Music

Usher

Hot on the heels of an electrifying two-year Las Vegas residency, the Grammy Award-winning R&B superstar will perform two consecutive shows at Little Caesars Arena during his Past Present Future tour. It’s been a busy year for the 45-year-old singer and dancer, who released his ninth studio album, Coming Home, just two days before his halftime performance at the Super Bowl in February. Sept. 12-13. $205+. Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313presents.com.

Charli XCX and Troye Sivan

English pop singer and songwriter Charli XCX will share the stage with Australian singer-songwriter and long-time collaborator Troye Sivan on Sweat, the duo’s upcoming double-headline tour. XCX’s sixth album, Brat, debuted to glowing reviews earlier this year, spawning infectious hit singles “Von Dutch” and “360.” Sivan will continue promoting his 2023 album Something to Give Each Other, which received widespread acclaim for its lead single, “Rush.” Sept. 14. $59.50+. Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313presents.com.

Air

The enigmatic French electro-pop duo will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their influential 1998 debut album, Moon Safari, by performing it in its entirety for the first time ever on this extensive North American tour. The genre-bending album’s inventive, minimalist sound went on to influence a new generation of electronic pop music, landing on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 best albums of the 1990s. The band will also perform a selection of standout tracks from its other albums. Oct. 10. $54+. Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313presents.com.

La Traviata

Verdi’s beloved opera receives an upgrade in this production by director Francesca Zambello and Detroit Opera Music Director Roberto Kalb, which relocates the action to the 20th century. When Violetta (a courtesan in the original) falls head over heels for nobleman Alfredo, what kinds of obstacles will the world place in their way? Oct. 19, 25, and 27. $30+. Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit; detroitopera.org.

Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert

This live orchestral rendition of the Nickelodeon animated series’ iconic score is paired with a special recap of the show’s three seasons, displayed on a full-size cinema screen. The orchestra will combine Eastern and Western musical traditions to reflect the signature sound of the Avatar saga. Jeremy Zuckerman, the mastermind behind the show’s original music, has taken his time to perfectly reimagine and expand on the show’s soundtrack. This is the first opportunity an audience will have to fully immerse themselves in the world of Avatar through a live experience. Oct. 20. $125+. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com.

An Evening of Love, Laughter, and Soul

The 1970s and ’80s soul/R&B legend Jeffrey Osborne (once a member of the group L.T.D.), Grammy-nominated singer Lenny Williams, and Detroit-based American soul music vocal group Dramatics featuring L.J. Reynolds will perform their top hits at the Detroit Opera House, with comedian Michael Colyar as the host. Nov. 16. $79+. Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit; detroitopera.org.

Art

The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World

The Art of Dining offers an exploration of food culture in the Islamic world that features a wide variety of materials — dishware and cookbooks in addition to paintings from the Middle East and South and Central Asia — ranging from antiquity to the present day. Sept. 22-Jan. 5. Free for residents of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties, $8-$20 for nonresidents. Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; dia.org.

Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos 2024

In Mexico (and elsewhere in Latin America), the Day of the Dead (or Día de Muertos) is a time to celebrate those who have passed away. Objects associated with those who have died are placed alongside sugar skulls, flowers, and candles on ofrenda altars, which will form the focus of this new exhibit. Sept. 28-Nov. 3. Free for residents of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties, $8-$20 for nonresidents. Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit; dia.org.

Toshiko Takaezu: Worlds Within

Long considered one of the finest artists of the 20th and 21st centuries to work in clay, Toshiko Takaezu, who taught at the Cranbrook Academy of Art from 1951 to 1956, is the subject of a career retrospective that will span her early years in Hawaii, where she was born, all the way to Cleveland and Princeton University, where she later taught. The exhibit will include a selection of Takaezu’s acrylics and weavings in addition to her renowned ceramics. Oct. 9-Jan. 12. $8 for seniors and Detroit residents, $10 general admission, free for kids 12 and under. Cranbrook Art Museum, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; cranbrookartmuseum.org. 

Subtleism: Neha Vedpathak with Agnes Martin

Works by the revered American minimalist painter Agnes Martin (who considered herself an abstract expressionist) will appear alongside brand-new work from the Indian-born, Detroit-based artist Neha Vedpathak, who has developed a unique technique, which Vedpathak refers to as “plucking,” for cutting an apparently endless number of incisions in painted handmade paper. Oct. 26-March 2. $8 for seniors and Detroit residents, $10 general admission, free for kids 12 and under. Cranbrook Art Museum, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; cranbrookartmuseum.org. 

