Arts & Entertainment April '08

April 2008 // Arts & Entertainment Listings

ART

Ann Arbor Art Center: The Print, juried in its 26th year by the Head of Printmaking at Bowling Breen State University in Ohio, opens with a reception 6-8 p.m. April 4. The exhibition runs through May 9. 117 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor; 734-994-8004; annarborartcenter.org.
Ariana: Award-winning Peruvian painter Juan Carlos Zeballos Moscairo has traveled to Michigan to exhibit his current body of work in a special event that continues at the gallery until April 18. The abstract expressionist’s inspiration is the daily emotions of balancing happiness and tension.
• The gallery’s annual nod to Glass Month launches on April 26. 119 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-546-8810; arianagallery.com.
Arnold Klein: This spring, the gallery presents two successive shows connected by the concept of Cabinets of Curiosities . In April, Cabinets features two artists working with the same information, while taking unique paths. Karen Anne Klein and Susan Gold invite you into this intimate experience. In May, Curious features work by local and national artists crafted in either 6-inch or 12-inch square formats. The paintings will hang as two grids acting as cabinets, and could be rearranged to form personal cabinets or viewed separately as small works. 32782 Woodward, Royal Oak; 248-647-7709; arnoldkleingallery.com.
Art Gallery of Windsor: Art for Canada: An Illustrated History is an ongoing exhibition.
• Nuvisavik: The Place Where We Weave continues through April 13. This exhibition is the first dedicated exclusively to the textile art of the Inuit women.
• Hysteria and the Body focuses on works by important female artists from the USA, England, France, Canada, Serbia, and Switzerland created between 1970 and 1990. The exhibition investigates representations of the body, gender, and identity through sculpture, video, artist books, printmaking, drawing, and photography. Curator Josée Drouin-Brisebois of the National Gallery of Canada conducts a tour during an opening reception 7-10 p.m. Friday, April 18, and the show continues through June 15.
• MFA Graduate Exhibition: University of Windsor School of Visual Arts , featuring a diverse display of physical and social geographies together with forays into the frontiers of new electronic media from John Ryan Clark, Amy Friend, Mahla Ghasempour, Adam Glover, and Chris Hanoski. April 12-June 1.
• The Prints of Albrecht Dürer, an exhibition of woodcuts and engravings that span the career of this celebrated Northern Renaissance artist, opens with a reception, tour, and lecture by curator John Collins of the National Gallery of Canada from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 18 and continues through June 8. $3; members free. 401 Riverside Drive West, Windsor, Ontario; 519-977-0013; agw.ca.
Art Leaders: The gallery is Celebrating Michigan’s 28th Annual Glass and Sculpture Month with numerous events and exhibitions. Among them: Frederick Hart (1943-1999): An American Legacy “Giving Form to Spirit,” “Beauty, Truth and Goodness” with guest speaker Fred Holmes, curator of Chesley LLC Publishing, at a champagne reception from 6-9 p.m. April 26; a special selection from the Washington National Cathedral Sculpture Collection; Dino Rosin the master of Italian Murano glass blowing; more than 30 regional and international glass artists showcased April 1-31. 33030 Northwestern Hwy., West Bloomfield; 248-539-0262; artleaders.com.
Artspace II: Featuring works by Pablo Picasso, Alex Katz, Sarkis Sarkesian, Richard Jerzy, and Romare Bearden, Artspace celebrates the Art of the Portrait throughout April. 303 E. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-258-1540.
Biddle: Still featuring handmade jewelry, tiles, pottery, furniture, fine art, home and fashion accessories by nearly 100 Michigan artists, the Biddle also has launched something to satisfy needs on another level. Craft Uprising is a new concept wherein crafters and artists who might not normally show in a gallery pay a fee to participate and then all funds generated from a two-day event, held the third Friday and Saturday of each month, go directly to the creator of the works sold. Check it out 6-9 p.m., April 18 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 19. 2840 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; 734-281-4779; biddlegallery.com.
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center: The 28th annual Michigan Fine Arts Competition continues through April 11. 1516 S. Cranbrook Rd., Birmingham; 248-644-0866. Ext. 104; bbartcenter.org.
College for Creative Studies: Installation artist Polly Apfelbaum speaks as part of the Woodward Lecture Series at 7:30 p.m. April 10. Lectures are free and open to the public. Wendell W. Anderson Jr. Auditorium, Walter B. Ford II Bldg., John R and Frederick Douglass, Detroit; 313-664-7800; collegeforcreativestudies.edu
Community Arts Gallery: MFA Thesis Exhibition II: Ericia Bartels, Carol Tomasso, and Darcie Trame closes on April 4. Bartles’ jewelry has contributed to the fashion pages of this magazine in the past year.
• Waynemania: 2008 Undergraduate Exhibition opens with a reception 5-8 p.m. April 18 and continues through May 23. 150 Community Arts Building, 450 Reuther Mall on the Wayne State University Campus, Detroit; 313-993-7813; art.wayne.edu.
Cranbrook Art Museum: After 76 years, the Academy of Art’s Graduate Program remains a “living studio of artistic invention,” and continues to graduate a stellar group of international students annually. This year is no exception. The 2008 Graduate Degree Exhibition of Cranbrook Academy of Art opens with a Members’ Preview soirée 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 19 and continues through May 9. Free to members, seniors, and children; $4-$6 for adults and teens. 39221 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills; 877-462-7262; cranbrookart.edu.
Detroit Artists Market: The Annual Detroit Artist Market Scholarship and Exhibition Program presents the artwork of three recipients and nine finalists of the John F. Korachis Scholarship Awards, together with works by distinguished alumni. The student finalists are: Elizabeth Alexander, Elizabeth Hartmann, Lucila Caro, Gemma Draper, Megan Heeres, Wei-Hui-Hsu, Ji Eun Kim, Aaron Peterman, Mark Sengbusch, Iris Seo, Eric Steinberg, and Comora Tolliver. Closes on April 5. • The Market Presents: Tom Parish and John Hegarty revisits an exhibition that opened at the DAM in 1986. The two artists have worked without pause in the 30 years since being proclaimed “distinguished senior artists in the Detroit community.” Meet them at an opening reception 6-9 p.m. April 18. Through May 24. 4719 Woodward, Detroit; 313-832-8540; detroitartistsmarket.org.
Detroit Institute of Arts: Art Through the Eyes of Youth: the 71st Annual Detroit Public Schools Student Exhibition presents artistic creations by approximately 500 students in kindergarten to 12th grade in the Detroit Public School System. Works in media such as jewelry, collage, ceramics, and drawing were selected for exhibition. The show opens with a reception 1-3 p.m. April 12 in the Old Fine Arts Room of the Detroit Public Library-Main Library and continues through May 17. Free. Tue.-Wed.: noon-8 p.m.; Thur.-Sat.: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. DPL-Main is across the street from the DIA. 5201 Woodward; 313-833-7977.
