ART
Anton Art Center
Macomb County Secondary Student Show features student work, grades 7-12, in the main galleries. Senior student portfolios are on display in the Petitpren Community Gallery.
April 1-22. 125 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens; 586-469-8666; theartcenter.org.
Art Center
Potential 2012, a Washtenaw county high-school student show, runs through April 22. • The 2012 juried print show runs April 27-June 10.
117 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor; 734-994-8004, ext. 101; annarborartcenter.org.
Artcite
New Works by Emily Hermant features hardwood planks coming out of workbenches that swirl, rise, and bend over the viewers to raise a question – what does it mean to “make”? Through April 7.
109 University Ave. W., Windsor; 519-977-6564; artcite.ca.
Art Gallery of Windsor (AGW)
Art for Canada: An Illustrated History is the gallery’s ongoing exhibition of historic Canadian artwork. • The Optimism of Color: William Perehudoff, A Retrospective features more than 60 abstract paintings. Through April 1.
401 Riverside Dr. W., Windsor, Ontario; 519-977-0013; artgalleryofwindsor.com.
Artspace II
Works by Hughie Lee-Smith, who lived and worked for several years in Detroit, are on display. The artist is best known for lonesome urbanscapes and later paintings suggesting surrealism. April 3-28.
303 E. Maple, Birmingham; 248-258-1540; artspace2.com/artspace2.
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center (BBAC)
Entries to the Michigan Fine Arts Competition are on display in all four galleries.
1516 S. Cranbrook, Birmingham; 248-644-0866; bbartcenter.org.
Ambiguities, a 1991 oil by African-American artist Hughie Lee-Smith, is on exhibit at Artspace II.
Brown and Juanita C. Ford Gallery
Faces of Detroit: Focus and Refocus features photography by Bruce Giffin. Through April 2. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
9555 Haggerty, Belleville; 313-496-2510; wcccd.edu.
Cranbrook Art Museum
Work by Master of Fine Arts and Master of Architecture students, class of 2012, is on display April 22-May 11.
39221 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills; 248-645-3300; cranbrookart.edu/museum.
David Klein Gallery
New paintings by Betsy Eby are on display through April 14. • Art by Betty Woodman is up April 21-May 26.
163 Townsend St., Birmingham; 248-433-3700; dkgallery.com.
Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit Revealed: Photographs 2000-2010 features more than 50 photographs by contemporary artists who shed light on the Motor City through their camera lens. Through April 8. • Once Upon a Time: Prints and Drawings that Tell Stories includes artwork from familiar series, portfolios, and books. Through June 24. Admission: $8 adults; $6 seniors; $4 youth 6-17; under 5 free. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Thurs.; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.; Closed Mon.-Tue.
5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org.
Elaine L. Jacob Gallery
WSU Undergraduate Exhibition is on display April 13-May 11. Opening reception April 13.
480 W. Hancock, Detroit; 313-993-7813; art.wayne.edu.
Flint Institute of Arts
Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney highlights the artist’s journey with
more than 100 illustrations and watercolors. Through April 15. • Karsten Creightney: Works on Paper features the artist’s use of a variety of media to create images that capture the real and the imagined. Through April 29. • Captured in Glass: Historic and Contemporary Paperweights is the Decorative Arts Gallery’s inaugural exhibition, which includes 300 works. Through June 10. Admission: $7 adults; $5 seniors; under 12 free. 12-5 p.m. Mon.-Wed. and Fri.; 12-9 p.m. Thurs.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sun.
1120 E. Kearsley, Flint; 810-234-1695; flintarts.org.
Grosse Pointe Art Center
Faces/Portraits runs April 27-June 2. • Where the Wild Things Art is on display through April 14.
16900 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe; 313-821-1848; grossepointeartcenter.org.
Fredericks Sculpture Museum
A Three-Dimensional Perspective showcases artwork by Michigan artists Tom Phardel and Sharon Que. Through May 26.
7400 Bay Rd., Saginaw; 989-964-7125; svsu.edu/mfsm.
MOCAD
Joshua White and Gary Panter’s Light Show is on exhibit through April 29.
4454 Woodward, Detroit; 313-832-6622; mocadetroit.org.
Oakland University Art Gallery
Idealizing the Imaginary: Invention and Illusion in Contemporary Painting showcases the work of 14 artists exploring the expansion of the imaginary and the clichés of realism. Through April 1.
