At Chelsea's Purple Rose Theatre — from Tuesday, December 22 through Sunday, January 3 — Jeff Daniels' world premiere play "Escanaba" will run in tandem with Daniels' "Onstage & Unplugged" concert series, for a total of 16 performances over 13 days.

The highlight of this schedule will be Sunday, January 3, when audiences can take in both shows in one day: a 2 p.m. matinee performance of "Escanaba," and "Onstage & Unplugged" at 7 p.m. that evening.

Because of the five-week extension of "Escanaba"'s run, the Purple Rose's ninth annual edition of Daniels' "Onstage & Unplugged" had to either be shelved or worked into the Rose's existing schedule. In a press release, Daniels said, “For me, it just isn’t Christmas unless I’m walking out onto the stage at the Purple Rose and playing for people. I want the show to make everyone laugh harder than they have in a long time. Every year, it’s like I’m out to host the Christmas party to beat all Christmas parties.”

Daniels tours nationally with his Onstage & Unplugged concert, but most intensively in Michigan, his home state. Recently returned from his appearance on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning smash hit "God of Carnage," Daniels seems glad to be back.

“The first couple weeks of December, I jumped into my recreational vehicle and toured the show in the Upper Peninsula," Daniels explained in the press release. "Despite getting hit by the worst snow storm up there in 10 years, I not only survived, but I had a ball. Lots of new experiences, many of which have found their way into the show. I’ve [already] added some new songs to this year’s show. One in particular, ‘The Michigan In Me,’ got quite a response on the U.P. tour. I wrote it a couple years ago in a rest area near Naubinway. Sat on the shore of Lake Michigan, watching a beautiful sunset, and I got hit by this overwhelming sense of what it meant to be home.”

The new songs featured in this year’s line-up appear on the second "Jeff Daniels Live at the Purple Rose" album, now available for download at JeffDaniels.com (the CD is scheduled for release after the first of the year).

Sales from these and Daniels’ other albums ("Grandfather’s Hat" and "Together Again," with Jonathan Hogan) benefit The Purple Rose Theatre Company and are available at JeffDaniels.com or at the PRTC Box Office. For tickets to "Escanaba" or "Onstage and Unplugged," call 734.433.7673.

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.