Calendar

May 13-15. Adrienne Pisoni directs young local actors—the same cast that rehearsed this show before it was waylaid by the pandemic 2 years ago—in Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin’s musical. The story, based on Roald Dahl’s children’s novel, centers on a precocious 5-year-old girl with the gift of telekinesis who loves reading and overcomes obstacles caused by her family and school. Ben Brantley, writing for the New York Times, called the original Broadway production “a sweet and sharp-witted work …  which ... turns dark and sodden anxieties into bright and buoyant fantasies.” 7 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 1 p.m. (Sat.), & 2 p.m. (Sun.), Power Center. Tickets $15 (age 18 & under and 65 & over, $10) in advance at muto.umich.edu, and (if available) at the door. 763-8587.

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(Andrew Dominik, 2022). Philosophical documentary about the charismatic postpunk troubadour Nick Cave’s performance of his band the Bad Seeds’ 2019 album Ghosteen and his collaboration with Warren Ellis. Variety reviewer Jessica Kiang calls the film “floaty, disembodied, hypnotic.” 7 p.m. State Theater. 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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May 12–15. An ensemble of musicians performs hits by the New York piano man pop star, featuring “New York State of Mind,” “Piano Man,” “She’s Got a Way,” and more. 7:30 p.m. (Thurs.–Sat.) & 3 p.m. (Sun.), Encore, 7714 Ann Arbor St., Dexter. Vaccination or negative Covid PCR test within 72 hours required. Tickets $40 (+$3.80 fee) in advance at theEncoreTheatre.org & at the door. 268–6200.

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May 13-15. Steven Askew directs high school students in Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg, and Herbert Kretzmer’s musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s sweeping epic of 19th-century Parisian life, a large-canvas tale of human fallibility centered on a petty criminal who reinvents himself as a model citizen and becomes a town mayor and then, after another stint in jail, befriends a single mother whom he attempts to rescue from her grim circumstances. 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.), 2 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.), Skyline High School, 2552 N. Maple. Mask required. Ticket price TBA, see Ptguild.org. 994-2191.

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(Steven Lisberger, 1982). Sci-fi action-adventure film in which a computer programmer played by Jeff Bridges is transported into the software of a video game, and attempts to escape. One of the first films to use computer-generated imagery (CGI), for which it was praised. The storyline, however, was criticized as incoherent. 7:30 p.m. Michigan Theater. 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. Different times.

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May 13 & 14. A South Lyon native and EMU grad who now lives in L.A., Heffron specializes in observations about the indignities and absurdities of life, delivering sharply funny jokes on topics such as marriage performance reviews and unnecessary furniture. He won the 2nd season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, has appeared on the Tonight Show, and has a special currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Preceded by 2 opening acts TBA. Alcohol is served. 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.) & 5 p.m. (Sat.), 212 S. Fourth Ave. $30 reserved seating in advance at etix.com and general admission at the door. 996–9080.

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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. 

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May 12-15 & 18-21. Liz Greaves-Hoxsie directs local actors in Neil Simon's farce about a fancy New York dinner party that collapses into confused panic. Invited to a deputy mayor's 10th anniversary, the first couple finds the food uncooked, the host shot, and the hostess gone. Afraid of scandal, the two try to hide it from the next couple, who in turn hide it from the next, until all four couples are caught up in a fast-paced, hilarious melee of misunderstanding. Cast: Karrie Waarala, Karl Sikkenga, Wendy Ascione-Juska, Gary Lehman, Daniel Dye, Laura Bird, Adam Weakley, Veronica Long, Eric Thornburg, and Pascal Casamier. 8 p.m. (Thurs.-Sat.) and 2 p.m. (Wed. & Sun.). Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron, Ypsilanti. Tickets $18 (Students & Seniors, $12) in advance at ptdproductions.com and at the door. 483-7345.

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Vocalists Roxy Diederich, Shelley MacMillan, Gayle E. Martin, Deanna Relyea, Susan Shipman, and Kathy Waugh, with piano accompanist R. MacKenzie Lewis, celebrate the 20-year run of this popular annual show with a program, inspired by Friday the 13th, of topical, sassy, and poignant musical numbers about the mysterious forces that shape our lives. Part of a series, that runs through the summer, of cabaret shows featuring break-out groups from Wine, Women, & Song’s full 12-member cast. 8 p.m., KCH, 415 N. Fourth Ave. Mask & proof of vaccination (or negative Covid test within past 72 hours) required. Livestream available at KerrytownConcertHouse.com. Tickets $19–$80 in advance online and at the door. 769–2999.

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(Joseph Kosinski, 2010). Sci-fi action-adventure film in which Garrett Hedlund plays the son of Jeff Bridges’ 1982 Tron character who is pulled into the same cyberworld. While it received mixed reviews, the film, like its predecessor, has been described as a cult film. Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Olivia Wilde. 10 p.m. Michigan Theater. 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. Different times.

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