208 Wilson Hall on the Oakland University campus, Rochester; 248-370-3005; ouartgallery.org.
Paint Creek Center for the Arts
Satirical exhibition Eye Teeth: Caustic Social Visions explores aspects of the American way of life such as the mass media, cultural differences, and capitalism. On display in the Main Gallery. • The First Floor Gallery features new oil paintings, watercolors, and woodblock prints by Detroit artist Tom Humes. Both exhibitions run through April 7. • Spring Gallery Stroll features works on paper by four artists in the main gallery. On the first floor are small paintings and collages by Robert Tucker, who draws inspiration from nature. April 20-May 25.
407 Pine St., Rochester; 248-651-4110; pccart.org.
Re:View Art Gallery
Works by Megan Heeres are on display through April 14. • Art by Greg Fadell is up through April 28-May 26.
444 W. Willis, Detroit; 313-833-9000; reviewcontemporary.com.
River’s Edge Gallery
Invitational art exhibition by metro Detroit artists runs through May 11.
3024 Biddle, Wyandotte; 734-246-9880; artattheedge.com.
Toledo Museum of Art
For the Birds is inspired by the spring migration of birds. In the Gallery 18. April 6-Sept. 2. • African Art, selected by art-history students at the University of Toledo, is in the Hitchcock Galley. April 20-July 24. • Refraction/Reflection presents photographs that focus on themes of light, shadows, and reflection. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Thur.; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.; 12-6 p.m. Sun.
2445 Monroe, Toledo; 419-255-8000; toledomuseum.org.
UMMA: Recent Acquisitions
Curator’s Choice Part II features modern and historic art from America, Europe, and Asia that was donated to the museum in the past five years. Through Aug. 5. • Robert Wilson: Video 50 consists of 30-second episodes of tiny dramas that highlight surreal imagery and non-linear narratives. Through April 29. • Fluxus and the Essential Questions of Life showcases the work of artists including George Brecht and Yoko Ono as they blur the boundaries between art and life. Through May 20. • Visual art by Haroon Mirza is up through July 22. The installation explores the relationship between humans and the surrounding sounds created by objects, forces, and actions.
525 S. State St., Ann Arbor; 734-764-0395; umma.umich.edu.
Whitdel Arts
Throwback Installation Exhibition is on display through April 6. Reception March 16.
1250 Hubbard, Suite B1, Detroit; 313-899-2243; whitdelarts.com.
CLASSICAL
Chamber Music Society of Detroit
Pianist Richard Goode performs a program of Beethoven, Brahms, and Chopin, including Beethoven’s Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31 No. 3, Brahms’ Seven Fantasies, Op. 116, and several signature waltzes from Chopin. 8 p.m. April 14. $25-$75. • Baritone Matthias Goerne and pianist Leif Ove Andsnes collaborate on a mixed program of Shostakovich and Mahler. 8 p.m. April 28. $25-$75. Seligman Performing Arts Center
22305 W.13 Mile, Beverly Hills; 248-855-6070, comehearcmsd.org.
Cranbrook Music Guild
Icelandic violinist Gunnhildur Daõdadóttir performs a solo recital. 3 p.m. April 15. $30. Christ Church Cranbrook
470 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills; 248-645-0097; cranbrookmusicguild.org.
Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings
The Structurally Sound concert and lecture series presents chamber music relevant to its performance space, the Model T factory, so the musical repertoire relates to its surroundings. 2 p.m. April 1. Ford Piquette Plant
461 Piquette, Detroit; 313-872-8759; detroitchamberwinds.org.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Former DSO Music Director Neeme Järvi returns to the podium to lead the orchestra in selections from Wagner’s Die Meistersinger and a performance of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, in which he is joined by pianist Hélène Grimaud. 3 p.m. April 1. $15-$103.50. • This concert is about adventure and the discovery of new worlds as conductor Leonard Slatkin leads the DSO through Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (The New World), with Jeffrey Biegel featured as the soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and in the premiere of William Bolcom’s Prometheus. 8 p.m. April 20 and 21. $15-$103.50. •
Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward, Detroit; 313-576-5111; detroitsymphony.com.
