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April 17, 2026

“Free College Week”: WCC
Various Times
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“Free College Week”: WCC
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Apr. 13–18. Presentations, both in person (on Apr. 18) and via Zoom, by WCC instructors on technology, finance, psychology, science, the arts, history, entrepreneurship, health sciences, and other topics. On Apr. 18 only, campus tours, games, registration, and more. Various times, online at wccnet.edu/events/free-college-week.php. Preregistration required. Free. [email protected].

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Just Between Friends Sale
9:00 am - 7:00 pm
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Just Between Friends Sale
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Apr. 15–18. Semi-annual consignment sale, eagerly anticipated by parents of young children, offering a chance to buy and sell used maternity items, baby and children’s clothes, toys, and baby gear. Prices drop Sat. at 2 p.m. Doors shut 30 minutes before closing. 3–9 p.m. (Wed., tickets required), noon–9 p.m. (Thurs.), 9 a.m.–7 p.m. (Fri.), 9–11 a.m. & 2–7 p.m. (Sat.), Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor–Saline Rd. Free if reserved online, $3 at the door; $5–$25 early access. Preregistration and discounts for first-time parents, grandparents, & veterans at annarbor.jbfsale.com. To sell items, go to annarbor.jbfsale.com/sell.

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“Investigate Labs”: U-M Museum of Natural History
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
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“Investigate Labs”: U-M Museum of Natural History
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Every Tues.–Sun., except Apr. 11. All age 6 & up invited into the museum’s labs to use scientific tools and museum specimens to answer questions and solve problems. The newest program examines how Michigan animals get along with each other—or don’t. 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 1105 North University. Free. (734) 764–0478, ummnh.org.

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"Springfest": U-M Music Matters
11:00 am - 7:00 pm
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"Springfest": U-M Music Matters: Music Matters
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U-M student organization MUSIC Matters will host its annual Springfest on Friday, April 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. along portions of State Street and North University Avenue in Ann Arbor. The daytime festival will feature live performances from student bands and campus organizations, transforming the area into a lively hub for music and community. Attendees can explore a variety of student organizations, local vendors, and delicious food trucks throughout the event.

Daystage performances will include Payton and Annabelle, 5Twelve, North Ingalls, Rosehill, Grenadine, ON TAP, and 998,577 Beers, the winners of this year’s Battle of the Bands.

Read more about last year’s Springfest here!

MUSIC Matters (MUSIC being an acronym for Michigan Undergrads Serving in the Community) is a student-run non-profit organization at the University of Michigan that aims to use the unifying power of music to drive social impact in their community. Every year, they host various concerts and social ventures dedicated to celebrating music and fostering a sense of community within Ann Arbor.

State St. & N. University Ave. ,Ann Arbor. Free. https://umichmusicmatters.com/

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“Harpsichord”: First Baptist Church Ad Libitum Concert Series
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
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“Harpsichord”: First Baptist Church Ad Libitum Concert Series
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The church’s organist Shin-Ae Chun performs a program of harpsichord music. Noon–1 p.m., 517 E. Washington (handicap access on Washington entrance). Free. (734) 663–9376, fbca2.org.

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Carillon Concert Series: U-M School of Music
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
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Carillon Concert Series: U-M School of Music
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Every Mon.–Fri. through Apr. 21 (different locations). Performances by U-M carillon faculty and students. The carillons are open to visitors during the recitals; earplugs recommended. For a complete schedule see smtd.umich.edu/events. Burton Tower (noon), 230 N. Ingalls; and Lurie Tower (1:20 p.m.), 1230 Murfin. Free. (734) 615–3204.

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Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
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Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops
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Every Wed., Fri., & Sat. All invited to play one of 200 songs, with melodies transcribed in numbers, on the 17-bell chime’s numbered keys. Ambitious players can add chords. Kids welcome. Noon–12:30 p.m. (Wed. & Fri.) & 10:30–11 a.m. (Sat.). Free. [email protected].

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U-M Center for Southeast Asian Studies Friday Lecture Series
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
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U-M Center for Southeast Asian Studies Friday Lecture Series
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Apr. 10 & 17. Talks by visiting scholars.

