Arts and Entertainment

March 2011
18580

ART

Art Gallery of Windsor (AGW): Kelly Marks’ four-room multimedia installation, Stupid Heaven, highlights ritualistic behaviors and the medium of time. Through April 10.

• Middle Island features Mary Celestino’s paintings and runs March 12-July 6.

• Nadine Bariteau looks at the production and consumption of plastic water bottles in Supermarket. On display March 19-June 18.

The Salton Sea showcases the travel photography of Sandi Wheaton and runs March 19-June 26.

401 Riverside Dr. W., Windsor, Ontario; 519-977-0013.

 

Artspace II20th-century modernism is evoked in figurative artist Bowen Carlson’s exhibit. March 1-31.

303 E. Maple, Birmingham; 248-258-1540.

 

Biddle Gallery: The spotlight is turned on more than 100 Michigan artists in Made in the Mitten, an ongoing multi-media exhibition.

2840 Biddle, Wyandotte; 734-281-4779.

 

College for Creative Studies Galleries: Tea for Two: Sam Mackey and Tyree Gutton is on display March 26 – April 11 at the Center Galleries.

301 Frederick Douglass, Detroit, and the Valade Family Gallery, 460 W. Baltimore, Detroit; 313-664-7800.

 

Detroit Artists Market: An annual student exhibition displays selected art from the Cranbrook Art Academy March 4-April 9.

4719 Woodward, Detroit; 313-832-8540.

 

Detroit Institute of Arts: In addition to art, Fakes, Forgeries, and Mysteries gives a behind-the-scenes look at what museum experts do as they investigate about 60 pieces in its collection. The connection of art to science is displayed in the diverse show of misattributed, forged, and mysterious works. The ticketed exhibit runs through April 10. General admission: $12 adults, $6 for youth ages 6-17.

An Intuitive Eye: André Kertesz Photographs 1914-1969 displays Kertesz’s photographs, drawn primarily from the DIA’s permanent collection. His distinctive combination of photojournalistic compositions and modern, abstract aesthetics can be seen in the photographs of Paris, Hungary, and New York. Through April 10. Open Wed.-Sun.

5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-7900.

 

Eastern Michigan University Art Department: The Ford Gallery hosts the Annual Graduate Student Exhibition through March 17.

The Annual Faculty Exhibition, Part 1 runs through March 18 in the University Gallery.

Part 2 is on display March 23-April 15.

• Ford Hall is the site of the Honors Exhibition March 23-31.

900 Oakwood, Ypsilanti; 734-487-1268.

 

Elaine L. Jacob Gallery at Wayne State University: Paintings Coast to Coast runs through March 11.

Material Spaces: Veneration Through the Needle opens March 25.

480 W. Hancock, Detroit; 313-993-7813.

 

Ellen Kayrod Gallery: Paintings and mosaic tiles by Cheryl Phillips and Ellen Stern are on display in The Lighter Side. Through March 18.

4750 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1300.

 

Flint Institute of Arts: Works from more than 30 African-American artists are showcased in Promises of Freedom, from the Arthur Primas Collection. Through April 17.

1120 E. Kearsley, Flint; 810-234-1695.

 

Gallery Project: Yours/Mine runs through April 3.

215 S. Fourth, Ann Arbor; 734-997-7012.

 

Grosse Pointe Art Center: The Green Show is on March 11 – April 2.

16900 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe; 313-821-1848.

 

Institute for the Humanities Gallery at the University of Michigan: Partners in art and life, Walter Martin and Paloma Muñoz are presenting original photographs and snow globes. Author Jonathan Lethem was inspired by the works and will be reading his story “The Traveler Home” at the exhibit’s closing reception March 16.

202 S. Thayer, Room 1010, Ann Arbor; 734-936-3518.

 

Oakland University Art Gallery: Borders and Frontiers: Globalization, Temporality & Appropriation in the Contemporary Image combines the work of various artists to form a metaphor for globalization and the commercial images produced in this digital era. Through April 10.

