Sylvia Studio of Dance provides professional dance instruction and progressive training programs in ballet and jazz. In 2008, they were awarded the 2008 Best of Ann Arbor Award for Dance instruction.

Sunday, June 23, 2013 4 p.m. Child (9 & under) $5, Student/Senior (65 & up) $12, Adult $15. 1300 Campus Parkway, Saline.

Among the best options on the Belly Deli menu are the yummy sides. The chicken salad in a creamy curry dressing was delicious, and I loved the various textures of white meat chicken chunks, crunchy almond bits and sweet and chewy dried cranberries. They have a chicken curry sandwich with this too.

Also worthwhile, the bokum balls and "Sea Fu" balls are like Asian arancini; golden, deep-fried rice balls that come three to an order. The bokum balls are slightly fishy, flecked with bits of kimchee and pork, lightly glazed with spicy sriracha ketchup. The Sea Fu balls are sweeter, with shrimp, "krab" and corn, and a bit of horseradish mayonnaise. Both of these options are tasty and affordable.

The signature "Belly Sammy" sandwich comes with interesting filling options like spicy chicken gochujang, beef bulgogi, pork char siu, and tofu soy-garlic. The "Sammy" is something like a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, but served on a large fluffy submarine bun rather than a crisp french baguette. All of the sammy fillings are pre-cooked in the morning and kept warm (pork, chicken, fried tofu) and some are re-cooked on a flattop to melt the cheese (the cheese steak and the kimchee sausage). The sammy comes accessorized with sprightly cilantro, pickled strips of carrots and radish, and a slick of mayo. If you want to increase the banh mi authenticity quotient, add the mild chicken liver-based pate for an extra 50 cents.

The kimchee sausage sammy is a hot mess, so to speak. It's another fusion-y combination that puts slices of a spicy Dearborn red hot dog inside a big squishy roll together with grilled onion, red pepper, sauteed kimchee and lots of melted provolone cheese. While it may not be a good choice for those with delicate sensibilities (or in tidy whites), I thought the mouth-punching flavor combination worked. Especially washed down with some of their Puck's Handcrafted Sodas with cane sugar. Both the black cherry and the birch beer were delicious.

Not that anyone has asked for it yet, but a Dearborn red hot (or any of the other meats) is available as an add-on for each of the three salads on the menu. The Asian Cobb Salad was huge, with vegetables nicely cut into manageable pieces; I hate when you order a salad and have to struggle to get giant hunks of crudites into your maw. The box of salad was filled with crisp romaine and thinly sliced napa, matchsticked cucumber, fried strips of wonton crispies, and a perfectly cooked and sliced boiled egg.

Although most of the salad was tasty, I was nonplussed with the few leaves of wilted basil that appeared to have died a wrinkly death. As for the large pieces of cold congealed bacon, "I cut them with effort, and swallowed them with regret," in the manner of another intrepid food writer. The ginger miso vinaigrette also tasted odd to me—I wasn't able to discern either ginger or miso in the flavor.

The Szechuan stir-fry salad was very similar to the Asian Cobb, replacing the basil and bacon with a few flavor-free cooked green beans and pea pods. I thought the sweet and garlicky soy-based dressing on this one was tasty though.

The food at the Belly Deli is not subtle or delicate — even with all the salads, the vibe seems somehow masculine to me. Flavors are bold, the music is pop-y, portions are large, and 90 percent of the staff we saw was male. There's a prep kitchen in back, but much of the "cooking," or at least the assembling happens up front where you can see the fast-food pace and techniques. The staff at Belly Deli was friendly and accommodating, but their focus is definitely on speed, like the pit crew at the Indy 500.

The Asian-mod ambiance of the small space is unique and appealing, but since their business is take-out, it's not particularly comfortable to sit (or stand) and eat there. I hear they are planning an expanded menu for later this summer, and are testing out options now in an effort to be ready for the students to come rushing back in the fall. Until then, Belly Deli seems like a good place for townies to grab a picnic on the way to the Arb.

Kim Bayer is a freelance writer and culinary researcher. Email her at kimbayer at gmail dot com.

Family of the Year

“It’s my birthday,” he said, almost like a footnote to a conversation about the band’s recent string of accomplishments. And how old will he be? “Somewhere between 18 and 40,” he finally allowed (a May story in Interview magazine pegged him at 28). Besides drummer/vocalist Sebastian Keefe, Family of the Year consists of his brother Joe Keefe (vocals/guitar), Jamesy Buckey (guitar/vocals) and Christina Schroeter (keyboards).

Keefe said the band, which formed in 2009, spent a summer living “like a big family” in an old warehouse (and) we started to act like a family. … But we dug the name out of an old song that Joe had written and it had a good ring to it … we didn’t want to have something too obscure and we felt there was a pretty good basis for relating to that.”

In 2009, Family of the Year was picked out of 700 artists by Ben Folds and Keith Lockhart to open for Folds and The Boston Pops at Symphony Hall, a big deal for the Keefe brothers, who were born on Massachusetts’ Martha’s Vineyard. They’ve also hit the road with Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros in support of FOTY’s debut album, “Songbook,” played at the 2012 Lollapalooza and been named an MTV Artist of the Year.

