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IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom, 2275 Platt Road
More than sixty years later, the “sound of young America” still stirs us, evoking memories of hope and lost youth. That's when a black-owned business made Detroit world famous for something other than automobiles. This class on Motown Record's early years tells how the combination of a vibrant community, an ambitious family led by a single-minded entrepreneur, abundant local talent, and wise musical and business strategies, secured stunning cultural and financial success. We hear wonderful music, meet the people who made it, and briefly mention forces behind Motown’s unfortunate downfall. Michael Homel is Professor Emeritus of History at Eastern Michigan University. He specializes in 20th century American history and American urban history. He is the author of Unlocking City Hall: Exploring the History of Local Government and Politics, and other publications on urban politics and education.
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Fee: $40.00
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Instructor(s): Michael Homel
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Dates: 9/9/2026 - 9/16/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 2
Days: W
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Building: 2275 Platt Road
Room: Classroom
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IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom, 2275 Platt Road
Broadway musicals have captivated American – and worldwide – audiences for many decades. In this two-session class we will view and discuss the PBS documentary film series “Broadway: The American Musical,” narrated by Julie Andrews. This class covers the period from 1893 to 1960, highlighting the Broadway shows and songs that defined each decade. The individual segments include on-camera interviews with the principals of various shows, rare performance footage, and newly restored film clips. Come to this class and enjoy the best seat in the house for the greatest Broadway shows of all time. Note: The third and final session of this series (1957-2004) will be offered in Winter 2027. Toby Teorey is the current Vice Chair of the Elderwise Learning Council. He retired from the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan (Computer Science) and in retirement pursues his enduring love of world history, music, and culture.
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Fee: $40.00
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Instructor(s): Toby Teorey
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Dates: 9/24/2026 - 10/1/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 2
Days: Th
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Building: 2275 Platt Road
Room: Classroom
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IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom, 2275 Platt Road
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff (1844-1908) is usually known as the composer of the colorful tone poem Scheherazade. In fact, he accomplished much more than that and is now recognized as the most important composer of late 19th Century Russia. Largely self-taught during a career in the Russian Navy, Rimsky-Korsakoff wrote numerous colorful operas, tone poems, and chamber works. He helped fellow composers such as Borodin and Mussorgsky finish work, and taught a later generation of musicians including Stravinsky, Prokofieff, and Glazunov. In this presentation we will consider his brilliant career and play excerpts from operas and orchestral works. During the second hour, we will show a video of the Ballet Russes production of Scheherazade. Henry Aldridge is an EMU Professor Emeritus of Electronic Media and Film Studies and an avid music lover. He has served for many years as one of the organists at the Michigan Theater.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Henry B. Aldridge
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Dates: 10/15/2026 - 10/15/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: Th
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Building: 2275 Platt Road
Room: Classroom
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IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom, 2275 Platt Road
Stephen Sondheim won eight Tony awards, eight Grammy awards, an Oscar, and a Pulitzer, although he wrote only one hit song. This class is for people who adore the American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021), and also for those who would like to learn about why he is so revered. With interviews and excerpts from his shows, we will examine his early life, his musical influences, his first Broadway successes, and one big flop. Film clips from his Broadway shows and movies will include West Side Story, Gypsy, Topper, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Company. Note: Hank will present two more classes on Sondheim in future terms. Hank Muir is a retired teacher and medical practice administrator. He has a bachelor’s degree from Graceland College and a master’s in American history from the University of Nebraska. He is a collector of books, records and movies.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Hank Muir
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Dates: 10/21/2026 - 10/21/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: W
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Building: 2275 Platt Road
Room: Classroom
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IN-PERSON: The Elderwise classroom, 2275 Platt Road
Songs that make you feel ideas: That is how composer Yip Harberg (“Over the Rainbow,” Finian’s Rainbow) described the marriage of words and music in songs of the American Musical. Nicknamed “the conscience of Broadway,” Harberg echoed the sentiments of many in musical theatre: “Songs are the pulse of a nation’s heart. A fever chart of its health.” This class will chronicle the work of the composers and lyricists who reflected, reinforced, and, at times, raised America’s civic and social conscience. More importantly, we will learn how they did it with optimism, humor, and sentiment. It’s a whirlwind tour of the musical theatre with stops, some surprising, to see and hear the work of artists like Jerry Bock, Stephen Sondheim, Gretchen Cryer, Nancy Ford, Bert Williams, Will Marion Cook, Oscar Hammerstein, Abe Borrows, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Ken Stevens began his theater career in Cincinnati where he co-founded the Showboat Majestic and served as a Rockefeller Fellow at Playhouse in the Park and the University of Cincinnati. In 1972 Ken joined the faculty of Eastern Michigan University (EMU), where he created both the musical theater program and the graduate and undergraduate programs in arts management. He serves on the board of Villa Barr Art Park and Novi and the education program of Michigan Legacy Art Park, a wilderness sculpture park at Crystal Mountain Resort.
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Fee: $20.00
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Instructor(s): Ken Stevens
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Dates: 11/17/2026 - 11/17/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Sessions: 1
Days: Tu
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Building: 2275 Platt Road
Room: Classroom
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