University Musical Society
The St. Lawrence String Quartet performs new work by composer Osvaldo Golijov in a program that includes Haydn and Shafer. 7:30 p.m. April 5. $22-$46. • Paying homage to the inspiration for their group, the Pavel Haas Quartet performs one of the Czech composer’s three most famous quartets, Quartet No. 2, Op. 7 in a program that also includes quartets by Tchaikovsky and Smetana. Rackham Auditorium
915. E. Washington, Ann Arbor; 734-763-3333, ums.org.
Vivace
A lighthearted production of the operetta HMS Pinafore, with scenes from The Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance. 8 p.m. April 21. $20-$23. Birmingham Temple
28611 12 Mile, Farmington Hills; 248-788-9338 or 248-661-1348.
DANCE
Detroit Opera House
Under their new artistic director Robert Battle, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre returns to Detroit with its signature energy to present new works and timeless classics, such as Revelations. April 1. $29-$61. • A young prince is in love with a beautiful girl who is a swan by day and a human at night in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, performed by Spain’s Corella Ballet. April 27-29. $29-$61. Detroit Opera House
1526 Broadway, Detroit; 313-237-7464; detroitoperahouse.com.
Music Hall
Featuring live traditional sacred and courting songs, narratives, and creation stories, the Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre, with the support of Lakota Indian educators, perform cultural dance traditions that date back hundreds of years. 8 p.m. April 13. $30-$50.
350 Madison, Detroit; 313-887-8500; musichall.org.
Events
Spring Home and Garden Show
Landscaped gardens, planting and garden supplies, grilling, ideas for patios and decks, and home-energy tips are just a few of the offerings. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. April 1. $8-$7.
Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River, Novi; novihomeshow.com.
Friends of the Freer House
Louise Cort, curator for ceramics at the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, speaks on Painting with Pottery in the Peacock Room. The room was moved from London to Detroit, in the home of industrialist and art collector Charles Lang Freer, who lived on East Ferry Street in Detroit. Cort discusses Freer’s approach to collecting and his color harmony sensibilities. A reception and tour of the Freer Home (71 E. Ferry) follow. 2 p.m.
April 1 in the Recital Hall of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Lecture free with museum admission. Reception and tour: $10 general, students, $5. Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward, Detroit; dia.org. 313-664-2500.
313 Trivia
The Detroit Historical Society hosts 313 Trivia the first Wednesday of each month. Register as a team of three or five, or register solo and be paired with a team of players. The games feature five rounds of 10 trivia questions. Winners receive a complimentary Hard Rock Café tab for the evening, gift cards to the Hard Rock Café and two free-admission passes each to the Historical Museum. Funds raised during the competition go toward the museum’s $20.1-million Past > Forward campaign. 6:30 p.m. April 4. $10.
Hard Rock Café Detroit, 45 Monroe, Detroit; pastforward.detroithistorical.org.
First Friday Experience
Let the weekend begin with a night of art, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres in downtown Northville. On the first Friday of each month, select art galleries are open late, and guests can shop and enjoy art demonstrations. 6-9 p.m. April 6.
Downtown Northville; downtownnorthville.com.
Great Lakes Art Fair
A “weather-free” marketplace, this biannual event offers guests the opportunity to shop for wood pieces, sculptures, prints, paintings, metal, and more. April 13-15. $7.
Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River, Novi; greatlakesartfair.com. 248-348-5600, ext. 236.
Shatner’s World
We Just Live In It: Television and film star William Shatner captains a personal tour of his life and career in this one-man show. April 19. $55-$300.
Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit; shatnersworld.com.
African-American History & Culture Tour
A Stewart McMillin-led tour of Detroit explores the history of prominent African-American cultural figures and structures in metro Detroit. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. April 21. $35.
Private residence, 2136 Seminole, Detroit; stewart@mcmillintours.com, 313-922-1990.
Run for Literacy
Detroit Central City Community Mental Health Inc., (DCC) presents its first Run for Literacy: A 5K run with a 1-mile family walk that will feature the Dequindre Cut green for the first time. 10 a.m. April 22. $20, free for kids.
Rivard Plaza, 1340 E. Awater, Detroit; dcccmh.org.
Bookstock
A weeklong book sale featuring thousands of donated books, CDs, and DVDs to benefit the literacy programs of metro Detroit. April 22-29.