“This is definitely a really exciting summer for us. I can definitely feel all the hard work that we and a lot of other people have put into this starting to turn into something,” he said.

FOTY’s latest CD, “Loma Vista,” released last summer and featuring the acoustic single “Hero,” has been getting positive reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and Spin, and the group has found a fan is Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, who likened Family of the Year to “the Mamas and the Papas on acid.”

The comparison leaves Keefe a bit perplexed, but he’s still happy to have Tyler as an admirer.

“We just took it as some form of a compliment,” said Keefe. “I feel more like it’s Mamas & the Papas with a bottle of wine, personally. It’s very flattering that he knows that we exist.”

Rusty Mewha and Rhiannon Ragland star in the world premiere of Don Zolidis' "Miles and Ellie" at the Purple Rose Theatre.

photo by Sean Carter Photography | courtesy of the Purple Rose Theatre Co.

Whether you’re in the mood for a nostalgic comedy about young love revisited, or a sexy, crazy comedy about new love gone wrong, this weekend is a great time to grab a babysitter and get out for a night on the town!

After the first week with kids home from school, who doesn’t need a mom and dad’s night out?

Show: “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare, through June 23
Company: Shakespeare in the Arb
Type of Company: Higher Education, Community
Venue/location: Nichols Arboretum, box office is located at 1610 Washington Hts., Ann Arbor
Recommended ages: 6+
Description: An environmental staging of Shakespeare’s comedy about love and loyalty. Directed by Kate Mendeloff and played by University of Michigan students and local actors, the beloved Shakespeare in the Arb draws thousands of devoted Shakespeare fans every summer from Ann Arbor and beyond. What makes Shakespeare in the Arb unique is the way the productions are staged, with scenes and audience moving through the Arboretum during the play. All the Arb’s a stage!
http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/review-shakespeare-in-the-arb-much-ado-about-nothing/
Fun fact: After the theaters re-opened during the Restoration, Sir William Davenant staged "The Law Against Lovers" (1662), which inserted Beatrice and Benedick into an adaptation of "Measure for Measure." Another adaptation, "The Universal Passion," combined "Much Ado" with a play by Moliere (1737).
For tickets and information: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/
Special ticket offer: MBGNA members get a discount and can purchase tickets at 5 p.m., before others at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for Shakespeare in the Arb are sold directly before each show. Limited seating available; arrive early. For ticket updates follow us on Twitter. Parking is available after 5 pm in University blue lots on Washington Hts., or in the U-M Hospital P2 parking structure on E. Medical Center Dr., or in metered spots on Washington Hts. or Observatory. Ann Arbor city buses also pick up an drop off on Washington Hts and E. Medical Center. Visit the AATA website for more information.

Show: "Cymbeline," by William Shakespeare. Regular performances June 14-29 at 7 p.m.
Company: The Blackbird Theatre
Type of Company: Professional non-Equity company employing Equity actors under guest contract
Venue/location: West Park Band Shell, 300 N. Seventh St., Ann Arbor.
Recommended ages: 13+
Description provided by the company: "Shakespeare's brutal, dark, and wildly funny epic comes to Ann Arbor's West Park Band Shell. A cast of six brings the madness to life in Michigan's most beautiful outdoor venue. The story: Chaos breaks out across Europe when King Cymbeline (Lynch Travis, Member of Actors Equity Association) learns that his daughter Imogen (Jamie Weeder) has married poor courtier Posthumus (Alastar Dimitrie). She flees the wicked Queen (Qamara Black) and her depraved son (also Alastar Dimitrie) for the wild countryside. Imogen's conniving page Pisanio (Jesse Arehart-Jacobs) has unwittingly poisoned her, while the exiled Posthumus falls under the spell of a corrupt and dangerous Italian (Dan Johnson). In the days leading up to the Roman invasion of Britain, secrets and lies will lead everyone down a path of self-destruction. Heads will roll as the disasters unfold." Directed by Barton Bund. Set design by Joshua Parker. Costume and special effects makeup by Jeannie Arquette. Patrons are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, picnics.
Preview from AnnArbor.com
Facebook event page
Tickets: $15-$20. All tickets available at the gate.

Show: “Becky Shaw” by Gina Gionfriddo, through July 28
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: The New York Times called it “a tangled tale of love, sex and ethics…as engrossing as it is ferociously funny, like a big box of fireworks fizzing and crackling across the stage.” Step-siblings Suzanna and Max couldn’t be more different. When the shy sister fixes the cocky brother up with her husband’s sexy and sweet co-worker, the blind date takes a dark turn and crisis and comedy ensue. Mixing sharp wit and humor with the taut suspense of a psychological thriller, this comedy of romantic errors keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.
http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/performance-network-to-showcase-family-dysfunction-in-becky-shaw/
Fun fact: Playwright Gina Gionfriddo has been a writer on television series "House of Cards," "Law and Order" and Cold Case
For tickets and information: 734-663-0681, www.performancenetwork.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/purple-rose-tweaks-romantic-comedy-with-don-zolidis-world-premiere-miles-and-ellie/
Fun fact: This world premiere comedy was written by the same author as last season's "White Buffalo."
For tickets and information: purplerosetheatre.org, 734-433-7673

4 p.m.: Tangle - South Ingalls Mall
Tangle is a huge, messy, fun, interactive elastic weaving event created live by children and their families.

