Grapevine: Cirque du Soleil actors try Lafayette coneys

Cirque acrobats chow down on Lafayette Coney dogs

Two insect characters from Cirque du Soleil’s OVO show had fun exploring downtown Detroit in full costume and makeup Wednesday. The Flea (acrobat Anatolii Boiko from Ukraine) and Cricket (acrobat Nathanael Rivera Drydak from Canada) chowed down on Lafayette Coney Islands and interacted with fans as they visited Diego Rivera’s “Detroit Industry” mural at the Detroit Institute of Arts, the historic Michigan Theatre and Campus Martius Park. The Cirque du Soleil show premiered Thursday and runs through Sunday at the Joe Louis Arena. “OVO” means “egg” in Portuguese. Tickets are still available starting at $25 for children and $44 for adults at cirquedusoleil.com. The final shows are 1:30 and 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

NPR’s Diane Rehm signs off

NPR’s Diane Rehm signed off air Friday after 37 years in public radio. The host started on WAMU in 1979 with a program geared toward homemakers. In 1984, the program switched to “The Diane Rehm Show” and focused on policies and politics. The 80-year-old is known for her distinctive raspy voice, a result of a neurological voice disorder. In her last segment Friday, she took phone calls from listeners, CBS “Face the Nation” host John Dickerson, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and celebrities such as Judy Collins and Julie Andrews. Her last words reassured fans, “It’s not good bye, it’s just farewell. … I’ll be listening to the radio right along with you.”

Trump struggles to secure inauguration acts

President-elect Donald Trump is having a tough time finding bands and singers to perform at his inauguration. So far, only the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Radio City Rockettes and 16-year-old singer Jackie Evancho will perform Jan. 20. Vulture reports that several singers were approached by Trump’s team and were turned down, the opportunity, including Elton John, Celine Dion, Kiss and Garth Brooks, . Even the Rockettes are a little uneasy about dancing. The guild representing the dancers received an an email from one Rockette concerned about getting “involved in a dangerous political climate.” The American Guild of Variety Artists then informed the dancers that they must perform, per the stipulation of James Dolan, chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company. “Mr. Dolan obviously wants the Rockettes to be represented at our country’s Presidential inauguration, as they were in 2001 & 2005,” the guild wrote in an email obtained by BroadwayWorld.

Compiled by Stephanie Steinberg

ssteinberg@detroitnews.com

Saturday’s birthdays

Lee Daniels, 57

Kate Spade, 54

Ricky Martin, 45

Ryan Seacrest, 42

Louis Tomlinson, 25