I sure hope you don’t have any plans for this coming weekend, because the Network of Ensemble Theaters is hosting MicroFest USA: Detroit from August 17-19. The action-packed weekend begins with an opening reception at Art Effect Gallery at 6:30 p.m. with a performance by the poet and Detroit native Jessica Care Moore. But that is just the very beginning. There are widely diverse performances happening all weekend and all across the city at practically all times of the day. A few highlights just from Saturday include a micro-granting dinner hosted by Detroit SOUP at 5:30 p.m. at 2051 Rosa Parks; a site-specific collaborative performance between the Hinterlands Ensemble and Power House Project called “Boom Town, Bust Town, Bangtown” at 7:30 p.m.; and a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the African World Festival at the Charles H. Wright Museum (a Knight Arts grantee) at 9:30 p.m. A full listing of events is available here.

Promotional poster for the 3-day event. Image courtesy of the Network of Ensemble Theaters

 The Network of Ensemble Theaters is “a national coalition of ensembles by and for artists” that encourages cross-discipline collaboration among artists, and “strives to bring about change in the world beyond [themselves] through the transformative power of collaborative theater.” This description, as incredible and electrifying as it is, is hardly adequate to describe the amazing work that this group is doing, and the energy they’re spreading across the nation. Of course, there’s no better way to see what they’re doing than by experiencing it firsthand, so get out of the house, participate, and enjoy some incredible performances this weekend. You won’t be disappointed.