andersen

Monday March 19, 2012: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Session 5 of the UMS Night School classes will include a 30 minute discussion of the March performance of The Andersen Project. The 60-minute introduction portion of this event will center on the upcoming concerts featuring the San Francisco Symphony – who will be performing a series of four concerts at Hill Auditorium from March 22 – 24.

Each session includes a presentation by a genre expert, an interactive exercise to draw you into the themes behind the performance, and a takeaway reading to enjoy on your own. Sessions are designed to engage you both with the UMS Pure Michigan Renegade series performances and with other audience members. These classes are hosted by Mark Clague, Associate Professor of Musicology and Director of Research at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

Monday March 12, 2012: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Session 4 of the UMS Night School classes will a 30 minute discussion of the February concert of The Hagen Quartet. The 60-minute introduction portion of this event will center on the upcoming performance of The Andersen Project -- a tour-de-force about a Canadian writer from the rock-and-roll milieu who is unexpectedly commissioned to write a libretto for a children's opera.

Each session includes a presentation by a genre expert, an interactive exercise to draw you into the themes behind the performance, and a takeaway reading to enjoy on your own. Sessions are designed to engage you both with the UMS Pure Michigan Renegade series performances and with other audience members. These classes are hosted by Mark Clague, Associate Professor of Musicology and Director of Research at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

Sunday March 11, 2012: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm -- Downtown Library: aadlfreespace

Love music? Frequent the opera and theatre much? Join us for a music-listening and learning session.

In anticipation of the upcoming performance of Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress" (performed by the University Opera Theatre on Sunday, March 25 at Hill Auditorium), Richard LeSueur, opera lover extraordinaire, will discuss the plot and the music of this classic opera.

This lecture will include recordings of some highlights of this morality opera.

Monday February 20, 2012: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

This 90-minute UMS Night School class features discussions The Tallis Scholars and Random Dance. The 60-minute introduction portion of this event will center on the Hagen Quartet.

Each session includes a presentation by a genre expert, an interactive exercise to draw you into the themes behind the UMS Renegade Series performances, and a takeaway reading to enjoy on your own. Sessions are designed to engage you both with the performances and with other audience members.

This series is hosted by Prof. Mark Clague, Associate Professor of Musicology and Director of Research at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

Monday February 6, 2012: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Session 2 of this UMS Night School series will feature discussions of the January performances of "Einstein on the Beach" and The Hamburg Symphony Orchestra. The 60-minute introduction portion of this event will center on two upcoming UMS Renegade events:

The Tallis Scholars, scheduled to perform on February 16 at St. Francis Of Assisi Church, have established themselves as the leading exponents of Renaissance sacred music throughout the world.

Random Dance, appearing February 18 at the Power Center, is famous for incorporating animation, digital film, 3-D architecture, electronic sound, and virtual dancers into the live choreography.

This series is hosted by Prof. Mark Clague, Associate Professor of Musicology and Director of Research at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

Encore Musical Theatre Company presents It's a Wonderful Life through Dec. 23 at 3126 Broad Street, Dexter. Jon Huffman, co-author of Club Morocco, directs this professional company in a revival of his and Encore founder Dan Cooney's adaptation of the beloved Frank Capra Christmas film about a good man tested by bad fortune. Performance and ticket information is here.

If you're looking for something fun to see this weekend Nov. 18-20, check out Into the Woods at Skyline High School. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this show is sure to be delightful. If you go, keep an eye out for Prince Charming -- who has a roving eye -- and the witch who raps. Sounds like great fun!

Based on the classic novel Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, the play Oliver! is always a delight. Young People's Theater will present the play Thursday Nov. 17 through Sunday Nov. 20 at Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. Plan to go and enjoy the pathos, humor, and songs, including "Food, Glorious Food," "I'd Do Anything," "Where is Love?" "Consider Yourself," "As Long As He Needs Me," "Who Will Buy" and "Reviewing the Situation." Ticket information is here.

The Huron High School Players continue their production of “The Beaux’ Stratagem” this weekend Nov. 4 and 5. The play is an adaptation by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig of a comedy by George Farquhar. The story is about two young men who fall on hard times and try to charm young heiresses to marry them. When one of the men falls in love, the plot thickens. Ticket information is here.

Escanaba in da Moonlight by Jeff Daniels -- "reloaded for the next generation" -- is playing through Dec. 17 at Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea. The show is directed by Guy Sanville. On the PRTC web page, the current Featured Artist is Wayne David Parker: "With his role as 'da Jimmer in this fall's production of Escanaba in da Moonlight, Wayne David Parker is making it an even two-dozen productions at the PRTC, where he is also a resident artist." Horray for Mr. Parker!