – 28, Oct. 2 – 4 & 9 – 11. Tickets: $13. 248-553-2955. www.farmingtonplayers.org.
Animal Crackers A priceless statue is unveiled and then stolen at an exclusive party in a zany musical originally written for the Marx Brothers. Presented Thursday through Sunday by the Community Circle Players at the Riverwalk Theatre, Lansing, through Sept. 28. Tickets: $16. 517-482-5700. www.riverwalktheatre.com.
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story The spectacular career of the legendary musician is celebrated in a high-energy musical that will have audiences rocking and bopping in the aisles. Presented Thursday through Sunday by the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre in the Civic Auditorium, Kalamazoo, through Oct. 4. Tickets: $15 & $19. 269-343-1313. www.kazoocivic.com.
Godspell An updated version of the musical classic based upon the Gospel of St. Matthew. Presented by Stagecrafters on the Main Stage of the Historic Baldwin Theatre, Royal Oak, Sept. 25 – 28 & Oct. 3 – 5. Tickets: $16 & $18. 248-541-6430. www.stagecrafters.org.
The Last Five Years A Òpocket musicalÓ that tells the bittersweet story of a writer on the verge of success and his relationship with an aspiring actress. Presented Thursday through Saturday by the ActorÕs Theatre at Spectrum Theater, Grand Rapid, Sept. 25 – Oct. 4. Tickets: $23. 616-234-3946. www.actorsatspectrum.org.
One Flea Spare Things get violent – and rank – when two unwanted visitors sneak into a quarantined home during LondonÕs Great Plague. Staged by the Whole Art Theater, Kalamazoo, Sept. 25 – 28 & Oct. 3 – 4. Tickets: $12. 269-345-7529. www.wholeart.org.
YouÕre a Good Man, Charlie Brown The Peanuts characters come alive in this warm and much-beloved family-friendly musical. Staged by the Avon Players, Rochester Hills, Sept. 26 – 28 & Oct. 2 – 4. Tickets: $16. 248-608-9077. www.avonplayers.org

Improvisational Theater:

Comedy Works A hilarious collective of Detroit-area improvisers called The Guild returns to tickle your funny bones. Staged Friday and Saturday at the Century Theatre, Detroit, through Nov. 8. Tickets: $15. 313-963-9800. www.gemtheatre.com.
Ten Some of the most hilarious scenes of the past 10 years are assembled in a retrospective that celebrates the best of Second City – Detroit. Staged every Wednesday through Sunday at Second City – Detroit. Tickets: $15 & $20. 313-965-2222. www.olympiaentertainment.com.
Viagra Falls One of the funniest revues of Second City DetroitÕs 10-year history returns courtesy of the Second City Touring Company. Staged every Sunday night beginning Sept. 28 at Second City Detroit. Tickets: $12. 313-965-2222. www.olympiaentertainment.com.

AUDITIONS: Farmington Players – ÒNoises Off,Ó Oct. 19, 248-553-4506; Lovett Entertainment Dance Theatre – various events, Sept. 28, 313-585-1812;