5 p.m.; KidZone: Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum - KidZone Tent
Come explore hands-on, interactive science experiments for kids (and adults!) of all ages, as Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum takes over the KidZone Tent with experiments involving flying toys, states of matter, and much more!

5 p.m.: Wind Down Wednesday - Beverage Garden
Discover Italian wines made from organic grapes in a traditional, natural way. 5 p.m.: Tom Butwin - Grove Stage
Hear Butwin’s smooth vocals and catchy guitar arrangements that are akin to Jason Mraz and John Mayer.

6 p.m.: Paledave & Jenny Fair - Grove Stage
Blending insightful lyrics, superb guitar playing, and beautiful harmonies, Paledave (Dave Buehrer) and Jenny Fair are a husband and wife acoustic duo from Ypsilanti.

7 p.m.: Eastern Blok - Rackham Stage
Eastern Blok’s pan-cultural ensemble effortlessly blends classical and jazz music with the rich folkloric traditions of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbian folk, Klezmer, rock, and a smattering of Middle Eastern flavorings.

7:30 p.m.: Tangle - South Ingalls Mall
Tangle is part spectacular visual arts installation, part performance, part playground, part dance party, and all chaos.

8 p.m.: Preservation Hall Jazz Band wsg The New Orleans Bingo! Show - Power Center
With abundant energy and a fresh approach, the band brings new life to the sultry sounds and irresistible, toe-tapping rhythms of their native Louisiana.

October Babies

10 p.m.: "Life of Pi" - Rackham Stage
A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery.

Django Django publicity photo

Counting a one-song encore that seemed more of an afterthought (the lights had already come up and people were leaving when the band came back), the whole show clocked in at one shortish hour.

Maybe an hour was all they were contracted to do. Maybe they were disappointed the show didn’t sell better, and cut out early (there was mention of checking out the pubs in “Ann Harbor”). Or maybe that’s all folks get nowadays for $20-$25 a ticket. At any rate, the main floor center section was just semi-full, a handful of people were in the flanking sections and the balcony appeared empty. The Ann Arbor Summer Festival presented the show.

Django Django is a mostly Scottish rock quartet that’s been making a lot of noise in Europe. The band’s sound is as if 1960s surf guitar master Dick Dale suddenly found himself in the midst of Kraftwerk’s early electronica, and then tripped over some 1980s New Order and maybe some 1990s techno. With bird song and sirens mixed in here and there. Although it sounds like it shouldn't work, it actually does.

Singer and guitarist Vincent Neff may have been front and center with his monotone-ish vocals, but it was the percussion and synthesizers that stood out, at least volumewise. Drummer and producer David Maclean and synth player Tommy Grace worked themselves into a frenzy behind their respective instruments (I counted six keyboards at Maclean’s station). Such was the mix, I sometimes forgot that talented bassist Jimmy Dixon was in the house as well.

The thing is, Django Django was loud. Really loud. Maybe too loud for Power Center. Since the show was open seating, I started out in row three. I was warned by an usher that people would probably be dancing in front of the stage, and maybe I should move back a few rows if I wanted to be able to see better.

So I did. The band started, and after two songs I moved back. Then back more. Then as far to the rear as was physically possible. The sound was still so loud I was able to make out just the occasional lyric (maybe part of it was the Scottish accent), but overall, it was better. Here I was positioned so I could see folks - mostly older - abandoning ship, maybe because of the volume, or maybe because they realized the band had nothing to do with the music of the late European jazz guitar legend Django Reinhardt.

More people would probably have soaked up the sound better, and possibly prevented some of the annoying slapback that can happen at Power when amplified percussion bounces off the concrete walls

Out of the first few songs the only one I was able to pick out of vocal haze was “Firewater.” Just when I though all hope for clarity was lost, as one song seemed to blend into another that sounded just about the same, the band launched into the show’s two clear standouts, “Life’s A Beach” and “WOR,” with the Dick Dale-style guitars and catchier riffs. Then it was over.

There were a couple of upsides, however, to getting out at 9:06 p.m. Top of the Park was still in full swing, and those so inclined could get home in plenty of time to watch “The Voice” and find out the fate of former local Michelle Chamuel. Maybe that’s where everyone was, parked in front of their TVs.

No matter where they were, they may have been disappointed.

MIchelle Chamuel performs on "The Voice" on Monday.

NBC

On Tuesday night's season finale of NBC's singing competition, "The Voice," the Swon Brothers came in third place, by virtue of earning the fewest viewer votes; former Ann Arborite and My Dear Disco/Ella Riot front woman Michelle Chamuel came in second place; and Danielle Bradbery, a 16 year old from Texas, won the prize.

