Art
Artspace II
The exhibit Woodcuts of the Arts and Crafts Movement features American and European artists reflecting on the period through a series of prints, much of which was influenced by Japanese subject matter. Through Feb. 28.
Artspace II, 303 E. Maple, Birmingham; 248-258-1540; artspace2.com
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center
Terra Nullius means land belonging to no one, and it is the title of an exhibition featuring the work of U-M faculty artists. BBAC Current Student Works features art from BBAC adult students and is juried by Mary Fortuna. Both exhibits run through Feb. 28.
1516 S. Cranbrook Rd., Birmingham; 248-644-0866; bbartcenter.org
Center Galleries
Multimedia Messenger Service is an exhibit featuring the work of Curtis Glenn, Nolan Simon, and Dylan Spaysky — all CCS alumni. Each week, a new work of art will be presented alongside a film and will remain up until it is replaced with the following week’s pairing. #Lisa Poszywak: New Work# will also be on display in the Alumni & Faculty Hall. Poszywak is a CCS alumna and Detroit-based artist whose work examines the cultural and personal elements of everyday subjects. Through March 1.
Center Galleries, Manoogian Visual Resource Center 301 Frederick Douglass, Detroit; 313-664-7800; collegeforcreativestudies.edu
Cranbrook Art Museum
• The Islands of Benoît Mandelbrot: Fractals, Chaos, and the Materiality of Thinking showcases the achievements of this 20th century mathematician, who made significant advancements in both fractal geometry and chaos theory. This exhibition, which includes his charts, graphs, notebooks, instrument readings, and more, explores the power of images to inform and shape new scientific thought. Through March 30.
• My Brain is in My Inkstand: Drawing as Thinking and Process is a companion piece to the Mandelbrot Exhibition and features original works by artists, scientists, and thinkers who use drawings as part of their creative processes. Through March 30.
• Waylande Gregory: Art Deco Ceramics and the Atomic Impulse celebrates the mastery of Gregory, whose ceramic pieces are definitive art deco treasures. Through March 23.
39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; 248-645-3320; cranbrookart.edu
David Klein
Works by American abstract expressionist Jack Tworkov will be on display. Tworkov was a founding member of the New York School and was considered one of the leading artists of his generation. Feb. 1-March 8.
163 Townsend St., Birmingham; 248-433-3700; dkgallery.com
Detroit Artists Market
3 will highlight the work of Kathryn Brackett-Luchs, Lois Teicher, and Marie Woo, whose paintings, sculptures, and video installations will be open for viewing. Through Feb. 15.
4719 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-8540; detroitartistsmarket.org
Detroit Institute of Arts
• Watch Me Move: The Animation Show will display more than 100 clips from animated films stretching back 150 years and boasting a variety of animation techniques. Ticket prices for the DIA exhibit will include a pass for a screening at the theatre. Through Jan. 5. $14+.
• Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy, a masterfully executed painting from the late 16th century, is on loan from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Connecticut. Through Jan. 12.
• Balance of Power: A Throne for an African Prince showcases the wooden throne of Prince Ilori of Nigeria, carved by renowned 19th century artist Olowe of Ise. Through March 16.
• Foto Europa will feature more than 70 works by European photographers, with selections ranging from the early days of photography to contemporary examples of the form. Featured artists will include William Henry Fox Talbot, Julia Margaret Cameron, Man Ray, and more. Through April 27.
5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org
Flint Institute of Arts
• The exhibition Beatrice Wood: Mama of Dada (pictured on left) will highlight the work of this seminal New York artist, whose work was at the forefront of the dada art movement during the early 20th century. Take a look at her paintings and pottery, and go gaga for dada. Through Jan. 12.
• Explore the works of French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec at the exhibit Toulouse-Lautrec & His World. Approximately 150 of his pieces — which depict cabarets, theaters, and dance halls — will be featured in the gallery. Through Dec. 30.
