Detroit, MI
Detroit Opera broadens its stage with new events, $3 million grant
Detroit Opera: Fast facts and history
Exploring the iconic Detroit Opera House, its rich history, elegant architecture, and cultural significance that has captivated audiences for over a century.
Detroit Opera is broadening its profile as a presenter with Detroit Opera House Presents, a new initiative designed to bring a wider mix of music, dance, storytelling and other live events to its historic downtown venue.
The series will run alongside the company’s acclaimed opera and dance productions and aims to keep the opera house more fully activated year-round.
“For thirty years, this opera house has been home to great entertainment beyond its spectacular opera and dance programming,” said Patty Isacson Sabee, Detroit Opera’s president and CEO. “It has hosted Broadway tours, major concerts, community celebrations — this building has always been a cultural destination for Detroit.
“Detroit Opera House Presents formalizes our commitment to actively programming this incredible venue year-round. Like the city of Detroit and the people who call it home, Detroit Opera refuses to be put into just one box. We’re committed to welcoming people for a variety of exceptional experiences, bringing the Opera House to life more often and inviting new audiences to experience its magic.”
The move builds on decades of varied programming at the opera house since its 1996 renovation — from Broadway tours and major TV tapings to civic events. Detroit Opera has already piloted the new format this season with a run of high-profile events, including Raphael Saadiq’s “No Bandwidth Tour,” a conversation with author Margaret Atwood, and a sold-out symphonic tribute to Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton and the Detroit Opera Orchestra.
The company continues to push artistic boundaries in its core offerings. This season opened with “Highways and Valleys —Two American Love Stories,” a double bill directed by Kaneza Schaal, and will feature Poul Ruders’ “The Handmaid’s Tale” next month, led by an all-female creative team.
Situated next to Detroit’s major sports venues, the opera house is positioned to tap into the city’s deep musical heritage — from Motown to techno — through Detroit Opera House Presents. More programming announcements will appear on detroitoperahouse.com.
Upcoming Detroit Opera House Presents events include:
- Bugs Bunny at the Symphony: April 18 at 7:30 p.m. and April 19 at 2:30 p.m.
- Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán: May 9 at 7:30 p.m.
- GameSymphonic with Éímear Noone: June 13 at 7:30 p.m.
- The Voice of Whitney Houston: October 10 at 8 p.m.
Opera receives $3 million grant from Erb Foundation
Detroit Opera has secured a $3 million grant from the Fred & Barbara Erb Family Foundation, funding that will bolster day‑to‑day operations and underwrite a new initiative aimed at broadening the artistic offerings and audience experiences at the Detroit Opera House.
“On behalf of Detroit Opera, I’d like to thank the Erb Family Foundation for its tremendous support and investment,” said Sabee. “Detroit Opera House is more than just a stage for opera — it is a community asset for downtown Detroit that must evolve to meet modern audience needs and financial realities. This funding will give us the flexibility to reimagine and reinvest in the potential of the Opera House and our company as a whole, as we continue our mission to serve the Detroit community in new and exciting ways.”
The Erb Family Foundation, known for its work advancing environmental stewardship, cultural institutions, Alzheimer’s research, and sustainable business practices, has long been a supporter of Detroit Opera. Including the new award, the foundation has provided $1,481,050 to the organization since 2009.
“Fred and Barbara were deeply committed to investing in the people in their community,” said Melissa Damaschke, president of the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation,“ and Detroit Opera is a perfect example of that principle in action. From its early days as an underdog in downtown Detroit to its recent reinvention as a national destination for progressive opera, Detroit Opera has continuously found new ways to give a voice to the community. The Erb Family Foundation is happy to play a role in its next phase, and we’re eager to see how this company continues to enrich the cultural fabric of southeast Michigan.”
Detroit, MI
MSU Gaining Traction in Recruitment of Detroit-Area Athlete
Michigan State is looking to the Motor City for its next commitment.
Multiple reports on Saturday indicated that the Spartans have set up an official visit with Martin Luther King (Mich.) athlete Don Spillers III. The visit to East Lansing is set for May 29-31 and will be the first in a string of official visits for Spillers. He’s also got reported trips to Illinois (June 5-7) and Louisville (June 12-14) scheduled.
Fast Facts on Spillers
Spillers, listed at 6’2″ and 195 pounds, is a 3-star recruit ranked 848th overall in the class of 2027 on the 247Sports Composite. He’s listed as an athlete on 247Sports, but as a wide receiver on Rivals. It looked like MSU and Courtney Hawkins wanted him as a receiver for a while, but safety seems to be the spot where Michigan State wants him now. That would make his position coach James Adams.