2200 N. Squirrel Rd., Rochester; 248-370-2100.

 

Paint Creek Center for the Arts: Carry That Weight: Tom Pyrzewski & Brian Nelson fills the main floor of the center with sculptures. Former advertising photographer Robert Cleveland’s macro portraits of the Sonoran Desert are on the first floor. Exhibitions on display March 4 – April 2.

407 Pine St., Rochester; 248-651-4110.

 

Pewabic Pottery: Contemporary Teapots-Ancient Ancestors ends March 6.

10125 E. Jefferson, Detroit; 313-822-0954.

 

Re:View Art Gallery: Detroit-based sculptor Graem Whyte has a one-person exhibit showing through March 12.

• Emily Duke’s solo exhibit opens April 1 and runs through April 30.

444 W. Willis Units 111 and 111, Detroit; 313-833-9000.

 

River’s Edge Gallery: Comics at the Edge is a group show of established and upcoming comic-book artists in metro Detroit. The show will include a continuous live drawing in which each artist adds to the drawing of another to create a final collaborative piece, which will be auctioned off for charity. Through March 21.

3024 Biddle, Wyandotte; 734-246-9880.

 

323 East Gallery: Lyric, a group show that presents artists’ interpretations of song lyrics, opens March 19.

323 E. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 866-756-6538.

 

UMMA: Out of the Ordinary: Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art and Fusfeld Folk Art Collections runs through June 26.

• Contemporary artist Mai-Thu Perret has an array of media featured in the utopian Mai-Thu Perret: An Ideal for Living. Through March 13.

525 S. State, Ann Arbor; 734-764-0395.

 

Wayne State University Art Department Gallery: WSU MFA Thesis Exhibition II is on display through March 25.

150 Art Building, Detroit; 313-993-7813.

 

 

CLASSICAL

Chamber Music at the Scarab Club: Erich Wolfgang Korngold is renowned for his sweeping scores to such films as The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Sea Hawk, but he wrote some attractive concert music, too. You can hear his String Quartet No. 3, as well as two pieces for clarinet, cello, violin, and viola by Beethoven and Ingolf Dahl.

7 p.m. March 6. $10-$20.

Scarab Club, 217 Farnsworth, behind the DIA. 313-831-1250.

 

Chamber Music Society of Detroit: Cellist Zuill Bailey and pianist Piers Lane perform pieces by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Sierra, along with Rachmaninov’s Sonata in G Minor.

(Bailey discusses the repertoire before the recital from 6:45-7:30 p.m.) 8 p.m. March 26. $25-$75.

Seligman Performing Arts Center on the campus of Detroit Country Day School, 22305 W. 13 Mile, Beverly Hills; 248-855-6070.

 

Cranbrook Music Guild: Flutist Benjamin Smolen performs a Betty Brewster Scholar Concert. Program TBA.

3:30 p.m. March 27. $30.

Christ Church Cranbrook, Lone Pine and Cranbrook roads, Bloomfield Hills; 248-645-0097.

 

Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings: A concert dubbed “Back to Classics” includes classical works by Mozart and neoclassical pieces by Stravinsky.

$10-$25. 4 p.m. March 6.

Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 4800 Woodward at East Warren, Detroit. Repeated at 3 p.m. March 13. Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church, 1340 W. Long Lake Rd., Bloomfield Hills; 248-559-2098.

 

University Musical Society: Scharoun Ensemble Berlin, composed of eight members from the Berlin Philharmonic, perform one of the pillars of the chamber-music repertoire, Schubert’s Octet in F Major. Also on tap is Dvorak’s lyrical Czech Suite.

8 p.m. March 9. $24-$48.

Rackham Auditorium, 915 E. Washington, Ann Arbor.

• Bach Collegium Japan, which includes orchestra and chorus, are renowned for performing Baroque masterpieces on period instruments. Their Ann Arbor visit includes one of the greatest works from that era, Bach’s sublime Mass in B Minor, conducted by Masaaki Suzuki.

8 p.m. March 24. $10-$65.

Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University, Ann Arbor. 734-764-2538.
 

Dance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Once again, Michigan Opera Theatre’s dance season includes this energetic troupe, which was founded in 1958. The company performs a mixed-repertoire program of Ailey favorites as well as new works by contemporary composers. The visit will also be something of a farewell tour for artistic director Judith Jamison, who is retiring after leading the troupe for 21 years, after the death of founder Alvin Ailey. Taking the reins is choreographer Robert Battle.