Earlier in the episode, though, Chamuel performed "Counting Stars" with One Republic:

And many locals had gathered at the Blind Pig on Monday night to cheer on Chamuel as she competed on the series for the last time, performing Annie Lennox's "Why."

But Tuesday's season finale episode of "The Voice" had an additional Ann Arbor link: rock star Bob Seger, who grew up in Ann Arbor, performed "Night Moves" with the Swon Brothers during the episode.

Jenn McKee is an entertainment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.

Michigan Theater CEO and executive director Russ Collins

Here's an excerpt from a press release issued by the Michigan Theater.

Michigan Theater executive director Russ Collins has been named to the inaugural Indiewire Influencers list, along with 39 other film industry movers and shakers such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Forest Whitaker, Robert Rodriguez, and Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League. According to Indiewire, this "list of the smartest, most innovative and forward-thinking filmmakers, content producers, distributors, financiers and curators who are turning the creative world on its head" includes "people and companies who are bending technology to their creative wills, and, in turn, providing filmmakers and film lovers with the tools that allow the best content to be created and discovered in the 21st century." Read more at indiewire.com/article/welcome-to-the-2013-indiewire-infuencers and check out Russ' interview at indiewire.com/influencers/collins-russ.

Jenn McKee is an entertainment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.

Ben Hatke, Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman and Rafael Rosado will be just some of the special guests in attendance.

Top Shelf Productions, Archie Comics and DC Comics will provide free comic books for the celebration.

On Saturday at the Neutral Zone, there will be a Cosplay Party/Concert for teens. Dress as your favorite character and enjoy a free live show by The O>Matics . 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 22, 2013. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, June 23, 2013. Noon-6 p.m. Free. For grades 4 and up. The AADL is at 343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor. 734-327-4200.

This year, AABF will feature a pre-festival workshop for cartoonists, educators and librarians to discuss the growing role comics and graphic novels play in library collections and the classroom; Moonlight Book Crawls, made up of evening readings at local bookstores (Nicola’s Books and Literati) and restaurants (Quarter Bistro, Sava’s, Bill’s Beer Garden, and soon-to-be-opened Aventura); a keynote address by National Book Award finalist Patricia Smith and her husband, Edgar Award winning mystery writer Bruce DeSilva, followed by Leader in Literary Arts (LILA) Award presentations to longtime AABF board chairman Evans Young and Ann Arbor’s mystery bookstore Aunt Agatha’s; and an all-day writer’s conference (with a lunchtime talk by Smith and DeSilva).

“We’ve moved away from street festival version (of AABF), since the community wasn’t really into that,” said longtime AABF board member Jeff Kass, who teaches creative writing at Pioneer High and EMU. “What we decided to do, for a second year, is have the Book Fest centered around book crawls, so people can experience … literature in live, communal way in different places around Ann Arbor.”

One thing about AABF’s schedule that sets it apart from a typical writer’s conference is the fact that attendees will have three different opportunities to hear from, or interact with, keynote speakers Smith and DeSilva: the keynote address; the conference lunch; and the conference itself (each will offer a session).

The Book Crawls will feature readings by the 2013 Ann Arbor Youth Poetry Slam Team; Susan Hutton, Keith Taylor and Ellen Stone; Kevin Coval, Shira Erlichman and Brittany Floyd; Red Beard Press (Neutral Zone’s new publishing company) writers; jessica Care moore and Kass; and Scott Beal, Alex Pan and Jon Sands.

The comics-oriented event, meanwhile, will coincide with the Ann Arbor District Library’s Kids Love Comics program.

“I’m a big fan of (graphic novels),” said Kass. “It can be an exciting reading experience. For people who aren’t aware of what’s out there right now, it’s amazing. These are not Archie comics. This is challenging, provocative work, and it seems like a great, new opportunity for educators to engage students in the classroom, … and connect to more students.”

Jenn McKee is an entertainment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.

photo by Sean Carter Photography | courtesy of the Purple Rose Theatre Co.

But the fateful way that love blooms between two people is similar to the way that artists sometimes come together; chance and timing play a significant role.

In the case of Dallas-based Zolidis and the Rose, the story goes like this: Zolidis’ play “White Buffalo” (which had its world premiere at the Rose in 2012) won a playwriting award in 2003; after it was published, a theater in Seattle planned to do a reading in 2006 - but due to budget constraints, the reading didn’t happen until 2007, when Michigan-based actress Barb Coven was in the audience. She suggested to Zolidis that he send the script to the Rose - which he did, and it languished in a script pile for a time. But then-apprentice Matt Gwynn plucked it from the pile, read it, and insisted that Rose artistic director Guy Sanville should take it home - where Sanville’s wife read it and made the same demand.

“She said, ‘Stop what you’re doing now, get in the tub and read this play,’” said Sanville. “If I stay in the tub and read the whole thing, it’s a really good script.”

Thus, a partnership was born.

The same actors (Rusty Mewha and Rhiannon Ragland) play the title characters as teenagers and thirtysomethings, and Zolidis likely drew on his experiences as a former high school teacher while writing the script.