Laurel Park Place, 37700 W. Six Mile Rd., Livonia; 248-645-7840, ext. 365.
The Michigan Modernism Exposition Preview Party
Celebrate the start of the Modernism Exposition with hors d’oeuvres, musical entertainment, and wine as attendees get first pick on 20th-century design pieces. 7-10 p.m. April 27.
The Southfield Municipal Complex, 26000 Evergreen, Southfield; search.antiqnet.com/m&m/. 586-465-9441.
The Michigan Modernism Exposition
A showcase and sale of 20th-century modernism with more than 50 exhibitors to benefit the Detroit Area Art Deco Society. 7-11 p.m. April 27. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 28. 12-10 p.m. April 29.
The Southfield Municipal Complex, 26000 Evergreen, Southfield; search.antiqnet.com/m&m/. 586-465-9441.
Vegfest Vegetarian Taste Fest and Expo
Everything you need to know about being a vegetarian, with guest speakers, cooking and raw-food demonstrations, and vegan cuisine samples from local and national brands. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 29. $10-$5.
Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River, Novi; VegMichichigan.com.
Film
Detroit Film Theatre
Jiro Dreams of Sushi follows 85-year-old sushi chef Jiro Ono, considered to be the world’s greatest sushi chefs, on his quest for perfection while raising and mentoring his son to follow in his footsteps. April 1 and April 6-8. $7.50 adults, $6.50 students and seniors.
• Complementing the DIA exhibition Detroit Revealed: Photographs 2000-2010, Louder Than Love highlights the Detroit musical revolution of the 1960s and how the past shaped the present. April 5. $7.50 adults, $6.50 students and seniors.
• Gianni Di Gregorio plays a middle-aged retiree who has been shut out by the women in his life in the comedy The Salt of Life. April 6-8 and April 13-15. $7.50 adults, $6.50 students and seniors.
• Scott Carey (Grant Williams) lived an uncomplicated middle-class existence until a freak accident made him into The Incredible Shrinking Man. April 7. $5, and free for DIA members.
• Combining modern dance with traditional ballet, The Joffrey Ballet: Mavericks of American Dance documents the historic rise of the Joffrey dance company. April 12 and April 14. $7.50 adults, $6.50 students and seniors.
• In The Wages of Fear, four desperate men are commissioned to drive trucks of nitroglycerine over 300 miles to extinguish an oil-well fire, but the dangers of the nitro become the least of their worries as personalities clash and the environment pushes their fear to explosive limits. April 13-15 and April 20-22. $7.50 adults, $6.50 students and seniors.
• In a post-industrial Detroit, urban farming struggles to take root and provide a future for urban communities in the documentary Urban Roots. April 19. $7.50 adults, $6.50 students and seniors.
• After the death of their teacher, a Canadian elementary class is culturally shaken by Bachir Lazhar, their Algerian replacement. Monsieur Lazhar tells the story of two worlds learning through grief. April 20-22 and April 27-29. $7.50 adults, $6.50 students and seniors.
• Aristocrat Satyajit Ray clings to the past opulence and prestige of The Music Room, his now-fading mansion where he hosted concerts with the finest dancers and musicians. April 21. $5, and free for DIA members.
• Detroit/State Theater explores the literal look of theater and includes photos and performances throughout Detroit’s theaters. April 26. $7.50 adults, $6.50 students and seniors.
• For president Nasheed of the Maldives, one of the lowest- lying countries in the world, global warming is the highest priority on his agenda as the rise of the ocean brings his country closer to an impending submersion. The Island President documents Nasheed’s fight to keep his country afloat. April 27-29. $7.50 adults, $6.50 students and seniors.
• The apparently perfect crime goes wrong in The Killing as a group of ex-cons engineering a racetrack heist let their independent agendas foil the plan. April 28. $5, and free for DIA members.
5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org.
Redford Theatre
The duo Jay and Silent Bob are getting old, but they are not going to age gracefully in the live production of Jay and Silent Bob Get Old. April 13. $25.
• A clumsy laundry woman played by Mary Pickford is in love with one of her handsome customers, but her colleagues don’t think she has a chance in the bubbly film Suds. April 21. $12 for adults, $8 for children.
• James Cagney is public enemy No. 1 in The Public Enemy, and he also plays the leader of a gang in Angels with Dirty Faces. April 28. $5.
