02-05-2025
Comic books, Star Wars, opera and jazz: Weekend options in metro Detroit
This first weekend of May brings a wide variety of arts options to explore across metro Detroit. Here are just five you may want to add to your calendar.
From the earliest days of fandom to the rise of iconic superheroes and gritty anti-heroes, Detroit has been a quiet but powerful force in shaping comic book history. Opening on Saturday, May 3 (Free Comic Book Day) at the Detroit Historical Museum, "Heroes vs. Villains: Detroit's Comic Book Story" will share the histories of the iconic characters and local creatives who helped define the modern world of comics.
"Heroes vs. Villains" also shines a spotlight on the many Detroit-affiliated writers, artists, publishers and fans whose work brought characters to life, helped stories find wide audiences and pushed the boundaries of visual storytelling. Visitors will discover how Detroit creatives like Rich Buckler, Keith Pollard, Jim Starlin, Arvell Jones and Matt Feazell changed the game, one panel at a time. The exhibition opens to the public at noon; Detroit Historical Society members can enjoy members-only early access at 10 a.m.
Detroit Historical Museum, 5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Free with museum admission.
In honor of Star Wars Day (May 4), Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, the Macomb Symphony Orchestra will perform a wide canvas of John Williams' legendary music from across the 'Star Wars' galaxy. All ages are welcome for this thrilling afternoon.
Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, 44575 Garfield Rd., Clinton Twp. Tickets $25.
Royal Oak's Habatat Detroit Fine Art, the world's oldest and largest art glass gallery, presents 'Glass53,' opening Saturday, May 3. Habatat represents the finest glass artists in the world working with collectors and museums internationally. More than 400 works of art glass are featured in Habatat's 16,000-square-foot gallery. The show will open at 8 p.m. with a gala that's free to attend.
Habatat Detroit Fine Art, 4400 Fernlee Ave., Royal Oak. Free admission.
Ever wondered how a new opera comes together? The Motor City Lyric Opera, now in its 23rd season, will present 'Be Beautiful Inside,' a workshop performance, at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at The Schvitz Detroit. Guests are invited to watch, review and provide feedback for the musical work based on Beth Griffith-Manley's book 'I Am Beautiful Inside & Out.' (The author will also be in attendance.) The performers hail from Motor City Lyric Opera's Opera on Wheels Ensemble: Angela Bonello, Tyler Middleton, Will Fishwick and Lydia Bangura along with instrumentalists Sonia Lee and Jean Schneider.
The Schvitz Detroit, 8295 Oakland Ave., Detroit. Free, with donations accepted.
Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Beverly Hills' Seligman Performing Arts Center, Chamber Music Detroit will take guests on a sonic journey spanning centuries. The Miró Quartet will pay homage to the 1938 collaboration between Benny Goodman and the Budapest String Quartet, with special guest bass/baritone Joseph Parrish and clarinetist David Shifrin. The evening will open with Mozart's clarinet quintet and proceed to encompass big band songs arranged for baritone and quartet such as 'Begin the Beguine' and 'A Night in Tunisia,' as well as Goodman tunes arranged for clarinet and quartet.
Seligman Performing Arts Center, 22305 West 13 Mile Rd., Beverly Hills. Tickets start at $30; digital streaming available for $12.50.
Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Comic books, Star Wars, opera and jazz: This weekend in metro Detroit