• Organized by the DIA, Life’s Pleasures: The Ashcan School’s Brush With Leisure, 1895-1925 is an exhibit with more than 80 paintings from 22 artists, and has been displayed in Nashville and New York City. The Ashcan School is often thought of as depicting only dark, drab colors and society’s downtrodden, but this show makes viewers take a fresh look at the diversity of styles and palettes the Ashcan artists used. Works by John Sloan, George Luks, Robert Henri, and others will be on display through May 25.
• Give It a Rest: People at Play in American Prints and Drawings 1895-1945 is a collection of about 100 prints on paper. Offering a rich reflection of casual times in daily life, this exhibit serves as a corollary and thematic complement to Life’s Pleasures and features many of the same artists. In addition, you’ll find images by Childe Hassam and Guy Pène du Bois, lithographs from Edward Penfield and William Carqueville, and works by artists employed through the Works Progress Administration during the late 1930s. $8 adults;
 $4 ages 6-17;
 $6 seniors. Wed., Thur.: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri.: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat.-Sun.: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Mon.-Tue. 5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org.
Elaine L. Jacob: Still Pulling: Traditional Printmaking in the Digital Age continues through May 16. On the campus of Wayne State University, 480 W. Hancock St., Detroit; 313-993-7813; art.wayne.edu.
Forum: This student-run gallery offers an opening every week of the Cranbrook Academy of Art’s academic year. Graduate students present work to their peers and the community at large. From 5 to 9 Friday nights. Free. On the Cranbrook campus, New Studios Building, 39221 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills; 877-462-7262; cranbrookart.edu.
Habatat: The Work of Davide Salvadore, shows the Italian artisan’s mastery of glass. African culture influences Salvadore’s work, which is primarily presented in delicately adorned vessels or musical instruments. Through April 11.
• The 36th Annual International Glass Invitational features more than 100 artists. April 26-May 25. 4400 Fernlee, Royal Oak; 248-554-0590; habatat.com.
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD): Holy Hip-Hop!: New Paintings by Alex Melamid introduces the first solo exhibition for this Russian-born American painter. On display are life-size portraits of 12 icons of the musical genre. Through April 20.
• ReFusing Fashion: Rei Kawakubo includes more than 40 garments, costumes, photographs, and film and runway footage of creations by the Japanese fashion designer best know for establishing Comme des Garçons in Tokyo in 1973. Closes April 20. 4454 Woodward, Detroit; 313-832-6622; mocadetroit.org.
Oakland University Art Gallery: An international exhibit curated by Claude Baillargeon, Revolutionizing Cultural Identity: Photography and the Changing Face of Immigration features works by Sara Angelucci, Danny Custodio, Kip Fulbeck, Rafael Goldchain, Gu Xiong, Vid Ingelevics, Christina Leslie, Yuri Marder, Annu Palakunnathu Matthew, Wieslaw Michalak, and Chandana Reddy. An artist’s lecture: Race, Sex & Tattoos: The Kip Fulbeck Experience, is offered at 7 p.m. April 1. Closes April 13. Dept. of Art & Art History, College of Arts & Sciences, 208 Wilson Hall, Rochester; 248-370-3005; oakland.edu/ouag.
Paint Creek Center for the Arts: Installations, a group show featuring five Michigan artists selected for their ability to “infiltrate a space while articulating a unique point of view,” continues through April 19 in the Main Gallery. Participating artists are sculptor Lisa Whiting, ceramicist Sandra Westley, multi-media artist Kelly Fitzsimmons Kennedy, ceramic sculptor Israel Davis, and installation artist Naomi Falk.
• Sherry Moore — Landscapes and Dwellings offers recent mixed-media drawings and sculptures from the Wayne State University graduate and instructor at College for Creative Studies and Henry Ford Community College. Through April 19. 407 Pine St., Rochester; 248-651-4110; pccart.org.
Robert Kidd: In the first public display of this monumental canvas, Robert Schefman’s Antigone is being shown and offered for sale at the gallery this spring — its first public display since the artist’s retrospective at Meadowbrook Art Gallery. 107 Townsend St., Birmingham; 248-642-3909; robertkiddgallery.com.
Sherrus: The featured artist in April is Shadia Zayed, an abstract acrylic specialist. Join an opening reception 6-9 p.m. April 4. The exhibit and sale continues through the end of the month.
• Best Friends Forever, a wonderfully colorful, whimsical collection of animal character paintings by Michigan acrylic artist and gallery owner Sherri R. Mewha, is a new and permanent display at the fine arts gallery. 133 W. Main St., Suite 210, Northville; 248-380-0470; sherrusgallery.com.
Sherry Washington: The works of colorists, collagists, abstract expressionists, and contemporary acclaimed artists are included in Winter Solstice: Paintings at the gallery through April 12. The 11 participating artists are: Benny Andrews, David Driskell, David Fludd, Marky King, Richard Lewis, Richard Mayhew, Chun Hui Pak, Jocelyn Rainey, Gilda Snowden, Mark Schwing, and Shirley Woodson. The L.B. King Bldg., 1274 Library St., Detroit; 313-961-4500.
Skillman Branch Library: In celebration of the Grand Prix’s return to Detroit, the National Automotive History Collection and AutoWeek magazine present an exhibit of Detroit Grand Prix photographs. Postcards from Detroit: Remembering Formula 1 in the Motor City is curated from the collection of Roger Hart, managing editor of AutoWeek. Through April 19. Free. 121 Gratiot, Detroit; 313-628-2851; detroitpubliclibrary.org.
Susanne Hilberry: Mixed-media works by the Chicago-born artist Joe Zucker are on display through April 18. 700 Livernois, Ferndale; 248-541-4700 or susannehilberrygallery.com.
UMMA Off/Site: William Christenberry Photographs: 1961-2005 explores the American South in both iconic images and never-before-seen photos in this traveling exhibition organized by Aperature. Through June 1. Free. 1301 S. University, Ann Arbor; 734-763-8662. umma.umich.edu.
Washington Street Gallery (WSG): Beyond Words: A Celebration of Book Arts looks at contemporary artists’ books and the fact that they go beyond the purpose of serving as an outlet for works of art in book form and have often become works of art themselves, or “the artists’ idea of the book.” This annual show features Ruth Bardenstein, Barbara Brown, Julie Fremuth, Alvey Jones, Julia Miller, Marilyn Prucka, Bonnie Stahlecker, Lisa Steichmann, Wesley Tanner, Kate Wilson, and Marsha Wright. Meet them at a reception 7-10 p.m. April 4. The exhibition runs April 1-May 11 in the gallery’s new Main Street location. 306 S. Main; Ann Arbor; 734-761-2287; wsg-art.com.
Zeitgeist: AZUTUNARASHAREDO, featuring the work of Mary Laredo Herbeck, Azucena Nava-Moreno, and Kathleen Rashid, is titled for an agglomeration of the artists’ names. The exhibition runs indefinitely. 2661 Michigan, Detroit; 313-965-9192; zeitgeistdetroit.org.