“How (Miles and Ellie) get together is this horrible health class exercise, wherein the boys are assigned incomes, and the one with the highest has first pick of a bride, and they go down from there,” said Zolidis. “Ellie is the 9th one picked. … I like to satirize the sexist institutions of high school, like, having to raise a flour baby in health class, which always seemed ridiculous to me. So I skewered that a bit.”

Zolidis also has a little fun at the romantic comedy genre’s expense.

“In a way, (the play) lampoons the love story, and its unabashedly unafraid to do that,” said Sanville. “ … Undernearth every comedy, there’s danger and heartache and pain. The more there is, the funnier it is. But just think about the first time you take your clothes off in front of another person - there’s a lot of comedy there.”

Ellie tells the play’s story from her point of view, which can be unreliable. The first part takes place in 1991, while the rest happens in 2011, when Ellie returns to her family’s home for Thanksgiving.

“It deals with memory,” said Sanville, who directs the show. “Stuff you think happened a certain way 20 years ago, and that you convinced yourself had a huge effect on your life … is that what you really saw? What really happened?”

In this age of social media, when finding out what happened to our first love is often as easy as typing a name into a Google search (though Ellie refused Miles’ Facebook friend request), Sanville believes “Miles and Ellie” will strike a cord with everyone who’s ever been smitten.

“A woman friended me on Facebook recently - I was involved with her for 3 years or so in the early '70s,” Sanville said. “I have no desire to see her. But still, when the name popped up in front of me, there was a little pang. Some residual something there. … When you’re young, you’re just so vulnerable.”

Jenn McKee is an entertainment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.

5 p.m.: KidZone: U-M Museum of Natural History - Kidzone Tent
Examine some of the fantastic fossils and casts from the museum’s collection and make your own dinosaur hats and feet.

5 p.m.: Tasting Tuesday: Right Brain Brewery - Beverage Garden
Learn about beer varietals and the brewing process in this craft beer sampling from Right Brain Brewery, Traverse City ($15 tasting fee). Capcity is limited.

5 p.m.: Erik Santos - Grove Stage
Come see multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer Erik Santos work with various genres (classical, rock, soul, country, jazz, electronic music).

Timothy Monger

7 p.m.: Detroit Pleasure Society - Rackham Stage
Detroit Pleasure Society transports you to the era of Dixieland jazz.

8 p.m.: Django Django - Power Center
Edinburgh art-pop foursome Django Django is a band that combines ‘80s pop rhythms with ‘60s Beach Boys-style vocal harmonies, a style that some have labeled folktronica.

8:30 p.m.: The New Orleans Bingo! Show - Rackham Stage
Bingo! Show is a multimedia stage experience that typically includes original black-and-white silent films, aerialists, dancers, ingénues, clowns, audience interaction, bingo games, slapstick comedy, and shady characters who remind you that every stage door opens into a dark alley.

10 p.m. Movie: "Edward Scissorhands" - Rackham Stage
An uncommonly gentle young man, who happens to have scissors for hands, falls in love with a beautiful teenage girl; starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder.

In Ann Arbor, fans gathered at the Blind Pig for a viewing party for the program. They watched as Chamuel sang her "defining moment" song, for which coach Usher chose Taylor Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble."

Following the performance, Shakira said she was "so thrilled you’ve made it to the finals. Your energy is crazy. It’s contagious." Judge Adam Levine said, "You feel the energy in here. You can’t create that. … It’s created as a result of what you do on stage. … People are screaming so loud our ears hurt."

Blake Shelton said, "You’ve become this rock star that’s happening right before our eyes."

Later in the show, before Chamuel performed her new song, Annie Lennox's "Why," she said in a video segment that before "The Voice," she was "working at a bakery and making my own music," while Usher said, "Who would have ever thought that a quirky girl with glasses would have taught me something?"

In reference to "Why," Chamuel said, "This song is pure emotion. … It’s anybody’s game right now. In order to win, I need to be myself. And I need to trust my coach."

Following Chamuel's performance, Shakira—sporting a pair of Chamuel-like glasses—said, "That was beautiful. … I think that people should know you’re such a humble and sweet person, and when you have humility on one side and talent on the other hand, that’s the perfect combination, a perfect recipe for long-term success."

Shelton noted, "That was a more laid back performance, and I hadn’t seen you do as much of that, and it’s probably an important time to show that side of you."

Usher said that what he "wanted to do … was connect everybody to our story, and the mirror takes us back to when we first made the connection to the world."

Chamuel's competitors the Swon Brothers, sang "Danny's Song" as their defining moment song and "I Can't Tell You Why" as their new song; and Danielle Bradbery—who would appear to be Chamuel's biggest competition—sang "Maybe It Was Memphis" as her defining moment song and a knockout rendition of "Born to Fly" as her new song.

Lastly, Chamuel performed U2's "One" with her coach, Usher, and preceding that, a segment showed Usher having a meal with Chamuel, her mom, and her cousin, Dave.

Chamuel's cousin spoke of the first time he heard Michelle sing—"I had to leave the room in order to hear her do it," he said—and her mother explained that though their Jewish family had been in Egypt for centuries, they fled as refugees in 1967 and came to the United States.

