ART
Anton Art Center: Wish Upon a Star, and bring one home for $5 from an exhibit of star-themed works to benefit the center’s programming. Through Jan. 16. • Members of the Warren Tri-County Fine Arts Inc. will have their annual juried group exhibition Jan. 21-Feb. 20. • Over $1,500 will be awarded at the juried art competition Michigan Annual XXXVII. Jan. 28-Feb. 25. 125 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens; 586-469-8666; theartcenter.org.
Art Gallery of Windsor (AGW): Artist David Merritt “draws” musical connections in his exhibit shim sham shimmy, taking inspiration from pop music and culture. The exhibit also features sisal rope sculptures and videos. Through Jan 16. • In her work Chromatic Fall, Rae Davis displays ribbons of slowly fading colors, overlapped by bits of random dialogue, seeking to reflect society’s chaotic noise. Through Jan. 16. • Toronto printmaker Lucie Simons’ serigraphs are on exhibit through Jan 30. • Shirley Williams’ highly textured atmospheric works suggest depictions of abstract landscapes and horizons. Dec. 4-Feb. 6. • Canadian artist Sky Glabush’s paintings are on exhibit from Jan. 15 through March 6. 401 Riverside Dr. W., Windsor, Ontario; 519-977-0013, artgalleryofwindsor.com.
Artspace II: Prints by Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida and Catalan painter Antoni Tapies are on display Jan. 4-29. 303 E. Maple, Birmingham; 248-258-1540; artspace2.com.
Biddle Gallery: Made in the Mitten is an ongoing multi-media exhibition of works by more than 100 Michigan artists. 2840 Biddle, Wyandotte; 734-281-4779, biddlegallery.com.
Cary Gallery: Two artists, Janet Davison and Frank Dulin, are featured in an exhibition of figurative work. Davison’s paintings generally tend toward actions, while Dulin’s tend to be figures in repose or portraits. Jan. 8-Feb. 5. 226 Walnut Blvd., Rochester; 248-651-3656.
College for Creative Studies Galleries: More than 300 works by College for Creative Studies’ faculty are on exhibit Jan. 22-Feb. 19 at Center Galleries 301 Frederick Douglass, Detroit, and the Valade Family Gallery 460 W. Baltimore, Detroit; 313-664-7800, collegeforcreativestudies.edu/center_galleries.
Detroit Artists Market: In the DAM Design Show, designers display a variety of objects for the bath and provide an intimate look into the design process. Jan. 14-Feb. 19. 4719 Woodward, Detroit; 313-832-8540, detroitartistsmarket.org.
Detroit Institute of Arts: The dreams of such artists as Dürer, Picasso, and Chagall are projected in the exhibition In Your Dreams: 500 Years of Imaginary Prints. The exhibit features about 120 American and European prints. Through Jan. 2. • In Fakes, Forgeries, and Mysteries, the DIA examines the authenticity of roughly 50 pieces in its collection. Certain items were found to have been incorrectly attributed to an artist or culture, other pieces are known forgeries with explanations about how the museum reached that conclusion, and others still are mysteries, about which there is no definitive opinion. Tickets are needed for the event, which runs through April 10. • Survey photographer André Kertesz’s career in An Intuitive Eye: André Kertesz Photographs 1914-1969. The exhibit highlights his Parisian photographs of daily life as well as photographs taken in Hungary and New York. Through April 10. • Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus features eight paintings by the artist and his students’ depictions of Jesus’ visage. More than 50 paintings, prints, and drawings examining the religious, historic and artistic significance of the eight core paintings are also included. The ticketed exhibit runs through Feb. 12. 5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-7900, dia.org.
Detroit Museum of New Art: Detroit artist Nico Capaletti’s images displayed in Ghost Land New Art depict the struggle of Detroit but in a brighter, more poetic way than typical depictions of the urban landscape. Jan. 8-29. 7 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac; 248-210-7560, detroitmona.com.
Eastern Michigan University Art Department: Figurative Works, a national juried show featuring 2-D and 3-D works, focuses on the human body and the way it continues to inspire. Runs Jan. 10-Feb. 2 in the University Gallery, EMU Student Center. • The Annual Student Juried Exhibition runs Jan. 19-Feb. 12 in the Ford Gallery. 900 Oakwood, Ypsilanti; 734-487-1268, art.emich.edu.
