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Events in April 2022
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April 29, 2022
U-M Natural History Museum Planetarium.
Every Fri.–Sun. Three different audiovisual planetarium shows suitable for all ages. Sea Monsters (Fri.–Sun., 11:30 a.m.) follows an adventurous Late Cretaceous dolichorhynchops as she travels through the ocean, encountering long-necked plesiosaurs, giant turtles, sharks, and the most dangerous sea monster of all, the mosasaur. The Sky Tonight (Fri.–Sun., 12:30 & 2:30 p.m.) is an exploration of the current night sky, with tips on how to find the cardinal directions, constellations, and planets on your own. Natural Selection (Fri.–Sun., 1:30 p.m.) joins Darwin on his voyage with HMS Beagle to the Galápagos Islands where he was inspired to develop his theory of transmutation by natural selection. Various times, U-M MNH, 1105 North University. Check ummnh.org for the latest Covid protocols. $8. Limited capacity. 764–0478.
"Portable Disaster Proof House: Take It With You!!!” an exhibition by Tracey Snelling
Creal Microgallery presents "Portable Disaster Proof House: Take It With You!!!," a small-scale installation work by Tracey Snelling, echoing several other installations by the artist, that are concurrently on view in Ann Arbor. This installation pulls together pop cultural elements to create a "safe space" filled with tropical sunset wallpaper, movie posters, and Keanu Reeves. Snelling's installations often take on multiple scales at once-- existing in life size and miniature simultaneously. This exhibition conjures a space that is at once comforting and overwhelming, centering and disorienting.
Creal Microgallery is a breadbox-sized exhibition space on Creal Crescent in Ann Arbor, visible from the sidewalk and lit up most nights until 11pm.
Just Between Friends Sale.
Apr. 28–May 1. Show and sale of maternity items, baby and children’s clothes, toys, and baby gear. 4–9 p.m. (Thurs.), 10 a.m.–7 p.m. (Fri.), & 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. (Sat.) & 9 a.m.–noon (Sun.), Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. Free, but $3 “priority pass” allows you to cut the line if capacity is full and there is a wait. Also, special times for essential workers. Preregistration required at bit.ly/jbfsale2022. sarahgarot@jbfsale.com.
Chime Concert: Kerrytown Market & Shops.
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.). Kerrytown Market. Free. ofGlobal@aol.com.
Tai Chi: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
Every Mon., Wed., & Fri. 30 min. online lesson on gentle Tai Chi for older adults. Beginners welcome.2401 Plymouth Road. For more information and URL, email info.tswp@umich.edu or call 998-9353.
Walking Group: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
Via Zoom. For more information and URL, email info.tswp@umich.edu or call 998-9353.
Bridge: U-M Turner Senior Wellness Program.
Every Tues. & Fri. Some experience necessary.2401 Plymouth Road. Free. 998-9353, info.tswp@umich.edu.
Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor City Club.
Every Tues., Thurs. & Fri. All invited to play ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge (Tues., Fri.), or a 499er game (Thus.). If you plan to come without a partner, email kahanae@yahoo.net or ronmeade@comcast.net beforehand. 1–4 p.m. or so (arrive by 12:50 p.m.), City Club, 1830 Washtenaw Ave. $6 per person.
U-M Clements Library Tour.
Apr. 8 & 29. Hour-long docent-led tour of the Clements’s early American history collection featuring Benjamin West’s iconic painting The Death of General Wolfe, a Revolutionary War-era trunk that once housed British commander-in-chief Thomas Gage's papers, and more. 4:15 p.m. Clements Library, 909 South University. Mask required. Free, preregistration required at myumi.ch/Aw9Zb. 649–3370.
Navigating Disability in 19th-Century America: U-M Clements Library.
Guided tour of this special exhibit, curated by members of a combined undergraduate and graduate course on disability history and literature at U-M, examining what it was like to be disabled in the United States before the modern category of “disability” existed. 5-8 p.m., Clements Library, 909 S. University. Preregristration required at myumi.ch/Aw9Zb. Free. 764-2347.
U-M Softball.
This month’s schedule for the powerhouse U-M team includes a 3-game series Penn State (Apr. 8, 4 p.m., Apr. 9, 2 p.m., & Apr. 10, 1 p.m.), Ohio State (Apr. 22, 6 p.m., Apr. 23, 2 p.m., & Apr. 24, noon), and Minnesota (Apr. 29, 6 p.m., Apr. 30, 4 p.m., & May 1, noon) and a single game vs. MSU (Apr. 6, 6 p.m.) & CMU (Apr. 12, 4 p.m.). Alumni Field, 1255 S. State St. $6–10. mGOblue.com, 764–0247.