CLASSICAL

Brunch with Bach: Violinist Kyoko Kashiwagi and pianist Joel Schoenhals perform sonatas for piano and violin by Johannes Brahms. Brunch begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by the concert at 12:30 p.m. April 13. $30 adults. $15 children under 12 for concert and brunch. Concert-only stairwell tickets are $10. Museum admission included in ticket prices. Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-4005.
Chamber Music Society of Detroit: Pianist and winner of the 2006 Gilmore Artist Award, Ingrid Filter plays Schubert, Chopin, and Beethoven. April 5. 8 p.m. $25-$75.
• Jean-Yves Thibaudet performs piano pieces by Brahms and Debussy. Thibaudet’s piano playing was featured in the movie Pride and Prejudice, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music (Score). 8 p.m. April 12. $75. Seligman Performing Arts Center, Detroit Country Day School, 22305 W. 13 Mile, Beverly Hills; 248-855-6070; comehearcmsd.org
Cranbrook Music Guild: The Dædalus Quartet performs contemporary music, including works by Elliott Carter, George Perle, and György Litgeti. Formed in the summer of 2000, the quartet was the Grand Prize winner in the Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2001. They have been widely acclaimed for their contemporary performances. 8 p.m. April 15. $30. Christ Church Cranbrook. 470 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills; 248-644-6352; cranbrookmusicguild.org
Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings: The DCWS performs a program of pieces from the Baroque period through today. One work included is Beethoven’s Sextet for Winds. 3 p.m. April 13. Birmingham Unitarian Church. 38651 Woodward at Lone Pine, Bloomfield Hills. Performance also at 3 p.m. April 20. Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church. 211 Moross Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236; 248-559-2095; detroitchamberwinds.org
Detroit Symphony Orchestra: DSO music director designate Leonard Slatkin conducts the orchestra in works by Berlioz, Corigliano, and Schubert.  April 3-6.
• Five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams, known for scoring movies such as Schindler’s List and Jurassic Park, takes up the baton. 8 p.m. April 11.
• Masterly violinist Vadim Repin performs Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5. Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 is also on the program. April 17-19.
• Violinist Hilary Hahn performs Tchaikovsky’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. April 25-26. $31.50-$63.50. Max M. Fisher Music Center. 3711 Woodward, Detroit; 313-576-5111; detroitsymphony.com
Michigan Opera Theatre: Bellini’s bel canto masterpiece La Sonnambula (“The Sleepwalker”) is conducted by veteran bel canto specialist Richard Bonynge and directed by former diva Renata Scotto. April 2-6.
University Musical Society: At 25, pianist Lang Lang has already made an important name for himself in classical music. Lang performs a program featuring Mozart’s Sonata No. 13 and Isolde’s Liebestod by Liszt and Wagner that was featured in the film Tristan and Isolde . 8 p.m. April 2. $10-$65. Hill Auditorium .
• András Schiff performs an all-Beethoven program featuring works from earlier in the composer’s career. 4 p.m. April 20 and 8 p.m. April 22. $22-$46. Rackham Auditorium. Ann Arbor; 734-764-2538; ums.org.