17360 Lahser, Detroit; 313-537-2560, redfordtheatre.com.
Museums
Arab American National Museum
Fighting for Democracy: Who is the “We” in “We the People?” highlights the stories of seven people and their dedication to their country and civic engagement. Through June 10.
• Patriots & Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to Our Country showcases stories of heroism and self-sacrifice that Arab-Americans have played in our country. Through June 12.
• Arab Civilization: Our Heritage features Arab contributions to the early world. Ongoing in the Community Courtyard.
• Coming to America focuses on Arab immigrants and the culture they brought to the United States. Ongoing in Gallery 1. • Living in America exhibits early Arab-American life. Ongoing exhibit in Gallery 2.
• Making an Impact celebrates the stories of Arab-American athletes, organizations, physicians, labor leaders, and entertainers. Ongoing exhibit in Gallery 3. $6 adults; $3 students and seniors. Under 5 free.
13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-582-2266, arabamericanmuseum.org.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Moving to His Own Beat-Fela: The Man, the Movement, the Music celebrates the life and music of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Through April 1.
• Great American Artists: Root, Branches, and Seeds — Part 1 includes new figurative works by artists Christopher Batten, Endie Beal, Halima Cassells, and others. Through April 29.
• The Chris Webber Collection: Exceptional People During Extraordinary Times, 1755-Present highlights rare artifacts from the personal collection of Chris Webber, native Detroiter, National Association All-Star player, and NBA announcer. His pieces reflect the lives and legacies of African-American greats such as Phyllis Wheatley, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr. Through April.
• Mixing Metaphors: The Aesthetic, Social and Political in African American Art is composed of more than 90 paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, sculptures and mixed-media by 36 artists. Through June 3.
• Stories in Stained Glass: The Art of Samuel A. Hodge focuses on three areas of African-American culture and history — musicians, dancers, and freedom advocates. It’s one of the ongoing exhibits in the Main Level Corridor.
• A Is for Africa includes 26 interactive stations making up a 3-D “dictionary” designed for children. Ongoing in the Lower Level Corridor.
• And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture is an evolving exhibit that recounts the 3.5-million-year-old odyssey that began in Africa and ends in Detroit. Ongoing in the Core Exhibition Gallery.
• Ring of Genealogy, a work designed by local artist Hubert Massey, depicts the struggles of African-Americans in the United States.
• Detroit Performs! is a photomontage dedicated to those who have called Detroit home and have gained national or international attention in the performing arts. Ongoing on the Main Level. $5-$8.
315 E. Warren, Detroit; 313-494-5800, chwmuseum.org.
Detroit Historical Museum
The exhibition about the 80-year history of Detroit Artists Market is presented in the Community Gallery.
• Streets of Old Detroit takes visitors back to the 19th and early 20th centuries through shop settings furnished with artifacts from the 1840s to early 1900s.
• Doorway to Freedom highlights Detroit’s role as part of the Underground Railroad, the last American stop for freedom-seeking slaves before boating across the Detroit River to Canada.
• Frontiers to Factories shows what Detroit was like before the advent of automobiles. See how the area changed from a trading-post settlement to a metropolis with millions of residents and factories.
• Detroit’s Official Symbols explains symbols throughout the city, such as the city’s flag.
• Glancy Trains are from the collection of Alfred R. Glancy Jr. Also: Saying I Do: Metro Detroit Weddings, Detroit Toy Stories, Motor City, Fabulous 5: Detroit’s Destinations, and Janet Anderson. New to the museum: 1914 Anderson Detroit Electric, William B. Stout, Boy Scouts of America — Great Lakes Council. $4-$6.
5401 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1805, detroithistorical.org.
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
Bells and Whistles, Flags and Flashes: Lost Languages of the Lakes explores methods used by mariners over the years to communicate with others at sea, and people on shore.
• City on the Straits provides snapshots of the ways the Great Lakes and the Detroit River have influenced the region.
• Gothic Room allows visitors to experience the likes of a gentlemen’s lounge inside the City of Detroit III. The exhibit also features a window on the right side of the gallery to show the Detroit shoreline in the early 1900s.
• S.S. William Clay Ford Pilot House is a Great Lakes freighter that was scrapped, but its pilot house was brought to the museum. Built in 1952, the 646-foot straight-decked vessel was lengthened to 767 feet in 1979. Also: To Scale: Great Lakes Model Ship Builders, Bob-Lo Island.
