Arts and Entertainment

February 2011
12103

ART

Anton Art Center: Members of the Warren Tri-County Fine Arts Inc. display their annual juried group exhibition. Through Feb. 20. • Over $1,500 will be awarded at the juried art competition Michigan Annual XXXVII. Through Feb. 25. 125 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens; 586-469-8666; theartcenter.org.

Art Gallery of Windsor (AGW): Shirley Williams’ highly textured atmospheric works suggest depictions of abstract landscapes and horizons. Her work is on exhibit through Feb. 6. • Canadian artist Sky Glabush’s paintings are on display through March 6. 401 Riverside Dr. W., Windsor, Ontario; 519-977-0013, artgalleryofwindsor.com.

Artspace II: Modern Masters of Print features works by Miro, Chagall, LeWitt, Lichtenstein, and Pearlstein. Runs Feb. 1-29. 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. Through 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 display through 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. Through Feb. 19. 4719 Woodward, Detroit; 313-832-8540, detroitartistsmarket.org.

Detroit Institute of Arts: 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. • A survey of photographer André Kertesz’s career, An Intuitive Eye: André Kertesz Photographs 1914-1969, highlights his Parisian photographs of daily life, as well as photographs taken in Hungary and New York. His distinctive combination of photojournalistic compositions and modern, abstract aesthetics is displayed in the exhibit. Through April 10. 5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-7900, dia.org.

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 through Feb. 2 in the University Gallery, EMU Student Center. • The Annual Graduate Student Exhibition runs Feb. 22-March 17 in the Ford Gallery. 900 Oakwood, Ypsilanti; 734-487-1268, art.emich.edu.

Elaine L. Jacob Gallery: Paintings Coast to Coast runs through March 11. 480 W. Hancock, Detroit; 313-993-7813, art.wayne.edu.

Ellen Kayrod Gallery: Artists Cheryl Phillips and Ellen Stern display their paintings and mosaic tiles in The Lighter Side. Runs Feb. 4-March 18. 4750 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1300, hannan.org.

Flint Institute of Arts: Picasso features more than 40 examples of the painter’s works, examining his interest not only in painting, but also other methods of printmaking. Through Feb. 27 in the Ford Graphics Gallery. • Promises of Freedom, from the Arthur Primas Collection, includes paintings, sculptures, graphics and documents of more than 30 African-American artists. Opens Feb. 19. 1120 E. Kearsley, Flint; 810-234-1695; flintarts.org.

Grosse Pointe Art Center: Resolutions, an exhibition composed of works either created digitally or inspired by digital media, runs through Feb 26. 16900 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe; 313-821-1848, grossepointeartcenter.org.

Lawrence Street Gallery: The Body Eclectic ’11 is a compilation of works in a variety of media, all having to do with the body. Feb 2-25. 22620 Woodward, Ferndale; 248-544-0394; lawrencestreetgallery.com.

Oakland University Art Gallery: Subverting the (Un)Conventional features works by Cynthia Greig. Through 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 see 15 artists’ teapots created out of shapes derived from historic antecedents. Through March 6. 10125 E. Jefferson, Detroit; 313-822-0954; pewabic.org.

River’s Edge Gallery: My New Year’s Resolution highlights an installation piece by artist 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. Through Feb. 18. • Comics at the Edge is a group show of established and upcoming comic-book artists in metro Detroit. The show includes 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; artattheedge.com.

Susanne Hilberry Gallery: John Rowland’s fiberglass and resin sculptures are highlighted in a solo exhibition running through Feb. 26. 700 Livernois, Ferndale; 248-541-4700; hilberrygallery.com.

323 East Gallery: A former line worker at Ford, artist Tony Roko displays his automotive-themed work as a tie-in with the Auto Show. His art, done in the same paint used on cars, includes such items as painted car hoods. Through Feb. 10. • A group show featuring primarily paintings by artists Peter DeAngelo, Mike Han, and street artists Deni@l and Malt runs Feb. 12-March 10. 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. Through Feb. 13. • 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, features 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 is up through Feb. 11, while Exhibition II starts on Feb. 25. 150 Art Building, Detroit; 313-993-7813, wayne.art.edu.

 

CLASSICAL

Chamber Music Society of Detroit: The Orion String Quartet and Windscape play Bach’s last piece, The Art of Fugue, arranged for string quartet and wind quintet. 8 p.m. Feb. 12. $25-$75 ($25 students) • French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet performs a selection of works by Franz Liszt, including Consolations, Légendes, and Meine Freuden. 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: Arild Remmereit conducts works by Martinu, Haydn, and Dvorák, with Lynn Harrell taking on solo duties in Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major. 8 p.m. Feb. 11 and 8:30 p.m. Feb. 12. $19-$123. • Leonard Slatkin conducts pianist Michel Camilo as he performs the U.S. premiere of his Piano Concerto No. 2, and mezzo-soprano Kristin Chavez is featured in Manuel de Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17, 8 p.m. Feb. 18 and 8:30 p.m. Feb. 19. $19-$123.  (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.

