MARQUETTE, Mich.—Northern Michigan University’s all-alumni summer reunion will be highlighted by “An Evening with Jeff Daniels,” a free community concert showcasing the singing/songwriting talents of the Michigan native and actor. The event is presented by Cliffs Natural Resources. It begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 24, at the Marquette Commons. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs.

            According to his website, Daniels has been writing songs for more than 30 years, or about as long as he has been a professional stage and film actor.

            “I don’t write hits. I don’t send out demos to famous singers. I just write songs,” wrote Daniels. “They’re my diaries. I hadeverything I’ve ever written in this big, black notebook. Some of them were typed, some were in long hand, but all of them had a time and a place that marked some moment in my life. If you really wanted to get to know me, you’d find me in there.”

Daniels has five albums to his credit: Keep It Right Here with Brad Phillips and Dominic John Davis, Live at the Purple Rose, Together Again with fellow Circle Repertory actor Jonathan Hogan, Grandfather’s Hat and Live & Unplugged. He has played to sold-out audiences across the United States and headlined annual benefit concerts for the Purple Rose Theatre Company he founded in 1991 in his hometown of Chelsea.       

“We were very fortunate to receive support from Cliffs Natural Resources to bring well-recognized and popular entertainer Jeff Daniels to town as our marquee event,” said Deanna Hemmila, NMU director of alumni operations. “We really want this to be a community celebration.”