Elaine L. Jacob Gallery at Wayne State University: Paintings Coast to Coast runs from Jan. 21-March 11.480 W. Hancock St,. Detroit; 313-993-7813, art.wayne.edu.
Ellen Kayrod Gallery: 9th Annual Site Fest All Media Exhibition brings together the work of artists 60 years and older and runs through Jan. 21. 4750 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1300.
Flint Institute of Arts: Unbroken Ties: Dialogues of Cuban Art evokes the everyday reality of the Cuban experience using painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed-media installations, and photography. Through Jan. 2 in the Hodge Gallery. • 3-D: Focus on the Figure examines the way sculptural depictions of the human form have evolved over several centuries, spanning from the Renaissance to the modern day. Through Jan. 30. • Picasso features more than 40 examples of the painter’s works, examining his interest not only in painting, but also in other methods of printmaking. Through Feb. 27 in the Ford Graphics Gallery. 1120 E. Kearsley, Flint; 810-234-1695; flintarts.org.
Grosse Pointe Art Center: Unique artist-made gifts can be found at Holiday Shop through Jan 7. • Resolutions, an exhibition composed of works either created digitally or inspired by digital media, runs Jan. 21-Feb. 26. 16900 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe; 313-821-1848, grossepointeartcenter.org.
Lawrence Street Gallery: Best of the Best highlights winners of exhibitions from the previous year, including the winners of the photography exhibit, the figure exhibit, and the sculpture exhibit. Jan. 12-29. 22620 Woodward, Ferndale; 248-544-0394; lawrencestreetgallery.com.
Oakland University Art Gallery: Subverting the (Un)Conventional displays works by Cynthia Greig. Jan. 7- Feb. 20. 2200 N. Squirrel Rd., Rochester; 248-370-2100, oakland.edu/ouag.
Pewabic Pottery: You may not be able to join Alice and the Mad Hatter for tea, but in Contemporary Teapots-Ancient Ancestors you can catch 15 artists’ teapots created out of shapes derived from historic antecedents. Jan. 14-March 6. 10125 E. Jefferson, Detroit; 313-822-0954; pewabic.org.
River’s Edge Gallery: The photo-realistic nature paintings of Nancy Byrum and the watercolors of Great Lakes artist Leo Kuschel are featured through Jan. 1. • My New Year’s Resolution highlights an installation piece by Brenda Oelbaum made up of more than 3,000 diet books that create a papier-mâché landscape from the pages of diet gurus’ books. She wants viewers to feel the volume of the diet industry and to see how useless it is in resolving the “obesity crisis.” Jan. 17-Feb. 18. 3024 Biddle, Wyandotte; 734-246-9880; artattheedge.com.
Susanne Hilberry Gallery: Best known for his intimate portraits of friends and figures in the art, fashion, and music world, New York artist Billy Sullivan presents a solo exhibition of paintings and drawings. Working from his own photographs, his paintings document his life and the New York scene from the 1970s to the present. Through Jan. 8. 700 Livernois, Ferndale; 248-541-4700; hilberrygallery.com.
323 East Gallery: A former line worker at Ford, artist Tony Roko’s automotive-themed work will be featured as a tie-in with the Auto Show. His art, done in the same paint used to paint cars, includes such items as car hoods. Opens Jan. 14. 323 E. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 866-756-6538, 323east.com.
UMMA: Simon Dybbroe Møller’s work in UMMA Projects: Simon Dybbroe Møller takes familiar objects and forms and rearranges them into unexpected configurations, changing them into completely different things altogether. Through Jan. 30. • Out of the Ordinary: Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art and Fusfeld Folk Art Collections runs through June 26. • Swiss artist Mai-Thu Perret combines feminist politics with classic modernist abstractions and utopian dreams in her installations. Her exhibit, Mai-Thu Perret: An Ideal for Living, presents paintings, sculpture, textiles, and film. Through March 13. 525 S. State, Ann Arbor; 734-764-0395, umma.umich.edu.
Wayne State University Art Department Gallery: WSU MFA Thesis Exhibition I will be held Jan. 14-Feb. 11. 150 Art Building, Detroit; 313-993-7813, wayne.art.edu.
