UMS to bring jazz, puppets, square dancing, and more to latest Ypsi residency

On the Ground Ypsilanti is an “embedded journalism” program covering the city and township of Ypsilanti. It is supported by Ann Arbor SPARK, the Center for Health and Research Transformation, Destination Ann Arbor, Eastern Michigan University, Engage @ EMU, Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Washtenaw ISD.

The University Musical Society (UMS) will return to Ypsilanti’s historic Freighthouse this fall for a nearly three-week residency designed to bring world-class performers, local artists, and community members together through music, theater, dance, and family programming.

The UMS fall residency, which runs Sept. 10-27, will feature a broad range of performances ranging from a celebration of iconic saxophonist John Coltrane to a puppet theater production about Detroit to a square dancing lesson. UMS uses a pay-what-you-wish model for the Freighthouse events; a $5 minimum is required to reserve a seat, but there is also a free option for those who cannot afford a ticket. 

For Cayenne Harris, UMS vice president of learning and engagement, UMS’ recurring Freighthouse residencies are as much about building community as they are about presenting performances.

“I live in Ypsi. I think it’s such a wonderful creative community,” Harris says. “It makes me very happy when we get to highlight elements of that community and showcase these artists.”

The residency will open Sept. 10 with a return to square dancing, a program UMS first brought to the Freighthouse several years ago in collaboration with the Detroit Square Dance Society. The event features live music and calling rooted in square dance tradition, with gender-neutral calling and an emphasis on making the event accessible to newcomers.

“No partner or experience necessary,” Harris says.

The program reflects a broader goal for the Freighthouse residency: creating opportunities for residents to participate rather than simply sit and watch. That approach will continue with a performance by Alberto Nacif & Aguankó, a new Latin jazz ensemble from Detroit, on Sept. 12. Although the performance will be seated, Harris says there will be room for audience members who want to dance.

On Sept. 16 UMS will also bring back its open mic night, a tradition dating to the beginning of UMS’ Freighthouse residencies in 2023. Harris describes the event as a “hyperlocal” gathering where residents can share new material in a welcoming environment.

“You never know who will show up, but every time we schedule it the most amazing people show up,” Harris says.

This year’s open mic will be hosted by Annie Bacon, who regularly hosts open mics at North Star Lounge in Ann Arbor. Harris says having an experienced host is important because it can help make the stage feel approachable for first-time performers.

Accessibility during the residency extends beyond opportunities to participate. On Sept. 23 UMS will introduce a relaxed concert by Telegraph Quartet, artists currently in residence at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. The concert is intended to provide an alternative environment for people who may prefer a quieter performance experience. Harris says the lighting will be lower, artists will speak directly with audience members, and attendees will be invited to respond to the performance however they choose.

Family programming will also return. UMS will present a show called “Tales from Detroit” from the Detroit-based puppet troupe Flying Cardboard Theater on Sept. 13. That event will include an opportunity for children to make their own puppets. Harris says UMS has heard from families over the years that children particularly enjoy the opportunity to create something and take it home after a performance. 

In another family offering, a pair of Sept. 26 bilingual performances by the Latin Grammy-winning duo 123 Andres will feature an emphasis on reading and cultural experiences. UMS has also arranged for the performance to be available to Ypsilanti students through designated school-group programming.

“Whenever we have a residency, we think about Ypsi school children,” Harris says.

The fall lineup also includes artists with strong connections to Ypsilanti and the surrounding region.

Dames Brown, a Detroit-based group rooted in the city’s house and techno tradition, will make its UMS Freighthouse debut on Sept. 26. Harris notes that members of the Ypsi community may already be familiar with the group, which features vocals by Athena Johnson, co-owner of Ypsi’s Black Stone Bookstore and Cultural Center.

Marcus Elliot, who has performed at the Freighthouse in previous UMS residencies, will return on Sept. 19 with a 10-piece ensemble celebrating the 100th anniversary of legendary saxophonist John Coltrane’s birth. Elliot and composer Kris Johnson will reimagine Coltrane’s “Africa/Brass” album, which Elliot first encountered as a teenager. For Elliot, the project is less about recreating Coltrane’s music than continuing the tradition that the legendary saxophonist helped establish.

“We’re not coming in and playing it exactly like Coltrane or imitating him,” Elliot says. “It’s going to be a very different experience than hitting ‘play’ on a record.”

The Freighthouse’s intimate setting is central to that experience, Elliot explains, allowing audiences to experience the performance at close range.

“There’s an intimacy there that isn’t easy to replicate,” Elliot says.

The residency will close on Sept. 27 with art-pop performer Shara Nova, also known as My Brightest Diamond, who has an especially personal connection to Ypsilanti. Nova moved to the city in seventh grade and attended Ypsilanti High School, where she participated in a choral program led by Bill Boggs.

Nova credits that program with helping launch her musical career, including opportunities to travel internationally as a young singer.

“The world opened up for me because of a music program in the public school,” Nova says, adding that she holds a “permanent state of gratitude for Ypsi.”

For Nova, returning to the Freighthouse also carries a sense of personal significance. As a teenager, she remembers the former train station as a place that seemed inaccessible. Now, she says, she is excited to perform there. Harris feels that sense of connection between artists, audiences, and the city itself is what makes the residency particularly meaningful.

The residency also brings economic activity to the surrounding community, Harris explains, as audiences visit Depot Town restaurants and other local establishments before and after performances.

“We want locals to take advantage of this. We want people to come and explore and spend money in Ypsi,” she says. “We want what we’re doing to be additive to what is already a wonderful creative community.”

A full schedule of performances and tickets can be found on the UMS website.

“These are world-class artists performing at the Freighthouse,” Harris says. “It’s really special to have these experiences in an intimate venue.”