How We Make the Planet Move

The inaugural exhibition of Cranbrook’s Detroit Collection represents the initial output of the museum’s self-administered 2016 call to acquire art by more artists of color, women, and artists who identify as LGBTQ+ and is “designed to acknowledge the long-standing history of artists who have called Detroit home.” Oct. 26-March 2. $8 for seniors and Detroit residents, $10 general admission, free for kids 12 and under. Cranbrook Art Museum, 39221 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; cranbrookartmuseum.org. 

In an Effort to Be Held

The Library Street Collective presents this group exhibition of more than 20 artists “considers the aesthetics of surface, and the processes of engaging the surface through transfer, collage, [and] wrapping.” This is Artistic Director Allison Glenn’s first exhibit since being appointed to her role; work by artists such as Kevin Beasley, Celeste, Bethany Collins, Ed Clark, and Shane Darwent will be featured. Aug. 3-Oct. 12. No cost for admission. The Shepherd, 1265 Parkview St., Detroit; lscgallery.com. 

James Benjamin Franklin solo exhibition

James Benjamin Franklin’s first solo LSC exhibition uses a collage of rugs and blankets — an emblem of domesticity — as its jumping-off point. His “organically constructed shapes and eclectic textures combine to form a practice that is untethered by limits of the traditional canvas” and pushes “the boundaries between painting and sculpture.” Sept. 14-Oct. 16. No cost for admission. Library Street Collective, 1274 Library St., Detroit; lscgallery.com. 

A Wing and a Prayer

A Wing and a Prayer, a group exhibition from the collection of Beth DeWoody curated by Laura Dvorkin, Maynard Monrow, and Kyle Doute, opens Oct. 24 at the Shepherd, the Romanesque-style church in Detroit’s Little Village recently transformed into a cultural arts center by the Library Street Collective. Oct. 24-Jan. 4. No cost for admission. The Shepherd, 1265 Parkview St., Detroit; lscgallery.com. 

Chris Schanck solo exhibition

In collaboration with the Library Street Collective, MOCAD will present the first major Detroit exhibition for local designer Chris Schanck, whose work deviates from and resists a culture of mass production by reviving mundane materials and transforming them into objects of uncommon luxury. The local community plays a key role in Schanck’s studio, which is based in a former factory in Banglatown, a Detroit neighborhood with a vibrant immigrant population. Nov. 8-Feb. 9. $8-$12 general admission. free for kids 12 and below. Museum of Contemporary Arts Detroit, 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; mocadetroit.org. 

Clare Gatto and Kara Güt exhibition

Cranbook Academy of Art graduates Gatto and Güt will be featured in a two-person presentation this fall. Gatto uses 3D-rendering software to create and explore simulated bodies, egg sacs, and interstitial space to reconsider ideas about the body as we know it and envision the physical self beyond labels and binaries. Güt’s work investigates the way human intimacy has been shaped by the internet, our constructed detachment from reality, and the power dynamics of the virtual. Nov. 8-Feb. 9. $8-$12 general admission. free for kids 12 and below. Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; mocadetroit.org. 

Levon Kafafian solo exhibition

The Detroit-based Armenian American artist Levon Kafafian, who works primarily with textiles, demonstrates a vested interest in both artifact and ritual, on the one hand, and, on the other, possible worlds and potential futures. Kafafian’s woven fabrics serve as portals to these other worlds infused with future ancestral practice, hybridity, magic, and collective visions. Nov. 8-Feb. 9. $8-$12 general admission. free for kids 12 and below. Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; mocadetroit.org. 

Film

Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse Live in Concert

The Oscar-nominated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be shown in concert venues around the world, accompanied by live musicians and instrumentalists. The movie features the return of Miles Morales as he reunites with Gwen Stacy to embark on a journey across the multiverse, encountering a Spider-Society charged with safeguarding the fabric of reality. Sept. 14. $39+. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com.

William Shatner

The original Capt. James T. Kirk and award-winning actor William Shatner is coming to Detroit for the screening of the classic Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Shatner will be onstage following the screening to share exciting behind-the-scenes stories from throughout his career. There is a VIP package available that includes a postshow photo opportunity with Shatner. Sept. 25. $59.75+. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The longest-running theatrical release in film history is celebrating its 49th anniversary by embarking on two national tours in over 40 cities. The show will offer a meet and greet with Patricia Quinn, who starred as Magenta in the original film. The show will also include a costume contest, a performance by the local shadow cast, and a display of memorabilia and costumes from the movie. Oct. 17. $68+. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com.