CLASSICAL
Chamber Music Society of Detroit: The New York-based Emerson String Quartet’s performance features works by Mozart, Debussy, and Mendelssohn. 8 p.m. Jan. 8. $43-$75 ($25 students). Seligman Performing Arts Center on the campus of Detroit Country Day School, 22305 W. 13 Mile, Beverly Hills; 248-855-6070, comehearcmsd.org.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Hear all your favorite hits from Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music, The King and I, and South Pacific at An Evening of Rodgers & Hammerstein. 10:45 a.m. and 8 p.m. Jan 13, 8:30 p.m. Jan. 14 and 15, 3 p.m. Jan. 16. • Leonard Slatkin conducts Prokofiev’s Cinderella and the DSO premiere of Cindy McTee’s Einstein’s Dream. Also on the program is John Williams’ Cello Concerto, with the DSO’s Robert deMaine as soloist. 10:45 a.m. and 8 p.m. Jan. 21, 8:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and 3 p.m. Jan. 23. $19-$70. • Thomas Wilkins conducts Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite and Schubert’s Rosamunde Overture and Symphony No. 2. Andrew von Oeyen also takes the solo duties in Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major. 10:45 a.m. Jan. 28, 8:30 p.m. Jan. 29, and 3 p.m. Jan. 30. $19-$70. • (Note: At press time, the orchestra was on strike. Scheduled concerts may be cancelled.) Orchestra Hall in the Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward, Detroit; 313-576-5111, detroitsymphony.org.
Oakland University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance: The 14th Annual David Daniels Young Artists in Concert features solo performances by the winners of the annual Concerto Competition, along with Brett Dean’s Komarov’s Fall from Three Memorials and Gustav Holst’s The Planets, performed with video produced and directed by Emmy-nominated astronomer and visual artist José Francisco Salgado. 3 p.m. Jan. 30. Varner Recital Hall, OU Campus, Rochester; 248-370-2030; oakland.edu/mtd.
University Musical Society: Presented for the first time at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, Laurie Anderson’s Delusion is a series of short mystery plays told through violin pieces, electronic puppetry, visuals, and poetic language. 8 p.m. Jan. 14 and 15. $18-$52. Power Center, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor; 734-763-3333, ums.org. • Pianist Hartmut Höll accompanies soprano Renée Fleming in a rectal of pieces to be announced. 4 p.m. Jan. 16. $10-$65. Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-764-2538, ums.org. Directed by Benjamin Bagby, Sequentia features 13th-century medieval vocal music from Notre Dame de Paris in their presentation called Voices from the Island Sanctuary: Paris. 8 p.m. Jan. 27. $35-$45. St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2250 E. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor; 734-764-2538, ums.org.
Dance
Music Hall: Under the artistic direction of Bolshoi principal dancer Sergei Radchenko, the Russian National Ballet Theatre’s repertoire embraces classical and neoclassical ballet, focusing especially on the works of ballet master and choreographer Marius Petipa. 8 p.m. Jan. 14. $30-$50. Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 350 Madison, Detroit; 313-887-8500, musichall.org.
Michigan Opera Theatre: The Joffrey Ballet has been hailed as “America’s Ballet Company of Firsts”: first dance company to perform at the White House, first to appear on television, first classical dance company to go multi-media, and first and only dance company to appear on the cover of Time Magazine. The troupe performs a mixed-repertory showcase of programs 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 30. $25-$72. Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit; 313-961-3500, motopera.org.
University Musical Society: Brazilian dance company Grupo Corpo, literally “Body Group,” perform a “blend of ballet’s grace, modern dance’s verve, and the hip-swiveling exuberance of Carnival sambas and their Afro-Brazilian roots,” according to UMS. 8 p.m. Jan. 21 and 22. $18-$42. Power Center, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor; 734-764-2538, ums.org.
Events
Big Bright Light Show: This downtown Rochester event promises to be bigger and brighter than ever. Attracting more than 1 million visitors yearly, the show features most of the city’s downtown stores decorated with innumerable lights along East and West Fourth Street. There are also lighted displays on Walnut from Third to University, a Dazzling Tree of Lights at the Depot Plaza, and The Snowflake Spectacular on the Western Knitting Mill on Walter Street. Through Jan. 2. Downtown Rochester; downtownrochesstermi.com.
Harlem Globetrotters 2011 World Tour: For 84 years, the Globetrotters have been entertaining crowds around the world. They’ve played more than 25,000 games on tour, and chalk up another as the fun-loving, sharp-shooting team stop in the Motor City this month. 2 p.m. Jan. 2. $17-$41.50. The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.