"My parents came her as refugees, and this is definitely what they want for me, to be able to live the American dream," said Chamuel. "It all means so much to me."

Chamuel's fans may vote for her by calling 1-855-VOICE-02 or text 2 to 8642. The winner of the competition will be announced during a two-hour broadcast starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday on NBC. Another Ann Arbor favorite, Bob Seger, was announced as one of the special guests for the broadcast; he's slated to perform with the Swon Brothers.

Being selected to appear on a reality television show contest is a notable accomplishment, making it to the final three where a $100,000 and a record deal is within reach is making the most of your five minutes of fame.

Former Ann Arbor resident and University of Michigan alumna Michelle Chamuel has done just that in her run on The Voice where her fan based has steadily grown throughout the competition. During Monday's night episode they flocked to social media to show their support for "Team Usher" in the final performance episode of the show, see a sample of them below:

If you can't get enough drag entertainment, then be certain to stop by the Millennium Club on Fridays at 9 sand 11 p.m. for the Big Hair, Big Mouth, Big Fat Fun Show featuring even more drag queens than Bingo.

June 22 & 29, 2013. 7:30 & 10 p.m. $15 for entry and a Bingo card. The Cavern Club is located at 210 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-332-9900.

ArtWalk Ann Arbor is a self-guided walking tour of 10 area art galleries, studios and shops spanning from Kerrytown to Main Street. Many of the venues will offer special promotions, sales, refreshments and entertainment to art walkers.

At Kerrytown Market & Shops, Everyday Wines will host a wine tasting and food pairing from 5-6:30 p.m. Artist Paul Hickman of Urban Ashes will give an art talk at 6:30 p.m. in Fustini’s Oils & Vinegars. There will be live music upstairs and chalk artist David Zinn will create one of his sidewalk chalk drawings live on site from 5-6:30 p.m.

Zinn will complete another chalk drawing outside Lena Restaurant from 7-9 p.m. Bill’s Beer Garden, located in the parking lot of Downtown Home & Garden, will offer a $1-off-one-beer coupon that can be found on ArtWalk Ann Arbor’s official event map.

ArtWalk maps were printed in the Summer Fairs & Festivals issue of Art Showcase Magazine, which is available now at nearly 100 shops, galleries and coffee houses throughout Ann Arbor.

Friday, June 21, 2013. 5-9 p.m. Free. Some participating locations offer special deals on art/products. See www.artshowcasemagazine.com for a list of venues.

Les 7 doigts de la main

From Montreal, a Mecca of contemporary circus acts, Les 7 doigts de la main return to the Ann Arbor Summer Festival's main stage to perform their newest spectacle. A troupe of 8 will perform acrobatics, balancing acts, juggling, trapeze, contemporary dance, and various other mind-bending feats, at the Power Center, on June 22 and 23., in their show "Sequence 8."

Shana Carroll, "Sequence 8" co-director and a company founder—one of the "7 fingers on the hand"—promised Ann Arbor a "high-level" show. She created the show with her husband Sebastien Soldevila, another of the 7 founding fingers.

"Sequence 8" includes some circus skills never featured before by the company. Two men holding a Russian bar - like a balance beam - will throw a woman up in the air as she moves across it. They also added Korean plank to their repertoire.

Eric Bates rediscovers the almost-lost art of cigar box juggling. "He is arguably the best cigar box juggler in the world," Carroll says.

Although some Les 7 doigts de la main productions tell a story, with a cohesive plot and setting, "Sequence 8" is different.

"It is the least story-oriented of our shows," Carroll explains.

Instead, individual routines are held together by common themes. "It's more like variations on a theme, a more abstract approach," she explains. The setting is described as a "vertical canvas" rather than a time and place.

"The two overall themes are relationships between people and the concept of 'the other,'" Carroll explains. "I wanted to do an emotional show, something that was very tactile and felt on a more visceral level, less literal than plots and stories."

"I was interested in thinking about the artists in the show, who are in their 20s, and realize the intense relationships that happen when you're that age. They are close and physical with each other, and tender. When you are so close to your friends at that age, you don't feel the boundaries anymore," she says.

The personalities of the cast members and relationships between them inspired a lot of the show. "In rehearsal, they put a lot of their own personalities into it," Carroll says.

Moments in the show also explore the idea of 'the other,' how we relate or fail to relate to other people. Carroll said her husband was horrified by a news report from China about a man who had run over a girl. "How have we gotten to a point in society where others can mean so little? Seb wanted to make a show about the consciousness we have that affects each others' lives and how we are all interconnected. He had a more social or political angle," she says.

"We had different paths to the same idea," Carroll says of her and her husband's creative process.

An example of a variation on the theme of human relationships is an acrobatic act inspired by the idea of magnetic attraction. "Two guys joined at the wrist propel someone else. It is a physical exploration - their hands are magnetic. Magnets are also a very literal way of demonstrating attraction," she explains.

The audience also plays a role in the show, an interesting twist on the concept of 'the other.' At one point in the show, the audience is quizzed about symbolism to see what they understand.