Five performances March 3-6. $25-$72.

Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit; 313-237-7464.

 

Eisenhower Dance Ensemble: Michigan Opera Theatre concludes its dance season with this homegrown company, which is celebrating its 20th year. Motown in Motion includes tunes by Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, the Contours, Michael Jackson, and others.

2:30 p.m. March 20. $25-$72.

Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit; 313-237-7464.
 

Events

Artists’ Market: Leon & Lulu hosts an Artists’ Market, where guests have the chance to meet and buy from local artists and craftspeople. Items include wall art, jewelry, home accessories, and fiber art. Entertainment and “roller-rink fare” are provided.

Free. 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Feb. 27. 3 p.m.-8 p.m. March 1.

Leon & Lulu, 96 W. 14 Mile Rd., Clawson.

 

Friday Art Walk: Kick the weekend off 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. March 4.

Downtown Northville.

 

The Detroit Kennel Club Dog Show: Spend time with your favorite breed, or watch them perform in competitions and demonstrations at the two-day celebration of dogs. Breeders, owners, and handlers of more than 160 breeds will be on hand.

March 5-6. $8-$15.

Cobo Center, 1 Washington Blvd., Detroit.

 

The St. Patrick’s Parade: Get your green on at the 53rd annual parade along Michigan Avenue, with Mary Sheehy as the grand marshal. This area is known as Corktown, and was home to many of the city’s first immigrants from Ireland, specifically from County Cork.

2 p.m. March. 13.

Starts on Michigan Avenue at Sixth Street, down to 14th Street, Detroit.

 

Spring Boating Expo: This annual spring boat show docks here with more than 100 exhibitors displaying boats, trailers, and boating accessories.

March 17-20.

Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River, Novi; 734-261-0123.

 

Pool & Spa Show: Swimming pools, spas, grilling, patio landscape, outdoor entertaining, and more.

March 25-27. $4-$8.

Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River, Novi; 800-328-6550.

 

VegFest Vegetarian Tastefest & Expo: Come hear national and local speakers discuss the health, environmental, and ethical benefits of a plant-based diet. The event also includes vegan cuisine from local restaurants, brand sampling, and cooking demonstrations.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. March 27.

Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River, Novi.
 

FILM

Detroit Film Theatre: Samson and Delilah follows two young people from the aboriginal communities of Australia, struggling to find themselves.

March 4-6 and 18-20. $6.50-$7.50.

• The Czech film Kawasaki’s Rose explores the moral ambiguities of personal and professional success in a society based on secrets.

March 4-6 and 18-20. $6.50-$7.50.

The Red Chapel, a documentary, follows a Danish TV producer who brings a slapstick comedy troupe to North Korea under the guise of “cultural exchange,” with unforeseen consequences.

March 5. $6.50-$7.50.

Marwencol follows Mark Hogancamp, the victim of a beating so brutal that it left him with serious brain damage. He creates a miniature town to help him deal with his problems, but when the photographs he takes get discovered by an art gallery, he must choose between his safe world or the terrifying real one.

March 11 and 13. $6.50-$7.50.

• The South Korean film Poetry explores the possibilities of artistic transformation and epiphany, all through the story of Mija, a 60-year-old woman with a medical condition.

March 18-20 and 25-27. $6.50-$7.50.

• Independent film director Jeff Lipsky presents Twelve Thirty, a drama about three young women and the relationships they have with the two men in their lives.

Runs March 25-April 3. The director is on hand for a Q and A following the March 25 showing. $6.50-$7.50.

5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-3237.

 

Penn Theatre: March at the Penn Theatre means the March Hitchcock classic series, starting off with the 1956 classic, The Man Who Knew Too Much, which stars James Stewart as Dr. Benjamin McKenna, a man who accidentally stumbles upon an assassination plot while vacationing with his family in Morocco.

March 3. $3.

Vertigo features James Stewart as Scottie Ferguson, a detective with a fear of heights and an obsession with his old friend’s wife (Kim Novak) and her bizarre behavior.

March 10. $3.

