Category Archives: Entertainment

See the 1990 film ‘Home Alone’ with live music by the Grand Rapids Pops

Entertainment, , ,
Macaulay Culkin in “Home Alone” (Photo provided by Grand Rapids Symphony)

 

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk

Grand Rapids Symphony

 

Full of clever antics and comical wit, Home Alone is sure to get everyone into the holiday spirit.

 

A modern holiday classic starring Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone is the story of an 8-year-old troublemaker, accidentally left behind by his family on Christmas vacation, who must protect his home from a pair of inept burglars.

 

See the full-length 1990 film with the Grand Rapids Pops performing John Williams’ score with its hummable melodies that evoke a child’s view of family, danger and Christmas in the Midwest.

 

Associate Conductor John Varineau will conduct this second concert of the Gerber SymphonicBoom series for one night only on Thursday November 29 at 7:30 p.m. in DeVos Performance Hall.

 

Screenwriter John Hughes had the idea for Home Alone while writing and directing the 1989 film, Uncle Buck. Macaulay Culkin played a starring role in the film, which inspired Hughes to create the precocious protagonist, Kevin McCallister.

 

Home Alone dominated the box office, making over $17 million in more than 1,200 theaters in its opening weekend and becoming the highest grossing film of 1990. For 27 years, the film held a Guinness World Record as the highest-grossing, live-action comedy in the United States.

 

Though the film is beloved for its hilarious catchphrases, stunts and mishaps, the comedic elements of Home Aloneare offset by a delightful magic that only John Williams can bring to a film score.

 

The Grand Rapids Symphony performs the musical score of the movie “Home Alone” while the film plays at a one-night only concert set for Thursday, Nov. 29.

Lukas Kendall, founder and editor of Film Score Monthly, told NPR, “[John Williams] has a breadth and depth of talent and career that really started before there were The Beatles; [today he is] essentially the dean of American composers. His themes sound inevitable. They sound like they fell out of his sleeves; they sound like they’ve always existed.”

 

John Williams sets Home Alone apart from other live-action, comedies meant for the entire family with music that’s imaginative and memorable, capturing both the rambunctious nature of the film and the essence of the holiday spirit.

 

Associate Conductor John Varineau, now in his fourth decade on the podium for the Grand Rapids Symphony, is our movie maestro who conducts most of the Grand Rapids Symphony’s concerts featuring film plus live music. Later this season, he’ll lead the Grand Rapids Pops in The Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl on March 8-10 in DeVos Performance Hall. Tickets are on sale beginning at $18 adults, $5 students.

 

John Williams is the second-most nominated person in the history of the Oscars and has received five Academy Awards and 51 Oscar nominations plus seven British Academy Awards, 23 Grammys, four Golden Globes, and five Emmys. In 2016 he received the 44th Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute, the first time a composer was honored with this award.

 

He has composed the music for more than 100 films, including the themes used in the Harry Potter movies such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which the Grand Rapids Symphony will perform in February. Williams also has composed the scores for all eight Star Wars films and for the Indiana Jones series, as well as for Superman, Memoirs of a Geisha, and The Book Thief. His 45-year artistic partnership with director Steven Spielberg has resulted in many of Hollywood’s most acclaimed and successful films, including Schindler’s List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Saving Private Ryan, Lincoln, The BFG and The Post.

 

Williams served as music director of the Boston Pops Orchestra for 14 seasons and remains their Laureate Conductor. He also has composed numerous works for the concert stage including two symphonies, and concertos commissioned by many of America’s most prominent orchestras.

 

Williams has composed themes for four Olympic Games, and in 2003, he received the Olympic Order, the IOC’s highest honor, for his contributions to the Olympic movement.

 

In 2004, he received a Kennedy Center Honor, given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture.  In 2009 he received the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given by the U.S. Government to an artist.

Tickets

 

Tickets for Home Alone start at $32 and are available at the GRS ticket office, weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza), or by calling 616.454.9451 x 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.)

 

Tickets are available at the DeVos Place box office, weekdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. or on the day of the concert beginning two hours prior to the performance. Tickets also may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.

Hipster Santa is coming to town, straight to the Grand Rapids Public Museum

Entertainment, , , ,
Hipster Santa makes a stop at the Grand Rapids Public Museum Dec. 8.

This holiday season, the Grand Rapids Public Museum, in partnership with The People Picture Company, Hipster Santa will be stopping by the Grand Rapids Public Museum on Saturday, Dec. 8, for photo opportunities.

