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Theater is popping up in the most unlikely places this week, with Penny Seats’ “Tomfoolery” in the Celtic Room at Conor O’Neill's, complete with dinner available before the show for only an extra $10, and Ann Arbor Civic’s “Shifting Gears” which is staged not in any of their usual spaces, but down on Main Street, in the world-famous folk and concert venue The Ark.
It’s also a great week for baby boomers, and those of us who grew up quoting Monty Python (shrubbery, anyone?) and singing “poisoning pigeons in the park.” Between “Tomfoolery” and “Spamalot,” there’s more than enough shenanigans, hijinks and monkey business to go around.
Show: "Shifting Gears" by Lori Reece, one-time event, Monday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Company: Ann Arbor Civic Theatre
Type of Company: Community
Venue/location: The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor
Recommended ages: 16+
Description: "Shifting Gears" is an original musical by local playwright Lori Reece. This poignant play explores the dynamics of a group of women with breast cancer as they support one another and learn to not only cope, but live life fully, with humor and determination. This benefit concert performance, which takes place during Breast Cancer Awareness month, is produced in collaboration with The Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the organization, which provides support to individuals and their families as they deal with all aspects of the disease. Following the play, there will be a talk back with the cast, director, and representatives from area cancer-support organizations.
Fun fact: An excerpt from Shifting Gears was presented at A2CT's 2014 The Play's the Thing new works festival.
For tickets and information: a2ct.org, 734-971-2228
Show: "Spamalot" by Eric Idle and John Du Prez, through Oct. 12
Company: Encore Musical Theatre Company
Type of Company: Professional Equity, Professional Non-Equity
Venue/location: 3126 Broad St., Dexter, MI 48130
Recommended ages: Teens and up
Description: A bawdy, rip-roaring musical comedy based on Monty Python and The Holy Grail. Read review.
Fun fact: Monty Python was a British comedy group that created Monty Python's Flying Circus, a television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC in October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series. The Python phenomenon developed from the television series, spawning touring stage shows, films, numerous albums, several books and the musical "Spamalot."
For tickets and information: www.theencoretheatre.org, 734-268-6200
Show: "Tomfoolery" by Tom Lehrer, Cameron McIntosh, and Robin Ray, featuring the opening short "Volcanoes!!" by Zach London, through Oct. 23
Company: The Penny Seats Theatre Company
Type of Company: Pre-professional
Venue/location: Conor O'Neill's Irish Pub and Restaurant, in The Celtic Room
Recommended ages: 12+
Description: Tomfoolery celebrates the words and music of satirist, musician, mathematician, and cult favorite, Tom Lehrer. Lehrer is known for his biting, yet lighthearted, songs on a broad range of topics including war, love, friendship, math, science, college life, and (er) pigeons. The show also includes an opening short—a five-minute mini-musical called Volcanoes!!—composed by Ann Arbor's own Zach London, who cites Lehrer as an early inspiration.
Fun fact: In 1953, Lehrer paid just $15 for studio time to record his first album, Songs by Tom Lehrer. The initial pressing was 400 copies. At the time, radio stations would not give him airtime because of his controversial subjects. He sold the album on campus at Harvard for $3, and various stores near the Harvard campus sold it for $3.50, taking a minimal markup as a kind of community service. After one summer, Lehrer started to receive mail orders from all parts of the country. Interest in the album spread by word of mouth, and it became a cult success despite being self-published without formal promotion.
For tickets and information: www.pennyseats.org, 734-926-5346
Special ticket offer: The show is being performed dinner theater-style, with dinner seating starting at 6:30 p.m., and curtain at 8 p.m.. Dinner-and-show combo tickets are available for $20 each; show-only tickets are available for $10 each.
Show: "Driving Miss Daisy" by Alfred Uhry, through Oct. 24
Company: Performance Network
Type of Company: Equity SPT
Venue/location: 120 E. Huron, Ann Arbor
Recommended Ages: 16+
Description: In 1948, the son of an elderly Southern matron hires a chauffeur for his mother. And over the next 25 years, the relationship between the matron and the chauffeur blossoms into one of respect and friendship as the civil-rights movement brings changes to the old South. Read review.
Fun Fact: This is actor James Bowen's third time playing the role of Hoke.
For tickets and information: performancenetwork.org, 734-663-0681
Show: "Annapurna" by Sharr White, through Dec. 20
Company: The Purple Rose Theatre Company
Type of Company: Professional Equity
Venue/location: The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park St., Chelsea
Recommended ages: 14+
Description: What if you had experienced the defining moment of your life – but couldn't remember it? Sharr White's heartfelt and remarkable play deals with that dilemma and the unpredictable eccentricities of love. Join us for the Michigan premiere of this bittersweet play by one of America's most vibrant and lyrical new playwrights. *Contains partial nudity, adult language and themes. Read review.
Fun fact: Annapurna is a section of the Himalayas in north-central Nepal that includes the 26,545 ft. Annapurna I, thirteen additional peaks over 22,970 ft., and 16 more over 19,690 ft.
For tickets and information: 734-433-7673, www.purplerosetheatre.org.
Show: "Good Kids" by Naomi Iizuka, through October 12
Company: UM SMTD Department of Theatre & Drama
Type of Company: Higher Education
Venue/location: Arthur Miller Theatre, 1226 Murfin Dr., Ann Arbor
Recommended ages: 14+
Description: Loosely based on the Steubenville rape case, "Good Kids" explores a sexual crime and its very public aftermath at a Midwest high school. Discussions led by experts in sexual assault prevention will follow each performance.
Fun fact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6IFBRBYfqY
For tickets and information: League Ticket Office 734-764-2538 tickets.music.umich.edu
Carla Milarch writes about theater for MLive.com/The Ann Arbor News. Email her at carlamilarch@gmail.com or follow her at https://www.facebook.com/carla.milarch.