If there was an apocalypse, what would we hold onto? How about the TV show 'The Simpsons?' That’s the case in ‘Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play.’ The musical comedy portrays a group of survivors who make it through a global disaster, which has left the world without electricity.

When Charles Dickens died in 1870, his last novel, 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood ,' was unfinished. All we know for certain is that the title character, Edwin Drood, mysteriously disappears. A musical based on that story assumes Drood has been killed, and the students at Leland High School are performing it over the next two weekends.

Over the years, BJ Leiderman has composed the theme music for lots of NPR shows like Morning Edition , Marketplace , Science Friday , and more. But in early May, he’ll release his first album. And it’s a lot different from his theme jingles. While listeners might recognize him from his theme music, Leiderman says his passion is performing in a band.

Tyehimba Jess is an African American poet from Detroit. He recently won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for his collection of poetry called, Olio . The poems are inspired by blackface minstrel shows. Minstrel shows were variety acts – skits, dances, music, comedy, and were popular in the 1800’s and well into the 1900’s. Performers would paint their faces black, and act out routines that often denigrated African Americans.

The 2017 Interlochen Arts Festival lineup was announced today, and it features the likes of ZZ Top, Michael McDonald, Trace Adkins, Diana Ross, OK Go, and more. But in addition to Interlochen, northern Michigan is home to a wide variety of summer concerts and festivals.

If you lived in Manistee in the early 1900s, The Ramsdell Theatre was the place to be. Women would put on elegant ballroom gowns, and men would get dressed up in fancy tuxedos for a night of arts and culture. “That was like every weekend,” says Xavier Verna, the new executive director of the Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts. “It was really fun and exciting to have a place that you just always had something to do.”

Most people who knew Jean Parsons, will tell you— she was tough and expected a lot from her students. Jean never married, and didn’t have any children. So, she spent her days pouring into her art and investing in her students. Now, one of her students has created remembrance of her in the Benzie County village of Lake Ann.

Kyle Novy has been a singer-songwriter for a long time. But it had been about 10 years since he released any music. He was still writing songs, but the timing to record them wasn't right. “I almost think of it like the whole pregnancy process," he explains. "I mean there’s a good nine months of development before this child is ready to be birthed, and like out in the world.”

A few weeks ago, parents and students filled about half the bleachers at the Kingsley Middle School gym. I t wasn’t for a sporting event but for the 2017 Grand Traverse County Spelling Bee. Spellers who do well here, will have a shot to go to the national competition which airs on ESPN.

Shanny Brooke moved from Florida to Traverse City about nine years ago. Soon, she noticed that her type of art, was missing. She sees a lot of what she calls “loons and dunes,” but little modern or contemporary art. Shanny says that’s because businesses cater to tourists and visitors.