Apr. 10: “Incentivizing Lending to Women Entrepreneurs: Evidence from Vietnam.” Rutgers University global business professor Markus Taussig discusses efforts by large Vietnamese banks to recruit women-owned small businesses as borrowing clients.

Apr. 17: “Words as Weapons: British Propaganda and Psychological Warfare in Indonesia, 1963–66.” University of Wisconsin history professor Chris Hulshof discusses how British Intelligence, with CIA backing, used covert propaganda to undermine the Indonesian government during the Cold War.

Noon–1 p.m., 555 Weiser Hall, 500 Church. Free. (734) 615–4059.

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U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium & Dome Theater
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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U-M Museum of Natural History Planetarium & Dome Theater
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Every Fri.–Sun. Three different audiovisual planetarium shows suitable for all ages. Sea Monsters (noon) follows an intrepid Dolichorhynchops osborni (an extinct species of marine reptile) as she travels through the most dangerous oceans in history; The Sky Tonight (1 & 3 p.m.) explores the current night sky, with tips on how to find the cardinal directions, constellations, and planets on your own; and T. Rex (2 p.m.) describes the iconic dinosaur’s scientific and cinematic history (includes scenes of dinosaur violence). Noon, 1, 2, & 3 p.m., 1105 North University. $8 at the gift shop. Limited capacity. (734) 764–0480, ummnh.org.

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Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor City Club
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor City Club
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Every Thurs., Fri., & Tues. All invited to play ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge (Tues. & Fri.) and a 499er game (Thurs.) for players with no more than 499 ACBL master points. 1–4 p.m. (arrive by 12:45 p.m.), 1830 Washtenaw Ave. $9 per person. If you plan to come without a partner, email [email protected].

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“Fix-It Friday”: Maker Works
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
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“Fix-It Friday”: Maker Works
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All invited to bring anything that needs fixing—chairs, radios, whatever. Maker Works members and staff on hand to help with repairs. Handy people invited to assist. Repairs not guaranteed. Also, toy adaptations to make off-the-shelf toys more accessible for people with disabilities. 4–6 p.m., 3765 Plaza Dr. Free. Preregistration required at tinyurl.com/a2fix-it-fri. (734) 222–4911.

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“Sufis and Sufi Institutions in Premodern South Asia: a Comparative Approach”: U-M Center for South Asian Studies Trautmann Honorary Lecture
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
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“Sufis and Sufi Institutions in Premodern South Asia: a Comparative Approach”: U-M Center for South Asian Studies Trautmann Honorary Lecture
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Talk by University of Arizona South Asian history professor Richard Eaton. 4–6 p.m., Michigan League, Kalamazoo Rm. Livestream available. Free. (734) 764–0448.

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“Hand Painting Fabric with Botanical Dyes”: Ann Arbor District Library
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
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“Hand Painting Fabric with Botanical Dyes”: Ann Arbor District Library
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Detroit-based textile artist Meghan Navoy demonstrates the basics of hand dyeing with botanical dyes. Followed by a chance to dye a small item to take home. 5–7:30 p.m., AADL Downtown, Secret Lab. Free. (734) 327–4200.

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“The Flamingo”: 2026 Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti
5:00 pm
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“The Flamingo”: 2026 Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti
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Apr. 11 & 1618. Four days of offbeat screenings showcasing local creators and filmmakers from around the world. Times subject to change; for up-to-date schedule and details, see iffypsi.com. Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsi, unless otherwise noted. Tickets $13 (students & seniors, $10), unless otherwise indicated, in advance at iffypsi.com and at the door (cash or credit).

Apr. 17: 

“The Flamingo” (Adam Sekuler, 2024). Intimate, observational documentary about a woman in her 60s who embarks on a bold pursuit of BDSM, attending dungeon parties, engaging in intimacy with strangers, and upending conventional notions of aging. 5 p.m.

