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Art And Soul - The Performing Arts: It's Shakespeare Season!

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Credit The Michigan Shakespeare Festival
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival's production of "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar."

This week, Art and Soul is about the performing arts in our area.  89.1 WEMU'S Lisa Barry is joined by local journalist and arts blogger Jenn McKee to talk about many of the events taking place right now in our area.  They are joined by a special guest, Janice Blixt, the producing artistic director of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival, who speaks about their current and upcoming performances.

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival is the official Shakespeare festival of the state of Michigan.

Janice and her husband David Blixt are currently starring in the current production of "Taming of the Shrew."  They met while performing the same show together 20 years ago and are now married with two children. Janice Blixt also discusses the controversial "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar" show they are doing, but without the controversial part.

Jenn and I also discuss several other upcoming local performances, including “9 to 5: The Musical,” which is taking place at Encore Theatre in Dexter from August 3-27 and Lyle Lovett & His Large Band Presented by The Ark.  That performance will be held on August 4 at 8 p.m. at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor.

Credit Jenn McKee
Local journalist and arts blogger Jenn McKee.

We also talk about several upcoming festivals including the 11th annual NashBash, Ypsilanti Heritage Festival, and the 18th Annual Milan Bluegrass Festival.

NashBash is being headlined by Nashville singer/songwriter Becky Warren and will also include Whit Hill and the Postcards, as well as local favorites Thunderwude, John Holk and the Sequins, The Whiskey Charmers, and The Bill Edwards Band.  That’s happening Thursday, August 17 from 5-9:30 p.m. with after-party at the Aut Bar.

The Ypsilanti Heritage Festival goes from August 25-27 and is being held at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti.  The Heritage Festival is a community event featuring arts & crafts, live music, family activities  and entertainment, historical presentations, and demonstrations.

The Milan Bluegrass Festivalruns from August 3-5 at KC Campground in Milan.  This year, the festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and consists of three days of bluegrass music performed by leading regional and national performers.

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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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