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Art & Soul: The Performing Arts - Local Theatre, Comedy, And Multiple Book Events

This week, "Art and Soul" focuses on the performing arts in our area.  89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry is joined by local writer and reviewer Jenn Mckee and local actor Dominic Seipenko, talking about his part in the musical now being put on by the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre…and even sings a bit!

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

Based on the 1988 Steve Martin-Michael Caine comedy filmof the same name, this original Broadway musical starred John Lithgow and Joanna Gleason and ran nearly two years.  The role of the Steve Martin character won Norbert Leo Butz a Tony award.  The music is written by the Tony-award-winning composer of THE BAND’S VISIT David Yazbek.

This hysterical musical comedy has a delightfully jazzy score that lets audiences tag along to the French Riviera to see what happens when two lifelong con men from different milieu realize one small French town isn’t big enough for the both of them.  A wager about who can be the first to swindle $50,000 from an American heiress leads to a game of con artistry one-upmanship that will keep you laughing the whole way through.

The A2CT production is primarily being developed by the actors and directors together through the use of improvisation and theatre games.  The cast and crew are a combination of long-time Civic volunteers and new ones.  Glenn Bugala has directed five dramas in the past seven years and was bound and determined to direct a comedy this time.  “We can all use some comedy these days,” he said.

Performances at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre in the Michigan League, 911 N. University Avenue, Ann Arbor

Sept. 6-9, 2018

Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday-Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm

Tickets $15- $28, Buy online (a2ct.org), by phone (734-971-2228) or at the door.

COMEDY

Hasan Minhaj: Before The Storm

Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 7 PM

2nd show added! Saturday, September 8,2018 at 10 PM

Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millenial Tour

Friday, September 28, 2018 at 8 PM

MUSIC

A2SO Opening Night

Sept. 15, 8 p.m., Hill Auditorium
Bolcom Ann Arbor Saturday, premiere of new commission
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue with Aaron Diehl, piano
Gershwin “I Got Rhythm” Variations with Aaron Diehl, piano
Dvořák Symphony No. 9 in E minor “From the New World”
with Michigan premiere of original visual choreography by Adrian Wyard

Aug. 25, 8 p.m.  "From Swing to Surf:" The Ark.

Local guitar genius George Bedard hosts his 6th annual History of American Music show.  He's joined by other local roots-music icons, singer-guitarist Steve Nardella and pianist Mark "Mr. B." Braun. 

UMS Opening Event: 50th Anniversary Live Presentation of “2001: A Space Odyssey”
Friday, September 21, 2018 8:00 PM // Hill Auditorium Free Season Opening Event!

With live orchestral and choral music accompaniment.

THEATER

“The Totalitarians” at Theatre Nova

Every Thurs.-Sun., Sept. 7-30. Carla Milarch directs the Michigan premiere of San Francisco-based playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's 2014 political satire about a high-strung campaign manager trying to make her client-a character based on Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann-a viable candidate for lieutenant governor of Nebraska.  "Nachtrieb's script elevates the cliché of bloviating politicians by peppering in actual jokes," says a Springs on Stage (Colorado Springs) review. "It's The West Wing meets The Devil's Advocate, in the weirdest way possible."  Cast: Diane Hill, Connor Forrest Hutchings, Tory Matsos, and Joe Zarrow. 
8 p.m. (Thurs.-Sat.) & 2 p.m. (Sun.), The Yellow Barn, 416 W. Huron.  Tickets (if available) are $22 or pay what you can afford, in advance at theatrenova.org and at the door.

YpsiFest

Aug. 24-26. The rebranded Ypsilanti Heritage Festival features historical exhibits, live entertainment, kids activities, bounce houses, hot air balloon rides (6-9 p.m. at Frog Island each day & 6-9 a.m. on Sat.), food vendors, art & crafts sales, yoga (10 a.m. Sat. & 11:45 a.m. Sun.), the Magical History Tour Bus (Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.), a rubber duckie race (Sun., 5 p.m.), and more.  Come celebrate our 40th year. Ring of Steel shows, children's movie night on Saturday, or listen to one of our 24 music performances including YOUR GENERATION performing Friday night at 7. Riverside Park, 1 E Cross, Ypsilanti.  Free.  734-483-6071.

BOOKS

Aug. 29, 7 p.m.  Adam Schefter: Nicola's Books. 

This ESPN analyst (and U-M alum) is joined by Sports Illustrated journalist Michael Rosenberg to discuss The Man I Never Met, his memoir about being married to a woman whose first husband died in 9/11. Signing. 7 p.m., Nicola’s Books, 2513 Jackson Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48103.  Tickets here(includes a signed copy of the book).  662-0600. 

16th Annual Kerrytown BookFest

Sunday, September 9th 

10:30 am - 5:00 pm

Author Panels & Events

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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu

Lisa Barry was a reporter, and host of All Things Considered on 89.1 WEMU.
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