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D&D Adventurers League: Sylvan Factory
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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D&D Adventurers League: Sylvan Factory
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Every Fri. All invited to play the current official campaign of the popular Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game, using 5th-edition rules. Kids under 13 must have parent or guardian accompaniment. 6–10 p.m., 2459 W. Stadium. $10. Space limited, preregistration strongly recommended. (734) 929–5877, sylvanfactory.com.

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Drop-in Line Dancing
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
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Drop-in Line Dancing: Pittsfield Township Recreation Center
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Friday, April 17, 2026, 6pm-7:30pm at the Pittsfield Recreation Center, SW corner of Ellsworth and S. State Street, Ann Arbor. Enjoy Drop-in Line Dancing for those 18 and up. Wear comfortable clothes, soft-soled shoes or boots. Learn three, beginner line dances. The price is $7 if you pre-register at: www.recreation.pittsfield-mi.gov or $10 at the door. For questions or information, call the Pittsfield Recreation Center at: 734-822-2120.

701 W. Ellsworth Rd ,Ann Arbor. recreation.pittsfield-mi.gov $7 pre-register or $10 door. [email protected] www.pittsfield-mi.gov 734-822-2120.

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Michigan Multiverse: Dzanc Books
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
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Michigan Multiverse: Dzanc Books
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Readings by Washtenaw County poets Jeff Kass, Molly Raynor, and Ellen Stone; Marquette poets Ronnie Ferguson and Mary Achatz; and Detroit poet Joy Gaines-Friedler. Readings by local youth poets open the show. Q&A. Part of a statewide reading series featuring poets from across Michigan. 67:30 p.m., Courageous Books, 8063 Main, Dexter. Free. [email protected], courageousbooks.com.

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“The Mixed Marriage Project: A Memoir of Love, Race, and Family”: Literati Bookstore
6:30 pm
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“The Mixed Marriage Project: A Memoir of Love, Race, and Family”: Literati Bookstore
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University of Pennsylvania law & sociology professor Dorothy Roberts discusses her new memoir about growing up in an interracial family in 1960s Chicago. 6:30 p.m., 124 E. Washington. Free. (734) 585–5567.

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Candlelight Concerts: Kalkaska String Quartet
6:30 pm
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Candlelight Concerts: Kalkaska String Quartet
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This Detroit-based ensemble presents 2 candlelight concerts each night. Tonight: “The Best of Hans Zimmer” (6:30 p.m.) features music by the Oscar-winning German film composer, and “90s Hip-Hop on Strings” (8:45 p.m.) highlights instrumental arrangements of 90s hip-hop music. Age 8 & up. 6:30 & 8:45 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 1432 Washtenaw Ave. $28–$56 per show. Preregistration required at feverup.com/en/ann-arbor/candlelight.

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Magic: The Gathering: Sylvan Factory
6:30 pm
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Magic: The Gathering: Sylvan Factory
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Every Tues., Wed., Fri., & Sat. All invited to play both casual and tournament forms of the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering (MTG).

Tues. (6:30 p.m.): “Pauper.” A fun and fast format for all skill levels, three rounds. $5.

Wed. & Sat. (5 p.m.): “Commander.” A drop-in session of the most popular form of the game. Free.

Wed. (6:30 p.m.): “Standard.” Three rounds, with competitive tournament rules, prizes of store credit. $10.

Fri. (6:30 p.m.): “Friday Night Draft.” Cost and format vary.

Various times, 2459 W. Stadium. (734) 929–5877, sylvanfactory.com.

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“Animal Farm: A Fairy Story”: Dreamland Theater
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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“Animal Farm: A Fairy Story”: Dreamland Theater
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Apr. 4, 17, 23, 26, & May 1, 9, & 16. The troupe uses marionettes and rod, hand, and shadow puppets to bring Naia Venturi’s adaptation of George Orwell’s dystopian classic to life. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. 78 p.m., 26 N. Washington, Ypsi. Tickets $15$18 at our.show/animalfarm & (if available) at the door. facebook.com/theaterdreamland.