 

“The Museum is excited to host Hipster Santa this holiday season,” said Kate Kocienski, VP of Marketing & PR for the GRPM. “It’s a perfect combination of your favorite backdrop with a new take on Santa.”

 

Hipster Santa will be set up in the Museum’s Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibition’s Barrel Factory from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8. All ages are welcome to purchase picture packages, which are $65, to be printed on site, during their visit to the Museum.

 

“The People Picture Company is pleased to support institutions with community impact like the Grand Rapids Public Museum,” said founder and owner Adam Bird. “Hipster Santa is a fun, slightly different take on the holiday tradition of family Santa Claus pictures, making it a delightful activity for people of all ages.”

 

Leading up to Dec. 8, be sure to check out social media accounts for the Grand Rapids Public Museum and The People Picture Company for the 12 days of Hipster Santa, as Hipster Santa explores all that the GRPM has to offer.

 

Photo packages may be purchased in advance online at thepeoplepicturecompany.com/hipster-santa for $65. Visitors are also welcome to get a photo with Hipster Santa while at the Museum on December 8 on a first-come, first-served basis, photo package fees still apply. General admission to the Museum is required to have access to pictures with Hipster Santa.

 

For more information, please visit grpm.org/calendar.

GVSU holiday concert to celebrate ‘The Many Moods of Christmas’

Entertainment, , , ,

Robert Shaw’s “The Many Moods of Christmas” meshes together pieces of 18 of the most traditional carols combined with music from famous composers such as Handel, Bizet and Bach.

 

Renowned choral conductor Craig Jessop will lead the Grand Valley State University Arts Chorale and local high school students as they perform the piece during a special Fall Arts Celebration concert.

 

“Celebrating Holiday Splendor: Craig Jessop Conducts ‘The Many Moods of Christmas’” will take place Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m., at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids (24 Fountain Street NE). The concert is free and open to the public.

 

Jessop, professor of music and founding dean of the Cain College of the Arts at Utah State University, is the former director of the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He led the ensemble as a featured conductor during the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

 

“Craig Jessop is a true American treasure, and he is without doubt one of the foremost expert choral conductors and choral interpreters in the world today,” said Danny Phipps, chair of Grand Valley’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Department. “I am very excited that our students will have an opportunity to work with this legendary conductor because those who remain in the fields of choral performance or choral education will never forget working with him, nor will audiences forget that they heard the ‘Many Moods’ conducted by one of the most accomplished and celebrated Choral conductors in America today.”

 

For more information about Fall Arts Celebration, visit gvsu.edu/fallarts.

On the shelf: Great reads for grandkids

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment,

By Talullah Stievers

 

Wild Ride: A Graphic Guide Adventure
Written by Liam O’Donnell and illustrated by Mike Deas

 

On a flight to visit their environmentalist parents who are working to stop a logging company from clear-cutting a remote valley, a plane crash strands Devin, Nadia, and Marcus. Soon the trio discover that they are stranded with the enemy and must rely on their survival skills.

 

 

The Willoughbys
Written by Lois Lowry

 

Abandoned by their parents, Tim, the twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and their sister, Jane, attempt to fulfill their roles as good old-fashioned children. Then an unquestionably ruthless act sets in motion the transformations that lead to their salvation and to happy endings. This hilarious parody pays homage to classic works of children’s literature.

 

The Tooth Book: A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums
Written and illustrated by Edward Miller

 

Taking good care of your teeth and gums is an important part of maintaining overall health. After all, you need your pearly whites to eat, smile, and talk. But what should you expect when you go to the dentist? What should you do if you lose a tooth? Full of straightforward advice and animated, colorful art, as well as some bite-sized bits of history and lore, this guide provides accessible information about taking care of your teeth.

 

Canned
Written by Alex Shearer

 

Fergal Bamfield is an oddball and his tin can collection is as strange as everything else about him. One day he finds a can without a label. What could be in it? Peaches, soup, perhaps spam? But instead it’s something gruesome: a human finger. Then Fergal finds another can, this time containing a one-word message, HELP! Now Fergal and his friend Charlotte are knee-deep in an adventure, and they’re about to learn something horrible: Everybody has an expiration date.

 

Arabella Miller’s Tiny Caterpillar
Written and illustrated by Clare Jarrett

 

Arabella Miller finds a tiny caterpillar, brings him home and feeds till the caterpillar sheds his skin and disappears inside his chrysalis. Arabella misses her friend until he emerges and she is filled with wonder at the beautiful creature he has become. Clare Jarrett’s sweet story and vibrant illustrations weave details about a caterpillar’s transformation into this elaboration on the song Little Arabella Miller.

