Award-Winning HAMTOWN RACES Returns to Planet Ant

Planet Ant will bring an encore presentation of Margaret Edwartowski's award-winning play, Hamtown Races, to the theatre November 23 - December 17. Tickets ($10-$20) are on sale now online at www.planetant.com. A complete schedule follows this release.

Hamtown Races takes place in the Al Ameer Cafe, a family business owned and operated by Lebanese immigrants that plays host to a colorful and diverse collection of characters, each representing the varied and shifting cultures in Hamtramck. Winner of the 2013 Wilde Award for Best New Script, Hamtown Races pays homage to this one of a kind city. "To celebrate our 20th anniversary as a theater, we wanted to remount one of our most popular plays," states Planet Ant Artistic Director Shawn Handlon.

Opening Wednesday, November 23 with performances through Saturday, December 17, Hamtown Races is directed by Amanda Grace Ewing and features Samer Ajluni, Stephen Blackwell, Maya Cameron, Falah Cannon, Andy Reid and Shelby Marie Schroeder. Tickets ($10-$20) are on sale at www.planetant.com and in person at the Planet Ant Box Office beginning 30 minutes prior to show time based on availability.

The performance schedule for Hamtown Races is as follows:
Tickets are $20 unless otherwise stated.

Wed, Nov 23 @ 8:00pm (Opening weekend half-price tickets: $10)
Fri, Nov 25 @ 8:00pm (Opening weekend half-price tickets: $10)
Sat, Nov 26 @ 8:00pm (Opening weekend half-price tickets: $10)

Fri, Dec 2 @ 8:00pm
Sat, Dec 3 @ 8:00pm
Sun, Dec 4 @ 2:00pm

Fri, Dec 9 @ 8:00pm
Sat, Dec 10 @ 8:00pm
Sun, Dec 11 @ 6:00pm

Fri, Dec 16 @ 8:00pm
Sat, Dec 17 @ 8:00pm

The complete 2016 - 2017 Planet Ant season also includes:

As it has done for more than 20 years, Planet Ant continues to highlight local writers, directors and performers this season. The theatre's Main Stage Series features full-length original and published works with an 8:00pm show time Friday and Saturday and various performances on select Sundays. One Act Series presentations feature one-act original and experimental material with an 8:00pm show time Friday and Saturday evening. Tickets are $20 for Main Stage performances and $10 for One Act performances and can be reserved or purchased online at www.planetant.com or in person at the theatre on the night of the performance based on availability.

January 13 - 28, 2017

Planet Ant presents Riot Grrrl 90 directed by the winner of Box Fest 2016, Dyan Bailey.
One Act Series

Set in 1990s suburbia, Rachel and Jen meet in French class and become instant best friends. Their mutual love of Nintendo, Riot Grrrl music and smoking cigarettes gets disrupted when Rachel's neighbor, Mike, starts hanging around. Winner of the Audience Choice Vote for Box Fest Detroit 2016, this is an expanded version of the Award Winning Short Riot Grrrl 90.

February 17 - March 11, 2017
Macdeth by Mikey Brown and Shawn Handlon
Directed by Shawn Handlon
Main Stage Series

Set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world, this punk rock musical is a new adaptation of Shakespeare's Scottish play.

April 28 - May 20, 2017
Failure: A Love Story, by Philip Dawkins
Directed by Jill Dion and Molly McMahon
Main Stage Series

By the end of 1928, all three Fail sisters will be dead -- expiring in reverse order, youngest to oldest, from blunt object to the head, disappearance, and finally consumption. Tuneful songs, and a whimsical chorus follow the story of Nelly, Jenny June, and Gerty as they live out their lives above the family clock repair shop near the Chicago River, before their time unexpectedly runs out. A magical, musical fable where, in the end, the power of love is far greater than any individual's successes or failures.

Late Night Saturdays & Improv Mondays

Throughout this season on select Saturday evenings, Planet Ant will present a late night show featuring a rotating schedule of improvisation. Tickets are $5 at the door.

The Planet Ant Improv Colony has generated over twenty original comedies and continues to perform every Monday night in Michigan's longest-running improv comedy show - Improv Mondays. At 8:00 pm the show kicks off with a guest improv troupe followed by a performance by Planet Ant's resident Home Team. The night closes with The Ant Jam, an opportunity for anyone to improvise on the Planet Ant stage. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Planet Ant Theatre is located at 2357 Caniff in Hamtramck, MI 48212. It is a non-profit professional theatre founded 23 years ago on the principle of artistic freedom and artistic experimentation leading to the growth of community, artistic fulfillment, and artistic success. The theatre has presented more than 80 high quality professional productions to southeastern Michigan with a commitment to providing the best in theatrical productions that has brought it critical acclaim and awards from across the region. More information on Planet Ant Theatre is available online at www.planetant.com.

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