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“Best of the London International Animation Festival 2025”: 2026 Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti
7:00 pm
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“Best of the London International Animation Festival 2025”: 2026 Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti
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Apr. 11 & 1618. Four days of offbeat screenings showcasing local creators and filmmakers from around the world. Times subject to change; for up-to-date schedule and details, see iffypsi.com. Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsi, unless otherwise noted. Tickets $13 (students & seniors, $10), unless otherwise indicated, in advance at iffypsi.com and at the door (cash or credit).

Apr. 17: 

“Best of the London International Animation Festival 2025.” Animated shorts, definitely not for kids. 7 p.m.

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“Creature Encounters & Adult Open Hours”: The Creature Conservancy
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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“Creature Encounters & Adult Open Hours”: The Creature Conservancy
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Every Sat. & Sun., and Fri. Apr. 3 & 17. On Sat. and Sun., conservancy staffers show off representatives of some invasive species, including a Burmese python, muntjac deer, and cane toad at 1 & 4 p.m., and an animal keeper shows a green iguana at 2 & 3 p.m. During the Friday Adult Open Hours (age 18+ only), conservancy staffers show off all four animals at 7:30 p.m. All tickets include a chance to see the conservancy’s other animals. Noon–5 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.) & 7–9 p.m. (Fri.), 4950 Ann Arbor–Saline Rd. $15 (kids ages 2–12, $13; under age 2, free) cash or credit at the door only. (734) 929–9324, thecreatureconservancy.org.

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“Our Town”: EMU Theatre Department
7:00 pm
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“Our Town”: EMU Theatre Department
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Apr. 16–19. Pirooz Aghssa directs EMU drama students in Thornton Wilder’s graceful, humanistic 1938 Pulitzer Prize–winning portrait of an early 20th-century American small town. 7 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), EMU Legacy Theatre, 1030 E. Circle, Ypsi. Tickets $20 (seniors, $15; students, $12; kids 6–12, $7) in advance at emich.ludus.com, at the box office (10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri.), & (if available) at the door. (734) 487–2282.

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“Pop-Up Comedy”: Don’t Tell Comedy Shows
7:00 pm
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“Pop-Up Comedy”: Don’t Tell Comedy Shows
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Apr. 1, 17, 18, 22, & 30. Both the lineup of stand-up comics and the location are not revealed until the day of the show. Age 21 & up. Drinks available for purchase. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. 8 p.m. (Apr. 1, 22, & 30) and 7 & 9 p.m. (Apr. 17 & 18). Ann Arbor locations TBA. Tickets $30 in advance only at donttellcomedy.com/cities/ann-arbor.

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“Rent”: The Encore Musical Theatre Company
7:00 pm
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“Rent”: The Encore Musical Theatre Company
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Thurs.Sun., Apr. 9–May 3. Matt Bogart directs this local professional company in Jonathan Larson’s Tony- and Pulitzer Prizewinning 1996 musical, based on Puccini’s La Bohème, about an impoverished community of artists in the East Village living under the shadow of AIDS. It features an inventive rock score with intricate choral work and dexterous lyrics. Mature audiences only. 7 p.m. (today) & various times (see date), Thurs.Sun., Encore Maas Main Stage, 7714 Ann Arbor St., Dexter. Tickets $34–$65 in advance at theencoretheatre.org & (if available) at the door. (734) 268–6200.

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"Shrek Jr.": Tappan Players
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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"Shrek Jr.": Tappan Players
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Join Tappan Players, a partnership between Tappan Middle School's Theater Department and Tappan PTSO, for a family-friendly performance of Shrek Jr. directed by Tappan Middle School Theatre teacher Julie Strassel. Performances will be Friday April 17, 7pm; Saturday April 18, 2 pm & 6pm; and Sunday April 19, 2pm. Tickets are $13 and can be purchased online here: https://cur8.com/40463/project/137682. Limited ticket availability at the door. Running time for the show is approximately 1 hour. We hope to see you there!