 

On the shelf: ‘The Hot Flash Club’ by Nancy Thayer

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , , ,

By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Ottawa Hills Branch

 

When I picked up this book, I was looking for something light to read that involved characters that I could relate to—and I was not disappointed. In The Hot Flash Club, Nancy Thayer introduces the reader to four very diverse women ranging in age from fifty-two to sixty-two. The only things they have in common are a mutual acquaintance and the process of menopause. I found my self quickly drawn into the world of Faye, Alice, Shirley and Marilyn, characters who give the term “aging gracefully” a whole new meaning.

 

As the four women plunge into an unexpected relationship with each other, they explore many current women’s issues with gentle humor, honesty, and nerve. Rather than viewing menopause as the end of childbearing years, Thayer suggests it is the launching point into late middle-age. Her characters are far too busy living their lives and following their dreams to focus on things that might hold them back, like arthritis, divorce, retirement and widowhood. Those topics are simply a part of their lives, not the main focus, and this positive approach works well within the framework of the story.

 

While the story holds a lighter tone than works by authors such as Elizabeth Berg, it is an entertaining and positive look at women and aging, as well as being a gentle reminder that life is a journey, not a destination, and our perception of the process is vital to how much we enjoy the ride.

On Tap: Whiskey pancakes, Pink Floyd landing and breakfast bourbon — all real things! 

Beer, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, ,

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

You can get a charge these days at Comstock Park’s Bier Distillery: you, your car and your pancakes.

 

Bier Distillery recently re-released its Redeemed Whiskey, and whiskey made from beer pulled off the tap. The original beer was a sour beer, we are told, so the whiskey will be “nothing like you’ve ever tasted before.”

 

Speaking of something never tasted before … The brewery/distillery also released a maple syrup  that — and I quote — is a “barrel aged maple syrup (which) exclusively uses syrup from our local farms to provide a a wonderfully unique flavor.  Aged in our own used Michigan white oak whiskey barrels, the syrup has been transformed with notes of brown butter, creamy vanilla, smokey oak, and caramel.” Warning: it is an very limited release. But can you imagine giving that as a holiday gift.

 

The final charge to be gained from the Bier Distillery is its electric car charging stations, which earlier this fall hosted a Tesla takeover.

 

“The number of electric cars on the road will only be increasing in the near future,” management previously said about the car chargers. “The cars need convenient places to recharge, and the drivers often need to recharge as well.”

 

Hey, a whiskey neat always recharges me.

 

For more information visit bierdistillery.com.

 

Dark Beer, Dark Side returns to GRPM on Black Friday

 

Can you think of a better way to end the day of craziness that is Black Friday than attending an evening music/light show performance at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) which, in partnership with Brewery Vivant, will host Dark Beer, Dark Side.

 

Beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, attendees will hear a brief 45 minute presentation from Ryan Engemann, the Wandering Monk from Brewery Vivant, on the differences between various dark beers including Brewery Vivant’s highly anticipated release of Tart Side of the Moon. After the presentation, visitors have the chance to grab another beer before entering the Chaffee Planetarium for the Museum’s original production, Dark Side: The Light Show, set to the music of Pink Floyd.

 

“Shine on your crazy diamond …” You either know it or you don’t.

 

Tickets include 3 beer samples and admission to the evening’s planetarium show. Beer samples will be Tart Side of the Barrel, Tart Side of the Moon and Velvet Stud. Tickets are $22 and $12 for Museum members. Must be 21 or older to participate.

 

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is located in downtown Grand Rapids, at 272 Pearl Street, NW. For more information visit www.grpm.org.

 

Grey Skies fall releases includes Breakfast Bourbon 

 

Grand Rapids Grey Skies Distillery on Nov. 20 released its limited-edition Breakfast Bourbon, which was aged more than two years and bottled at 87 proof. According to supplied material, the bourbon spent time in two different barrels, starting in charred new, oak barrels before it was finished for 9 months in maple syrup casks.

 

“Breakfast Bourbon offers a playful twist on a typical bourbon whiskey,” Steve Vander Pol, co-owner of Gray Skies Distillery, said in supplied material. “We infused maple flavor into the whiskey by taking a traditional bourbon and finishing it for 9 months in a barrel that was previously used to age maple syrup … The maple finish amplifies the sweetness inherent in bourbon whiskey and imparts a creamy mouthfeel to the viscous finished spirit.”

 

For more information about Gray Skies Distillery please visit the Gray Skies Distillery website.

