With the season’s first weekend comes an early crop of summer theater offerings, including shows at both summer-only and year-round venues. Ann Arbor’s much-beloved small company Redbud presents “A Small Fire,” by Adam Bock, keeping with their recent trend of bringing cutting-edge work by living playwrights to Ann Arbor.

Meanwhile, one of the newest, and must unique theater venues, Carriage House Theatre, re-opens for the season with “Landlocked,” a Midwest premiere by Cusi Cram. This intimate venue lives up to its name, providing small productions in a converted 1900s carriage house on Ann Arbor’s Old West Side.

It’s official. You can get out your white shoes. They may or may not be galoshes, but no matter. It’s summertime, whatever the weather.

Show: “A Small Fire” by Adam Bock, through June 1
Company: Redbud Productions
Type of Company: Pre-professional
Venue/location: Kerrytown Concert House, 415 North Fourth Avenue, Ann Arbor
Recommended ages: 13+
Description: The New York Times raved that “A Small Fire” is “about the complex, ever-evolving nature of enduring relationships….funny and unexpectedly touching.” Emily Bridges loves her job as the owner of a high profile construction firm. She is confident, assured, and runs a successful organization. Her daughter is about to be wed and she is successfully married to an HR manager. But, as she describes to her close employee, she does not approve of her daughter’s fiance, is extremely uneasy at home, and is determined to stop her daughter’s wedding. When something shocking and unexpected happens, Emily is called to re-examine what she cherishes most - and her family and friends must reexamine their relationship to her.
More information
Fun fact: This is the Midwest Premiere of the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play.
For tickets and information: call Kerrytown Concert House at 734-769-2999 or visit kerrytownconcerthouse.com.
Special ticket offer: There are a limited number of front row café table seats for groups of 2 - 3 for $25 a seat - also - there is special a group rate general seating price of $15 per ticket (for groups of 10 or more).

Show: “33 Variations” by Moises Kaufman, through June 1
Company: The Purple Rose Theatre Company
Type of Company: Professional Equity SPT
Venue/location: The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea
Recommended ages: 16+ (contains adult language and content)
Description: In 19th century Austria, Ludwig van Beethoven works obsessively on a commission he cannot complete. In present day, musicologist Katherine Brandt struggles to solve the mystery behind her professional passion: Beethoven’s oft overlooked “Diabelli Variations.” As she races against time, Katherine not only discovers the true nature of Beethoven’s work, but gains insight into the other mystery in her life: her daughter. Moving between the past and the present, 33 Variations illustrates how the very passions that threaten to overwhelm us can also save us.
More information
Fun fact: The set of "33 Variations" includes 538 books from the Chelsea District Library, 515 fake books made by PRTC apprentices, and 247 boxes of varying sizes.
For tickets and information: 734-433-7673, www.purplerosetheatre.org

Show: “The Mountaintop” by Katori Hall, through June 2
Company: Performance Network Theatre
Type of Company: Professional Equity SPT
Venue/location: Performance Network Theatre, 120 E. Huron, Ann Arbor
Recommended ages: 16+ (contains adult language and content)
Description: It's April 3, 1968 at Memphis' Lorraine Motel the night before Martin Luther King, Jr. would be assassinated there. In room 306 King prepares his speech for the coming day, as a thunderstorm rages outside. Chain-smoking Pall Malls and thundering to himself, "America, you are too ARROGANT!" he is startled by the mysterious Camae, a motel maid who shows up dripping wet on his doorstep. As they strike up a conversation, sharing cigarettes and laughter, King begins to suspect that her purpose there may not be what it seems. This inspiring drama brings one of America's freshest dramatic voices to the Network stage.
Review from Examiner.com
Fun fact: On October 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence.
For tickets and information: 734-663-0681, www.performancenetwork.org

Show: “The Baton Passes On” Community Discussion, one-time event, June 2, 3:30 pm
Company: Performance Network Theatre
Type of Company: Professional Equity SPT
Venue/location: Performance Network Theatre, 120 E. Huron, Ann Arbor
Recommended ages: 16+
Description: Performance Network Theatre welcomes civil rights historian Matthew Countryman, Associate Professor of Theatre and writer-in-residence at the University of Michigan OyamO, and storyteller LaRon Williams in a discussion of the themes of “The Mountaintop.” This event is perfect for the historic and/or theater enthusiast who is interested in discussing and analyzing Katori Hall’s unique depiction of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last night on earth and the tools she used to create the story.
Fun fact: PNT Associate Artistic Director, and Director of “The Mountaintop” Carla Milarch will facilitate this hour-long discussion.
For tickets and information: Admission is free and open to the public. 734-663-0681, www.performancenetwork.org

Show: “HONK!” book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe, Music by George Stiles, through June 9
Company: Eastern Michigan University Theatre
Type of Company: Higher Education
Venue/location: Sponberg Theatre, EMU, Ypsilanti
Recommended ages: 6+
Description: Based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling", HONK! is an upbeat musical comedy about an optimistic duckling and his adventures in the barnyard and beyond as he searches for a place to belong. A heart-warming celebration of being different, HONK! is sure to delight audiences with its sparkling wit and memorable score.
Fun fact: Arrive early for lobby games and be sure to keep your eyes open for some fabulous animation during the show.
For tickets and information: 734.487.2282, www.emutix.com, www.emich.edu/emutheatre

Show: “Landlocked” by Cusi Cram, through June 15
Company: Carriage House Theatre
Type of Company: Pre-professional
Venue/location: Carriage House Theatre, 541 Third St, Ann Arbor
Recommended ages: 12+
Description: Anna is a Swiss artist who makes beautiful collages out of trash she finds on beaches. At a gallery opening of her work, she meets Pierre-Luigi, a Bolivian restaurateur who discovers his dentures in one of her pieces, and Aldo, an American trash collector looking to make a fresh start in Switzerland. Anna begins seeing Aldo and starts a correspondence with Pierre-Luigi. But with each person running from their past, can any of them hope to find their place in the world? A poignant comedy about love, loss, teeth, and new beginnings. Fun fact: This play was Cusi Cram's first work, and has never been done before in the Midwest.
Background information
For tickets and information: carriagehousetheatre.org