Tappan Middle School, 2251 E. Stadium Blvd
$13 at https://cur8.com/40463/project/137682.

https://[email protected], tappanptso.org/tappan-players

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Vir Das: Live Nation
7:00 pm
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Vir Das: Live Nation
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This busy Indian stand-up comedian, who is also an actor and film director, comes to Ann Arbor on his “Hey Stranger” tour, where he delves into such topics as hypermasculinity, true crime, being called a “terrorist,” and more. He won the 2023 International Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series for the Netflix comedy special Vir Das: Landing. 7 p.m., Michigan Theater. Tickets $41–$129 in advance at (800) 745–3000, ticketmaster.com, & (if available) at the door.

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Mike Goodwin: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase
7:15 pm
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Mike Goodwin: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase
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Apr. 16–18. Clean, bow-tie-wearing South Carolina comic delivers disarmingly funny riffs on relatable topics ranging from turning 40 and getting divorced to realizing his children are bad at sports. Thursday’s performance is a “Paws & Punchlines Fundraiser” benefiting the Humane Society of Huron Valley. Opening acts TBA. 7:15 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 9:45 p.m. (Sat.), 212 S. Fourth Ave. $22 (Thurs., $20) at aacomedy.com & (if available) at the door. (734) 996–9080.

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“light eternal: non timebo mala”: Ann Arbor Grail Singers
7:30 pm
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“light eternal: non timebo mala”: Ann Arbor Grail Singers
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Apr. 17, 25, & 26 (different locations). Jacob Carroll directs this women’s early-music choir in a program featuring the chanted responses from the Officium Defunctorum (Office of the Dead), a prayer cycle of the canonical hours in the Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches. Also, leading late-Renaissance Dutch composer Orlando di Lasso’s Missa pro Defunctis (Mass for the Dead), and American composer David Lang’s alleluia amen. Accompaniment by viola da gambist Lily Schrantz and violists Marc Armitano, Jamie Gallupe, and David Webster Hunt III. 7:30 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 2250 E. Stadium. Tickets $20 (seniors, $15; students, $10) at annarborgrailsingers.org and by cash or check at the door. annarborgrailsingers.org, (415) 662–0631.

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“New Moon Hike”: Leslie Science & Nature Center
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
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“New Moon Hike”: Leslie Science & Nature Center
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LSNC staff lead a family-friendly hike through Black Pond Woods to enjoy the nighttime darkness presided over by a new moon and do some science experiments on the trail. Followed by moon-themed stories & poems around an outdoor campfire. 7:30–9 p.m., 1831 Traver. $5 (under age 2, free). Preregistration required at lesliesnc.org. (734) 997–1553.

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“Rhinocéros”: Ann Arbor Civic Theatre
7:30 pm
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“Rhinocéros”: Ann Arbor Civic Theatre
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Apr. 17–26. Kat Walsh directs local actors in Eugène Ionesco’s acclaimed 1959 absurdist fable. It tells the story of Bérenger, a gentle drunkard who is spurred into action after watching a rhinoceros run through the square of his French town, transforming the townspeople into rhinos. Considered to be Ionesco’s finest work, the play is a parable about French collaboration with the Nazis. 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Arthur Miller Theatre, 1226 Murfin. Tickets $20 (seniors, $17; students, $10) at a2ct.ludus.com & (if available) at the door. (734) 971–2228.

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Ann Arbor Train and Trolley Watchers
7:30 pm
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Ann Arbor Train and Trolley Watchers
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Presentations by 2 noted railroad photographers: Art Cole on “Trains of Japan” and Steve Kindschy on a topic TBA. 7:30 p.m., Traver Lakes Clubhouse, 2500 Lancashire. Free. (734) 761–3814, [email protected].

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Friday Night Improv: Hear.Say Brewing + Theater
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
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Friday Night Improv: Hear.Say Brewing + Theater
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Every Fri. Performance by Eleven Non-Blondes, a house team of experienced improvisers. 7:30–9 p.m., 2350 W. Liberty. $15 in advance at heardotsay.com/events, $18 (if available) at the door. [email protected].