Music Hall: Black Violin, composed of two classically trained musicians, Kev Marcus and Wil b, have created the ultimate synergy between classical and hip-hop music along with their DJ, TK. 4 p.m. Feb. 13. $20 (children $10). Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 350 Madison, Detroit; 313-887-8500, musichall.org.

University Musical Society:  Franz Welser-Möst conducts the Cleveland Orchestra in works by Bartók, Schumann, and Wagner, with Pierre-Laurent Aimard doing the solo duties in Schumann’s Piano Concerto. 8 p.m. Feb. 1. $10-$75. Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor. • Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and the New Century Chamber Orchestra perform works by Wolf, Bartók, Piazzolla, and Tchaikovsky. 8 p.m. Feb. 4. $24-$50. Rackham Auditorium, 915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor. • Polish pianist Rafal Blexhacz performs a recital of works by Mozart, Debussy, Szymanowski, and Chopin. 8 p.m. Feb. 11. $10-$50. Hill Auditorium. • Concertante, composed of six virtuoso string players, along with Polish pianist Rafal Blexhacz, play works by Elgar, Schoenberg, and Chopin. 4 p.m. Feb. 13. $20-$42. Rackham Auditorium. • An Ann Arbor favorite, the Takács Quartet, play Schubert’s quartets and quintets. 4 p.m. Feb. 20. $24-$48. Rackham Auditorium. 734-764-2538, ums.org.

 

Dance

Music Hall: One of Argentina’s great cultural exports, Tango Buenos Aires, bring their deftly engineered movements to the Music Hall in what is heralded as the most authentic and uncompromising representation of the tango. 8 p.m. Feb. 5 $30-$50. • The 30-member Bahia Ballet, the only professional dance company in Brazil, is based on “Bahian” folkloric dances of African origin, which includes slave dances, capoeria (a form of martial arts), samba, and those celebrating Carnival. 8 p.m. Feb. 9. $30-$50. Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 350 Madison, Detroit; 313-887-8500, musichall.org.

 

Events

Sesame Street Live “1-2-3 Imagine! With Elmo & Friends”: Sing with Elmo, Abby, Cadabby, Big Bird, and the rest of the gang, at this family-friendly musical, which teaches the audience the power of imagination. Watch as the crew takes you on an adventure to the rainforests, where Bert meets an octopus who has the blues. Feb. 4-6, 9-13, and 17-21. $12-$65. Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward, Detroit; 800-745-3000.

Motown Winter Blast: Centered at Campus Martius, the festival includes everything from free skating, ice sculptures, snowshoeing, marshmallow roasting, a winter carnival, and more. The event partners with Matrix Human Services, asking festival-goers to donate $1 or a non-perishable food item, book, or new or gently used clothing instead of an admission fee. Feb. 11-13. Campus Martius, 800 Woodward, Detroit; winterblast.com.

Cirque Du Soleil Dralion: Since its premiere in 1999, more than 8 million people have seen this world-class production. Dralion is the fusion of ancient Chinese circus traditions and the avant-garde style of Cirque du Soleil. The international cast features 52 acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, singers, and comedic characters. $31-$84. Feb. 16-20. Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Dr., Detroit; 800-745-3000.   

Metro Detroit Go Red for Women Luncheon: This event is the American Heart Association’s national campaign to help raise awareness of heart disease in women. The annual luncheon includes interactive health exhibits, health screenings, auction, and fashion show. 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $175. Feb. 24. MGM Grand Detroit, 1777 Third St., Detroit; 248-936-5807.

Cottage and Lakefront Living Show: Everything you need to know about living in a cottage or lakefront home is on display. Exhibits include log, timber frame, cedar homes, cottage rentals, designers, architects, cottage furnishings, lakeshore maintenance, boats, and more. Feb. 24-27. $4-$10. Rock Financial Show Place, 46100 Grand River, Novi; showspan.com/CLD/Home.aspx.

Southfield Pavilion Antiques Exposition: Entering its 30th season, the show has been called “Michigan’s Finest Antique Event.” The three-day display offers more than 75 exhibitors with an array of American, European, and Asian antiques. Feb. 25-27. The Southfield Municipal Complex, 2600 Evergreen, Southfield; 586-465-9441. 