The Spartans seem to be considered in the lead right now. MSU has two expert predictions in its favor submitted on Rivals, one of which was submitted as recently as Friday. Rivals’ RPM metric has Michigan State at the very top, holding a comfortable lead at 94.2%. Besides Illinois and Louisville, Spillers’ other notable offers include Michigan, Maryland, Missouri, Pitt, and Purdue.
More Info, Potential Fit at MSU
Next weekend will not be the first time Spillers will be on campus. He visited East Lansing while spring practices were going on and also showed up at MSU a few times during the Jonathan Smith era. The retentions of both Hawkins and Adams by new head coach Pat Fitzgerald have allowed mutual interest to remain.
If Spillers ends up committing to the Spartans as a safety, he’d be the second player at the position to join the 2027 recruiting class. The first was 3-star St. Peter’s Prep (N.J.) prospect Ty’ire Clark. He committed back on April 4 and is ranked 1,280th overall in the class.
There should be room for multiple safeties in the 2027 recruiting class. Michigan State has three players at the spot whose eligibility is expected to expire after this fall: Nikai Martinez, Aveon Grose, and Michael Richard.
A few other names are also on MSU’s recruiting board. The Spartans have three predictions in their favor for Dakota (Mich.) prospect Elijah Goins. He’s ranked 973rd overall in the class of ’27 in the Rivals Industry Rankings and has a reported official visit scheduled with Michigan State for June 19-21.
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Detroit, MI
Metro Detroit veterans charity pleads for end to donation bin vandalism across metro area
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — Officials with the Veterans and America First Foundation are speaking out after for their donation bins were vandalized.
The organization, based in Clinton Township, collects clothing donations through bins placed throughout metro Detroit to support veterans and others in need with clothes, food and housing.
Bins located on West Vernor Highway near Military Street in Detroit were among the latest to be hit.
Paul Dehem, director and founder of Veterans and America First Foundation, learned about the damage on Saturday after Aiman Kawas, who is in charge of servicing the bins, discovered they had been damaged.
Dehem said the vandalism occurred within a narrow window.
“It happened sometime between Wednesday and Friday,” Dehem said.
WXYZ
“It’s just disheartening,” Dehem said.
Kawas said the West Vernor Highway incident is far from isolated.
“I was disappointed, of course this is not our first time being vandalized,” Kawas said.
WXYZ
“We have lost over 70 bins to vandalism or theft, the actual bin disappears… they take it completely,” Kawas said.
Jason Beddow, director of development for Veterans and America First Foundation, said each bin costs about $1,000 to replace.
“The vets are missing out on their charity and donations from those bins and it’s just a real shame,” Beddow said.
WXYZ
Meanwhile, Dehem said he hopes those responsible will consider who is truly harmed by the destruction.
“We have a mission and it’s for the veterans,” Dehem said. “It’s not for profit, we’re just trying to make things work and help people.”
Anyone with information about who is vandalizing the bins, or surveillance video, is asked to contact Detroit police.
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Detroit, MI
Detroit teen charged, will be tried as adult in downtown shooting
A 17-year-old has been charged in a nonfatal ‘teen takeover’ shooting.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged 17‑year‑old Ramon Javon Perez Smith of Detroit in connection with the non‑fatal shooting of a 14‑year‑old Detroit male. Prosecutor Kym Worthy confirmed that Smith will be tried as an adult.
Smith is charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, and three counts of felony firearm.
He was arraigned Saturday and given a $500,000 cash bond, along with a GPS tether, house arrest, and an order barring contact with the victim or any witnesses. A bond re‑determination hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, 2026, before Judge McConico.
Another teen was also charged in the shooting that happened in downtown Detroit during the “teen takeover” event.
The preliminary hearing for a 16-year old from Detroit was held Tuesday on charges of carrying a concealed weapon. He received a $4,000 bond with house arrest.
He was also ordered not to possess any firearms or illegal substances. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for July 2.
Detroit police were called to the 1300 block of Farmer Street around 9:37 p.m. on May 17, after reports of a shooting. Officers arrived to find the teenage victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. Medics transported him to a nearby hospital where he received emergency treatment and is expected to survive.
According to investigators, Smith was involved in a physical altercation with a group that included the victim. Prosecutors allege that Smith pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots into the group, hitting the 14‑year‑old before fleeing the scene. Detroit police arrested Smith shortly afterward.
“We are thankful that the 14‑year‑old victim received immediate medical care and will survive this traumatic event,” Prosecutor Worthy said in the release.
mjohnson@detroitnews.com
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