'The UFO Show' at Mix, 'You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown' at CCC and more
John Seibert, Naz Edwards and Mitchell Koory in Performance Network's production of "My Name is Asher Lev."
courtesy of Performance Network
With stand-up comedy at The Mix, a musical theater show for all ages at 1600 Pauline Theater, an original musical at the Walgreen Center, and new plays on old themes (love and art) at the Purple Rose and Performance Network, there’s something for everyone this weekend.
Show: "The UFO Show (unidentified funny objects), Part III; En Vacances Comiques," a one-time event, August 8 at 8 p.m. Company: Emergent Arts Type of Company: Pre-professional Venue/location: The Mix Studio Theatre, 8 N. Washington, Ypsilanti Recommended ages: 16+ Description: Standup comedy with Marty Smith, Brad Wenzel, Chevy Hungerford, Germaine Gebhard, and more, storytelling with Lyn Davidge and Steven White, singer/songwriter and humorist Marc Holland. Fun fact: Emergent Arts at The Mix is now official host to The Comedy DoJo standup workshop of Chili Challis, professional comedian and coach, and former staff writer for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." For tickets and information: www.emergentarts.com Special ticket offer: "The Truth is in Ypsilanti" T-shirts available for just $5, with $8 ticket purchase. Show: “You're a Good man Charlie Brown” by Clark Gesner, through August 31 Company: Ann Arbor Musical Theater Works Type of Company: Professional Non-Equity Venue/location: 1600 Pauline Theater Space, Children's Creative Center, Ann Arbor Recommended ages: 6+ Description: Classic 60's musical about Charlie Brown and the Peanuts characters in which adults play the roles of the Peanuts characters. Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally, Linus and Schroeder tackle topics like homework, kite-flying, romance, and playground politics. http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/ann-arbor-musical-theatre-works-to-present-youre-a-good-man-charlie-brown/ Fun fact: On March 7, 1967, the musical premiered off-Broadway at Theatre 80 in the East Village, featuring Gary Burghoff, who played Radar O’Reilly in television’s M.A.S.H. as Charlie Brown For tickets and information: http://AnnArborMusicalTheaterWorks.com, or 734-546-5087 Special ticket offer: Thursday's performance at 7:30 p.m. is a Fundraiser with Afterglow featuring food, drinks, silent and regular auction, music and mingle with the cast. All proceeds from Thursday's performance benefit the Campaign to Create the Timothy R.B. Johnson M.D. Professorship in Global Women's Health at the University of Michigan Medical School. Show: “Translations” by Brian Friel, through August 31 Company: Carriage House Theatre Type of Company: Pre-professional Venue/location: Carriage House Theatre, 541 Third St, Ann Arbor Recommended ages: 12+ Description: "Translations," by acclaimed Irish playwright Brian Friel, is set in a rural school in the town of Baile Beag in 1833, when Ireland is under direct British rule. The schoolmaster’s son Owen has returned from Dublin, accompanied by two English officers with orders to survey the area and standardize place names - which means translating them into the King’s English. As the residents of Baile Beag struggle to find their place in this anglicizing world, young lieutenant Yolland begins to fall in love with Baile Beag as it is, its language, and a young woman who attends the school. Language itself, with its ability to both unite and divide, stands at the crossroads between imperial powers and cultural heritage, between tradition and progress in this complex play about identity in a changing world. Fun fact: Playwright Brian Friel is sometimes called the Irish Chekhov. For tickets and information: carriagehousetheatre.org Show: “Miles & Ellie” by Don Zolidis, through August 31 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: 17+ (contains adult language and content) Description: Miles and Ellie are two teenagers in love when a youthful misunderstanding breaks them apart. Flash forward 20 years and a disenchanted Ellie has come home for what she expects to be a typical dysfunctional family Thanksgiving. Not long into the family shenanigans, however, Ellie learns that Miles is still in town and carrying a torch for her. Is it possible to get a second chance at your first love? This charming romantic comedy will make you wonder “what if?” http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/review-miles-and-ellie-at-the-purple-rose/ Fun fact: Similarly to the 1980s, rock music was also very popular in the 1990s, yet, unlike the New Wave and glam metal-dominated scene of the time, grunge, industrial rock and other alternative rock music emerged and took over as the most popular of the decade For tickets and information: purplerosetheatre.org, 734-433-7673 Show: “My Other Voice” by Alex Kipp, through September 1 Company: Alex Kipp Productions Type of Company: Professional Equity, Special Appearance Contract Venue/location: Walgreen Drama Center, 1226 Murfin, Ann Arbor Recommended ages: 16+ Description: “My Other Voice” is Alex Kipp’s autobiographical play about his battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma while a senior at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance at the University of Michigan. Kip, 25, a native of Columbus, Ohio, was given a 15-30 percent chance of survival after being diagnosed, and lost his voice during subsequent treatment at the U-M Medical Center. “No longer able to speak or sing,” he said, “I had to find a new identity.” Now in complete remission, Kip wrote "My Other Voice" with the goal of providing inspiration and hope to other cancer patients. http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/u-m-musical-theater-grad-alex-kip-to-premiere-autobiographical-show-my-other-voice-in-ann-arbor/ Fun fact: The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance was formerly known as the School of Music until it adopted its current name on July 1, 2006 For tickets and information: http://akipprod.com/tickets.html Show: “My Name is Asher Lev” by Aaron Posner, adapted from the novel by Chaim Potok, through September 8 Company: Performance Network Theatre Type of Company: Professional Equity (SPT) Venue/location: Performance Network Theatre, 120 East Huron, Ann Arbor Recommended ages: 16+ Description: Based on the famous 1972 novel by Chaim Potok, this provocative play tells the story of a boy growing up in a sheltered Hasidic community in 1950s Brooklyn, who discovers he has a prodigious talent as an artist. Struggling to reconcile his gift with the community’s Orthodox values, he immerses himself in an art form steeped in Christian imagery. When he brings forth a masterwork entitled “The Brooklyn Crucifixions,” he must decide whether or not to honor his self-expression and exhibit, potentially bringing shame on his family, his community, and even his faith. http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/performance-networks-my-name-is-asher-lev-is-a-powerful-family-portrait/ Fun fact: A backstage art show is open 30 minutes after every performance, literally backstage on the set of “Asher Lev.” Patrons can tour an art show, inspired by the themes of the show, curated by The Ugly Mug in Ypsilanti. For tickets and information: 734-663-0696, www.performancenetwork.org/ Special ticket offer: Enjoy half-priced drinks ($2 beer, $3 wine) at PNT’s happy hour beginning one hour before show time.