 

FILM

Detroit Film Theatre: Vision tells the remarkable story of Hildegarde von Bingen (1098-1178), a Benedictine nun, composer, writer, and mystic who ran afoul of the Church for her “visions.” Directed by Margarethe von Trotta and starring Barbara Sukowa as Hildegarde. (In German with English subtitles). Feb. 4-6. • Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune is a documentary on the American songwriter and political activist (1940-76), famous for such protest songs as “I Ain’t Marching Anymore.” Feb. 5. • “2011 Academy Award-Nominated Short Films” may even be better than the feature-length nominees. Feb. 11-20. • Soundtrack for a Revolution chronicles the story of the civil-right movement through its “freedom songs.” Feb. 12 • Kirk Douglas plays the tortured artist Vincent van Gogh, and Anthony Quinn portrays Paul Gaughin in Vincente Minnelli’s 1956 biopic Lust for Life. Feb. 19 • Samson and Delilah, a 2009 film directed by Warwick Thornton, isn’t a rehashing of the familiar biblical tale. Instead, it relates the story of a young man (Rowan McNamara) and young woman (Marissa Gibson) struggling to find themselves — and each other, set in the Aboriginal communities of Australia. Feb. 26-March 6. $6.50-$7.50. 5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-3237; dia.org.

Redford Theatre: The 1953 romantic comedy Roman Holiday stars Gregory Peck as an American expatriate reporter and Audrey Hepburn as a princess looking for freedom from her responsibilities. The two meet up in Rome by accident and manage to find forbidden love. Feb. 11-12. Tickets $4. • The 1946 musical Harvey Girls stars Judy Garland as Susan Bradley, a woman looking for love, who joins the Harvey Girls, a group of waitresses for the pioneering Harvey House restaurant chain. Feb. 25-26. $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.

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: 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 Airmen Project is an exhibition that 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 their artistic similarities. Johnson, living in Antonio, Texas, and Wright, living in Philadelphia, are both self-trained, create narrative art, and demonstrate post-modern sensibilities in their work. Through April 11. 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. • 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 how 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 a 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: 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: 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. • 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, 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: 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

Miranda Cosgrove: As the star of Nickelodeon’s iCarly, Cosgrove is the second-highest-paid TV child actor, raking in a cool $180,000 per episode. Miley Cyrus, by comparison, makes only $15,000. As if that’s not enough, Cosgrove has stepped into Cyrus’ territory by releasing a polished album of bubblegum pop in April, capable of sending Hannah back to Montana. 7 p.m. Feb. 1. $35-$100. The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward, Detroit; 313-961-5451.

The Decemberists: It may not be December, but this wintry Portland-based quintet is right on time, touring behind its latest album, January’s The King Is Dead. King is the group’s sixth full-length release, and is a return to the shorter narratives it avoided on its last two albums — both long-form, hyper-literate concept pieces. 7 p.m. Feb. 2. $26 in advance. $29 at the door. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-399-2980.

Robyn: Despite crafting some of the decade’s finest dance-pop tunes, Swedish songwriter Robyn has struggled to break into the mainstream. But with three solid albums released in 2010 alone, coupled with a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, Robyn is set to make a breakthrough. Don’t miss this chance to catch her live in an intimate venue. Her next visit is sure to be under grander circumstances. 7 p.m. Feb. 9. $20 in advance. $22 at the door. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-399-2980.

The Wailers: Jah, man! Stir it up with Bob Marley’s band, still featuring original member of the Wailers Band, Aston “Family Man” Barrett. This incarnation is not to be confused with The Original Wailers, who, despite having played with Bob Marley, are not actually members of the original Wailers band. Follow? Then get up, stand up, at 8 p.m. Feb. 9. $30. The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800.

Justin Townes Earle: Just when things were looking up for this son of troubled country icon Steve Earle (and namesake of troubled country icon Townes Van Zandt) — Justin overcame a nasty drug habit and released the critically acclaimed album Harlem River Blues — his fall tour came to a screeching halt thanks to a fall off the wagon. After a voluntary stint at an addiction-treatment program, Justin is back on the road making up for lost time and cancelled tour dates. 8 p.m. Feb. 9. $12-$14. The Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-9700.

Brian McKnight: In addition to being an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, McKnight is also a multi-Grammy Award nominee. But the R&B singer, best known for the 1999 hit “Back at One,” cannot claim something even Milli Vanilli could brag about — actually winning a Grammy. In fact, McKnight has the most nominations (16) out of any artist without a win. 8 p.m. Feb. 11. $37-$42. MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River, Detroit; 313-237-7711.