“Euchre Change a Life!”
Five-game euchre tournament. Prizes. Food & drink available; bring a snack to share, if you wish. Quarters are collected each time a team gets euchred. Bring a partner or come by yourself and get paired up. Proceeds benefit Haitian children. 6:30-9 p.m. (check-in closes at 6:15 p.m.), 2|42 Community Center, 648 S. Wagner. $10 donation in advance by Apr. 27 at facebook.com/EuchreChangeALife, $20 at the door. EuchreChangeALife@gmail.com.
“The Mystery of…”: Huron High School Players.
Apr. 29-May 1. Claire Federhofer directs Huron students in Huron senior Ari Yaffe-Inoue’s comic murder mystery driven by audience choices throughout the show. 7 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sat.-Sun.), HHS Ingram Theater, 2727 Fuller. Mask required. Tickets $8 (students, staff, & seniors, $6; livestream, $6) in advance at huronplayers.weebly.com/links & at the door. 994-2040.
“Tuck Everlasting”: Father Gabriel Richard High School Drama Club.
Apr. 28-May 1. Elizabeth Champion directs this student theater ensemble in a production of Chris Miller & Nathan Tysen’s 2014 musical adaptation of Natalie Babbitt’s 1975 novel about a family that has learned the secret of immortality and tries to persuade a young neighbor that living forever may not be such a good thing. 7 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Whitmore Lake High School, 7430 Whitmore Lake Rd. Tickets $10 (kids, $5; families, $30). echampion@fgrhs.org.
“A Thousand Faces”: The Encore Musical Theatre Company.
Every Thurs.–Sun., Apr. 21-May 1. Sam Scalamoni directs this local professional theater company in the premiere of the NYC-based husband-and-wife team of Eric Lane and Rachel Devore Fogarty’s 2020 musical about the life of Lon Chaney, a silent film star born to deaf parents who specialized in outsider characters, earning fame as the star of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925). Music direction by Gary Adler. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), Encore, 7714 Ann Arbor St., Dexter. Tickets $46 (seniors & youth $44) in advance at theencoretheatre.org and at the door. 268-6200.
“Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic”: Skyline High School Theater.
Apr. 29–May 1. Anne-Marie Roberts directs SHS students in Matt Cox’s 2015 comedic retelling of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books from the perspective of the underachieving “Puffs.” 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 2 p.m. (Sun.), SHS Experimental Theater, 2552 N. Maple. Mask required. Tickets $5 in advance only at skylinehstheatre.org/cart. 994–6515.
“Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Ghost Machine”: Purple Rose Theatre Company.
Every Wed.-Sun, Apr. 15-Aug. 27. Angie Kane directs the world premiere of Livonia playwright David MacGregor’s drama that imagines the Victorian sleuth, aided by Dr. Watson and Irene Adler, solving the disappearance of world-changing inventions by clients Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. Cast: David Bendena, Caitlin Cavannaugh, Mark Colson, Sarab Kamoo, Rusty Mewha, and Paul Strobili. 3 p.m. (Wed., Thurs., & Sat.), 8 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St., Chelsea. Mask and proof of vaccination required. Tickets $25-51 in advance at PurpleRoseTheatre.org and by phone, and (if available) at the door. Discounts available for students, seniors, teachers, military personnel, and groups. 433–7673.
John Ford Coley: Green Wood Coffee House Series (First United Methodist Church).
Veteran country-rock and country-pop singer best known as one half of the 70s duo England Dan and John Ford Coley. 8 p.m. (doors 7:30), FUMC Green Wood Church, 1001 Green Rd. at Glazier Way. $20 in advance at greenwoodcoffeehouse.org and at the door. Pre-registration recommended. Mask and proof of vaccination required. 665–8558.
Open House: Detroit Observatory.
April 15, 22, & 29. A chance to explore the observatory's 19th-century building and telescopes. Visitors will also get an opportunity to observe the night sky through its historic Fritz refracting telescopes.
“Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery”: Michigan Theater.
(Jay Roach, 1997). Spy comedy starring Mike Myers as both Austin Powers and his arch-enemy Dr. Evil. The first installment of a series that sends up British spy films and 1960s and 70s pop culture. Mask and proof of vaccination (or negative Covid test within 72 hours) required for all patrons over the age of 12. Tickets $10.50 unless otherwise noted (children under 12, students, seniors age 65 & older, & U.S. veterans, $8.50; MTF members, $8) in advance online (recommended) & at the door. For updated schedule, see MichTheater.org.