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Spring Concert: EMU Symphony Orchestra
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
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Spring Concert: EMU Symphony Orchestra
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Chad Hutchinson directs this music student ensemble in their final concert of the year. Program TBA. 7:30–9 p.m., EMU Pease Auditorium, W. Cross at College Pl., Ypsi. Tickets $8 (EMU students & kids, free) at emich.ludus.com & (if available) at the door. (734) 487–2448, [email protected]. 

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Takács Quartet: University Musical Society
7:30 pm
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Takács Quartet: University Musical Society
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Founded in Hungary in 1975, this world-renowned Boulder-based ensemble is known for its warmth, eloquence, and mastery of demanding pieces. Its program tonight includes Haydn’s String Quartet in G minor, also known as “The Rider” for its galloping rhythms, as well as Debussy’s audaciously modern String Quartet in G minor, and U-M alum Clarice Assad’s NEXUS, which explores ideas of individualism and collectivity. Violinists Edward Dusinberre and Harumi Rhodes, violist Richard O’Neill, and cellist András Fejér are “four of the best string alchemists on the planet,” says the Chicago Tribune. 7:30 p.m., Rackham Auditorium. Tickets $46–$73 (students, $15–$20), in advance at tickets.ums.org, by phone, & (if available) at the door. (734) 764–2538.

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Tom Chapin: Green Wood Coffee House Series at Grace Church
7:30 pm
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Tom Chapin: Green Wood Coffee House Series at Grace Church
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This veteran folk-style songwriter, the younger brother of the late Harry Chapin, is known for his observant, playful story-songs and emotionally direct ballads. His most recent album, 2025’s Songs of Hope, is an intentional compilation of inspirational, positive songs for trying times. 7:30 p.m., 3150 Glazier Way. $25 suggested donation in advance at greenwoodcoffeehouse.org and at the door. greenwoodcoffeehouse.org.

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“12 Angry Jurors”: U-M Rude Mechanicals
8:00 pm
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“12 Angry Jurors”: U-M Rude Mechanicals
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Apr. 17–19. Stuart Sheffield directs this U-M student troupe in an adaptation of 12 Angry Men, Reginald Rose’s engrossing 1954 drama about a diverse group of jurors deliberating a seemingly open-and-shut murder case. 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), U-M Walgreen Drama Center, Arthur Miller Theatre, 1226 Murfin. Tickets $12 (students & seniors, $8) in advance at muto.umich.edu and at the door. (734) 763–1107, [email protected].

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“Murder on the Links”: Purple Rose Theatre Company
8:00 pm
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“Murder on the Links”: Purple Rose Theatre Company
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Every Wed.–Sun., Apr. 2–May 31. David Bendena directs Steven Dietz’s 2023 farce, based on an Agatha Christie whodunit, in which eccentric Belgian detective Hercule Poirot’s newest client is discovered, dead, on a French golf course. A cast of 6 actors embody a plethora of suspects in this high-energy, comic adaptation. Adult language and subject matter. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.), 3 p.m. (Thurs., Sat., & Wed.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.). PRT, 137 Park St., Chelsea. Tickets $31.50–$52.50 in advance at purplerosetheatre.org and (734) 433–7673, & (if available) at the door. Discounts available.

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“Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812”: U-M Musical Theatre Department
8:00 pm
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“Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812”: U-M Musical Theatre Department
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Apr. 16–19. Musical theater students perform Dave Malloy’s 2012 electro-pop musical adaptation of part 8 of Tolstoy’s War and Peace, the story of a love triangle among Russian aristocrats during the War of 1812. Recommended for ages 14 & up. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.), 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Power Center. Tickets $34–$40 (students, $16) in advance at tickets.smtd.umich.edu and at the door. (734) 615–3204.

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“Precious Little”: Penny Seats Theatre Company
8:00 pm
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“Precious Little”: Penny Seats Theatre Company
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Apr. 10–25. Julia Garlotte directs local actors in playwright Madeleine George’s dark comedy about a linguist who, after learning she is pregnant, finds comfort from two unlikely sources: the elderly speaker of a vanishing language … and a gorilla at the zoo. 8 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) and 2 p.m. (Sun.), Cahoots, 206 E. Huron St. Tickets $28 (students, $20; seniors, $25), in advance at pennyseats.org & (if available) at the door. (612) 210–7329, [email protected].