• For three decades, artist Michael Dunbar has been making abstract, gear-like sculptures constructed from steel and bronze. Six of these works are on display in the exhibit, Michael Dunbar: Explorations in Space. Through May.
• Works on Paper by printmaker and painter Lavarne Ross depicts images from the artist’s Flint heritage. Through April 27.
• Point of View: African American Art from the Elliot and Kimberly Perry Collection showcases the paintings of former NBA player Elliot Perry, who has been collecting African-American artwork for more than a decade. Works by several artists, including John Biggers, Jacob Lawrence, and Elizabeth Catlett, will be on display. Through May.
• Lavarne Works on Paper features 20 highlighted works of Flint native Lavarne Ross, a printmaker and painter who creates artwork that chronicles his life while telling rich stories and revealing parts of history. Considering himself a storyteller, Ross strives to capture his heritage and vision through his art. Through April 27.
1120 E. Kearsley Rd., Flint; 810-234-1695; flintarts.org
Janice Charach Gallery
Old2New: A Celebration of Art Through Salvaged, Found Objects and Upcycled Material will feature Jess Hall and Brad Young of Reology. Through Feb. 27.
6600 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield Township; 248-661-1000, jccdet.org
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
• I Cancel All My Works at Death presents a retrospect of playwright James Lee Byars’ work, operating under Byars’ sentiment that the artist and his work are better misremembered than re-experienced. The exhibition presents none of his actual performances nor anything owned, made, or used by the artist. Curated by Triple Candie. Feb. 7-May 4.
• State of Exception gathers objects left behind by undocumented migrants en route to the U.S. as well as audio interviews with migrants about their experiences, perspectives, and relationships with the objects. Photographs of the U.S.-Mexico border by Richard Barnes accompany the exhibit. Feb. 7-May 4.
4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-6622; mocadetroit.org
Pewabic Pottery
• Artists Matt Fiske, Hideaki Miyamura, Sebastian Moh, Alex Thullen, and John Tilton explore different glazing techniques and technologies in State of Flux. Through March 9.
10125 E. Jefferson, Detroit; 313-626-2000; pewabicpottery.org
Re:View Art Gallery
Metro Detroit native Sharon Que’s solo exhibition titled Vaporous Quill will be on display through March 1.
444 W. Willis, Detroit; 313-833-9000; reviewcontemporary.com
Robert Kidd Gallery
Paintings by artists Tom Parish, William Nichols, Andrew Krieger, Rick Vian, and others provide a new look at contemporary painting by highlighting a range of energetic and interesting imagery in Midwinter Lights. Through Feb. 21.
107 Townsend St., Birmingham; 248-642-3909; robertkiddgallery.com
U-M Museum of Art
Affecting the Audience focuses on the effects of the construction of images, and how the environment in which they are presented impacts the observer through the examination of three works by artists Anthony Discenza, Aurélien Froment, and Dora Garcia. Through April 27.
• Flip Your Field: Photographs from the Collection presents two contrasting selections of photographs chosen by guest curator Larry Cressman from UMMA’s collection. One selection has “trees” as the common subject, while the other contains photographs that are manipulated through the photographic process to create unique statements by each artist. Through March 16.
• David Osler is the first of three Ann Arbor architects to be featured in the aptly named series Three Michigan Architects. Through April 13.
• Fragments from the Past: Islamic Art from the Collection of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology includes artifacts from the 8th to 19th centuries, featuring architectural fragments, furniture, and a host of antique everyday objects from the Middle East. Through April 13.
• Doris Duke’s Shangri La: Architecture, Landscape, and Islamic Art shows off Duke’s fascination with Islamic art through the presentation of her 5-acre Honolulu estate and its collections. The exhibit contains ceramics, photographs, textiles, paintings, drawings, tile panels, and full-scale architectural elements. Through May 4.
