Live theater productions are in short supply at this time of year, so it's exciting to hear that this weekend, the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Center will host a staging of Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice," presented by ARTillery and Basement Arts.

Local theater fans may recognize Ruhl as the author of "The Clean House," produced by Performance Network in 2007. The celebrated, acclaimed playwright regularly fuses surreal elements and imaginative flights of fancy with dramatic, contemporary situations.

Ruhl's "Eurydice" depicts the wedding day of Orpheus, who loves music, and Eurydice, who loves books. Eurydice feels disconnected from her own wedding's guests, so when a mysterious stranger arrives and tells her he has a letter from her dead father, she's tempted away from the celebration.

Charles Isherwood, theater critic for The New York Times, called Ruhl's contemporary adaptation of the Greek tragedy "devastatingly lovely," and given Ruhl's sensibilities, it's only fitting that this local production represents a collaboration between U-M's departments of theatre and drama, art and design, screen arts and culture, and English.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at jennmckee@annarbor.com.

Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice" What: Contemporary take on the Greek myth about a couple, separated by death, who have the chance to be together again, if Orpheus can resist looking back at Eurydice as they travel from the underworld. Where: The Video and Performance Studio in U-M's James Duderstadt Center, 2281 Bonisteel Blvd. When: Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., this weekend only. How much: $5 (free for students with ID). Info: To reserve tickets, e-mail eurydice.tickets@gmail.com.