The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin
@ Meadow Brook Theatre
What happens when you go to prison for a white-collar crime only to find your family has pieced together a life without you upon your return home? The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin seeks to find out. The plot follows Durnin as he desperately tries to put his life back together — with an utter disregard to disrupting his family’s new way of living. His son’s wary, but nice enough to let his father crash on his couch. He’ll soon find out if he’s changed his ways or just full of empty promises.
Shows start at 8 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday; 378 Meadow Brook Rd., Rochester; 248-377-3300; mbtheatre.com; tickets are $33.
The New Negress Society, Penny Stamps speaker series @ Michigan Theater. Photo via stamps.umich.edu.
The New Negress Film Society
@ Michigan Theater
Black women are one of the most disenfranchised groups in America. So, a group of five filmmakers (all women, all black) wanted to change the narrative. They formed the New Negress Film Society as a means to exhibit, support, and raise consciousness around the work of marginalized filmmakers. With a focus on breaking political and artistic boundaries in film as well as creating challenging films, the group is making waves for their groundbreaking work. During this installment of University of Michigan’s popular Penny Stamps speaker series, the women of the New Negress Film Society will talk about how they progressively try and break the standard boundaries in filmmaking.
Starts at 5:10 p.m.; 603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor; stamps.umich.edu; admission is free.
Thur, 3/23-Sun, 3/26
Henry V
@ Frederick K. Stearns home
OK, this show is a treat. Henry V is the 11th production of homegrown theater company Shakespeare in Detroit and it’s not going to take place on some stage in some theater — how passé! No, instead this classic work will unfold inside the ballroom of the historic Stearns home located on East Jefferson in Detroit. The home was built for pharmaceutical barron Frederick K. Stearns in the early 1900s. It’s no longer inhabited; instead it’s been refurbished for office space, making it the perfect place to put on inclusive versions of the Bard’s work. Tickets are $25, but you can pay a little more for premium seating.
Shows start at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday; 8109 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; shakespeareindetroit.com; general admission is $25.
Fri, 3/24-Sat, 3/25
Seussical the Musical
@ McMorran Theater
Fans of the whimsical world of Dr. Suess will enjoy this complex amalgamation of his most popular works, set to song and dance to spectacular effect. The family-friendly production will feature parts of Horton Hears a Who, Horton Hatches the Egg, and Miss Gertrude McFuzz among others, and the Cat in the Hat hosts and MCs the whole thing. It’ll be fun, we promise.
Show starts at 8 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday; 701 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron; 810-985-6166; mcmorran.com; tickets start at $15.
Friday, 3/24
My Body is Political
@ Riopelle
Forget objectification — the bodies of women, queer, and trans people are the subject of endless political ire for no reason other than they exist in this world. Now, some Detroiters are hoping to turn this negative into a positive by hosting an art show that celebrates the struggles we face and the bodies we live in. This exhibit promises to “put truth to power through the narratives surrounding our bodies and identities.” Organizers urge people to attend the exhibit in order to share in the narrative of others in their community.
Start at 7 p.m.; 1492 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; riopelle.co; admission is free.
Friday, 3/24
Artlab J Detroit Revival Project
@ Detroit Institute of Arts
Dance enthusiasts will enjoy this coordinated effort by Artlab J and ConTempus that seeks to bring live music performance and improvisational dance performance together for a unique experience that will help ignite a love of dance in our community. Artlab J is a local nonprofit with goals “to create unity between the city’s dance companies, educational institutions, individual artists, and beyond” while working toward bridging gaps between Detroit and other artists communities. This unique showcase inside the Detroit Institute of Arts will give people a free opportunity to see what they’re all about — while enjoying multiple artistic mediums.
Shows at 7 and 8:30 p.m.; 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org; free with admission.
Friday, 3/24
Dick Wagner benefit concert
@ Motor City Soundboard
The Dick Wagner “Remember the Child” Fund is a unique and worthy charity. The organization provides “musical instruments, teachers, cash funding — and the soul-healing opportunity of learning to play a musical instrument” to hospitalized children. This concert, which will be the third annual benefit show held in Detroit, is set to feature some pretty rad performers. This includes Mark Farner from the incomparable Grand Funk Railroad, Suzi Quatro (who in addition to playing Leather Tuscadero on Happy Days was the first woman in rock to make it to the top as a bass player), Kip Winger, Jimmie Bones, Johnny “Bee” Badanjek, the Accidentals, and more.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit; dwrtc.org; Tickets are $25-$150.