 

On the shelf: ‘Dead Wrong’ by Mariah Stewart

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , ,

By Megan Andres, Grand Rapids Public Library, Seymour Branch

 

In February, 2004, three criminals sit together at a courthouse. They decide to play an innocent game: name three people you would kill if you knew you couldn’t be caught. Then the twist: they exchange lists.

 

Mariah Stewart’s Dead Wrong is the beginning of a four-book series which tells the tale of this horrid game and the lives threatened by it. In this first book, Mara Douglas is a child advocate for the Lyndon courthouse. She stands for those who have no voice: the abused, the neglected, and the lost. One of her cases has earned her a place in the game. The prize: her death.

 

When someone begins killing women in Lyndon, the police and the FBI get involved. What truly haunts them is that all the women so far have one similarity: their name is M. Douglas. Mara finds herself saddled with a former FBI agent as a bodyguard because her own sister, another FBI agent, fears something bigger.

 

As events unfold and two more die, Mara makes the connection. Once upon a time Mara advocated in court on behalf of the Giordino children. She helped their mother Diana take them away from their father Vincent. Vincent didn’t like that idea and decided that if he couldn’t have them no one would. In jail for murdering his family, Vinnie also happens to have played that game in the courthouse. And the man who took his list is after Mara.

 

Dead Wrong is full of twists and turns. It is both romance and thriller, genres that Mariah Stewart blends convincingly. But what may be the Dead Wrong‘s best promise is that there are still two more lists out there with two more killers waiting.

Meijer Gardens celebrates the holidays with 42 international traditions

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Holidays, Kids Activities, Senior Living, Upcoming Events,
Photo courtesy Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

 

By Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

 

Experience the joy of the holidays at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park with the annual Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World exhibition on display from Nov. 20 through Jan. 6, 2019. Guests from all over the world visit Meijer Gardens to experience 42 Christmas and holiday trees and displays representing countries and cultures from across the globe. The always favorite and enchanting Railway Garden and the holiday wonderland that encompasses it will once again wind its way through three lush indoor garden spaces, including the recently renovated Grace Jarecki Seasonal Display Greenhouse.

 

Guests are invited to ring in the holiday season with our most beloved winter exhibition. It’s the season of joy! This year Meijer Gardens celebrates how our community and communities around the world joyfully commemorate the diverse and generations-old traditions that remain vibrant today. Visitors will experience a world of cultural celebrations, represented across 42 different displays that explore folklore and fact, past and present.

 

In many cultures, the holidays bring people together in distinct and memorable ways that are difficult to capture in a display. New this year, Meijer Gardens is presenting a wondrous original film, joy, that explores the diverse festive fabric that is holiday life across our local communities. This film will be shown continuously in the Hoffman Family Auditorium and is available on the Meijer Gardens YouTube channel as well. “This year we take note of how our community joyfully commemorates the diverse, generations-old traditions that remain vibrant today though joy, a new film exploring the festive fabric that is holiday life across our local community,” said Maureen Nollette, Annual Exhibitions Assistant Designer.

 

Each winter, Meijer Gardens transforms into a botanic wonderland with fresh poinsettias, orchids, and amaryllis. The smell of evergreens as visitors enter the building and the sounds of carolers make it a place to reflect and enjoy the holiday season. Indoors and out, trees sparkle with 300,000 colorful lights. More than 500 volunteers lovingly decorate the trees and displays.

 

Photo courtesy Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

The unique horticultural artistry of the beloved Railway Garden complements the model trolleys, trains and handcrafted buildings replicating 30 Grand Rapids landmarks. Visitors will find familiarity in the Fifth Third Ballpark replica building with its light posts made of willow, as well as striking hydrangea petals that make up the iconic glass tower of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Five landmarks from Grand Rapids sister cities around the world are also represented in the Railway Garden.

 

“This holiday season, guests have a special opportunity to see how our community joyfully celebrates a variety of traditions from centuries ago that remain vibrant today,” said Steve LaWarre, Director of Horticulture. “These traditions are wonderful, celebratory aspects of West Michigan’s diversity and community.”

 

Mainstays of the exhibition include the Germany tree, adorned with handmade glass ornaments and homemade springerle cookies, the England tree—with antique Christmas cards and mistletoe—and the beautiful Eid ul-Fitr display, which celebrates the end of Ramadan.

 

A variety of family-friendly activities are offered throughout the exhibition.