Rear Window again stars James Stewart as a Peeping Tom in a wheelchair who becomes convinced that one of his neighbors (Raymond Burr) has committed a murder. Also starring Grace Kelly.

March 17. $3.

• Hitchcock’s 1963 classic, The Birds, focuses on a small Northern California town that becomes subjected to attacks by flocks of bloodthirsty birds.

March 24. $3.

• Nominated for four Academy Awards, 1960’s Psycho stars Anthony Perkins as that classic mama’s boy Norman Bates, who runs the motel in which a young embezzler (Janet Leigh) decides to stay.

March 31. $3.

760 Penniman, Plymouth; 734-453-0870.

 

Redford Theatre: Robert Aldrich’s 1962 camp thriller, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? stars Bette Davis as Jane Hudson, a former child actress, and Joan Crawford as her sister Blanche, who had been a star before being forced into retirement by a crippling accident. The terror of the film comes from its unflinchingly portrayal of Jane’s descent into madness.

March 11-12. $4.

• The whimsical 1968 musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, stars Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus Potts, an inventor with two children and a very active imagination.

March 25-26. $4.

17360 Lahser, Detroit; 313-537-2560.
 

MUSEUMS

Arab American National Museum: Hawaii’s Alfred Shaheen: Fabric to Fashion showcases the work of the Lebanese-American engineer responsible for revitalizing Pacific Island/Asian textile traditions. The exhibit features dozens of examples of Shaheen’s garments and designs, as well as images that shed light on his manufacturing and marketing philosophies. Through March 13.

Motawi Tileworks is an exhibit that looks back at the company’s history while shedding light on the tile-making process. The exhibition also focuses on Motawi tile as both art and architectural décor, as well as the connection between contemporary work and the Arab World’s tradition of making tile. 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.

 

Birmingham Historical Museum & Park: A Lifetime of Cameras is a 40-plus collection of cameras owned by Stu Shuster, with the earliest camera given to him by his grandmother, up to the latest analog camera. Look for the Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic camera, along with photographs taken by each camera. Through June 11.

556 W. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-530-1928.

 

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise: An Artist’s Journey takes a look into Gale Fulton Ross and her journey from confusion and despair to self-forgiveness, enlightenment, and artistic freedom. Her art is loosely based on Dante’s Divine Comedy. Through May 29.

The Test: Tuskegee Airmen Project showcases the first African-American aviators in the U.S. military during World War II. Through June 19.

Framed Stories: The Art of Carmen Cartiness Johnson and Jerome Wright is a two-person exhibit, paired together because of the artistic similarities. Johnson, living in San Antonio, Texas, and Wright, from Philadelphia, are both self-trained, create narrative art, and demonstrate post-modern sensibilities in their work. Through April 11.

The Heidelberg Project: Art, Energy, and Community celebrates the 25th anniversary of the display created by artist Tyree Guyton. Created to “provoke thought, promote discussion, inspire action and heal communities,” this project is known as one of the most influential open-air art environments in the world. Through Nov. 27.

The Chris Webber Collection: Exceptional People During Extraordinary Times, 1755-Present are rare artifacts from the personal collection of Chris Webber, native Detroiter, National Basketball 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 Nov. 6.

Stories in Stained Glass: The Art of Samuel A. Hodge, a series of intricate and colorful works focusing on three areas of African-American culture and history — musicians, dancers, and freedom advocates — is 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 expansive, 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. Ongoing on the Main Level.

$5-$8. 315 E. Warren, Detroit; 313-494-5800.

 

Detroit Historical Museum: VeloCity: Detroit’s Need for Speed showcases the ways in which Detroiters have used their need for speed on land, water, air, and other forms of transportation.

Streets of Old Detroit takes visitors back to the 19th and early 20th centuries through commercial shop settings furnished with artifacts from the 1940s 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.

Detroit Artists Showcase features John Gelsavage (1909-1988), a Polish-American painter and illustrator from Detroit who spent his career capturing the average working American.

Frontiers to Factories is an exhibit that shows what Detroit was like before the advent of automobiles. See how the area changed from a trading-post settlement to the metropolis with millions of residents and factories.