Fri, 3/24-Sun, 3/26
Dirty Dancing
@ Fox Theatre
We know what you’re thinking: “Nobody puts Baby in a corner!” But, c’mon, this show has so much more to offer than this seriously iconic quote. Those things include: sexy dancing, tight pants, the tickle scene, more sexy dancing, singing, and I think that’s about it. For all its inherent corniness, the show is a runaway success and people all over the world have said things like, “This stage version is a phenomenon” and other such pleasantries. It’s only in town for this one weekend so if you’re dying to hear “The Time of my Life” performed live on stage you have limited opportunities to do so.
Starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, show starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday; 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-471-6611; olympiaentertainment.com; tickets are $30-$70.
Saturday, 3/25
Molly Burch
@ The Marble Bar
Growing up absorbing the songwriting skills of the Everly Brothers and Sam Cooke, Molly Burch developed and honed her own music skills into something pretty special. She studied jazz singing at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, after being raised in Los Angeles. After college, she found herself in Austin, Texas, which is a great hub for unique music, and it was there that she began writing songs that were spectacular for her sometimes husky, sometimes light voice. In her vocal style you can hear her jazz education at times, but her music is thoroughly trippy indie fodder.
Doors open at 9 p.m.; 1501 Holden St., Detroit; facebook.com/marblebar; tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
Saturday, 3/25
Clap! Clap!
@ Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
Clap! Clap! is recognized internationally as a talented music producer, and musician himself. In his music he fuses traditional African music with U.K. bass, house, footwork, and hip-hop to create a dance music sound for all of the world to enjoy. He’s never played in Detroit, but he is definitely well-suited for the city. Detroiters like talent and he has it. If you’re not convinced, Paul Simon is a huge fan. Clap! Clap! helped produce three songs on Simon’s critically acclaimed Stranger to Stranger, and Simon has called Clap! Clap!’s album Tayi Bebba a masterpiece.
Doors open at 8 p.m.; 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; mocadetroit.org; tickets are $7 for members and $12 for non-members.
Saturday, 3/25
Our Heavenly Bodies
@ Third Man Records
Our Heavenly Bodies is a 1925 film by German director Hanns Walter Kornblum, who truly was ahead of his time in terms of what this film did. It was a look at what scientists already knew of the world of astronomy, and of what could happen with the dawn of space travel. The film is a masterpiece, made with basically a skeleton crew of 15 special effects technicians and nine cameramen. This is a special showing of the film though, featuring Nashville-Chicago electronica group Coupler doing the live instrumentation for the movie. The group performed it initially in two shows for the Science on Screen series, and after witnessing its success, have made it a mission to bring their show and the film to theaters across the country.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; 441 W. Canfield St., Detroit; thirdmanstore.com; tickets are $10.
Jonathan Toubin @ UFO Factory.
DJ Jonathan Toubin
@ UFO Factory
Anyone who’s been knows how special and incredibly fun the Soul Clap and Dance-Off is. In honor of the event’s 10th anniversary, DJ Jonathan Toubin, the man who Rolling Stone called the most liked man in soul, brings it back to UFO. Mary Cobra (Detroit Cobras), Dina Bankole (Seraphine Collective), Geoffroy Larue (Suck It!), Roe Peterhans and Dave Buick (Third Man Cass Corridor), Nisa Seal (cheerleader), and Joe Aasim (Metropolis cycles, Former CHAMP) will serve as the judges for the competition. It’s going to be a pretty fun, soul-filled night.
Show starts at 9 p.m.; 2110 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; ufofactory.com; Tickets are $10.
Spring Toy Show @ Royal Oak Farmers Market.
Spring Toy Show
@ Royal Oak Farmers Market
Do you have a secret (or, hey, maybe not-so-secret) collection of Lincoln Logs? Or a menagerie of in-the-box action figures a la The 40-Year-Old Virgin? Well, my friend, your toy-collecting constituents are meeting up at the Spring Toy Show at the Royal Oak Farmers Market and it’s going to be great. Patrons will have a chance to buy, sell, and appraise their toys and collectables while mingling with those of their ilk. This year’s market will have a special emphasis on Star Wars and superhero collectibles, plus the usual round up of Michigan and Detroit-themed toys, action figures, matchbox cars, board games, posters and books, rock ’n’ roll memorabilia, board games, and more. There will be 30 dealers from across the Midwest.
Show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; 316 E. 11 Mile Rd., Royal Oak; 248-246-3276; tickets are $4 for adults and free for kids 12 and younger.