 

Exhibition Activities

  • Extended Holiday Hours: Open until 9 pm on Dec. 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 and 29. (PLEASE NOTE: Meijer Gardens is CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day).
  • The Original Dickens Carolers: Tuesdays: Nov. 20 and 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18, 6-8 pm
  • Santa Visits: Tuesdays: Nov. 20 and 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18, 5-8 pm
  • Rooftop Reindeer: Saturdays: Nov. 24, Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 1-4 pm
  • Christmas Cabaret Gala: Thursday, Dec. 6, 6 pm (RSVP required)
  • Winter-Time Walks: (Nov. 20-Jan. 5, 2019)
    Tuesdays 10:15am and 11:15am, Saturdays 11:15am
    Fee: Included with admission
    Winter in the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden can be chilly, but fun! Bundle up and join us on an outdoor interactive discovery walk to investigate the Children’s Garden in new ways. We’ll explore different winter themes and gather in a cozy spot to learn about winter with stories, kid-friendly conversation, and other activities.
  • Christmas and Holiday Themed Classes: Enjoy festive learning opportunities for adults and families. Fees apply. Visit MeijerGardens.org/calendar for more information.

Go here for more information.

 

GVSU visual and media arts students to showcase capstone work through exhibits

Entertainment, , , ,
A piece from “Command + N” by Jacob Mol

By Matthew Makowski

GVSU

 

More than 20 students from Grand Valley State University’s Visual and Media Arts Department will showcase works that represent the culmination of their collegiate educational experiences.

Valerie Wojo, a senior majoring in photography, said the senior photography exhibition, “Resonate,” places a strong emphasis on community.

 

“As an all-female team, we have found empowerment in our common goal of representing a community that resonates within us,” said Valerie Wojo, a senior majoring in photography. “While that community varies from one series to another, we each have a personal connection to our subject matter.”

 

For the exhibit, Wojo chose to represent the Flint community, specifically those who have been impacted by the Flint water crisis.

 

A piece from “Resonate” by Valerie Wojo

“While photographing my thesis series this semester, I have met so many new people who shared their personal stories of suffering with me, and it was both eye-opening and extremely frustrating to learn that these people have been neglected for so long,” said Wojo. “However, each individual inspired me to channel that frustration into my work and strive for change, so being able to use my gift to do that has been rewarding.”

 

Jacob Mol, a senior majoring in graphic design, will be showcasing his designs for an emergency survival kit e-commerce product line called “72 Critical Hours” in the senior graphic design exhibit, “Command + N.” Mol designed the branding, packaging, print and digital components for the product line.

 

He said his work for this exhibit reflects the skills he has acquired at Grand Valley.

 

“Not only did I learn to be a designer, but I learned to be an artist, a critical thinker, a problem solver and self-motivator,” said Mol. “To be able to think beyond just the design to how it might be perceived, interacted with and what impact it might make on others has been a valuable experience.”

 

Mol said the name of the exhibit is representative of the keyboard shortcut graphic designers can use on Apple computers to create a new project.

 

“In a way, this represents us in this show,” said Mol. “Everything we are doing is new work, it’s a new exhibit and we are becoming new designers in the design community.”

 

Below is a full list of upcoming senior thesis exhibitions:

 

Command + N 
Senior graphic design exhibition
Exhibition dates: November 26-30
Reception: November 29, from 5-8 p.m.
Padnos Student Visual and Media Arts Gallery, Calder Arts Center, Allendale Campus
Students: Jessica Allen, Christina Elsholz, Stephanie Freeman, Kristine Hynes, Jacob Mol, Sydney Schurig, Shelby Verstrate

 

Resonate 
Senior photography exhibition
Exhibition dates: November 27-December 8
Reception: November 29, from 5-7 p.m.
GVSU Art Gallery, Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts
Students: Ashley Cefali, Ana Grace Dykstra, Markeyna Jay, Kendalyn Liebzeit, Jodi VanWagnen, Valerie Wojo

 

Tactile Existence 
Senior metals, printmaking and painting exhibition
Exhibition dates: December 3-7
Reception: December 6, from 5-7 p.m.
Padnos Student Visual and Media Arts Gallery, Calder Arts Center, Allendale Campus
Students: Morgan Lloyd (metals), Katelyn Venema (metals), Caitlyn Brandt (painting), Jane Dandron (printmaking)

 

Explorations of the Body
Senior visual studies exhibition
Exhibition dates: December 3-7
Reception: December 7, from 6-9 p.m.
Spiral Gallery, 44 Division Ave. South, Grand Rapids
Students: Ashley Acton, Emily McKenna

 

Echo Unspoken 
Senior illustration exhibition
Exhibition dates: December 7-January 7
Reception: December 8, from 7-10 p.m.
The Nomad Galleries, 74 Monroe Center Northwest, Grand Rapids
Students: Chloe Burns, Amelia Cleveland, Erin Davis, Kenzie Fox, Dana Witherspoon

 

For more information, contact the Visual and Media Arts Department at (616) 331-3486 or visit gvsu.edu/vma.