Ozzy Osbourne: “Back whhn heuur wss bite still fdsfsnjk mhuidsani bat dsaj SHARON! hejdjsopkd. Sdjsoijj bloody sdhu stupid jjkppdmn SHAAARRROOOONNNN!” At least that’s what we think he said. Listen for yourself at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12. $29.50-$75. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.

Ethan Bortnick: Ethan doesn’t remember the 1990s, and not for typical rock star reasons; his excuse is better. Rather, he wasn’t alive in the 1990s. Ethan Bortnick — of Pembroke Pines, Fla. — recently turned 10 years old. And even at that tender age, he’s  already amassed five years of composing experience, raised record amounts of money for charity, and has appeared on Jay Leno’s, Martha Stewart’s, and Oprah’s respective television shows. Get used to it, because Ethan Bortnick is a name you’ll be hearing for years to come. 7 p.m. Feb. 18. $29.50. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-399-2980.

Rick Springfield: Rick Springfield has wished he had “Jessie’s Girl” so many times, “It’s not like a song anymore; it’s more like a family member,” he told Hour Detroit last month. And while the Aussie rocker will play a set of deeper cuts, incorporating an almost 40-year musical career into his repertoire, he’s sure to tunefully ask, “Where can I find a woman like that?” at 8 p.m. Feb. 18. $51.75-$61.45. MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River, Detroit; 313-237-7711.

George Strait, Reba McEntire, Lee Ann Womack: Strait was named the Artist of the Decade last year by the Academy of Country Music. McEntire is one of the most successful female recording artists in history. And while Womack’s 6 million album sales can’t compete with Reba’s 55 million, their tally for Grammy Awards is even (at two apiece). It’s like three shots of Southern Comfort. 7 p.m. Feb 19. $39.50-$89.50. Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.

Ke$ha: There’s really no explaining Ke$ha’s popularity, unless you take into account the impending downfall of civilization. Rolling Stone called Animal, her debut album, “repulsive, obnoxious, and ridiculously catchy.” If this is what the end of the world sounds like, at least there’ll be dancing. 7 p.m. Feb. 26. $39.50-$89.50. The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward, Detroit; 313-961-5451.

Scissor Sisters: Like Minus the Bear, the Scissor Sisters’ moniker is inspired by an act of concupiscence. It makes a little more sense in the Sisters’ case, though, considering their glam-rock and disco leanings granted them the opportunity to open for the equally risqué Lady Gaga on a leg of her North American tour. By the way, the Sisters are made up of four men and one woman, making their sobriquet even lewder. 8 p.m. Feb. 27. $25 in advance. $29 at the door. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-399-2980.

 

THEATER

Bonstelle Theatre: The off-Broadway hip-hop show Flow features an ensemble cast that seeks to redefine the oral tradition in American storytelling. Runs Feb. 18-27. $15. 3424 Woodward, Detroit; 313-577-2960, bonstelle.com.

Fisher Theatre: The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical In the Heights comes to the Fisher, telling the story of three days in the Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City. Feb. 1-13. $40-$94. • If you like Latin and ballroom dancing, you’ll kick up your heels when Burn the Floor comes to town. Starring Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev (So You Think You Can Dance). Feb. 22-March 6. Tickets start at $29. 3011 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit; 313-872-1000.

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 chronicles Alceste, a French noble who refuses to conform to the social standard of politeness by criticizing everyone around him. Through March 5. $20-$25. 4841 Cass, Detroit; 313-577-2972, hilberry.com.

Jewish Ensemble Theatre: 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. Through Feb. 13. $32-$41. 6600 W. Maple
, West Bloomfield; 248-788-2900, jettheatre.org.

Matrix Theatre Company: A new addition to the yearly lineup is the Matrix Teen Production, under the direction of Andrea Scobie and produced and performed by the artistic youth participating in the Matrix teen program. The Teen Production is a collage of performances based on a variety of theater styles and techniques from around the world, in the revue format. Feb. 11-20. 2730 Bagley, Detroit; 313-967-0599, matrixtheatre.org.

Meadow Brook Theatre: Reunion: A Musical Epic is a retelling of the Civil War, adapted from newspapers, letters, diaries, and memoirs from the time period. The show deals with the North and its search for a purpose in fighting. Feb. 9-March 6. $24-39. 207 Wilson Hall, Oakland University, Rochester; 248-377-3300, mbtheatre.com.

Performance Network Theatre: The 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. Through 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. Through March 5. $20-$40. 137 Park St., Chelsea; 734-433-7573, purplerosetheatre.org.

Tipping Point Theatre:  The 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. Feb. 3-March 5. $28-$30, Senior citizens 62 and older receive a $2 discount. Tipping Point Theatre, 361 E. Cady, Northville; 248-347-0003, tippingpointtheatre.com.

 

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