This week, "Art and Soul" is about the performance arts. WEMU's Lisa Barry and Wendy Wright talk about the many different performances taking place locally from theatre to jazz to community concerts.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCE ARTS EVENTS
THEATER
DJ WHITTINGTON'S KOOL KAT: A HIP-HOP PANTO
by CARLA MILARCH and R MACKENZIE LEWIS
Theatre Nova
Fri-Sun November 29th – December 29th
Kids ages 2 to 102 will enjoy this rollicking family entertainment, complete with heroes, villains, original tunes, and parodies of popular songs, physical comedy, and fun (and candy!) -- this time set to the hip-hop stylings of DJ Whittington and his Kool Kat’s sick beats.
by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello
Kickshaw Theatre
Bobcat Bonnie’s (formerly Bona Sera) - Ypsilanti
Friday - Sunday, December 13th – 22nd
Working in Santaland for the holiday season, as a reluctant, but relentlessly cheerful, elf, newly christened “Crumpet” shares his observations of the mayhem in front of and behind the scenes during one chaotic December. Based on real experiences, Sedaris’ beloved witty look at the combination of retail hell and theatrical spectacle that is the holiday season is sharp, narrowly observed dark comedy. Mature audiences only.
Music by Lisa Simon, Book and Lyrics by Marsha Norman
The Encore Musical Theatre Company – Dexter
Thru December 22nd
Join Mary Lennox on her journey to Yorkshire, England in this beloved tale that comes to life onstage through a hauntingly beautiful score, and a story of rediscovery, faith and love.
The Wild Swan Theater
WCC Morris Lawrence Building
December 5th – 8th (check for times)
Based on the novel by Charles Dickens, Wild Swan’s version of this wonderful holiday classic has been especially created for family audiences. A Christmas Carol tells of the astonishing transformation of miserly old Ebeneezer Scrooge after he is visited by three spirits on the night before Christmas.
A Man for Christmas: A Made for TV Musical Parody
Neighborhood Theatre Group
Fri December 13th – 15th
The BackOffice Studio – Ypsilanti
Those holiday TV musicals we know you watch are brought to the stage in an original musical parody!
Michigan Irish Repertory Theatre – Ann Arbor
Sat December 14th 2PM at Kerrytown Concert House
Sun December 15th 2PM at Michigan League Hussey Room
Presented in the style of a BBC Wales radio show, this Dylan Thomas's nostalgic story recalls his boyhood holiday experiences. Described by the New York Times as "a caroling session sprinkled with occasional reminiscences." With Welsh cakes and hot cider.
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Big Band Holidays
Hill Auditorium
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1st - 4PM
They celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with seasonal confections that put the heart and soul into the holidays. With fresh arrangements, playful improvisation, and abundant good cheer, their big band arrangements of songs both sacred and secular.
Hill Auditorium
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7th - 8PM and SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8th - 2PM
Music director Scott Hanoian conducts the UMS Choral Union and the Ann Arbor Symphony in this annual community tradition.
Power Center
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14th - 8PM and SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15th - 4PM
The ultimate holiday survival guide, taking the season head-on and celebrating all of its dysfunction, Mac reframes the songs you love and the holidays you hate, taking aim at Santa’s lap, nativity scenes, consumerism, and more in a dazzling, and at times shocking, take-down of the sentimentality of the holidays. For mature audiences only.
Movies
Free Holiday Classic Film Series
The Michigan Theater
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas – December 1st 1:30PM
A Christmas Story – December 8th 1:30PM
Elf – December 15th 1:30PM
It’s a Wonderful Life – December 22nd 1:30PM
The Blue Llama Jazz Club
Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Memphis Soulphony
Fri & Sat, November 29th & 30th, 7 & 930 P.M.
World citizen and consummate entertainer Dee Dee Bridgewater explores her Memphis roots with Soulphony. It’s pure party when Memphis soul meets Broadway and incomparable improvisation.
Louis Hayes: Serenade for Horace
Fri & Sat, December 6th & 7th, 7 & 9:30 P.M.
Born with a natural sense of swing and cadence, Detroit native Louis Hayes - now 82 years old - commands rapt attention from the drum throne for his charismatic leadership and pure pleasure in jazz.
Fri December 13th, 7 & 930 P.M.
It’s a holiday homecoming for the Ann Arbor guitarist. Known as a forward-thinking musician with a passion for the jazz tradition, guitarist Randy Napoleon is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University. He is currently touring as a leader after twenty years of road apprenticeship with some of the most celebrated musicians and groups of our time.
The Ark
Friday, November 29th – 8:00 PM
The annual Thanksgiving tradition continues
Saturday, November 30th – 8PM
The B-all and end-all of blues and boogie piano is a Thanksgiving weekend tradition.
Community Concerts
Dec 6th 8PM - Measure for Measure wsg the Boychoir of Ann Arbor Sounds of the Season - St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Dec 8th 2PM Ann Arbor Tuba Christmas – Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market
Dec 8th 3PM Dexter Community Band Holiday Concert – Dexter High School
Dec 12th Ypsilanti Community Choir Home for Christmas – WCC
Dec 13th 8PM Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra 8th Annual Holiday Pops Concert – Hill Auditorium
Dec 14th 7:30PM EMU Choral Program 1st Annual Candlelight Concert – Pease Auditorium
Dec 15th 4PM Dexter Community Orchestra Holiday Concert
The Nutcracker
Dec 7th & 8th 2PM -Ballet Chelsea – Chelsea High School
Dec 14th 2PM - Ann Arbor Dance Classics – Milan High School
Dec 14th 6:30PM - Academy of Russian Classical Ballet and Michigan Classical Ballet – Michigan Theater
Dec 14th 7PM & 15th 3PM – Dance Alliance – Saline High School
Dec 21st 2PM & 8PM - Randazzo Dance Company – Power Center
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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