DANCE

Eisenhower Dance Ensemble: The EDE performs adrenaline-charged choreography set to contemporary folk and rock music, including entertainers such as Bob Dylan and Van Morrison. 8 p.m. April 5. $15-$25. Macomb Center for the Performing Arts. 44575 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township; 586-286-2222.
Music Hall Center: Stars of Ballet and Broadway includes dancers from such troupes as Alvin Ailey, New York City Ballet, and Joffrey and such musicals as Sweet Charity, Movin’ Out, The Color Purple , and A Light in the Piazza. . 8 p.m. April 18-19. $19.50-$75. 350 Madison, Detroit; 313-887-8502.

EVENTS

Friday Art Walk: Kick the weekend off with a night of art, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres in downtown Northville. On the first Friday of each month, select art galleries are open late, and guests can shop and enjoy art demonstrations. 6-9 p.m. April 4. Downtown Northville; downtownnorthville.com
Bookstock: In its sixth year, Bookstock has raised more than $260,000 for literacy projects in Detroit and Oakland County. The event features thousands of donated books, DVDs, CDs, books on tape, magazines, and records. Throughout the year, more than 700 volunteers work to collect and organize the event. Collectors can get a first- hand look at the selection with a pre-sale that takes place from 8:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. on April 6 for $10, then opens to the public from noon-6p.m. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. April 7-12. Noon-6 p.m. April 13. Books will be sold for half-price on the last day. Laurel Park Place, 37700 Six Mile Rd., Livonia; bookstock.info.
A Taste of Spring: The Clarkson Rotary Club presents its annual “A Taste of Spring, a Wine Tasting Gala,” and will feature Michigan wines and food from Oakhurst. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. April 9. $40-$50. Oakhurst Country Club, 7000 Oakhurst Lane, Clarkson; 248-625-8055 or clarkstonrotary.org.
A Woman’s Image: Local artists will have their work on display with a percentage of their sales benefiting Gilda’s Club of metro Detroit, which is a free cancer support center. Graphic designer Frank Beven, watercolorist April “Pril” Barkley, and mixed-media artist Donald J. Davenport will also be in attendance. The show, hosted by A Woman’s Image, will include wine, cheese, refreshments, door prizes, and a raffle. 3 p.m.-8 p.m. April 12. $5. 43273 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township; 586-286-1277.
Bloomfield Hills Antique Jewelry & Vintage Apparel Show: An afternoon of Victorian through mid-20th-century apparel as well as costume, designer, and fine antique jewelry. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 12. $5. Kids under 12 are free. Birmingham Unitarian Church, 38651 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills; 248-988-0924.
Friends of the Freer House: Dr. Geoffrey Drutchas’ lecture, “A Beautiful Beacon: Charles Lang Freer and the Bicentenary Memorial for Detroit” focuses on the 1901 plans for a proposed monument on Belle Isle to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of Detroit. 3 p.m. April 13. $5. In the historic Charles L. Freer House, home to the Merrill-Palmer Skillman Institute, 71 E. Ferry, Detroit. For reservations, call 313-872-1790.
Oil History Tour: An all-day tour explores the oil history of Canada. The tour leaves from Eastpointe and travels to Port Huron, as well as Sarnia, Ontario, and makes stops at two history museums. The day also includes an 1850s vintage fashion show. 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. April 19. $110. Meets at 19200 Stephens, Eastpointe; 313-922-1990.