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“Telescope Observing”: U-M Detroit Observatory
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
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“Telescope Observing”: U-M Detroit Observatory
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Every Fri. All invited to drop in to use the Observatory’s 1857 Fitz telescope and other modern instruments. Exhibits are also open regardless of viewing conditions. Last visitors admitted 30 minutes prior to closing. 8–11 p.m., 1398 E. Ann at Observatory. Free, no registration required. (734) 764–3482, detroitobservatory.umich.edu.

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“The JonBenét Game”: Theatre Nova
8:00 pm
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“The JonBenét Game”: Theatre Nova
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Mar. 27–Apr. 19. Carla Milarch directs Tori Keenan-Zelt’s new drama about best friends Molly and Rae, who secretly played JonBenét Ramsey at sleepovers when they were 12. Twenty years later, in the wake of Molly’s tragic death, Rae returns to her hometown. When Molly’s 12-year-old daughter knocks on Rae’s door, she and Rae slide into the old game and the dark and mysterious spaces of unresolved grief. 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 3 p.m. (Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.). 410 W. Huron St. Tickets $30 (seniors, $25; students with ID, $15) in advance at theatrenova.org & (if available) at the door. (734) 635–8450.

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Candlelight Concerts: Kalkaska String Quartet
8:45 pm
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Candlelight Concerts: Kalkaska String Quartet
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This Detroit-based ensemble presents 2 candlelight concerts each night. Tonight: “The Best of Hans Zimmer” (6:30 p.m.) features music by the Oscar-winning German film composer, and “90s Hip-Hop on Strings” (8:45 p.m.) highlights instrumental arrangements of 90s hip-hop music. Age 8 & up. 6:30 & 8:45 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 1432 Washtenaw Ave. $28–$56 per show. Preregistration required at feverup.com/en/ann-arbor/candlelight.

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“Pop-Up Comedy”: Don’t Tell Comedy Shows
9:00 pm
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“Pop-Up Comedy”: Don’t Tell Comedy Shows
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Apr. 1, 17, 18, 22, & 30. Both the lineup of stand-up comics and the location are not revealed until the day of the show. Age 21 & up. Drinks available for purchase. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. 8 p.m. (Apr. 1, 22, & 30) and 7 & 9 p.m. (Apr. 17 & 18). Ann Arbor locations TBA. Tickets $30 in advance only at donttellcomedy.com/cities/ann-arbor.

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“Wicked Game”: 2026 Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti
9:00 pm
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“Wicked Game”: 2026 Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti
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Apr. 11 & 1618. Four days of offbeat screenings showcasing local creators and filmmakers from around the world. Times subject to change; for up-to-date schedule and details, see iffypsi.com. Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St., Ypsi, unless otherwise noted. Tickets $13 (students & seniors, $10), unless otherwise indicated, in advance at iffypsi.com and at the door (cash or credit).

Apr. 17: 

“Wicked Game.” A collection of horror-oriented short films on the theme of romantic relationships. 9 p.m.

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Riverside Swings: Riverside Arts Center
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
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Riverside Swings: Riverside Arts Center
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Every Fri. Swing dancing to recorded music. No partner or experience required. Wear comfortable low-grip/tread shoes. Preceded at 7 and 8 p.m. by hour-long lessons. Followed by a “late-night blues-&-fusion” dance. The 1st Friday of each month is free, and the 3rd Friday includes a Charleston lesson. 9–11 p.m., 76 N. Huron St., Ypsi. $5 (students, $4). riversidearts.org/riverside-swings.

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“Comedy Gauntlet”: Hear.Say Brewing + Theater
9:30 pm - 10:30 pm
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“Comedy Gauntlet”: Hear.Say Brewing + Theater
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Short sets by 16 area stand-up comics who then advance in tournament brackets over four rounds until a winner is decided. 9:30–10:30 p.m., 2350 W. Liberty. $15 in advance at heardotsay.com/events and $18 (if available) at the door. [email protected].

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