The Max & Emily's Summer Concert Series celebrates its final show on Aug. 21 as it hosts An Evening with Jeff Daniels — the Chelsea, Mich. native whose résumé includes actor, musician, and playwright.

But it's not just the patrons of Max & Emily's who are invited to the party, the whole community can take part. The eatery shuts down the streets for the event and some people can even watch from their doorways.

Daniels said if the venue is anything like an outdoor performance he played in Scottville, Mich., he anticipates it.

"I had a ball. I plugged in and the next thing you know, 300 people showed up," he said. "If it's really that kind of thing- getting people dancing in a party atmosphere- I'm looking forward to it."

As for performing in his home state, he likes that some of his songs don't need explaining.

"They get it immediately," he said. "You don't have to explain the UP to anyone in Michigan. Anywhere else, you would have to explain it. I'm able to play songs that I wouldn't be able to play elsewhere."

But Daniels isn't just a musician, or an actor, or a playwright, he's a philanthropist too — one who believes in the power of performance.

An Evening with Jeff Daniels Max & Emily's Eatery, Mt. Pleasant Aug. 21, 7 p.m. Free! maxandemilys.net, (989) 772-7460

Along with his two full-length albums, Daniels also has two live discs, Live at the Purple Rose Theatre and Jeff Daniels Live and Unplugged. When asked what he does with the money made from his albums, he laughs.

"I don't make any money from my music," he said. "It all goes to my theatre."

His theatre is the non-profit Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, which was founded in 1991 by Daniels. Named after Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo — for which Daniels was nominated a Golden Globe — It's exactly what he would have needed in his twenties, had he not caught a break in Hollywood.

"It's a place- a home- for Michigan theatre professionals young and old," he said. "It's a chance for them to do their work and still stay in Michigan and raise kids and not have to deal with the Hollywood thing."

"The Hollywood Thing" is what Daniels has been doing for nearly 30 years and has starred in movies such as Dumb and Dumber, Speed and Pleasantville.

"I think I'm just one of these guys where, to me, this is normal," he said. "[It's about] making yourself better and creating something that you haven't done before. It's a sense of truly being alive, artists know that. We are just wired that way."