FILM

Detroit Film Center: Balbir Singh Sodhi was America’s first post-9/11 hate-crime fatality. This murder punctuated a growing wave of violence in retaliation for the terror attacks. This documentary is told through Balbir’s brother, Rana. A Dream in Doubt travels to Phoenix to tell a personal story of national tragedy, murder, community, and the American Dream. 8 p.m. April 19. 1347 E. Fisher Fwy., Detroit; 313-961-9936; detroitfilm.org.
Detroit Film Theatre: Watch the silents as they were intended — with live musical accompaniment. Celluloid Pleasures: American Pastime of the Silent Era offers this time warp of old-time viewing. Five special matinee program; contact the DFT Web site for titles. Through April 19.
• Yusef is blind until a corneal surgery frees him from that disability. When he returns to his home, he discovers that he isn’t attracted to his wife. However, his uncle’s young sister-in-law is another story. A film about erotic fixation is difficult in Iranian culture when one isn’t even allowed to show so much as an ankle, but director Majid Majid pulls it off in The Willow Tree . April 3-5.
• The Duchess of Langeais is married, but it doesn’t stop her from being a massive flirt. One of her victims is the handsome General de Montriveau, who, after a prolonged session of humiliation and rejections at the hand of the Duchess, cracks and seeks revenge of his own. April 4-6.
• An orphan found in a trash can navigates a path through institutional abuse and neglect, coming out on the other side as a college student and budding author in the 1919 film Daddy Long Legs. April 5.
• The real musical genius comes alive in the 2007 documentary In Search of Mozart. Director Phil Grabsky crisscrossed Europe in search of Mozart, conducting extensive interviews with classical performers and scholars. April 10-13.
• South Korean director Hong Sang-Soo explores the failings of South Korean men — a film theme he returns to again and again — in his new erotic comedy, Woman on the Beach. April 11-13.
• In the 1920s, no one did comedy better than Harold Lloyd. Satirizing American optimism for upward social mobility was his bag. In The Freshman, this horn-rimmed comedian pitted his working-class character against scheming football teammates and the heart of his landlady’s daughter. April 12.
• “We’ve met before,” sounds like a pickup line. However, in a strange European hotel, a man truly believes it. He tries to convince a disbelieving woman that they’d met the year before. The more detailed he gets about their encounter, the more his recollections begin to shift. Alain Resnais’ film Last Year at Marienbad forces the viewer to decide on fantasy, reality, and what really happened. April 17-20.
• Hou Hsiao-hsien’s film Flight of the Red Balloon is a complex homage to Albert Lamorisse’s children’s classic The Red Balloon. Simon, the lonely son of single mother Suzanne (Juliette Binoche), and his Chinese au pair, Song, watch as the adults around them come apart at the seams — all the while a mysterious red balloon drifts across Paris. April 18-20.
• In the Short Films of Buster Keaton , four prime examples of his art will be show in 35mm restorations. During the 1920s, Keaton created innovations in cinematography and editing that captured his comedic genius, breathtaking acrobatics, and cynical, underdog wit. April 19.
• Werner Herzog extrapolates an obscure historical incident into his 1973 film, Aguirre: the Wrath of God . It’s a story of imperialism gone amok. In the mid-1500s, a large Spanish expedition searching for El Dorado sent an advance party up a tributary of the Amazon; they never returned. In Herzog’s film, the party falls into the hands of a power-driven, megalomaniacal lunatic, Don Lope de Aguirre. April 24-25.
• For 18 years, the Israeli military held an ancient southern Lebanese mountaintop fortress. In 2000, they decided to evacuate. The film Beaufort is a minute-by-minute dramatization of the last day of that occupation from the soldiers’ point of view. April 25-27.
• It’s 1828 and a mysterious young man appears in the town square of Nuremberg. His origins are unknown, but he’s apparently spent his life in solitary confinement. This was Kaspar Hauser. Herzog’s film The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser, is a true-life fable that examines the realities of Kaspar’s extraordinary, all-too-brief life. April 26-27.
Contact the DFT or visit the Web site for show times. All tickets $6.50-$7.50. 5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org/dft.
Detroit Science Center IMAX: Travel back in time and under the sea with Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure. This National Geographic film combines computer-generated animation with real-life paleontological digs to explore what inhabited Earth’s oceans in the Cretaceous period.
• This isn’t your traditional mummy movie. You’re not going to find the walking dead, shrieks in the audience, or Brendan Fraser. Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs is a real-life adventure through the past to extract clues about the fascinating and mysterious culture of the Egyptian past and their mummies. Both through September. All shows $11.95-$12.95. 5020 John R, Detroit; 313-577-8400; detroitsciencecenter.org
Redford Theatre: It’s a Laurel and Hardy Weekend at the Redford. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy star in Way Out West , a story of greed in the Wild West. Also showing that weekend is The Music Box, with Stan and Olli, as well as Elmer’s Pet Rabbit , starring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. April 11-12. All films $4. 17360 Lahser, Detroit; 313-537-2560; redfordtheatre.com.

