The Silverado is the truck that works as hard as you do.
It’s opening night. Audience members are conversing with friends and strangers alike, discussing the show that’s about to begin. The lights dim and, like clockwork, the constant buzz of human voices quickly fades into obscurity. All heads face the stage. The curtain rises.
Going to a local theatre to see a live performance is an experience quite like no other. Set designers, actors, the director and more toil away for months to perform in front of you, mere feet away. There are plenty of local theatre groups in metro Detroit, but here are a few putting on great productions for you to experience right now.
The Baldwin Theatre
While The Baldwin Theatre’s main stage won’t be holding its next big performance (Annie) until May, you can enjoy a performance on the second stage throughout the month of April. Metamorphoses, written and originally directed by Mary Zimmerman, is based on the Myths of Ovid, and takes place entirely in and around a pool of water. Enjoy tales of classic literary characters, such as King Midas, Phaeton and Narcissus.
The Ringwald Theatre
Located in Ferndale, The Ringwald Theatre will be putting on a production of Company, winner of seven Tony awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Lyrics and Best Book, beginning this May and running into June. Company tells the story of bachelor Robert as he contemplates whether or not to seek a partner for life through conversations with his married friends. Local theater group The Park Players is bringing you a production of Shrek the Musical at The Redford Theatre this April and May. Based on the Dreamworks Animation film and book by William Steig, this musical adaptation opened on Broadway in 2008 and ended its 12-month run in January 2010. The story is likely familiar, but you haven’t seen it like this! Promotional photo for Ann Arbor Civic Theatre’s production of Arcadia. Clockwise from center: Chris Grimm, Kate Umstatter, Laura Lilly Cotten and Russ Schwartz. Photo credit: Lisa Gavan | Gavan Photo. April 19-22, you can see the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre’s production of Arcadia. Directed by Melissa Freilich, Arcadia tells the story of a girl and her tutor in 1809, exploring the studies of mathematics, nature and physics while two writers in the present day do the same. This Detroit-based theatre company has been around since 1991, putting on original productions. Throughout the month of April, you can catch Kayak, a play about a woman, Annie, floating in a kayak, recounting the events that got her there. When Annie’s son, Peter, announces he is engaged to marry an environmental activist, Annie isn’t sure how to react and seeks to prevent the marriage altogether.
Redford Theatre
Ann Arbor Civic Theatre
Matrix Theatre Company
