Calendar

Mar. 8–Apr. 24. Reprise of the summer production of this interactive performance art piece curated by NYC theater artists Abigail Browde and Michael Silverstone—the duo behind the Obie-winning company 600 Highwaymen—in which 2 randomly chosen ticket holders meet on opposite ends of a table, separated by a pane of glass, to follow a scripted set of prompts. The questions start out simple (“Have you ever broken a bone?”) and grow progressively more intimate (“Have you ever broken a heart?”) with the aim of encouraging storytelling, triggering imagination, and nurturing empathy. The hour-long encounter ends in a “startling and powerful,” way according to the New York Times reviewer, who also called the piece “a joy,” and “a work of inquisitive humanity and profound gentleness.” Suitable for ages 16 & up. 1, 2:30, 4, 5:30, & 7 p.m. (Tues.–Sun.), UMMA Irving Stenn Jr. Family Gallery, 525 S. State. Tickets $10 (students, $5). Preregistration required at a2sf.org or by calling 764–2538. Mask required. BoxOffice@a2sf.org

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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. 

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Apr. 1 & 8. U-M organ students (Apr. 1) & EMU organ students (Apr. 8) perform programs TBA. Noon, First Presbyterian Church, 1432 Washtenaw. Mask required. Free. 604-3205.

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U-M carillon professor Tiffany Ng plays Burton Tower’s set of 55 English bells in a program highlighted by the premiere of commissioned pieces by Bongani Ndodana-Breen, Chantal Willie-Petersen, and Kendall Williams–the first carillon works ever written by Black South African composers. Also, arrangements of traditional Native American, Curaçaoan, and Indonesian songs. Noon, Burton Tower, Central Campus. Free. 764-0594.

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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.

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This month’s home schedule includes 3-game series vs. Iowa (Apr. 1-3), Cal State Fullerton (Apr. 8-10), and Ohio State (Apr. 22-24), and a single game vs. IPFW (Apr. 6, 4 p.m.). 4 p.m. (Fri.), 2 p.m. (Sat.), & 1 p.m. (Sun.), Ray Fisher Stadium, 1114 S. State St. $6 ($8 in advance). mGOblue.com, 764–0247.

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Apr. 1–3 & 8–10. EMU theater staff member Pam Cardell directs EMU drama students in William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s Tony-winning 2004 musical comedy about  the quirky contestants in a spelling bee  and the equally quirky grown-ups who run it. An unusual aspect of the show is that 4 audience members are invited on stage to compete in the spelling bee. Music direction by EMU lecturer and composer R. MacKenzie Lewis. 7 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), EMU Legacy Theater, 124 Judy Sturgis Hill Bldg., Ypsilanti. Tickets $12–18 in advance at EMUtix.com & at the door. 487-2282.

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This 18-member all-female student company presents an energetic, family-friendly program of original dances that range from lyrical jazz to hip-hop and tap. Although the students aren’t dance majors, Impact’s quality of dance is quite high. Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, 911 North University. Mask and proof of vaccination (or negative Covid PCR test within 72 hours) required. Tickets $10 (students, $5) in advance at the muto.umich.edu & at the door. impactdance@umich.edu.

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Yeo Ryeong Ahn and Leonard Bopp conduct this ensemble of musicians from the U-M medical and life sciences staff in a Parisian-themed program featuring Mozart’s Paris Symphony, Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement, and the first 2 movements of both Debussy’s La Mer & Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. Hill Auditorium. Mask required. Free. 936-ARTS.

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High-energy performance by this U-M student percussion-and-dance ensemble, which uses both traditional and nontraditional instruments (trash cans, propane tanks, toothbrushes, and more). Michigan Theater. Mask & proof of vaccination (or negative Covid test within past 72 hours) required. Tickets $8 (students, $5) in advance at mutotix.umich.edu, and (if available) at the door. (800) 745–3000.

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Apr. 1 & 2. Known as a “clean” comic with a relaxed and homey style, Stevens targets every area of ordinary life, from old people problems to why Jesus really was from Alabama. Preceded by 2 opening acts TBA. Alcohol is served. 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 10 p.m. (Sat.), 212 S. Fourth Ave. $15 reserved seating in advance at etix.com before 6 p.m. the night of the show; $17 general admission at the door. 996–9080.

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A showcase of the pioneer soul singer’s music by his youngest daughter, Carla Cooke, a composer-vocalist whose style, like her father’s, ranges across gospel, R&B, soul, and pop genres. 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.

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Casaundra Freeman directs this Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu drama—the 1st post-lockdown play to open on Broadway—that brings the big questions of Waiting for Godot into contemporary life. Two young black men meet under a streetlight, talk smack, pass time, and hope for a better life. The New York Times called the play “blazingly theatrical and thrillingly tense.”8 p.m. (Thurs.-Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Theatre Nova, 410 W. Huron St. Tickets $22 in advance at theatre-nova.ticketleap.com & at the door. Mask & proof of vaccination (or negative Covid test within past 48 hours). 635-8450.

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Mar. 31–Apr. 10. U-M theater alum Héctor Flores Komatsu directs U-M drama students in U-M theater professor José Casas’ drama about 5 homeless teens living in a rundown L.A. motel. Told through a series of vignettes, the play paints a picture of the cruel realities in which the most marginalized struggle to survive—all the while doing so in the shadow of Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. 8 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 2 p.m. (Sun.), and 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.). Arthur Miller Theatre, 1226 Murfin, North Campus. Tickets $33 in advance at tickets.smtd.umich.edu and at the door. Mask & proof of vaccination (or negative Covid test within past 72 hours) required. 764.2538.

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Apr. 1–2. Acclaimed NYC-based dancer-choreographer Teicher leads his 12-member company—including the renowned dancers Evita Arce, LaTasha Barnes, Nathan Bugh, and Macy Sullivan—in a program of choreographed and improvised dancing to the music of the 10-piece Eyal Vilner Big Band. Often referred to as the “original” swing dance, Lindy Hop was born in Harlem in the late 1920s and became popular during the swing era a decade later. It is characterized by fast rotations, swing outs, and high-energy footwork. Following the performance, audience members are invited to join a swing dance jam. A family-oriented version of this show is presented at 1 p.m. on Apr. 2 (see listing). Also, on Mar. 31 (7 p.m., Cahoots, 206 E. Huron), Paulette Brockington leads a Lindy Hop dance workshop ($15, pre-registration required at ums.org/performance/ums-101-swing-out) and on Apr. 3 (11 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Riverside Arts Center, Ypsilanti), members of Teicher’s company lead a free participatory introduction (pre-registration required at ums.org/performance/you-can-dance-caleb-teicher-company) to the Lindy Hop for dancers of all levels age 13 & up.  Power Center. Mask and proof of vaccination (or negative Covid PCR test within 72 hours) required. Tickets $30 in advance ($12-$20 students) at ums.org, by phone, and (if available) at the door. 764–2538.

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Mar. 31-Apr. 2. U-M dance students perform choreography by 2 dance MFA candidates. A Thread in Blood, choreographed by Duoduo Wang, looks at Chinese diasporic identity and culture through the memories and experiences of an old lady who emigrated 40 years ago to Manhattan’s Chinatown. J’Sun Howard’s A Particular Embraced Affinity of Veering explores the radical ways in which Black people subvert time, race, gender, and family history to counter systemic racism and injustice.Dance Performance Studio, 1000 Baits, North Campus. Tickets $10 at the door only. Mask required. 764-9537.

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(Tom Hooper, 2019). Musical fantasy film decried by critics that appears to be getting a second chance in a bid for cult status. Based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage show. 10 p.m. 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.

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