MUSIC

Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile: Mandolin phenomenon Chris Thile is back in the saddle with his new group, Punch Brothers. With the acclaimed acoustic trio Nickel Creek on the split, and after a highly adventurous solo career, Thile has locked instruments with another group. The Punch Brothers, along with Thile, have pushed and pulled their version of bluegrass — often called newgrass — to the edges. They mix jazz, bluegrass and classical styles to paint a whole new picture of acoustic music. 8 p.m. April 1. $25-$32. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-761-1818.
Gregorian Masters of Chant: Frank Peterson and the Gregorian Masters of Chant are a little bit old school and a little bit new. They take modern pop and rock songs and infuse them with 10th-century Gregorian chants — monophonic, unaccompanied song. 7 p.m. April 4. $35-$75. The Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-9700.
Mr. B’s Blues and Boogie Celebrations: This annual piano summit is pulled together by Mark “Mr. B” Braun. The wizard of blues and boogie piano music brings together a meeting of minds, and fingertips, for two nights of boogie-woogie and blues. This year’s celebration includes 17-year-old Chase Garrett from Iowa City, Iowa, Spain native Lluís Coloma, Mr. B himself, and the incredible 80-year-old boogie institution, Bob Seeley. 7:30 p.m. April 4-5. $27.50-$34.50. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-761-1818.
Eels: They call him E. He’s the man responsible for forming the rock band Eels. Legally speaking, his full name is Mark Oliver Everett. The band was formed in California in 1995 after E had spent nearly 10 years making his own records. Now, under Eels, E has developed a complementary mixture of alternative and experimental rock. 8 p.m. April 5. $25. The Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-9700.
Victor Wooten: He blew minds with his bass as part of Bela Fleck’s jazz-bluegrass fusion ensemble, the Flecktones. Before that, he beat around with his family’s group, the Wooten Brothers Band. Now, as a solo artist, he’s again turning heads with his riffs. He’s three-time winner of Bass Player magazine’s Bass Player of the Year award. Hear cuts from his newest album, Soul Circus . 8 p.m. April 8. $35-$42. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-761-1818.
Feist: This Canadian singer/songwriter got her start with the indie rock supergroup Broken Social Scene. Her first solo record was released in 1999; however, her acclaim didn’t snowball until her 2004 release Let It Die . Feist blends a mixture of indie folk, pop rock, baroque pop and anti-folk. Her latest album, The Reminder , was even better received than the 2004 release. 6:30 p.m. April 10. $25-$35. The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward, Detroit; 313-961-5450.
The New Pornographers: This Juno Award-winning (the Canadian music awards) indie rock group plays a tweaked version of power pop influenced by outfits such as The Cars and Cheap Trick. 8 p.m. April 10. $22. The Crofoot, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac; 248-858-9333.
Etta James: She was born Jamesetta Hawkins, but we all know her as Etta James. For more than 50 years, she’s been using her lungs to blast out blues, soul, R&B, and jazz for audiences across the world. 8 p.m. April 11. $45.50-$65.50. Music Hall Center, 350 Madison, Detroit; 313-962-0243.
Celtic Women: Six Irish female artists bring their repertoire of traditional, as well as modern, Celtic tunes to Michigan. These Celtic Women have three albums under their boots, with their last release hitting the shelves in January. 8 p.m. April 12. $32.50-$62.50. The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.
Santana: Carlos Santana is mentioned in the same breath with the likes of guitar greats Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Jimmy Page. He’s been blending salsa, rock, blues, and jazz with his guitar for the last four decades, winning Grammys, blowing eardrums and influencing little rockers to pick up the axe. 7 p.m. April 18. $49.50-$79.50. The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.
America: It was 1972 when three kids from London, barely out of their teens, burst on to the scene. Through the mid-70s the group scored with such hits as “A Horse with No Name,” “Tin Man,” and “Lonely People.” As time went on, sales waned, but fans stayed true. They’re back on tour again — still riding that horse with no name. 8 p.m. April 18. $39-$65. Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; 586-268-3200.
Iron & Wine: With each song Sam Beam — the bearded man behind the folk-rock stage name of Iron & Wine — tells a secret. Whether it’s over a lo-fi acoustic, a twangy banjo or the electric tubes of a guitar, his hushed and whispered words are worth a listen. His newest album, The Shepherd’s Dog, uses more electricity than albums past, but still sprinkled with his signature whisper and acoustic six-string. 7 p.m. April 18. $22.50. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-399- 2980.
Def Leppard with REO Speedwagon and Styx: Three powerhouses hit the stage for a night of high-pitched wails and rock ’n’ roll riffs. Def Leppard brings along Midwestern rockers REO Speedwagon and Styx to tear the house down by overloading the stage with hair, guitars and decades of rock. 7 p.m. April 19. $35-$125. Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Dr., Detroit; 313-983-6606.
Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams, Jr.: It’s the Rowdy Frynds Tour, and whenever you see a “Y” where another vowel should be, the Southern rock giants Lynyrd Skynyrd aren’t far behind. Those good old boys from Alabama are hookin’ up with another Southern boy by the name of Hank Williams, Jr. Even though they’re north of the Mason-Dixon Line, the show is expected to get rowdy, so bring some frynds. 7 p.m. April 19. $25-$69.50. The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.
Joe Jackson: David Ian Jackson was born in Trent, England. The young boy’s friends thought he resembled a television show puppet named Joe 90. From that point on, he was known as Joe. Thus he became Joe Jackson. Along with Elvis Costello and Graham Parker, Jackson helped usher in a New Wave sound to the United States in the late ’70s. Since then he’s been nominated for five Grammys, spanning from 1979-2001. Jackson’s biggest hit came with the singles “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” and “Steppin’ Out.” 7:30 p.m. April 20. $34.50-$50. Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor; 734-668-8097.
Reverend Horton Heat: For more than 20 years, Reverend Horton has been supplying the ears of his listeners with an onslaught of tunes that pull from psychobilly, rockabilly, and Southern rock genres. His three-piece band, called Reverend Horton Heat, formed under the hot Texan sun, in the city of Dallas, and they haven’t loosened their bolo ties since. 8 p.m. April 26. $23. The Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-9700.
John Hammond, Jr.: It was the 1960s when Junior, son of Columbia records talent scout John Hammond Sr., popped up on the grid. This treasure of American roots music has amassed a chest full of songs during his expansive career. On his newest album, Push Comes to Shove, Hammond has collaborated with producer G. Love, venturing into unique blues/hip-hop fusions. 7:30 p.m. April 27. $22.50-$29.50. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-761-1818.
The Idan Raichel Project: Idan Raichel hooks up with Ethiopian immigrants in Israel, particularly vocalist Cabra Casey, to bring a blending of song that pulls from numerous parts of the world. Raichel’s project has strong hints of reggae, Middle Eastern ballads, and Arab Israeli vocal stylings. It’s a multi-ethnic mix that goes beyond politics and brings feuding sides together musically. 7:30 p.m. April 27. $27-$47. Music Hall Center, 350 Madison, Detroit; 313-962-0243.