525 S. State St., Ann Arbor; 734-764-0395; umma.umich.edu
Wayne State Art Galleries
Foodture by Plantbot is a multimedia installation incorporating elements of biology. The gallery will also display Works by Ryuta Nakajima, which includes traditional and digital media. Jan 31-April 11.
480 W. Hancock St., Detroit, 48201; 313-993-7813; art.wayne.edu
Classical
Chamber Music Society of Detroit
The Grammy-nominated Imani Winds ensemble has a talent for crafting and performing dynamic compositions with an international flair. The quintet will showcase their skills as part of the In Depth Series. Feb. 7. $30+.
Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit; 313-887-8501; chambermusicdetroit.org
• The five-piece Imani Winds will team up with distinguished pianist Gilbert Kalish the following evening. Kalish is a professor at New York’s Stony Brook University and was a pianist for the Boston Symphony Players for 30 years. Feb. 8; $30+. Seligman Performing Arts Center, 22305 W. 13 Mile Rd., Beverly Hills; 248-855-6070; chambermusicdetroit.org
• The Kyodai Brass Quintet, made up of two sets of brothers, began playing together while attending college in Cleveland. They will perform selections from Michael Praetorius, Jacob Druckman, Victor Ewald, Collier Jones, and Moondog. Feb. 9. $20.
Varner Recital Hall, Oakland University, 2200 N. Squirrel Rd., Rochester; 248-855-6070; chambermusicdetroit.org
• The #Jasper String Quartet,# recipients of grand prize awards from The Coleman Competition and Chamber Music Yellow Springs, will serenade audience members with compositions from Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert. Pianist Christopher O’Reilly and cellist Matt Haimovitz, who have performed internationally, will accompany the quartet. Jan 11. $15+.
• Cellist David Geringas plays baroque, contemporary, and anything in between. He’ll be teaming up with pianist Ian Fountain, who first found fame as the youngest winner of the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Masters Competition, to play music from Beethoven, Strauss, and Rachmaninoff. Throughout their extensive careers, both Geringas and Fountain have played with orchestras around the world. Jan 26. $15+.
Seligman Performing Arts Center, 22305 W. 13 Mile Rd., Beverly Hills; 248-855-6070
Cranbrook Music Guild
Pianist Sandra Shen and The Pen Ensemble, which comprises Nora Lewis on oboe, Phillip O. Paglialonga on clarinet, Eric Van der Veer Varner on bassoon, and Andrew Pelletier on French horn, have performed all over North America. Feb. 2. $25.
Christ Church Cranbrook, 70 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills; 248-645-0256; cranbrookmusicguild.org
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Carmina Burana, a Carl Orff classic, will be brought to life by the UMS Choral Union, Ann Arbor Youth Chorale, tenor Robert Baker, baritone Hugh Russell, and soprano Kiera Duffy. Feb. 1-2. $15+.
• Miles Davis and Gil Evans will include music from Davis’ Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess, and Sketches of Spain, which Davis recorded in collaboration with arranger and composer Gil Evans. Trumpet soloists Terence Blanchard and Sean Jones will pay tribute to Miles’ definitive sound. Vince Mendoza conducts. Feb. 6. $18+.
• A Century of Broadway, hosted by Jeff Tyzik, honors the power and longevity of the Broadway song book. Be prepared to hear one classic number after another, with music from shows like The Phantom of the Opera, The Music Man, and My Fair Lady. Feb. 7-9. $19+.
• Ravishing Rachmaninoff, conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero, will feature DSO renditions of Gershwin’s “Cuban Overture,” Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” Respighi’s “The Fountains of Rome,” and Piazzolla’s “Sinfonia de Buenos Aires.” Feb. 13-15. 15+. Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-576-5111; dso.org
• Conductor Hans Graf and violinist Benjamin Schmid lead the charge in Divine Dvorak, which comprises orchestral performances of Anton Webern’s “Im Sommerwind,” Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto, and Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 6. The performance is part of the DSO’s Neighborhood Concert Series. Feb. 20-22. $25+.
Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-576-5111; dso.org
University Musical Society
• The Ariel Quartet, formed in Israel, will perform with cellist Alisa Weilerstein for their UMS debut. Their program includes three compositions: “Italian Serenade” by Hugo Wolf, Quintet in E Major by Luigi Boccherini, and Quintet in C Major by Franz Schubert. Feb. 5. $25-45. Rackham Auditorium, 915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor; 734-763-3333; ums.org
• Kremerata Baltica, a chamber ensemble headed by conductor and violinist Gidon Kremer, stops by UMS to celebrate the centennial of composer Benjamin Britten’s birth, whose work is included in the ensemble’s program. Feb. 6. $10+.
Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-764-2538; ums.org
Berman Center for the Performing Arts
The Haifa Symphony Orchestra of Israel was formed in 1950 and has been a well-respected musical institution in north Israel ever since. Feb. 20. $65.
Main Stage, Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 350 Madison St., Detroit; 313-887-8500; musichall.org
Comedy
Comedy Castle
A former cartoonist for the Houston Chronicle, Steve McGrew got his start as a comic in small clubs around Houston. He has appeared on A&E’s Evening at the Improv, Showtime’s Comedy Club Network, and MTV’s Half Hour Comedy Show. Steve Lind will open. Feb. 1. $20.
• The Amazing Johnathan has been a fixture of the comedy-magic scene for decades. He has appeared on hundreds of television shows, including several specials on Comedy Central and HBO. He’s taking a break from his long-running Las Vegas show to stop by Royal Oak and entertain audiences with his offbeat comedy and eccentric personality. Comedian Corey Hall opens. Feb. 20-22. $20+.
• Chad Daniels has appeared on Comedy Central and is getting ready to release his second album Busy Being Awesome in the spring. Feb. 6-8. $10.
• Andy Pitz has performed on talk shows like The Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He derives much of his comedy from his relationship struggles. Feb. 13-15. $10.
• Keith Alberstadt is a contributing writer for Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update segment, and has written for National Lampoon Magazine. He also regularly performs for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Feb. 27-March 1.
Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St., Royal Oak; 248-542-9900; comedycastle.com
Tina Giorgi
Giorgi is a veteran comedian with experience performing at comedy festivals and on television shows like The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. She’ll be in town entertaining crowds this Valentine’s Day weekend. Feb. 13-15. $10+.
Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, 314 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-996-9080; aacomedy.com
Ron White
Known for his affiliation with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, and for his love of cigars and scotch, White is traveling the country as part of his A Little Unprofessional tour. White has made numerous television appearances, has sold millions of records, and is one of the three highest-grossing comedians of the past five years. Feb. 21. $50+.
Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-668-8463; michtheater.org
Eddie Griffin’s Laugh-a-thon
Eddie Griffin will be joined by comedians Don “DC” Curry, Joe Torry, and Lavar Walker for a night of tag-team laughs. Feb. 15. $49+.
Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 350 Madison St., Detroit; 313-887-8500; musichall.org
Dance
Shen Yun
Using classical Chinese dances, an orchestra with both Chinese and Western instrumentation, and 400 different costumes, performers will depict 5,000 years of Chinese history through dances representing different time periods, regions, and folk tales. Feb. 6-9. $80+.
Michigan Opera Theatre, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit; 313-237-7464; michiganopera.org
Events
North American International Auto Show
The largest annual auto show in North America returns in 2014. Detroit has held an auto show for more than a century, but it was in 1987 when it was made international. More than 500 new car models and concept cars will be on display, and representatives from the companies will be answering questions. $13. Jan. 13-26.
Cobo Center, 1 Washington Blvd., Detroit; 313-877-8777; naias.com
Detroit Zoo Wild Lights
See the zoo in a whole new light with this holiday light display. More than 2 million LED lights will illuminate buildings, animal sculptures and trees throughout the zoo. The event will also feature live entertainment, a musical light show, ice carving demonstrations, and a Lego city and train display. Dec. 1, 6-8, 13-15, 20-23, 26-30, and Jan. 2-5. $8+.
Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Rd., Royal Oak; 248-541-5717; detroitzoo.org
Michigan Student Film Festival
Co-sponsored by DAFT — Digital Arts, Film, and Television — and the Detroit Film Theatre, this festival invites K-12 students to submit their films for review by a panel of judges. The film submission deadline is Feb. 14. The April film screening will be open to the public. April 26. Free admission.
Detroit Film Theatre, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-7900; daftonline.org
Fire and Ice Fest
Three days of fun for the whole family, including two fireworks displays, dogsledding, tube sledding, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, ice skating, a light show, ice sculptures, shopping, and trolley rides. Jan. 25-27.
Downtown Rochester; destinationoakland.com
Greenfield Village
The village will be closed from Jan. 1-April 14.
20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-982-6001; thehenryford.org/village
Harlem Globetrotters
The crafty sportsmen/showmen are back in Detroit for an evening of family fun. Watch the Globetrotters perform circus-like feats of athleticism, theater, and comedy. Jan. 3. $20+.
The Palace of Auburn Hills, 6 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100; palacenet.com
Plymouth Ice Festival
Wintry fun for the whole family. Ice skating, snowboarding, arts and crafts, ice carving, and more. Sculptures will remain standing after the event and are available for viewing 24 hours a day. Jan. 18-20.
350 S. Main St., Plymouth; 1-855-423-3378; plymouthicefestival.com
Film
Detroit Film Theatre
Many of this month’s films complement the museum’s Watch Me Move: Pioneers of Animation exhibit. All exhibit visitors receive one complimentary ticket; additional tickets are $5 each, unless otherwise noted.
• Animation evolved into a sizeable business by the 1920s, and pioneers such as Max and Dave Fleischer were creating characters like Betty Boop and Popeye the Sailor. Watch Early East Coast Studios to learn more. Jan. 3.
• It could easily be said that no other Hollywood studio matched the imaginative cartoon output of Warner Bros, the studio behind Looney Tunes. Watch Warner Bros. Animation to get the inside scoop. Jan. 4.
• Avant-Garde Animation tells how artists such as Oskar Fischinger, Fernand Leger, and Lotte Reiniger experiment with the abstract, non-narrative possibilities of the movie screen. Jan 5.
• Celebrate 40 Years of Film A weekend of movies and events. Jan. 10.
5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-883-4005; dia.org
Michigan Theatre
The Land Before Time is a kid-friendly animated feature about a group of dinosaurs trying to escape to the safety of The Great Valley. Jan. 12. $10. Jan. 18.
603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-668-8397; michtheater.org
Redford Theatre
• Alfred Hitchcock’s 1943 film, Shadow of a Doubt starring Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotten, follows two detectives as they track down the Merry Widow Murderer. Jan. 3-4. $5.
• The director’s cut of Amadeus, the story of Mozart and his contentious relationship with Antonio Salieri, will be showing for two nights. Jan 17-18. $5. In True Grit, grizzled cowboy Rueben J. “Rooster” Cogburn is hired to by a 14-year-old girl to find the man who murdered her father. Jan. 31-Feb. 1. $5.
Redford Theatre, 17360 Lahser Rd., Detroit; 313-537-2560; redfordtheatre.com
Museums
Arab American National Museum
• John Halaka: Landscapes of Desire will be at the Main Floor Gallery through Jan. 5. The exhibition of the Palestinian-American artist’s work features 23 landscape drawings inspired by Palestinian homes and villages ruined since 1948, and is embedded with one-word mantras like “remember” and “forgive.”
• Creative Dissent: Arts of the Arab World Uprisings will be on display on the Main Floor Gallery. The exhibit examines the role of expressive media in such uprisings. Through Feb. 9. $4+.