Theater

Moulin Rouge

Based on the sensational 2001 film, this 10-time Tony Award-winning musical transports audiences to 1890s Paris, where young Bohemian performers clash with wealthy, powerful aristocrats over the future of their beloved nightclub. Full of dazzling choreography, gorgeous costumes, and infectious music arranged by Tony Award winner Justin Levine, the production promises to be a glamorous, glitzy show-stopper. Sept. 17-Oct. 6. $50+. Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com.

A Bronx Tale

Chazz Palminteri wrote A Bronx Tale in 1988, a powerful one-man show depicting his bruising childhood, in which he witnessed a gangland killing when he was 9 years old. The autobiographical play portrays a very harrowing time in his life and was so captivating that Palminteri received a movie offer. Palminteri starred alongside Robert De Niro in the 1993 film of the same name. Sept. 28. $67+. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com.

Some Like It Hot

The classic 1959 film comes to life in this Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical. Follow two Prohibition-era jazz musicians as they evade mobster goons on a boisterous cross-country trip that ends up being a journey of love and self-discovery. After witnessing a murder, Joe and Jerry flee Chicago and disguise themselves as female musicians, joining an all-girl band as part of the ruse. The band sets out on tour, eventually landing in Mexico, where hilarity — and love — ensues. Oct. 1-13. $45+. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com.

Mean Girls

When teenager Cady Heron relocates to a suburban Illinois town from the African wilderness, she learns high school can be even more brutal than the untamed savanna wildlife. Featuring music and choreography by an award-winning creative team, along with all the wit and heart that made the 2004 film an instant classic, Mean Girls will charm long-time fans of the movie and new audiences alike. Nov. 19-24. $50+. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com.

Dance

Mark Morris Dance Group

The Look of Love: Acclaimed choreographer and director Mark Morris collaborates with pianist and composer Ethan Iverson to present this heartfelt tribute to prolific songwriter Burt Bacharach, whose works were performed by pop legends like Dionne Warwick, Perry Como, and Dusty Springfield. In addition to stunning original choreography, the show features a live music ensemble and vocals by star Broadway singer Marcy Harriell. Nov. 2-3. $30+. Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit; detroitopera.org.

Comedy

Kurtis Conner

Named one of Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch” in 2023, Kurtis Conner is taking his comedy on the road. Conner first gained popularity mainly through his comedic videos on the since-discontinued social media app Vine, attention he maintained by starting his YouTube channel and creating more social media content. His humor has evolved into live comedy, and he has embarked on several tours like this one. He is coming to Detroit for the Goodfellow world tour. Sept. 22. $67+. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com.

Jim Jefferies

Sydney native Jim Jefferies brings his Give ’Em What They Want tour to Detroit. His humor has been described as provocative, belief-challenging, and thought-provoking. Jefferies was honored as Stand-Up Comedian of the Year at the Just for Laughs festival in 2019. His comedy special High & Dry premiered on Netflix last year. Jefferies also hosts his own podcast, I Don’t Know About That with Jim Jefferies. Sept. 27. $68.25+. Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; broadwayindetroit.com.

Tom Segura

The Cincinnati-born comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster currently co-hosts the Your Mom’s House podcast with his wife, Christina Pazsitzky, where the pair interview celebrity guests and discuss a revolving door of pop-culture topics. Segura also co-hosts 2 Bears, 1 Cave, a podcast he shares with friend and fellow comic Bert Kreischer. Oct. 5. $32.50+. Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313presents.com.

Jim Gaffigan

The comedian, actor, writer, and producer has humble roots in comedy clubs and Blockbuster Video commercials, but today he’s one of the best-known “clean” comics on the scene. Boasting three Emmy Awards and seven Grammy Award nominations, Gaffigan is best known for his monotone, deadpan observations about everyday products and experiences, including Hot Pockets, bacon, and the pitfalls of parenting. Most recently, he portrayed Edsel Kellogg III in the Jerry Seinfeld-helmed feature comedy Unfrosted. Nov. 22-23. $59.75+. Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313presents.com.

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This story originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on Sept. 6.