The North American International Auto Show: This annual event brings in more than 5,000 journalists from about 63 countries to cover the unveiling of some of this year’s hottest cars. Jan. 10-23. $6-$12. • Be one of the first to view the show at the black-tie Charity Preview, whose proceeds directly benefit a wide range of charities. Since 1989, the preview has raised more than $82 million for Southeast Michigan children’s charities. 6-9 p.m. Jan. 14. $250. Cobo Center, 1 Washington Blvd., Detroit; 248-643-0250 or naias.com.
Ultimate Fishing Show: This four-day show allows one to stock up on tackle, rods, boats, and more. Activities include a fly-fishing area, shore lunch fish fry, and trout pond. Jan. 13-16. Rock Financial Showplace, 46199 Grand River, Novi; 800-328-6550.
2011 Winter Dog Classic: The Livonia and Oakland County Kennel Clubs present the Motor City Winter Classic Dog Show. The event includes more than 160 breeds exhibiting in conformation, obedience, and rally. Jan. 20-23. Rock Financial Showplace, 46199 Grand River, Novi; 800-328-6550 or oaklandcountykennelclub.com.
Plymouth International Ice Sculpture Spectacular: This annual extravaganza reigns as the oldest and largest ice-carving festival of its kind. Featured are more than 100 statues carved from a single block of ice, or multiple block sculptures ranging from five to 100 blocks. Jan. 21-23. Downtown Plymouth; mi-plymouthdowntown.civicplus.com.
Novi Home Improvement Show: This annual event allows exhibitors to spotlight the latest trends in baths, kitchens, windows and remodeling. Jan. 28-30. Rock Financial Showplace, 46199 Grand River, Novi; novihomeshow.com.
FILM
Detroit Film Theatre: The intense, two-part French film Mesrine follows the life of the real-life 1960s French criminal Jacques Mesrine. Part one, titled Mesrine: Killer Instinct, runs Jan. 7-9. Part two, Mesrine: Public Enemy Number One runs Jan. 14-16. $6.50-$7.50. • Howl features James Franco as a young Allen Ginsberg, trying to break down the barriers of society to redefine love and liberation. Also stars Jon Hamm and Jeff Daniels. Opens Jan. 21. $6.50-$7.50. 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-3237; dia.org.
Penn Theatre: The Zack Snyder 3-D film, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, follows a young owl abducted by the evil owl army. Jan. 2. $3. • The Social Network, directed by David Fincher, explores the origin of the phenomenon that is Facebook. Jan. 6-Jan. 13. $3. 760 Penniman Ave., Plymouth; 734-453-0870; penntheatre.com.
Redford Theatre: Based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the Oscar-winning 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird stars Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, the upstanding Southern lawyer who defends an innocent man with no chance of victory. Jan. 14-15. Tickets $4. • The 1944 Frank Capra comedy Arsenic and Old Lace stars Cary Grant as Mortimer Brewster, a theater critic who comes from a family of sweet and lovable lunatics. Jan. 28-29. Tickets $4. 17360 Lahser, Detroit; 313-537-2560; redfordtheatre.com.
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 the manufacturing and marketing philosophies. Through March 13. • 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: • Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment celebrates the 75th anniversary of Harlem’s Apollo Theater. Drawings, historic photographs, film recordings, and artist interviews are on display, as well as artifacts such as Michael Jackson’s fedora and James Brown’s cape and jumpsuit. Through Jan. 2. • Crowning Glories: Status, Style, and Self-Expression, is a tribute to the style, beauty, and self-expression of black women, and also highlights their hat-wearing traditions from the late 1700s to the present. Through Jan. 17. • Art of the Masters: A Survey of African American Images, 1980-2000 is an exhibit that introduces the work of African-American “master” artists to the world, such as Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, Alvin Loving, and others. Through Feb. 28. • The Test: Tuskegee Airmem Project is an exhibition that showcases the first African-American aviators in the U.S. military during World War II. Through June 19. • 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. • Detroit Performs is a photomontage dedicated to those who have gained prominence in the performing arts. Ongoing in the Main Level Corridor. • Target has initiated a program of Free First Sundays at the museum; general admission at other times is $5-$8. 315 E. Warren, Detroit; 313-494-5800, maah-detroit.org.
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 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. • 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 is on display, and 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 own 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: Saying I Do: Metro Detroit Weddings, Fabulous 5: Detroit Historic Retailers, Scripps-Booth “Da Vinci Pop” Cyclecar, Motor City, and WWJ Newsradio 950: 90 Years of Innovation. General admission: $4-$6. 5401 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1805, detroithistorical.org.