Meier’s Wonderful Clock was built to demonstrate the skills of clockmaker Louis Meier Sr. Weighing 2,500 pounds, the clock stands at 15-feet high and 7-feet wide, and was shown at the Michigan State Fair in 1906 and Chicago World’s Fair in 1934.

Detroit’s Official Symbols explains in-depth symbols throughout the city, such as the city’s flag.

Glancy Trains are from the collection of Alfred R. Glancy Jr., co-owner of the Empire State Building. His extensive collection is on display at the museum.

Also: Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Saying I Do: Metro Detroit Weddings, Fabulous 5: Detroit Historic Retailers, Scripps-Booth “Da Vinci Pop” Cyclecar, Motor City, Jerome Biederman, and WWJ Newsradio 950: 90 Years of Innovation.

Opening March 19: Booth Wilkinson showcase, Fabulous 5: Detroit’s Award Winners, and Janet Anderson.

General admission: $4-$6.

5401 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1805.

 

Detroit Science Center: The center offers more than 200 hands-on exhibits that include taking a look into space, and science and physical-science displays. Exhibits include a rocket laboratory, fitness-and-nutrition station, as well as a heart-health display. New to the center is the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which was formerly located at the Novi Expo Center. Ongoing.

Dinosaurs Unearthed is the largest dinosaur exhibition ever to come to Detroit, and includes 24 animatronic dinosaurs, five full-size skeletons, and nearly 40 fossil replicas and eggs from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods.

$11.95-$19.95.

5020 John R, Detroit.

 

Dossin Great Lakes Museum: City on the Straits is an exhibit that provides snapshots of the ways the Great Lakes and the Detroit River have influenced the region. Artifacts include wood shipping crates, an iron paddlewheel hub from The Northerner, a Great Lakes depth chart, and more.

Life on a Long Ship: Great Lakes Sailors takes a look into the lives of the people who make a living on the Great Lakes. This exhibit also offers a glimpse into the jobs of other crew members, such as the wheelsmen, mates, porters, and engineers.

Dossin Great Lakes Museum: Celebrating 50 Years! focuses on the early years and the people who made the museum possible.

Gothic Room allows you 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.

100 Strand, Belle Isle, Detroit; 313-833-1805.

 

Exhibit Museum of Natural History: Relics pays tribute to ingenious gadgets, such as a mirrored ball, rotating galaxy projector, video-projector masks, and more. On display indefinitely.

Collecting for Science: Collections, Science, and Scholarships in the U-M Research Museums showcases the research at the U-M Museum departments of anthropology, paleontology, zoology, and the herbarium.

Archeology! Current Research in the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology is an ongoing research exhibit that examines the questions that contemporary archeologists ask about the past and the techniques they use to answer them.

• Free dinosaur tours at 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Planetarium shows every Sat.-Sun.; planetarium tickets are $5. Admission to the museum is free, but suggested donation is $6.

University of Michigan campus, 1109 Geddes, Ann Arbor; 734-764-0478.

 

Henry Ford Museum: 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 features automotive milestones, including the 15 millionth Model T, as well as the Ford Mustang. Permanent exhibit.

20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-982-6001.
 

MUSIC

Bobby McFerrin: The 1988 Grammy Award-winning hit, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” barely made it on McFerrin’s album, Simple Pleasures. It was scribbled and recorded with eight vocal tracks within an hour, as McFerrin recalls. Despite catapulting the artist to mainstream success, that simple tune has driven McFerrin crazy, “because that’s many people’s understanding of me,” he says. But don’t worry, you’ll be happy to know his solo a cappella tour kicks off in Detroit at…

7:30 p.m. March 3. $45.50-$61.50.

Orchestra Hall at Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward, Detroit; 313-576-5111.

 

Girl Talk: On his new album, All Day, Gregg Gillis, the mash-up DJ known better as Girl Talk, pairs The Doors, Jay-Z, Black Sabbath, The Ramones, and others, all within one five-minute song. Gillis’ magic formula of cramming disparate, quality jams into a single club-thumping song has caught on so well, he’s been selling out venues across the country. Tickets for his Detroit date went so quickly, the show was moved from the Royal Oak Music Theatre to a place double the size.