13624 Michigan Ave, Dearborn; 313-582-2266; arabamericanmuseum.org
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints features nearly 500 works by 50 artists that examine relations between Africans, Europeans, and indigenous populations for a period of more than 500 years. Through Jan. 5.
315 E. Warren Ave., Detroit; 313-494-5800; thewright.org
Detroit Historical Museum
• Made by Hand: Detroit’s Ceramic Legacy is a 110-year retrospective of Pewabic Pottery, a pinnacle of art and craftsmanship in Detroit.
5401 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1805, detroithistorical.org
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
The Great Lakes Gallery’s exhibit A River’s Roar looks back on the history of hydroplane racing in Detroit. Learn about the racers and their boats that have torn up Detroit’s waterways for more than 100 years. Through April.
100 Strand Dr., Belle Isle, Detroit; 313-833-5538; detroithistorical.org
Henry Ford Museum
James Cameron’s AVATAR: The Exhibition dives into the making of Cameron’s Golden Globe winning film. Learn about the technology that brought the film to life by directing your own scene with a virtual camera, and viewing a large collection of concept art. Through Jan. 26.
20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-982-6001; thehenryford.org
U-M Museum of Natural History
The museum will host two planetarium shows this month. The Sky Tonight: Star Talk will feature constellations, stars, and planets observable in the night sky. Jan. 2-3. Season of Light provides insight into the evolution of winter customs, and how people attempt to “light up” the winter season. Jan. 2-3.
1109 Geddes, Ann Arbor; 734-764-0478, lsa.umich.edu/ummnh
Music
Chembo Corniel
To pay homage to jazz pianist Thelonious Monk and Afro-Cuban musician Mongo Santamaria, percussionist Chembo Corniel and his band will play two nights of Latin-Jazz fusion. Jan 31-Feb. 1. $30+.
Jazz Cafe, Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 350 Madison St., Detroit; 313-887-8500; musichall.org
Billy Joel
he six-time Grammy award winner returns to Detroit after a year of sparse touring. Joel’s 50-year career began in 1964, and found mainstream success with 1973’s hit “Piano Man.” He is an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. Feb. 15. $50+.
The Palace of Auburn Hills, 6 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100; palacenet.com
Bret Michaels
The singer of Poison fame will perform as part of Goodwill’s “Rock for Jobs” concert. Michaels’ fifth studio album, Jammin’ with Friends was released July 2013. Proceeds from the concert will go toward Goodwill’s goal of putting metro Detroiters back to work. Feb. 16. 30+.
The Palace of Auburn Hills, 6 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100; palacenet.com
Kings of Leon
The Kings are back for their “Mechanical Bull Tour” in support of their album of the same name released in September. “Mechanical Bull” has found No. 1 and No. 2 spots on international charts, and produced the singles “Supersoaker” and “Wait for Me.” Gary Clark Jr. will open. Feb. 11. $30+.
The Palace of Auburn Hills, 6 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100; palacenet.com
Paul Simon and Sting
These old friends and legendary musicians bring together the fruits of their musical exploration to push the envelope of popular music. Feb. 26. $50+.
The Palace of Auburn Hills, 6 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100; palacenet.com
Spring Quartet with Esperanza Spalding
Legendary jazz musicians Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, and Leo Genovese join Esperanza Spalding to form a world-class jazz quartet. Feb. 16. $30+.
Main Stage, Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 350 Madison St., Detroit; 313-887-8500; musichall.org
George Strait
The country music legend’s “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour” presents the last opportunity for fans to see Strait’s legendary and award-winning live performance. At age 61, he has amassed 60 No. 1 hit singles, more than Elvis and the Beatles combined. Feb. 14. $70+.
The Palace of Auburn Hills, 6 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100; palacenet.com
Zappa Plays Zappa
Roxy and Elsewhere 40th Anniversary Tour: Dweezil Zappa, son of legendary musician Frank Zappa, studied his father’s music to put together this tribute tour. Backed by new, young musicians, Zappa hits the Michigan Theater to play his dad’s tunes. Feb. 19. $33+.