MUSEUMS

Arab American National Museum: The Arab world has been making contributions in science, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, religion, and art since the Pharaohs. The exhibition Arab Civilization: Our Heritage features Arab contributions to the early world. Ongoing in the Community Courtyard.
• Arab-Americans come from a land that stretches from northern Africa to western Asia. The diversity can be as vast as the land, but they all have a shared sense of history and language, which they brought to America, starting about 1880. Coming to America features these immigrants and the culture they brought. Ongoing in Gallery 1.
• Living in America exhibits early Arab-American life and the part they played in the early history of the United States. Ongoing exhibit in Gallery 2.
• Making an Impact celebrates the stories of Arab-American athletes, organizations, physicians, labor leaders, and entertainers. One featured person is Detroit-born journalist Helen Thomas. Ongoing exhibit in Gallery 3.
• Also through April, the museum hosts the Ford Comerica Global Thursdays world music series.
• The new exhibition, Fragmentation & Unity: The Art of Sari Khoury, includes 25 late-period works of art paired with quotations from his writings. Gallery talks are offered at noon on April 11, and at 2 p.m. on April 20; the exhibition closes April 27. Tickets are $10-$12. Call for details. $3-$6. 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-582-2266; arabamericanmuseum.org.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: Stories in Stained Glass: The Art of Samuel A. Hodge, a series of intricate and colorful works that focus on three areas of African-American culture and history — musicians, dancers, and freedom advocates — is one of the ongoing exhibits in the Main Level Corridor.
• A is for Africa includes 26 interactive stations making up a 3-D “dictionary” designed for children. Ongoing in the Lower Level Corridor.
• And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture is an expansive, evolving exhibit that vividly recounts the 3.5-million-year-old odyssey that began in Africa and ends in Detroit. Ongoing in the Core Exhibition Gallery.
• Genealogy , a work designed by local artist Hubert Massey, depicts the struggles of African-Americans in the United States. Ongoing on the Main Level.
• Detroit Performs is a photomontage dedicated to those who have gained national and international prominence in the performing arts. Ongoing in the Main Level Corridor.
• Soul Sanctuary: Images of the African American Worship Experience features 75 black-and-white pictures of Jason Miccolo’s travels across the country visiting “mega-churches,” as well as “storefront” churches. Through April 6.
• Margaret Burroughs was an artist, poet, social activist, and a 30-year public educator in Chicago. Her works of art, often characterized as “social realism,” capture the essence of Africa and the African diaspora. The exhibit Making Prints, Telling Stories: The Artistry of Margaret Burroughs brings together a collection of prints by the artist. Through May 18.
• Target has initiated a program of Free First Sundays at the museum; general admission at other times is $5-$8. 315 E. Warren, Detroit; 313-494-5800; .
Cranbrook Institute of Science: Bring the little ones to Cranbrook to experiment with someone else’s playthings in Science in Toyland , a highly interactive exhibit that develops scientific reasoning and research skills. General admission is $6-8. Daily hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fridays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 39221 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills; 1-877-462-7262; science.cranbrook.edu.
Detroit Historical Museum: When April conjures up fond memories of Tiger Stadium, plan a trip to the DHM, where a wide variety of items salvaged from the old relic are now on display in the museum’s New to the Collection section.
• In 1929, the new Ambassador Bridge was the longest sus-pension bridge in the world. The Book-Cadillac Hotel opened in 1924, and when it did, it was the tallest hotel in the world. The 1928 Fisher Building was commissioned to be the “world’s most beautiful building” by the Fisher brothers. See where this is heading? The exhibit, 1920s: Detroit’s Building Boom, showcases Detroit’s explosive growth during this time, focusing on one of the greatest collections of urban architecture in North America.
• The business of war hasn’t changed much, but maybe the medium of propaganda has. In the 1940s, posters were in, and the Detroit Historical Museum has a collection of more than 80 pieces. Rallying the Homefront! Posters from WW II displays a selection of them, with an explanation of purpose and significance for each poster.
• As men were building Detroit’s landscape of the early 20th century, Amy Lorimer was painting it. The exhibit Detroit Artist Showcase is a mini-gallery of paintings by this historic Detroit artist.
• In 1905, the Cadillac Motor Car Co. released the Osceola — the first concept car and the first closed-body car made in America. The Detroit Historical Society’s Automotive Showplace offers the chance to view this piece of Detroit’s early automotive ingenuity and history. All above exhibits through August 2008.
• Bob Allison, Sonny Eliot, Ernie Harwell, J.P. McCarthy, Dick Purtan, and Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg are featured in the exhibit Detroit’s Classic Radio Voices. View artifacts and hear audio footage of these pros. 5401 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1805; detroithistorical.org.
Dossin Great Lakes Museum: Smugglers on the Straits examines a tradition of transporting cargo, goods, even people, and how it has changed in the course of three centuries in this region.
• Fun, Fast & Fancy: Great Lakes Yachts takes a fanciful look at what yachting has looked like over the years along the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. Both exhibits open on April 12. 100 Strand, Belle Isle, Detroit; 313-833-1805; detroithistorical.org.
Hall of Nations — International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit: Approximately 35,000 authentic dolls from around the world. Free. There’s also a restaurant on the lower level. 111 E. Kirby, Detroit; 313-871-8600; iimd.org.
Henry Ford: Quilting Genius 2: The Improvisational Quilts of Susana Allen Hunter features 30 colorful quilts dating from the 1930s to the 1970s in Alabama, giving insight to the experience of African-Americans living in the Jim Crow South. Through April 27.
• With Liberty and Justice for All explores the struggles that arise when free men and women actually try to be free. This exhibit is a collection of national artifacts highlighting four pivotal periods of history, beginning with the American Revolution and ending in the 1960s with the civil-rights movement. Permanent exhibit.
• Greenfield Village reopens for the season on April 15. $14-$20. Seven days a week through Nov. 4.
20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-982-6001; thehenryford.org.
Motown Historical Museum: The museum at Hitsville U.S.A. houses Motown’s original recording Studio A, where stars such as Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and The Jackson 5 recorded their first hits. $5-$8. 2648 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-875-2264; motownmuseum.com.
New Detroit Science Center: SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure brings the Civil War era SS Republic back from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, courtesy of the Odyssey marine Exploration in 2003, in a combination of historic artifacts and hands-on, educational, interactive elements. Discover stories of the world’s most famous shipwrecks; feel the forces of a 75-mph hurricane; pilot a robot submersible; learn pirate lore and more. Admission $13.95. 5020 John R, Detroit; 313-577-8400; detroitsciencecenter.org.
Selfridge Military Air Museum: Planes are the thing, from the indoor armed forces exhibits to Navy and Air Force planes outside. Tours by appointment. $3. Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Hall and Jefferson, Harrison Township; 586-307-5035; selfridgeairmuseum.org.
Sloan Museum at the Flint Cultural Center: Treasure! endeavors to bring out the Indiana Jones in you. The exhibit explores the history of treasures and treasure hunting and the technology employed therein. From attics, to underwater, buried, chests, or hunts, no stone is left unturned. Through April 20.
• Motorcycles have always represented freedom — from Steve McQueen in The Great Escape to Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider. The exhibit Rides and Rebels documents America’s relationship with motorcycles, their historical impact, and the look and lifestyle of the rebels of the road. Through July 27. 1221 E. Kearsley St., Flint; 810-237-3451; sloanmuseum.com