Christmas Lite Show returns with new experiences

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , ,
Courtesy Christmas Lite Show

By Amy Bajema, Christmas Lite Show

 

This year marks the twenty-first anniversary of celebrating the holidays for Christmas Lite Show — a Grand Rapids-area holiday attraction. Christmas Lite Show is West Michigan’s largest, animated, drive-through light show. Located at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, the attraction maintains almost two miles of lights, tunnels, and animated displays and entertained over 70,000 visitors last year.

 

Founder, Bill Schrader hopes to continue “Making Lifetime Memories” for other West Michigan families like his own, who helped him open and grow the attraction throughout its twenty-one years.

 

The popular Memory Lane Train will return for a second season. Guests can experience maximum views under the sky on this open-air train ride. Also new this year is the 2018 Season Pass Giveaway. The Lite Show will be giving away 21 Season Passes, announced Saturday, Dec. 1st. Santa will visit the Christmas Lite Show on select dates in November and December. To find these dates and more information, please visit christmasliteshow.com.

 

This year, the Lite Show will open Wednesday, Nov. 21st and run until Monday, Dec. 31st, including all holidays, from 5:30pm until 9:30pm. The Bicycle Blast family bike ride through the lights will take place Friday, Nov. 16th from 6pm until 8:30pm and the Red Nose Run will take place Saturday, Nov. 17th from 6pm until 8:30pm New this year is the Winter Wonder Walk, which lets guests walk through the show at their own pace and take close-up photos. The walk will begin at 7pm on Saturday, Nov. 17th, just after the Red Nose Run.

 

Tickets for these events can be found at www.christmasliteshow.com.

A ‘Fantastical Holiday Adventure’ at the Muskegon Museum of Art, Nov. 21-Dec. 2

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Holidays, Kids Activities, Recreation, Upcoming Events, , ,
Muskegon Museum of Art (Courtesy photo)

By Marguerite Curran, Muskegon Museum of Art

 

The Muskegon Museum of Art’s 14th Festival of Trees runs Nov. 21 through Dec. 2, 2018. Each year, MMA volunteers and staff transform gallery spaces with festively designed Christmas trees and decorations, many of which can be purchased through the silent auction during the Festival. The Festival has become a local community holiday tradition that offers special events, holiday music, visits with Santa, Money Tree and special gift raffles, and holiday shopping. Festival of Trees looks different every year; this year’s theme is “A Fantastical Holiday Adventure.”

 

Funds raised through tree and decoration sales, raffles, sponsorships, and ticket sales benefit the museum. For information on sponsoring an event or tree in 2019, call 231.720.2573.

 

Hours

The Festival will be open Wednesday, Nov. 21 through Sunday, Dec. 2 and will be closed on Thanksgiving. Open daily 10am to 5pm and Sundays noon to 5pm.

 

Admission
Purchase tickets at the door: $10 Adult, $5 MMA Member, $3 child 3-17 years (under 3 free); $15 Every-Day Festival Pass. To purchase gift passes, call 231.720.2580 or purchase at the Museum Store.

Special Festival of Trees Events

First Day Food Drive — Wednesday, Nov. 21

 

Special half-off adult admission: $5 with a food donation for Loaves and Fishes food pantry, just in time for the holidays. Regular adult admission: $10.

 

Family Day — Friday, Nov. 23, 10am-5pm

 

Santa will stop in for a visit from 2-4pm and the fun will include a kids’ craft activity, scavenger hunt, and performances from The Nutcracker by the Michigan Youth Ballet Theatre from 1-3pm. Call 231.720.2571 for group bookings. Special Family Day half-off adult ticket price: $5.

 

Teddy Bear Breakfast — Saturday, Nov. 24, 8:30–10:30am

 

Teddy Bear Breakfast is especially fun for kids ages 3 to 8 years old, with a full family breakfast; visit with Santa, teddy bear checkup (by a certified teddy bear nurse), Teddy Bear Parade, and more.

 

Tickets: Adults $15, Kids 12 and younger $8. Tickets include breakfast, all activities, and Festival of Trees admission. Tickets are limited and sell out early. Call 231.720.2580 to purchase tickets in advance.