100 Strand, Belle Isle, Detroit; 313-833-1805, detroithistorical.org/main/dossin.
Exhibit Museum of Natural History
Archeology! Current Research in the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology is an ongoing research exhibit that examines questions that contemporary archeologists ask about the past and the techniques they use to answer them.
• The Invisible World of Mites features a large panel display and video booth featuring research done by U-M biologist Barry O’Connor. Through April 30.
• Water and You teaches water basics, and what can be done to protect this precious resource. Admission is free, but suggested donation is $6.
University of Michigan campus, 1109 Geddes, Ann Arbor; 734-764-0478, lsa.umich.edu/exhibitmuseum.
Henry Ford Museum
Driving America includes more than 100 vehicles, authentic artifacts, digital media, interactive play, and personal accounts that focus on the influence the automobile has had on American culture.
• Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition is a 10,000-square-foot exhibit featuring more than 300 artifacts, 250 of which have never been displayed in Michigan. Through Sept. 30.
• Heroes of the Sky is a permanent exhibit focusing on adventures in early aviation.
• With Liberty and Justice for All highlights four pivotal periods of history, beginning with the American Revolution and ending in the 1960s. Permanent exhibit.
• Automobiles in American Life showcases automotive milestones, including the 15-millionth Model T, as well as the Ford Mustang. Permanent exhibit. Also: Dymaxion House, Presidential Limousines, Made in America.
20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-982-6001, thehenryford.org.
Holocaust Memorial Center
Exhibits are dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust. Learn about World War II, the Jewish culture, religious beliefs, the postwar world, heroic rescues, and more. The center also houses a multi-lingual library. $5-$8 admission.
28123 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills; 248-553-2400, holocaustcenter.org.
Music
Frank Sinatra Jr.
The son of Ol’ Blue Eyes himself (and younger brother of Nancy Sinatra) was blessed with a famous name, which can also be a curse. “A famous father means that in order to prove yourself you have to work three times harder than the guy off the street,” Junior has said. For him, it also means that you get kidnapped as a 19-year-old for a couple of days and returned only when your famous father ponies up a $240,000 ransom (nearly $1.8 million when adjusted for inflation). As Frank Sr. famously sang: “That’s life.” 9 p.m. April 7. $31.86-$77.06 (Canadian).
The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. East, Windsor; 888-345-5885.
Cowboy Junkies
Despite having a name that implies nothing but country, this Canadian alternative rock group also incorporates a little bit of jazz and blues into their repertoire. Originally formed in Toronto by Michael, Peter, and Margo Timmons, the band has seen great success in their native country and will be bringing their act across the Detroit River at 8 p.m. April 13. $35.
The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.
Ingrid Michaelson
Michaelson is kind of like the new Lisa Loeb. Both are bespectacled, New York-based Jewish songwriters who sing about love and loss while maintaining self-respecting images. A young gentleman would love to introduce either one to his mother. Yet, Michaelson hasn’t had a hit as big as Loeb’s “Stay (I Miss You).” Prospects are good, though, considering her latest album, Human Again, has been Michaelson’s most successful release to date, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard chart. 8 p.m. April 11. $20-$24.
The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; 248-858-9333.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
The Boss has experienced an upswing in popularity recently. He’s transcended generations; parents who remember the release of Born to Run are finding their teenagers in tight jeans and plaid shirts playing air guitar to “Thunder Road.” Springsteen, who has been the butt of many jokes (like the very funny “Counting with Bruce Springsteen” sketch from Ben Stiller’s short-lived ’90s TV show), has become the quintessential American rock legend. This is the Boss’ first tour without E Street Band founding member and saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who died from a stroke last June. 7:30 p.m. April 12. $35-$95.
The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.
Kevin Costner & the Modern West
While it may come as a surprise to some that Kevin Costner fronts a contemporary country rock band, evidence of such a pursuit has appeared earlier in his career. Dances with Wolves, Field of Dreams, and Wyatt Earp — to name a few of the films he’s acted in — all have common country-music themes. Add his work with NASCAR to the equation, and the modern West starts to make sense. (Just don’t tell the crowd he’s an active Democrat.) 9 p.m. April 13. $43.16-$77.06 (Canadian).
