21.G Cultural Events and Programming

The University of Michigan offers myriad music, theater, drama, dance, and cinema programs and events at a number of campus venues. Major theatres and performance halls on campus are:

Hill Auditorium
825 N. University
734-764-8350

Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre
911 N. University
734-763-1085

Power Center for the Performing Arts
121 Fletcher
734-763-3333

Rackham Auditorium
915 E. Washington St.
(no box office number; tickets are sold by the sponsoring organization)

Because the performance halls and theatres are used by a wide variety of groups, they may not be selling their tickets at the performance hall until the day of their event. Many groups have their tickets sold at the following off-site ticket offices:

Major Events Office/Ticketmaster, 763-TKTS

University Musical Society and University Productions, 764-2538

For walk-up sales go to the Michigan League Ticket Office.

Interested faculty should consult The University Record, The Michigan Daily, The Ann Arbor News, The Ann Arbor Observer, and individual listings circulated throughout campus for information about performances and events.

Dance, Department of

The Department of Dance offers several dance events every year; programs include students, visiting artists, and dance companies. For more information, visit their website at <www.music.umich.edu/departments/dance> or call 763-5461.

Screen Arts & Cultures , Department of

The Department of Screen Arts & Cultures sponsors and co-sponsors numerous film-related events every semester, including the appearance of visiting screenwriters and filmmakers, as well as symposia and special screenings on campus and at the restored 1920s movie palace, the Michigan Theater. Also, several independent and University student film groups offer frequent showings of classic American, foreign, experimental, and current films, all at reduced prices in University buildings. Check The Michigan Daily and The University Record for schedules, visit the website at <www.lsa.umich.edu/sac> or call 764-0147.

School of Art and Design

Contemporary art and design exhibitions are presented without charge each academic year in the Jean Paul Slusser Gallery and the Warren Robbins Gallery in the Art and Architecture Building, and the Gallery in the Duderstadt Center on North Campus. A weekly lecture series is presented during the fall and winter semesters and is open to the public. Information regarding exhibitions, openings, lectures, and other events at the School can be found on the School’s website at <www.art-design.umich.edu> or in The Michigan Daily and The Ann Arbor News.

School of Music, Theatre & Dance

The School of Music, Theatre & Dance offers fully staged productions of opera, drama, musical theater, and dance each fall and winter term. In addition, many free concerts by orchestras, choirs, bands, and faculty and student chamber ensembles and soloists are offered throughout the year. The school’s bi-monthly calendar of events <uuis.umich.edu/events/calendar.cfm?sponsor=155> is available online or from the School of Music, Theatre & Dance ( 1100 Baits Drive on North Campus). To be added to the mailing list for the School’s bi-monthly calendar, contact music.publicity@umich.edu or call 764-0594. In addition, weekly ads listing upcoming performances appear in the Friday Michigan Daily and the Sunday Ann Arbor News. For more information, visit the website at <www.music.umich.edu> (online calendar of events) or call 763-4726 (24-hour Music Hotline). For charged events, call 764-2538.

Theatre & Drama, Department of

Under the direction of faculty and visiting artists, the Theatre & Drama Department offers productions in the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre and the Power Center for the Performing Arts. Student-directed productions are presented in the Walgreen Drama Center. For more information, consult the website at <www.music.umich.edu/departments/theatre> or call 763-5350. For charged events, call 764-2538. Note: The Arthur Miller Theatre, located in the Walgreen Drama Center, is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2007.

University Productions

University Productions is the producing unit of the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. It creates stage presentations for the University Dance Company, Musical Theater Program, School of Music Opera Theater, and University Players and sells tickets for these student productions at the UMS/U Productions ticket office, located in the Michigan League. Season schedules for Department of Theatre & Drama, School of Music Opera Theater, Musical Theater, and University Dance Company performances are also available at the Michigan League Ticket Office.

University Productions manages and rents the major performing venues on campus (Hill Auditorium, Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, Power Center and Rackham Auditorium). For more information, visit the website at <www.music.umich.edu/performances_events/perf_events.htm> or call 764-2538 for tickets and 647-3327 for venue scheduling.

The following offices are all located in the Michigan Union and offer a variety of programming opportunities and/or sell tickets for events:

Major Events Office

Major Events produces concerts ranging from jazz to comedy to folk to hard rock and stresses alternative and multi-cultural programming. For more information, visit the website at <www.umich.edu/~mevents> or call 936-9358 (information) or 763-TKTS (tickets).

Michigan Union Arts and Programming Office

The office provides opportunities for students, faculty, and staff pursuing an interest in the performing or visual arts and recreation. These include poetry slams, art exhibits, crafts, modern dance lessons, and interesting lectures. This office plays a vital role for collaborative programming efforts. For more information, call 763-3202.

Michigan Union Ticket Office (MUTO)

In addition to handling ticketing for a variety of on-campus programs at venues such as the Ark, Hill Auditorium, and the Power Center, MUTO offers Ticketmaster service for the entire Midwest and Toronto. Other services include ticketing for Cedar Point and Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA). For more information, call 763-TKTS (sales and information, local performances, transportation) or 248/645-6666 (Ticketmaster sales and information).

University Activities Center (UAC)

The largest student-run organization on campus sponsors several student theater and production groups such as MUSKET, the Comedy Company, and the Amazin’ Blue. UAC’s Eclipse Jazz brings to Ann Arbor great names in jazz such as George Winston and Bobby McFerrin. It also offers workshops, lecture series, and other musical activities. For more information about UAC programs, call 763-1107 or check the website: <www.umich.edu/~uac>.

Considered one of the leading performing arts presenters in the country, the University Musical Society, founded in 1879, presents about 90 performances and 175 educational programs from September to May. UMS programming covers a wide variety of artistic expressions including orchestras, chamber and jazz ensembles, song recitals, world music troupes, dance and theater companies, sacred and early music groups, and multi-media performance art. The extensive UMS education and audience development program creates residencies in partnership with a diverse array of individual artists and scholars as well as departments, schools, and centers. Serving as a resource to the University and the community, UMS is committed to working with the faculty to enhance curricular offerings and to support student learning. Discounted student tickets are available. UMS performances and education events are listed in their brochures, which can be obtained at the box office located in the Michigan League, and performances are listed in local newspapers. For additional information, visit the website at <www.ums.org> or call 764-2538 (box office), 647-1174 (administrative).