 

Deck Your Halls: DIY Holiday Project Demo — Sunday, Nov. 25, 1–3pm

 

Floral designers Deb Moon from Lefleur Shoppe and Skeeter Parkhouse from Wasserman’s Flowers and Gifts will demo how to create unique holiday décor during this event. Ticket includes a take-home DIY kit, refreshments, and Festival of Trees admission. Items created during the demo will be raffled to the audience. Holiday Cheer, from 1:00 to 1:30 pm, will include a light snack, coffee, and cash bar.

 

Space is limited.

 

Advance Tickets: $35 per person/$30 MMA member. Call 231.720.2580 to purchase. Purchase tickets by Nov. 18.

 

Senior Day — Tuesday, Nov. 27, 10am-5pm

 

Special Senior Day half-off ticket price: $5 for ages 65+. Free coffee and cookies, vendor samples, door prizes, and more. For large groups, call 231.720.2571.

 

THE SANTALAND DIARIES by David Sedaris, Presented by Andrew Zahrt
Friday, Nov. 30 & Saturday, Dec. 1, 6:30pm Cocktail Hour | 7:30pm Performance

 

(ADULT CONTENT: For mature elves only). THE SANTALAND DIARIES is the story of a Macy’s elf during the holiday crunch. At first, the job is simply humiliating, but once the thousands of visitors start pouring through Santa’s workshop, he becomes battle-weary and bitter. When a new Santa is ushered into the workshop, one who seems to care about and love the children who come to see him, our hero experiences an uncharacteristic moment of goodwill, just before his employment runs out. Arranged by Joe Mantello

 

Ticket includes cocktail hour with a complimentary drink and refreshments in the Festival of Trees galleries. $12 adult, $10 MMA Member, $15 at the door.

 

Call 231.720.2580 to order advance tickets.

 

Santa at Festival of Trees
Santa will be at the museum on Family Day and on Saturdays during Festival of Trees:

  • Family Day Friday, Nov. 23, 2–4pm
  • Saturday, Nov. 24, 12–2pm
  • Saturday, Dec. 1, 2–4pm

The Muskegon Museum of Art is located at 296 W. Webster Ave. in downtown Muskegon. Visitor information at www.muskegonartmuseum.org or 231.720.2570. Membership information: 231.720.2571. Museum Store and Event Ticket Sales: 231.720.2580.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tulip Time Run registration now open

Entertainment, Sports, , ,

Tulip TimeFestival (www.tuliptime.com) announces online registration is now open for the Tulip Time Run, which will be held on Saturday, May 4, at Kollen Park.

 

Experience the beauty of Holland as you run through the tulip-lined streets! The Tulip Time Run, now in its 9thyear, is presented by MVP Athletic Club, and offers an event for everyone — a 5K, 10K and Kids’ Fun Run. If you are running both the 5K and 10K, you are automatically entered in the 15K results category eligible for medals and cash prizes. And, back again, is the Tulip Time Virtual Run.  If you cannot make it to Holland, Michigan for the Tulip Time Festival, run a 5K or 10K in the comfort of your own hometown and receive a race shirt, bib and 2019 Run pin in the mail.

 

All run participants will receive a race bib. Included with the race bib will be a complimentary gear check tag and a free beverage ticket, redeemable at the After-Party at Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant. Registering before April 15 ensures runners a participant shirt and a personalized race bib featuring their name. Race results are available within seconds of crossing the finish line via email, onsite kiosks or by downloading the IgniteYourEvent app.

 

Packet Pickup and late registration will be available at the Race & Fitness Expo on Friday, May 3, from 4p – 7p at MVP Athletic Club, and on Saturday, May 4 at 7a at Kollen Park. The Race & Fitness Expo offers information, displays and giveaways from health and fitness companies.

 

The 5K will start at 8a and the 10K will start at 8:45a. Awards will be given to the top three finishers in each age division (male and female). The Kids’ Fun Run will start at 9:15a in Kollen Park.

 

Registration and pricing information, along with all race details, is available online at www.tuliptime.com/run. Questions regarding registration and race details can be directed to Kara Rooks, Race Director, at (616) 396-4221 ext. 114 or kara@tuliptime.com.

 

Join the dance as we “paint the town orange”at Tulip Time’s 90thAnniversary celebration May 4-12, 2019. Detailed program and event information for Tulip Time 2019 is available on www.tuliptime.com. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online at www.tuliptime.com, in person at the Tulip Time Festival Box Office located at 42 West 8thStreet, Holland, Michigan, or by phone at 800-822-2770.