THEATRE

Bonstelle: The Wayne State University theater students perform Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy The Taming of the Shrew in which charming Bianca may not be married to any of her suitors until her shrewish sister has found a husband. April 18-27. $12-$15. 3424 Woodward, Detroit; 313-577-2960; theatre.wayne.edu/bonstelle.
Detroit Repertory: The romantic comedy Southern Comforts centers on a widow and widower making love happen for them again. Through May 18. $17-$20. 13103 Woodrow Wilson, Detroit; 313-868-1347.
Hilberry: As You Like It reigns as one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies.  Through April 22. • Isben’s The Master Builder tells the tale of an aging architect striving to keep his career from falling to pieces. Through May 9. • In Compleat Female Stage Beauty, actor Edward Kynaston is thrown into a situation he isn’t familiar with. After the king forbids males to play female roles, Kynaston must learn to be a man on stage. April 4-May 9. $10-$30. 4743 Cass, Detroit; 313-577-2972; theatre.wayne.edu/hilberry.
Jewish Ensemble Theatre: Women’s Minyan is a powerful drama of a mother of 12 who’s forbidden to see her children by a court of Orthodox men after fleeing her abusive husband. The play ran for five years in Israel with 450 sold-out performances. Through April 13.
• Oy! is a collection of short comedies that explores the absurdity of what it is to be human. April 29-May 25. $33-$39. 6600 W. Maple, Bloomfield; 248-788-2900; jettheatre.org.
Meadow Brook: Moonlight and Magnolias centers on three Hollywood hot shots trying to salvage the immortal classic Gone With the Wind. Through April 13.
• Dan Goggin’s Nunsense is the story of convent cook Sister Julia, who accidentally poisons 52 of her fellow nuns. To pay for the burial, the remaining sisters must come up with a plan. April 23-May 18. $22-$40. On the campus of Oakland University, 207 Wilson Hall, Rochester; 248-377-3300.
Performance Network: Doubt tells the story of a Mother Superior who develops a belief that the school priest is having questionable relations with a student. She becomes obsessed with the pursuit. Through April 6. $30-$42. 120 E. Huron, Ann Arbor; 734-433-7673.
Purple Rose: Growing Pretty, by Carey Crim, is the story of a young girl who dreams of being a supermodel but turns to photography for the sake of young love. Through May 31. $12.50-$38. 127 Park, Chelsea; 734-433-7673.
Studio: Lillian Hellman’s play Toys in the Attic tells the story of two sisters who relinquish their dreams to help their younger brother, Julian, achieve his. Tensions arise when Julian arrives home after marrying a rich girl from another town. April 10-19. $10-$12. Located in the lower level of the Hilberry Theatre, 4743 Cass, Detroit; 313-577-2972.
University of Detroit Mercy: The Play About the Baby is Edward Albee’s attempt to expose the fraud of the American Dream. The play deals with a young couple who have just had a baby and the strange events that unfold after an older man and woman enter their lives. Through April 13. $15. On the campus of Marygrove College. 8425 McNichols, Detroit; 313-993-3270.
Zeitgeist: Equus, the psychologically stimulating play by Peter Shaffer, was originally inspired by a story that was told to Shaffer by a friend. According to the tale, a boy blinded six horses in a stable. To explore why the boy’s bizarre behavior, Shaffer developed the play, which is performed by the Abreact Theater. April 4-26. $10. 2661 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-247-5270; zeitgeistdetroit.org.

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This article appears in the April 2008 of Hour Detroit.
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