The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Drive E., Windsor; 888-345-5885.
Nickelback with Bush and Seether
In 2005, while listening to the Nickelback song “Someday,” a Canadian college student was reminded of another tune — “How You Remind Me,” a hit by the same band from two years earlier. The similarity between the two songs was so striking that the 21-year-old musician decided to mash the two songs up, playing one from the left speaker and one from the right. The result is unmistakable. Luckily, for some added variety, Seether and ’90s alternative rockers Bush will be present when Nickelback hits the D. 6 p.m. April 14. $39.50-$75.
Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Dr., Detroit; 313-983-6606.
Mr. B’s Piano Celebration
The annual event, hosted by Ann Arbor’s own piano whiz, Mark “Mr. B” Braun, showcases boogie and blues pianists from the region and beyond. 7:30 p.m. April 14-15. $25 per night.
The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Fleck is one of the greatest banjo players alive. It would make sense, then, that his band includes some of the most technically proficient musicians to back him up — including bassist extraordinaire Victor Wooten and percussionist Future Man. Fleck has been destined for a musician’s life since birth; Béla Anton Leo Fleck was named after composers Béla Bartók, Anton Webern, and Leo Janacek. 8 p.m. April 19. $25-$69.50.
The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.
Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Wainwright has the opposite problem of Frank Sinatra Jr. The father of Rufus, perhaps the most famous Wainwright in the music business, Loudon’s six-decade career has been eclipsed by his son’s more recent noteworthy success. Their relationship has been tenuous at times, but the two still perform together at times. Loudon’s daughter, Martha, another musician, is a different story, having composed a song about her father with a title we can’t print here. 8 p.m. April 20. $20.
The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Costello, one of only a few people ever to get a ban lifted from Saturday Night Live, has been recording music since the early ’70s, bearing responsibility for such hits as “Pump It Up,” “Oliver’s Army,” and “Radio, Radio.” Now, he’s touring with a device he calls “The Spectacular Spinning Soundbook,” a wheel with dozens of Costello’s songs that puts the set list at its mercy. Considering the depth and breadth of his back catalog, it’s worth the gamble. 9 p.m. April 21. $54.46-$105.31 (Canadian).
The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Drive East, Windsor; 888-345-5885.
Melissa Etheridge
(Rescheduled from February.) Though she’s been fairly quiet since her 2007 Academy Award for the song “I Need to Wake Up” (from the global-warming documentary An Inconvenient Truth), Etheridge has never been someone afraid to speak up for what she believes. She’s been a gay-rights activist since 1993, when she publicly came out, and she’s also an advocate for the environment. In 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, an experience that turned her into a supporter of yet another cause — medicinal marijuana. 7:30 p.m. April 22. $65-$85.
Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River, Detroit; 313-237-7711.
Lambchop
The Nashville-based band Lambchop consists of a rotating cast of members revolving around lead guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist Kurt Wagner, whose croaking delivery and understated lyrics have earned the band distinction among its alternative-country contemporaries. Even labeling Lambchop “alternative country” is a bit dubious, considering the songs on Mr. M, the band’s recently released 11th studio album, trade steel guitar for lush strings. There’s not much twang to the tunes, as Wagner, also a visual artist, paints with subtler tones. 8 p.m. April 23. $20.
The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.
Gladys Knight
Knight’s song titles (including those from her time with The Pips) could make for interesting gossip. Case in point: I heard it through the grapevine from a friend of mine that if she was your woman, she’d take the friendship train, or maybe the midnight train to Georgia. But she thinks you’re the best thing that ever happened to her and neither one of you wants to be the first to say goodbye. I’m telling you all this because that’s what friends are for. Am I too late? Sorry doesn’t always make it right. Come back and finish what you started, if that’ll make you happy. It’s better than a good time. Didn’t you know you’d have to cry sometime? Come see about her at 9 p.m. April 28. $43.16-$77.06 (Canadian).
The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Drive E., Windsor; 888-345-5885.
Theater
The Abreact
Master Hamm is blind and unable to stand; his servant Clov is unable to sit. They live in a tiny house and fight as if it were a chess match. One wants to withdraw from the Endgame; the other wants to finish it. April 13-May 5.
