st, Entertainment Best Bets VOICES OF ERIN BASEBALL Irish vocal group Celtic Woman is not one female but a quintet of Irish performers capturing the essence of traditional and contemporary Irish music. The group's selections range from timeless Irish classics such as "Danny Boy" to more modern songs including Enya's "Orinoko Flow" and Clannad's "Harry's Game." Each a solo record- ing artist in her own right, the group released its first col- laborative effort, The Celtic Woman Celtic Woman Show, on CD and DVD in March. While their power as a group is clear, Celtic Woman also plays up the unique vocal styles of each of the soloists. Vocalists Chloe Agnew, Lisa Kelly, Meav Ni Mhaolchatha, Orla Fallon and violinist Mairead Nesbitt are led by David Bownes, former musical director of the popular stage performance of Riverdance. Celtic Woman performs 8 p.m. Friday, July 22, at Meadow Brook Music Festival. Tickets are $50 pavil- ion and $30 lawn. (248) 645-6666. As METAPHOR $24.50-$32.50 after July 29. $3.50 dis- count for seniors; $10 for youths age 16 and under and (during previews) $5 dis- counts for ages 17-30. After opening night, half-price student rush tickets are available one hour before showtime. (734) 663- 0681 or www.performancenetwork.org . Take Me Out is playwright Richard Greenberg's drama about a Major League baseball star, beloved by his teammates and GAIL ZIMMERMAN the fans, who "outs" himself on national Arts Editor TV — and then must face the conse- quences, both political and personal. COOL KATZ Directed by Jim Posante, the Tony Award-winning Blues, jazz, rock, soul and the many aspects of play comes to the stage of Performance Network, 120 Americana all collide into a style of original instru- E. Huron in Ann Arbor 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays mental music when Bruce Katz sits down to play in and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, July 21-Aug. 28. a style all his own. As comfortable playing "soul-jazz" The cast includes David Wolber, Jason Layden, Ray on his Hammond B-3 organ as he is playing a Schultz, Brian Marable, Drew Parker, Nick Yu, Aaron 1930s-style stride piano or the meanest slow blues, Moore, Jon Bennett, Ahmed Muslimani and Scott for the past 20 years Katz has been an in-demand Norman. sideman as well as leader of his own band. "The whole point was to write a baseball play," said He has played and recorded with many of the Greenberg when Take Me Out debuted. "I had to have most prominent names in blues and roots music, an angle. I knew that I couldn't write Pride of the including Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard, Jerry Yankees or Field of Dreams I couldn't get away with Portnoy, Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Big that, but I do have an obsession with baseball. When Mama Thornton, Mighty Sam McClain, Debbie Billy Bean came out in 2000, he said that the only Davies and many others. way you could stay in the game and be gay was to stay In addition to performing, Katz teaches piano, in, or if you were already a superstar. That gave me Hammond organ and theory at the Berklee College the germ of the play." of Music in Boston and teaches the first ever in- Preview tickets are $20 (July 21, 22 and 24); depth blues history and analysis course there as well. $27.50 (July 23); $34.50 opening night (July 29); and The Bruce Katz Band maintains an active touring ARTS • CALENDAR • Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals — With spe- cial guest Tom Freund. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W Fourth, Royal Oak. 8 p.m. Friday, July 22. $35. (248) 399-2980 or www.royaloakmusictheatre.com . DTE Energy Music Theatre, 7774 Sashabaw, Clarkston. (248) 645-6666 or www.palacenet.com . Dwight Yoakam — County music. 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 22. $10-$34.50. Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx with Rock Symphony — A unique symphonic rock experience combines a live orchestra with a rock band. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 23. $10-$42.50. ABBA, the Music 2005 — Performed by cover group Waterloo. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 24. $10-$32.50. The Sugar Water Festival -- Rhythm and blues artists Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Queen Latifah and Floetry. 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26. $25-$75. Meadow Brook Music Festival, 3554 Walton, Oakland University, Rochester Hills. (248) 645- 6666 or www.palacenet.com . Loretta Lynn — Country music. 8 p.m. Saturday, 7/21 200'5- 40 July 23. $24.50-$38.50. Elvis Costello & the Imposters — Eclectic rock with the vocals of Emmylou Harris. 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 26. Tom Jones — National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream" fund-raising gala. Jerome Duncan Ford Theatre, 14900 Metropolitan Parkway, Sterling Heights. 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 23; 7:30 p.m. performance by horn-driven group Tower of Power, 9 p.m. concert. $200 and up: cocktail reception, buffet dinner, live and silent auctions; $75 concert-only tickets. (248) 350-0020. Kitnmie Horne — City of Oak Park Concerts in the Park presents recording artist known for her unique blend of jazz, pop and rhythm & blues. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday July 26. David H. Shepherd Park. No charge. Oak Park Recreation Department: (248) 691-7555. Hothouse Flowers — Pop-rock music infused with Irish roots. The Ark, 316 S. Main, Ann Arbor. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 24. $20. (734) 761-1451 or www.theark.org . Straight Ahead — Classic and original jazz. City of Southfield with the City Centre Advisory Board sponsors "Eat to the Beat" summer lunch concert series Thursdays; food vendors available. City Centre Plaza, Central Park Blvd. Noon-2 p.m. Thursday, July 28. No charge. (248) 769-2120. Summer Pack 2 — Matthew Blake, Mitch Cope, Shannon Goff, Mona Shahid. Susanne Hilberry Gallery, 700 Livernois, Ferndale. July 29-Sept. 10; reception: 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 29 with 7:30 p.m. performance by Fruit Boy. For gallery hours: (248) 541-4700 or www.susannehillberrygallery.com . Summer Group Exhibition — Display of a variety of artists. 5-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, through Aug. 20. District Arts Gallery, 955 S. Eton, Birmingham. (248) 258-9300 or www.districtarts.com . Summer Group Show — Changing exhibition of works in all media by gallery artists and newcomers. Lemberg Gallery, 23241 Woodward, Ferndale. 11 FYI: For Arts and Life related events that you wish to have considered for Out & About, please send the item, with a detailed description of the event, times, dates, place, ticket prices and publishable phone number, to: Gail Zirnmerman, JN Out & About, The Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034; fax us at (248) 304-8885; or e-mail to gzimmerman@thejewishnews.com Notice must be received at least three weeks before the scheduled event. Photos are appreciated but cannot be returned. All events and dates listed in the Out & About column are subject to change.