8 p.m. March 3. $24.

Compuware Arena, 14900 Beck Rd., Plymouth; 734-453-6400.

 

Pete Yorn: When Yorn isn’t busy collaborating with Scarlett Johansson (as on the 2009 album Break Up), he stays busy releasing solo material. Most recently, he released a self-titled album produced by Frank Black of The Pixies. Spin called it “his most purposeful, affecting album yet.”

6:30 p.m. March 4. $24.99.

Clutch Cargo’s, 65 E. Huron, Pontiac; 248-333-2362.

 

The Pogues: When a fan asked whether this was the Pogues’ farewell tour, guitarist Phil Chevron replied: “Goodness, no. It’s ‘A Parting Glass’ tour. We’re in the middle of our farewell tour right now.” You’ll have to be there to see whether singer Shane McGowan can stumble his way through more than a couple of songs, or if it will be the Irish barnstormer that’s promised. Rising New Jersey punks Titus Andronicus open.

8 p.m. March 4. $45 in advance. $50 at the door.

Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-399-2980.

 

The Get Up Kids: The latest in a slew of second-wave emo bands to regroup, the Get Up Kids have a sort-of love/hate relationship with both their audience and critics. Anyone who was between the ages of 13 and 20 when their seminal album, Something to Write Home About, came out in 1999, tend to lean toward love.

6 p.m. March 10. $23.50.

St. Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress, Detroit; 313-961-8137.

 

Charlie Wilson: Don’t head to the Fox expecting to see a Tom Hanks look-alike — that Charlie Wilson, the Texas senator whom the film Charlie Wilson’s War was based on, died last year. This Charlie Wilson is an R&B singer and lead vocalist for The Gap Band (remember “You Dropped a Bomb on Me”?). On his latest solo album, December’s Just Charlie, Wilson’s mission is “to teach people how to respect, treat, and speak to women.” He could start by giving a few lessons to some of his collaborators, like Kanye West, R. Kelly, and Snoop Dogg.

8 p.m. March 12. $59-$89.

Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward, Detroit; 313-983-6000.

 

Crystal Castles: At times, Crystal Castles sound like a Nintendo-seizure nightmare. The Toronto-based male/female duo make music that can be abrasive, but so can the band’s chaotic, strobe-lit live shows. Singer Alice Glass contorts all over the stage, climbing the drums and shrieking ominous lyrics, while Ethan Kath’s electro backbeat somehow anchors it all. The BBC said listening to Crystal Castles “is to be cast adrift in a vortex of deafening pain without a safety net.” Sounds fun, if that’s what you’re into.

8 p.m. March 13. $25.

Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-399-2980.

 

Bright Eyes: Bright Eyes is the moniker of Omaha emo wunderkind turned folk-rock torchbearer Conor Oberst and his band. Sometimes, though, Oberst tours as Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and that’s when he’s not playing in folk-rock supergroup Monsters of Folk. Not to mention that Oberst is the founder of the Saddle Creek record label, which has released a number of new-wave indie-folk albums. Whatever project Oberst undertakes, you can expect plenty of folking around.

7 p.m. March 14. $25 in advance. $28 at the door.

Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-399-2980.

 

Richard Shindell: An American expatriate living in Argentina, Shindell employs first-person narrative in his folk songs about World War II, cab drivers, and death row. He’s made a fan out of Joan Baez, who recorded three of Shindell’s songs on her album Gone from Danger.

8 p.m. March 16. $20.

The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.

 

California Guitar Trio: They say that good things come in threes. Or is it that celebrities die in threes? Either way, these three gentlemen — who hail from Salt Lake City, Brussels, and Tokyo — have blended the disparate musical genres of rock, jazz, surf, and classical music for almost 20 years. Their latest album, Andromeda, is the first to feature only original compositions and improvisation.

7:30 p.m. March 20. $25.

The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.

 

Yanni: The Greek new-age musician who goes by only his first name has always been known for his flowing locks and thick mustache. That is, until he pulled an Alex Trebek by trimming both. A smart aleck on Yahoo Answers even posed the following question: “Is Yanni’s power gone now that he has cut his hair and shaved his mustache?” Someone’s response: “The bad news is — yes, that was the source of his power. The good news is — he keeps it in his pocket.” Luckily, he’ll be pulling it out at…

7 p.m. March 27. $28.50-$68.50.

Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward, Detroit; 313-983-6000.

 

Amos Lee: Fellow soul-folk-jazz singer Norah Jones can be credited for discovering Amos Lee. She even took him on tour. Since then, he’s opened for some of the greats: Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and Paul Simon, to name a few. His latest album, January’s Mission Bell, features appearances by Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Sam Beam, and Calexico. The dude knows how to pick his friends.

8 p.m. March 29.

The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.

 

Jeff Beck: If you weren’t able to make it out to the Fillmore last summer, don’t miss another chance to say you’ve seen guitar god Jeff Beck — ranked 14th on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.

8 p.m. March 31. $35-$85.

Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor; 734-668-8463.
 

THEATER

Fisher Theatre: Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Les Misérables returns to the Fisher to tell the story, based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel by the same name, of revolution and redemption.

Opens March 22. $48-$99.

3011 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit; 313-872-1000.

 

Hilberry Theatre: Molière’s The Misanthrope tells the story of Alceste, a French noble who refuses to conform to the social standard of politeness by criticizing everyone around him — and he gets into trouble for his sharp tongue.

Through March 5. $20-$25.

4841 Cass, Detroit; 313-577-2972.

Jewish Ensemble Theatre: New Jerusalem, set in Renaissance Amsterdam, follows Baruch de Spinoza, a young Jewish man whose controversial views on the nature of the divine get not only him, but all of the Jews in Amsterdam, into trouble.

March 16 – April 10. $32-$41.

6600 W. Maple
, West Bloomfield; 248-788-2900

 

Meadow Brook Theatre: Reunion: A Musical Epic is a retelling of the Civil War, adapted from newspapers, letters, diaries, and memoirs from the period. The show deals with the North and its search for a purpose in fighting.

Through March 6. $24-39.

• The farcical comedy Ding Dong focuses on Bernard, a man who discovers that his wife is having an affair and invites her lover’s wife to dinner as revenge.

Runs March 16 – April 10. $24-39.

207 Wilson Hall, Oakland University, Rochester; 248-377-3300.

 

Performance Network Theatre: The Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Piano Lesson portrays the image of an African-American family in 1936 Pittsburgh caught in the struggle between holding onto the past and embracing the future.

March 3-April 3. $25-$41.

120 E. Huron St, Ann Arbor; 734-663-0681.

 

Purple Rose: Corktown, the second Michael Brian Ogden play to premiere at the Purple Rose, is a dark comedy about a day in the life of a Detroit mobster who finds love in the most unexpected and dangerous circumstances.

Through March 5. $20-$40.

137 Park St., Chelsea; 734-433-7573.

 

Tipping Point TheatreThe Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play Proof examines the story of Catherine, the daughter of a recently deceased, addled mathematician, as she looks to find her own way in the world.

Through March 5. $28-$30; seniors 62 and older receive a $2 discount.

The Cocktail Hour, a drama about family ties, follows John, an aspiring playwright who wants to use his own family as material, revealing many of the family’s skeletons in the process.

Opens March 24. $28-$30; seniors 62 and older receive a $2 discount.

Tipping Point Theatre, 361 E. Cady, Northville; 248-347-0003.

 

University Musical Society: Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy The Cripple of Inishmaan takes place in 1934 on the island of Inishmaan. When word that a Hollywood filmmaker is coming to shoot on a nearby island, Billy Claven, a disabled orphan, attempts to escape his existence by auditioning for the film, which, to everyone’s surprise, lands him a role in the film.

March 10-13. $18-$56.

• Shakespeare’s classic Richard III tells the story of the hunchbacked Richard, who uses his brilliance for politics to weave a web of intrigue and danger in his single-minded pursuit of the English throne. Performed by the all-male company Propeller.

Opens March 30. $20-$60.

• Propeller also performs Shakespeare’s comedy The Comedy of Errors, which has two sets of estranged twins, separated at birth, unknowingly reunited in the same city after 25 years apart.

Opens March 31. $20-$60.

Power Center, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor; 734-763-3333.
 
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