603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-668-8463; michtheater.org
The Verve Pipe Kids’ Show
Michigan natives The Verve Pipe found national attention in the ’90s when their song “The Freshmen” became a top-10 hit. Now the band has cultivated a more family-friendly sound. Feb. 9. $15.
Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-668-8463; michtheater.org
Winter Jam 2014 Tour Spectacular
This popular tour features 10 Christian music acts, including Newsboys, Lecrae, Tenth Avenue North, and tour founders Newsong. Evangelist Nick Hall will also be present to give an inspirational sermon. Feb. 22. $10.
Joe Louis Arena, 19 Steve Yzerman Dr., Detroit; 313-396-7444; olympiaentertainment.com
Theater
Detroit Opera House
In American Idiot, inspired by the Green Day album of the same name, three close friends reflect on their relationship with suburbia. This musical production features Green Day hits like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and “Holiday.” Jan. 31-Feb. 2.
Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit; 313-237-7464; michiganopera.org
Fisher Theatre
War Horse chronicles the relationship of a teenager named Albert and his horse, Joey, as they face World War I. The Tony award-winning play boasts life-size puppets. Through Jan. 5. $40+.
3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313- 872-1000; broadwayindetroit.com
Hilberry Theatre
• Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde examines the intrigue and courtroom battles concerning Wilde’s “indecent” relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas. Jan. 10-March 22. $30.
• The Doctor in Spite of Himself, a Moliere classic, follows a woodcutter named Sganarelle as he impersonates a doctor to make some quick cash. Through Feb. 8. $30.
• Moon Over Buffalo is a comedic tale about a married couple who are desperate to save their theatre company and their marriage. Feb. 21-April 5. $30.
4743 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-577-2972; cfpca.wayne.edu
JET (Jewish Ensemble Theatre)
1300 Lafayette East, by Brooke Berman, is set during the Detroit race riots of the 1960s and follows the blossoming friendship of two women, one who is Jewish and one who is African American. Jan. 29-Feb. 23. $40+.
6600 W. Maple Rd., West Bloomfield; 248-788-2900; jettheatre.org
Meadow Brook Theatre
• Harris Cashes Out is the story of Harris Wellborn, a failed lyricist and composer whose one off-Broadway production lasted only a single performance. His neighbors, however, scheme to make some money off of Wellborn’s past. Through Feb. 2. $25-40.
• Lysistrata Jones is a modern retelling of Lysistrata by Aristophanes. “Lyssie” and her gal pals won’t sleep with their basketball-player boyfriends until they’ve won a game, in a comedy that examines power-dynamics between the sexes. Feb. 12-March 9. $25-40.
207 Wilson Hall, Oakland University, Rochester; 248-377-3300; mbtheatre.com
Purple Rose
Redwood Curtain, by Lanford Wilson, follows a half-Asian teenage piano prodigy as she befriends a Vietnam War veteran, whom she suspects may be her father, who lives with other veterans in Northern California’s giant redwood forest. Jan. 16-March. 14. $22+.
137 Park St., Chelsea; 734-433-7673; purplerosetheatre.org
Tipping Point Theatre
In the wacky comedy Murder at the Howard Johnson’s, Arlene, the wife of a car salesman, is having an affair with her dentist, Mitchell. Eventually, Arlene and Mitchell conspire to kill the husband at a local Howard Johnson’s motel. Jan. 30-March 9. $29+.
361 E. Cady St., Northville; 248-347-0003; tippingpointtheatre.com
The Ringwald Theatre
Boys in the Band, which was first produced in 1968 and boldly depicted the lives of gay men, chronicles the events of a birthday party that goes awry when unresolved conflict between the attendees bubbles to the surface. Jan. 10-Feb. 3. $20.
22742 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-545-5545; theringwald.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.com. By fax: 248-691-4531.
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