Detroit Science Center: Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato is a 10,000-square-foot showcase that features 36 never-before-seen mummies. The mummies are on loan from the Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato. • 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. $11.95-$13.95. 5020 John R, Detroit; detroitsciencecenter.org.
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. 100 Strand, Belle Isle, Detroit; 313-833-1805, detroithistorical.org.
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, lsa.umich.edu/exhibitmuseum.
Henry Ford Museum: Revel in the Glow, Whistles and Ho Ho Ho’s of the Holiday Season offers hands-on activities, a 25-foot Christmas tree, Santa Claus, and other attractions. Through Jan. 9. • 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, thehenryford.org.
MUSIC
Maroon 5: When explaining how he wrote the title track of the band’s latest album, Hands All Over, lead singer Adam Levine told an Indian newspaper: “It was just a feeling of desperation — like just stop talking, let’s just compensate for our shortcomings emotionally by having sex.” He then proceeded to compare himself to Shania Twain, who — coincidentally — was once married to the album’s producer, Mutt Lange. 9 p.m. Jan. 1. $70.89-$206.59 (Canadian). The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E., Windsor; 888-345-5885.
Mountain Heart: Mountain Heart’s lead vocalist, Josh Shilling, finished high school a year early to pursue a musical career, which led him to Detroit in 2005 to record with two bassists and a group of musicians in the band Balancing Act. One of the songs Shilling penned for the short-lived ensemble was picked up by MTV for use in the show Punk’d. Thus, Ashton Kutcher will forever be close to Shilling’s mountain heart. 8 p.m. Jan. 7. $25. The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.
Sarah McLachlan: If there’s a television commercial that could make a grown man cry, it’s the SPCA spot featuring shelter dogs looking pitifully at the camera, while McLachlan’s song “Angel” plays. The ad has pulled so many heartstrings — and purse strings — it’s raised $30 million in its four-year run. It’s too bad the same tactic didn’t work for her lackluster Lilith Fair revival last year; 13 shows were cancelled because of poor ticket sales. 9 p.m. Jan. 7. $70.89-$116.09 (Canadian). The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E., Windsor; 888-345-5885.
Jill Jack Birthday Bash: Ferndale native Jill Jack was in her 30s before deciding to ditch a paper-pushing accounting job in 1996, trading the calculator for a guitar. Since then, Jack has released seven albums, including last year’s live CD/DVD combo, Songwriter Sessions. To find out how old she’s turning, you’ll have to show up at 8 p.m. Jan 8. $15. The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.
B.B. King: Even if your blues collection is made up entirely of B.B. King, that’s still more than 130 songs spanning more than half a century — and that’s just the tracks that have been released as singles. At 85, the King of the Blues continues to shred on his signature Gibson guitar — his baby — Lucille. 9 p.m. Jan. 14. $42.64-$104.79 (Canadian). The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, 377 Riverside Dr. E., Windsor; 888-345-5885.
The Whispers: Twins Wallace and Walter Scott form the core of this long-running R&B/gospel group. And while they can rock steady, it is a rare occasion when they actually act out their band’s handle. The Scotts’ righteous mustaches always get in the way. 8 p.m. Jan. 14. $47.65-$51.75. MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River, Detroit; 313-237-7711.
Rain — A Tribute to The Beatles: If you never got the chance to see the Fab Four during the two years they toured the U.S., Rain is the closest you’ll get to the real thing — short of raising the dead. This offshoot of the Broadway production Beatlemania will take you through the 10 venerable years of the Beatles’ existence, with an accuracy that’s, well, dead on. 8 p.m. Jan. 21. $40.20-$86.20. Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward, Detroit; 313-983-6000.
Leon Redbone: Some may be tempted to label Redbone’s act as schtick — the dark glasses, Panama hat, and bow tie. (Then again, nobody questions Bob Dylan for the same reasons.) And while little is known about Redbone’s personal history — rumors persist that he is an Andy Kaufman character, or Frank Zappa in disguise — the vaudevillian performer brings to life the music of the Victrola era. 8 p.m. Jan 22. $25. The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.
Martin Sexton: Sexton somehow managed to sell 20,000 copies of his self-financed 1992 demo out of his guitar case while busking in Boston. But as the 10th of 12 children, he was likely accustomed to making it on his own. His latest album, 2010’s Sugarcoating, expands on his blend of soul, country, and rock ’n’ roll. 7 p.m. Jan. 27. $25-$32.50. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-399-2980.