1301 W. Lafayette, Detroit; 313-575-6628; theabreact.com.
The Boll Family YMCA Theater
A young man arrives from down South in search for redemption from a murder he committed. The person to help him is Aunt Esther — a local cleanser of souls. Gem of the Ocean tells a story of lives in the African-American community in the 20th century. Adult content. April 19-May 12.
1401 Broadway, Detroit; 313-593-0926; plowshares.org.
Bonstelle Theatre
Hairspray tells the story of outcast teen Tracy Turnblad, whose love for dance transforms her into a star. April 13-22.
3424 Woodward, Detroit; 313-577-0852; bonstelle.com.
Detroit Repertory Theatre
A cemetery supervisor and two young people search for answers while digging graves in Dead and Buried. Each worker has a secret or an agenda.
13103 Woodrow Wilson, Detroit; 313-868-1347; detroitreptheater.com.
Eastern Michigan University
Guys and Dolls is based on Damon Runyon stories with music by Frank Loesser. April 13-21.
103 Quirk Building, Ypsilanti; 734-487-2282; emich.edu/emutheatre.
Fisher Theatre
The Broadway musical Disney’s Beauty & The Beast is a classic love story, based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film. April 10-22.
3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-872-1000; broadwayindetroit.com.
Hilberry Theatre
A sensuous Southern romance by Tennessee Williams, Summer and Smoke shows the emotional battle of spiritual devotion versus physical desire. Through April 21. $30.
• An idealistic woman in the Salvation Army thinks her millionaire father needs salvation, but he ends up being the one to save the Salvation Army when it needs funding. The comedy Major Barbara takes to the stage April 6-May 5.
4743 Cass, Detroit; 313-577-2972; hilberry.com.
Meadow Brook
When members of a retirement community decide to use their money to help less fortunate members of the area, their children hungry for inheritance step in to stop them. Spreading It Around pits family versus charity. Through April 8.
• From My Hometown is a 2004 Off-Broadway hit featuring Motown’s greatest hits. April 18-May 13. Tickets for both shows vary $24-$39.
207 Wilson Hall, Oakland University, Rochester; 248-377-3300; mbtheatre.com.
Performance Network Theatre
Filled with dark humor, Dead Man’s Shoes is directed by David Wolber. Through April 8. $25-$41.
• Red, winner of six Tonys, premieres in Michigan. For two years, abstract expressionist Rothko and his assistant work on the murals for the Four Seasons restaurant. The challenge causes the artist to question himself and his achievements. April 19-May 27.
120 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor; 734-663-0681; performancenetwork.org.
Planet Ant
The Best of the Ant Farm, part of the late-night series, features scripts from monthly stage readings. Through April 14.
• After the death of her father, Mari comforts herself by listening to old records, and hopes to find a better life with her boyfriend in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. But after hearing Mari sing, he has different plans for the future. April 27-May 19.
2357 Caniff, Hamtramck; 313-365-4948; planetant.com.
Purple Rose
In White Buffalo, a small town family’s life is interrupted when the birth of a white buffalo calf brings a flood of spiritual followers. White buffaloes symbolize peace on earth and unity to mankind in Sioux tradition. Through June 2. $25-$40.
137 Park St., Chelsea; 734-433-7673; purplerosetheatre.org.
Ringwald Theatre
A new vehicle, a hot client, a temp, a bet, and a book about radiation are all part of the story about power and dreams in Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow. Through April 22.
27742 Woodward, Ferndale; 248-399-3727; theringwald.com.
Tipping Point Theatre
In Fiction, married writers Linda and Michael begin keeping journals after Linda is diagnosed with cancer. Trouble arises when she wants to read his entries and finds something she doesn’t expect, but are the entries true? Through April 15. $28-$30.
361 E. Cady St., Northville; 248-347-0003; tippingpointtheatre.com.
University Musical Society
She Stoops to Conquer tells a tale of marriage, love. and dysfunctional families. 7 p.m. April 11.
603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor; 734-668-8397; ums.org.
University of Detroit Mercy
Many intimate and personal conversations happen in the confines of a vehicle in Autobahn. Through April 1. $9-$18.
8425 W. McNichols, Detroit; 313-993-3270; theatre.udmercy.edu.
Send information at least nine weeks in advance to:
Listings, Hour Detroit, 117 W. Third St., Royal Oak, MI 48067.
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