Saturday, 3/25
Public Pool Benefit with John Doe and Exene Cervenka
@ The Jam Handy Building
For seven years, Public Pool Art Gallery has provided a place of artists across the boards of mediums, genders, backgrounds, experiences, and ages to display their work to the public. The gallery has never had to fundraise before, but they need the help in order to expand programming in and out of the gallery. To make this happen, a 21-plus event featuring the exceptional talents of John Doe and Exene Cervenka (in a very rare all-acoustic set — maybe they’ll do a number of Knitters songs?!), and the impossibly good Vitas.
Doors open at 7 p.m.; 2900 E. Grand River Ave., detroit.eventful.com; Tickets are $15.
Saturday, 3/25
Yo Gotti with Migos and Blac Youngsta
@ The Masonic Temple
You’d have to be deaf to have not heard Migos at this point. The group’s album, Culture, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart, and their success has yet to stumble. (It seems like “Bad and Boujee” is always on the radio.) Yo Gotti has been a major part of the “Dirty South” scene since the late ’90s, and has remained one of the most steadily successful hardcore rappers from the region. You might remember Blac Youngsta from his hit song “Heavy.” All three performers at this show make a great trifecta of Southern hardcore rap.
Doors open at 7 p.m.; 500 Temple Rd., Detroit; themasonic.com; tickets are $59-$125.
Saturday, 3/25
Benefit for Freedom House
@ Trinosophes
Freedom House, the only charity in the United States that provides social services, legal aid, and shelter to refugees, will lose its HUD funding on April 1. This means that they’re losing 60 percent of their funding, which they’ve relied on for 20 years. In order to keep helping asylum-seekers, the organization has to be able to supplement the money that they’re losing. In order to help out, Trinosophes is hosting a pretty fantastic evening. First up is a multi-course dinner prepared by chefs from Sister Pie, Detroit Mushroom Factory, Brooklyn Street Local, Supino Pizzeria, Coriander Kitchen & Farm, Norma G’s, Divine Indulgence, and Warda Patisserie. Yum. And that’s not all. An after-party featuring the exceptional Kyle Hall, Warren DeFever (solo), and the super cool Odu Afrobeat Orchestra follows.
Doors open at 9 p.m.; 1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; facebook.com/Trinosophes; dinner tickets are $125 and the show itself is $10.
Sunday, 3/26
Marche du Nain Rouge
@ Cass and Canfield, Midtown
Like the vernal equinox, the Marche du Nain Rouge has become a herald of springtime in Detroit: Locals gather in the Cass Corridor, clad in red and black disguises, and chase the folkloric Detroit villain the Nain Rouge (“Red Dwarf”) out of town. Of course, half the fun of the parade is the pro-Nain contingency, which believes the Nain is a misunderstood benevolent spirit and that legend of the Nain Rouge has become lost in translation. No matter what side you’re on, there’s no denying Marche du Nain Rouge is indisputably one of the most interesting Detroit traditions, if only a recent one.
Festivities start at noon; parade departs at 1 p.m.; Cass and Canfield, Detroit; marchedunainrouge.com; free.
Sunday, 3/26
The Sonics
@ El Club
Nirvana might have brought grunge music to the mainstream, and TAD might’ve been the first pretty successful grunge band, but the genre might not exist without the Sonics. These guys in the 1960s in Washington (obviously) discovered that tuning their guitars to drop-D and making their music sound as dirty and weird as possible was brilliant, but maybe a little too visionary for 1965. After the band dissolved, interest resurged with the dawning of punk rock in the ’70s, and grunge in the ’90s. In spite of musicians paying them their respect over the decades, it took until 2014 for the band to come back together to record the follow-up to their 1965 debut: the Jim Diamond-produced This Is the Sonics.
Show starts at 9 p.m.; 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; elclubdetroit.com; tickets are $20.
Wednesday, 3/29
Jay and Silent Bob Get Old
@ The Fillmore
A whole generation grew up watching Jay and Silent Bob movies (namely Mallrats, Clerks, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Dogma, and Chasing Amy), but that generation is grown now and Jay and Silent Bob are even more grown. And by more grown we mean old. Filmmaker Kevin Smith (Silent Bob) and actor Jason Mewes (Jay) opine on aging weekly during their podcast, “Jay and Silent Bob Get Old” and now they’re bringing a live version to a stage near you.
Doors open at 7 p.m.; 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-961-5451 thefillmoredetroit.com; tickets start at $20.