"Sequence 8" is also a self-aware show. It knows it's a show and does not pretend to be anything else. For example, "When they are putting electrical tape around the room there is commentary about what is happening. One guy is like, it's meant to represent relationships. Then they joke about it like it's all intellectual B.S. It's double-edged. On the one hand we make fun of it. On the other hand they are telling true things about the number that are actually sincere," Carroll says.

Inspired by contemporary dance and European-style contemporary circus, Les 7 doigts de la Main mix the esoteric and the comic, the explosive power of physical feats and subtler, more tender moments.

"I'm incredibly influenced by the more esoteric shows, but I think we bring a very contemporary approach to circus that is still something people relate too," Carroll says, looking forward to the Ann Arbor Summer Festival.

Willie Nile

Lucinda Williams has this quote on Willie Nile’s website: “If there was any justice in this world, I’d be opening up for him instead of him for me.” And Robert Palmer of the New York Times once called him ‘an artist who is at once an iconoclast and (a) near-perfect expression of contemporary currents.’ But after bad experiences with major labels Arista and Columbia, the Buffalo, New York native has gone the fan-funded route on his independently released new album, “American Ride,” a bracing set of rock and roll tunes in the tradition of Springsteen and Seger.

Warm and friendly during a recent phone conversation, Nile has an upbeat attitude that is hard to resist. The longtime Manhattan-based artist brings his band to Ann Arbor for a show at The Ark Friday night, while his new album comes out next Tuesday.

Q: How did you go about financing the release of “American Ride?”

W.N.: I went to PledgeMusic.com to raise money for the project. The plan was for me to put it out on my own label, and one of my managers wanted me to go the fan-funded route. In four days we reached our goal, which amazed me and was very encouraging. We got 300 percent more than we were looking to get.

Q: Do you feel that the whole major-label world is disappearing, perhaps happily so in your case?

W.N.: It’s totally changed. There still are major labels, but the old system where a label would ride with an artist for a few albums is gone. The Internet has made it a completely different ballgame. Fans get something back of value and get to be a part of the project. It feels to me like a family and the response was strong, so it means I’m doing the right thing. I’m not trying to be "American Idol" with my music; this is about real music for real people, reflecting real life.

Q: We rarely see you touring the U.S., even though you’ve been releasing albums since 1980. Do you spend much time overseas?

W.N.: The European fan base is very, very strong, but I’ve never toured a lot. In the '80s I toured with the Who, and then I left the business; I walked away from it. I got into it so that it would be fun, to make music and try to make a living. But there ended up being more business than music, and this was not what I came for. So I walked away and moved back to Buffalo to raise a family. But things are better now. I started going to Europe in the early '90s, and now I play there four months out of the year. We’re starting to play more in the U.S. as well. The shows are great fun and I believe in it; I’m looking forward to playing in Ann Arbor for the first time. I love playing college towns.

Q: What led you to do Jim Carroll’s “People Who Died” on your new album? It’s the only cover version on “American Ride.”

W.N.: It’s one of my favorite old songs; it’s a hidden classic of rock and roll. I knew Jim Carroll; we were acquaintances. Years ago I played a Saint Patrick’s Day event and was asked to sing it in honor of Jim. It’s got some redemption in it, some salvation in it. My dear brother John passed away six years ago, so I dedicate it to him. I love the song and wanted to bring it back to life for those who might have missed it.

Q: I love the title track from “American Ride,” it’s one of those great travelling songs which namedrops a lot of cities along the way, just like “Back in the USA” and “I’ve Been Everywhere.” What led you to write that one?

W.N.: I love this country; I love the dream and the idea of this country, a place where you can come and make a better life for yourself and your family. I sat with my guitar and it just came to me. I knocked it off pretty quick, about 45 minutes. I’m optimistic. I believe that people can make a difference, however much that is. What this country was founded on, the notions of freedom and fair play, I still believe in that. I was on tour recently with Alejandro Escovedo and he called the song a cross between “This Land is Your Land” and “Route 66,” which I love.

Willie Nile plays The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, at 8 p.m. Friday, June 21. Tickets are $15, available from the box office.

Michelle Chamuel on "The Voice"

NBC

Chamuel—a former University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance student—was the vocalist for the popular local bands My Dear Disco/Ella Riot from around 2008-2011. More recently she moved back to her native East Coast, and showed up as a “Voice” contestant this spring. She's one of three finalists as the show enters its final round tonight; the Blind Pig is hosting a free watch party.

Few probably know Chamuel better than multi-instrumentalist Tyler Duncan, her bandmate in My Dear Disco and Ella Riot, as well as her collaborator in the duo s/he. In a phone interview (he’s on the road playing in Darren Criss’ touring band but still calls Ann Arbor home), Duncan said that what America is seeing is someone who is “genuine, honest and ethical in every way—musically and personally.

“Knowing her as well as I do, I can say that is her, totally her,” he said. “She’s tapping into her really deep emotions when she’s performing that aren’t just for the camera, and she’s putting on performances that feel like much more than a competition or a talent show.