34th Ann Arbor Folk Festival: This fundraiser for The Ark features two nights of big names in the folk-and-roots music scene. The breakout country/folk/pop barnstormers The Avett Brothers headline Friday night, while the duo of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová — immortalized in the film Once — perform as The Swell Season on Saturday. The fest also features a number of other performers, including Mavis Staples, who is in the midst of a late-career revival thanks to Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy (a headliner in 2009), producer of Staples’ 2010 album, You Are Not Alone. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 28 & 29. $30-$160. Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University, Ann Arbor; 734-763-3333.
Macy Gray: “I try to say goodbye and I choke. I try to walk away and I stumble. Though I try to hide it, it’s clear — my world crumbles when you are not near.” Good luck getting that one out of your head before 8 p.m. Jan. 28. $52-$62.20. MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River, Detroit; 313-237-7711.
THEATER
Detroit Opera House: Mary Poppins comes (quite possibly via flying umbrella) to Detroit. The musical, based on the 1964 Disney film, provides a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious experience for the whole family. Through Jan. 2. $33-57. 1526 Broadway, Detroit; 313-961-3500, motopera.org.
Hilberry Theatre: Based on a story about the American dream gone wrong, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men follows the story of George and Lennie, two traveling ranch hands and friends, whose shared dream of owning a ranch comes under fire because of Lennie’s inability to control himself. Through Feb. 5. $25-$30. • Shakespeare’s classic Richard III follows the disfigured Richard, who uses his brilliance for politics to weave a web of intrigue and danger in his single-minded pursuit of the English throne. Through Feb. 25. $25-$30. • Molière’s The Misanthrope centers on Alceste, a French noble who refuses to conform to the social standard of politeness by criticizing everyone around him, and gets into trouble for his sharp tongue. Jan. 28-March 5. $20-$25. 4841 Cass, Detroit; 313-577-2972, hilberry.com.
Jewish Ensemble Theatre: In conjunction with the Ann Arbor-based Performance Network, the JET presents Sonia Flew, which follows the story of Sonia, a Cuban immigrant whose son drops out of college and joins the Marines to fight in Afghanistan. Through Jan. 2. $32-$41. • Modern Orthodox tells the story of Ben, a modern young Jewish man who doesn’t take his faith particularly seriously. His lax approach to faith is challenged by the devout, boorish Hershel, who drops in on Ben and his fiancée for the Sabbath. Runs Jan. 19-Feb. 13. $32-$41. 6600 W. Maple
, West Bloomfield; 248-788-2900, jettheatre.org.
Matrix Theatre Company: The show Puppet Scrooge puts a special Detroit twist on the Dickens classic. Dec. 3-19. $15 general admission, $10 for students with ID and seniors 65+, and $8 for children. Matrix Theatre Company; 2730 Bagley, Detroit; 313-967-0599, matrixtheatre.org.
Meadow Brook Theatre: Based on the Alfred Hitchcock film, The 39 Steps is the suspenseful story of Richard Hannay, a man who accidentally stumbles upon a spy ring out to steal British military secrets. The stage adaptation, performed by just four actors, turns this serious suspense story into a farcical comedy. Jan. 5-Jan. 30. $24-39. 207 Wilson Hall, Oakland University, Rochester; 248-377-3300, mbtheatre.com.
Performance Network Theatre: A brand-new comedy, The War Since Eve, follows a brash women’s rights pioneer and mother of two grown daughters who must decide between the daughter who stayed and the one who left. Jan. 13-Feb. 13. $25-41. 120 E. Huron St, Ann Arbor; 734-663-0681, performancenetwork.org.
Purple Rose Theatre Company: 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. Opens Jan. 28. $20-$40. 137 Park St., Chelsea; 734-433-7573, purplerosetheatre.org.
Tipping Point Theatre: A musical comedy about male bonding, Guys on Ice examines the story of a couple of ice-fishing, beer-drinking, Green Bay Packers fans as they try to get their lives in order. Through Jan. 15. $28-$30, Senior citizens 62 and older receive a $2 discount. Tipping Point Theatre, 361 E. Cady, Northville; 248-347-0003, tippingpointtheatre.com.
Send information at least nine weeks in advance to: Listings, Hour Detroit, 117 W. Third St., Royal Oak, MI 48067. By e-mail: editorial@hourdetroit.
By fax: 248-691-4531.
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