Southeast Michigan arts this weekend: Irish drama, 'Company' and a jazz piano master
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This weekend in metro Detroit, powerful theater and gorgeous music await arts lovers as temperatures dip in the Motor City. Here are a few options to keep in mind.
Three powerful plays
This weekend, the University of Michigan’s University Musical Society is presenting a trilogy of dramatic plays depicting Ireland in the early years of the 20th century. In “The Plough and the Stars,” “The Shadow of a Gunman” and “Juno and the Paycock,” playwright Sean O’Casey weaves stories of war-torn Dublin splayed across the years surrounding the 1916 Easter Rising and the 1922-23 Irish Civil War. The plays will be performed, in order, on Saturday at U-M’s Power Center for the Performing Arts. “Plough” will start at 1 p.m., “Gunman” at 4:30 p.m. and “Juno” at 8 p.m. “Juno” also will be performed Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Power Center for the Performing Arts, 121 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor. 734-763-3333. www.ums.org. Tickets start at $32 for each performance.
A jazz piano master
Grammy-winning pianist, composer and arranger Geoffrey Keezer will play a concert at Detroit’s Carr Center at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, accompanied by the Michigan State University Jazz Orchestra. Since his New York City arrival in 1989, Keezer has amassed a stellar recording and touring list that includes some of the biggest names in jazz, including Ray Brown, Roy Hargrove, Joshua Redman, Diana Krall, Art Farmer, Benny Golson and Barbara Hendricks. “Geoffrey’s mastery as a musician has given him the freedom to explore jazz from so many different angles,” said Xavier Davis, MSU associate professor of jazz piano. “The one constant in his music is creative excellence.”
Carr Center at the Park Shelton, 15 E. Kirby St., Detroit. 313-437-9244. www.thecarrcenter.org. Tickets $25.
Violin dreams
Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang is an artist "as ready to caress as to attack" (the Strad). In her Detroit Symphony Orchestra debut at 8 p.m. Saturday, she'll take command with Erich Wolfgang Korngold's gorgeously cinematic violin concerto. Also included are Arlene Sierra’s feisty, energy-packed “Kiskadee” and Alexander von Zemlinsky’s musical retelling of Hans Christian Anderson story “The Little Mermaid.” Kevin John Edusei will lead the proceedings as conductor.
Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111. www.dso.org. Tickets start at $15.
Everybody rise!
One of musical theater maestro Stephen Sondheim’s most beloved shows, “Company,” rings the doorbell all weekend at Detroit’s Fisher Theatre. This modern iteration of the 1970 musical comedy snagged five Tony Awards, including best revival of a musical, and is directed by three-time Tony winner Marianne Elliott. The story line: It’s Bobbie’s 35th birthday party, and all her friends keep asking why she isn’t married and why she can’t settle down. As Bobbie searches for answers, she discovers why being single, being married and being alive in the 21st century could drive a person crazy. Sophisticated, deeply insightful and downright hilarious, this Broadway in Detroit offering runs through Oct. 29. We’ll drink to that!
Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit. 313-872-1000. www.broadwayindetroit.com. Tickets start at $35.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Metro Detroit arts this weekend: Irish drama, jazz piano master