“Michelle is cool because she is the most interesting of them all. She doesn’t sing exactly like anybody else or do a certain thing,” he added. “Michelle’s got her own style. We keep seeing something real and powerful … and it’s great for her. America has seen her and clearly her career is at a pretty exciting stage.”

Jason Corey, associate professor and chair of performing arts technology at the U-M, said he had Chamuel in three of his classes and is not at all surprised by her recent success.

“I’m delighted that she’s getting much wider recognition … she has a unique voice, I don’t think she sounds like anyone else. I think that’s a good thing. … I think she has a really good chance to win,” he said.

Theo Katzman, who was in the earliest incarnation of My Dear Disco, before it went from a seven-piece to a five-piece band, agreed.

“The secret to Michelle's success is that she has the rare ability to be emotionally completely honest, and she can channel that emotion and honesty through her voice,” he said.

“She's a deeply moving performer, but unlike most performers, she's not putting on an act. What the audience is seeing is 100 percent real Michelle, and I think people are incredibly moved by the palpable sense of humanity and honesty that they experience when they watch her sing. Also, she's a monster vocalist with a unique sound, and that's rare in itself.

“I have no idea what the future holds for her, particularly if she wins ‘The Voice,’ but if she doesn't, I imagine that several people in the industry will try to snatch her up with a label contract of some kind,” he added. “Either way, I've always known Michelle to be someone who follows her dreams, no matter what, and I'm sure she'll be fine. She's one of the greatest humans I know.”

You won’t get any argument about any of that from Rick E. Morrone of Dearborn, a longtime fan who first heard Chamuel when he was a communications student at the U-M Dearborn and spun My Dear Disco tunes on a weekly campus radio show he hosted.

“I’m totally, totally proud of her,” he said. “She’s not just a local star any more. She’s a national star, and she’s only going to be getting bigger and bigger, because (coach) Usher has taken a liking to her whether they win this thing or not.”

Morrone recalls meeting Chamuel and the rest of My Dear Disco at a live show in Detroit. “I didn’t know what she looked like listening to her and I didn’t know what I expected her to look like … she was so tiny but she had this powerful voice that came out of her. I really took a liking to the whole group—all the members were so talented,” he said.

“All the people at work know I knew her when, and have been watching the show … (Michelle) is, in their eyes, a clear winner. The others are good singers but they’re not unique, and that’s what ‘The Voice’ is all about - the voice. I’ve never heard a voice quite like Michelle’s.

“She’s got a nice future ahead of her that’s for sure.”

Finally, although he wasn’t available for official comment, another U-M pal, singer/actor Darren Criss of “Glee” fame, gave a shout out in support of Chamuel's talent via a Twitter post recently.

“So glad @Usher's as into college pal @MichelleChamuel as I was in school. She was killin' it then, she's killin' it now. Good choice,” he wrote.

"The Voice" airs at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday on NBC.

“It has this wicked, biting sense of humor,” said director Phil Powers. “This is not one for the kids. There’s grown-up language being spoken by grown-ups.”

Maggie Meyer

The play focuses on one highly dysfunctional family and a blind date gone wrong. The family consists of: Susan, whose husband, Richard, just died, revealing the harsh reality of the family’s finances; Max, the abrasive grown son adopted (at age 10) by Susan and Richard when his own mother died, and his alcoholic father proved incapable of caring for him; and Suzanna, the grown daughter whose relationship with Max is highly complicated.

“They’re all somewhat damaged characters,” said David Wolber, who plays Max. “A little more so than your average person.”

“But at the same time, every single person is trying,” said Meyer. “Which is the only way you’d sit for two hours and watch these people.”

Wolber’s been directing (among other tasks) for the past six years, so “Becky Shaw” will mark his return to acting. (“It’s a mix of complete terror and exhilaration,” said Wolber.)

Fortunately, the character of Max provides plenty for Wolber to chew on.

“He’s very successful, and that’s a fun thing to play,” said Wolber. “He’s often the smartest guy in the room; he’s often the most successful guy in room; he’s got a lot of money, so he’s made it financially; other people say - and I don’t know that he would completely disagree - that he’s not emotionally available for a lot of things. I just don’t think he sees that as a detriment.”

And if the name Becky Shaw calls to mind Thackaray’s “Vanity Fair” character Becky Sharp, that’s no coincidence.

“(The playwright) was doing some research, she writes in her notes, on women in literature from the 18th, 19th, and 20th century who were either destroyers, victims of destruction, or both, and she found out that a lot of these women were both,” said Powers.

So even though Becky Sharp isn’t a direct model for Becky Shaw, “they’re both going after what they want kind of fearlessly, and with no shame,” said Meyer. “They don’t apologize for it. … And (Becky Shaw) is kind of childlike, in that children just get what they need in every moment that they’re in.”

“Becky Shaw” will be the first professional production directed by Powers, but instead of feeling anxious, he’s having a ball.

“I thought, ‘Gosh, here’s a group of people (in the play) who say the things I think,’” said Powers. “ … They just have a really abrasive way of showing their love.”

Jenn McKee is an entertainment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.