Unwrap the holidays with the Grand Rapids Pops

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events,
Home Alone

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk, Grand Rapids Symphony

 

With thrilling acrobatics, classic films and timeless music, the sublime sounds of the holidays from the Grand Rapids Pops are sure to make spirits bright.

 

Carrying on tradition, the Grand Rapids Symphony once again presents its Wolverine Worldwide Holiday Pops on Dec. 6-9 and Old National Bank Cirque de Noël on Dec. 19-20 in DeVos Performance Hall.

 

Also coming to the DeVos Performance Hall are two full-length feature holiday film concerts, The Snowman on Nov. 17 and Home Alone Nov. 29.

 

Principal Pops conductor Bob Bernhardt will lead the Symphony in the old, familiar carols and other timeless holiday melodies in this year’s Wolverine Worldwide Holiday Pops.

 

Joining the Symphony in favorites such as the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah and music from the 1990 film Home Alone are the joyful voices of the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, led by director Pearl Shangkuan, and the Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Chorus, directed by Sean Ivory.

 

Bass-baritone Justin Hopkins, who was a special guest for the Grand Rapids Symphony’s 2016 Holiday Pops, will return to DeVos Performance Hall to perform You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch among other holiday hits. Hopkins’ appearance is sponsored by Jim & Ginger Jurries.

 

West Michigan’s own Embellish handbell ensemble, directed by Stephanie Wiltse, will return to the Holiday Pops to ring holiday favorites including Sing We Now of Christmas and the Coventry Carol.

 

Five performances of the Wolverine Worldwide Holiday Pops will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, and at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7-8. Matinees will be at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8-9, in DeVos Performance Hall. Tickets for this Fox Motors Pops concert start at $18 adults, $5 students.

 

Cirque de la Symphonie

Since 2009, Cirque de la Symphonie has spent part of each Christmas season in Grand Rapids. This year, for the 10th annual Old National Bank Cirque de Noël with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Cirque de la Symphonie will once again bring the magic and thrill of the holiday season to DeVos Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 19-20.

 

The company of acrobats, jugglers, contortionists and aerial artists will make merry with amazing feats of agility and strength, accompanied by beloved Christmas songs and classical favorites. Acts include aerial artists Vitalii Buza and Ekaterina Borzikova performing above the DeVos Hall stage while the Grand Rapids Symphony plays the “Waltz of the Flowers” from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.

 

Associate Conductor John Varineau leads the orchestra in familiar melodies such as Leroy Anderson’s A Christmas Festival, Franz Schubert’s Ava Maria, and Duke Ellington’s “Peanut Brittle Brigade” from The Nutcracker Suite.

 

Tickets for concerts in the Gerber Symphonic Boom series concert start at $32.

 

Kicking off the Grand Rapids Symphony’s holiday season in November are two full-length feature film concerts.

 

The Snowman returns once more to inspire children of all ages with the story of a boy who builds a snowman who comes to life and leads him on a wide-eyed and wondrous adventure to meet Father Christmas.

 

The hour-long DTE Energy Foundation Family series concert, which has sold-out past performances by the Grand Rapids Symphony, features the popular animated short, projected onto a 40-foot screen, accompanied by a live performance of Howard Blake’s musical score at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17. Tickets are $15 adults, $5 children.

 

Full of clever antics and comical wit, the 1990 film Home Alone is sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 29, part of the Gerber SymphonicBoom series.

 

A modern holiday classic starring Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone is the story of an 8-year-old troublemaker, accidentally left behind by his family on Christmas vacation, who must protect his home from a pair of inept burglars.

 

See the full-length film with the Grand Rapids Pops performing John Williams’ delightfully sentimental and sweet score, full of hummable melodies that evoke a child’s view of family and Christmas. Tickets start at $32.

Tickets

Tickets for Grand Rapids Symphony concerts and are available at the Symphony box office, weekdays 9 am – 5 pm at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across the street from Calder Plaza). Call (616) 454-9451 x 4 to order by phone. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum).

 

Tickets are available at the DeVos Place ticket office, weekdays 10am-6pm or on the day of the concert beginning two hours before the performance. Tickets also may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.

Special Offers

For the Wolverine Worldwide Holiday Pops concert on Thursday, Dec. 6 or the matinee on Saturday, Dec. 8, full-time students of any age can purchase tickets for $5 on the night of the concert by enrolling in the GRS Student Tickets program, sponsored by Calvin College.

 

Discounts also are available for the Holiday Pops to members of MySymphony360, the Grand Rapids Symphony’s organization for young professionals ages 21-35.

 

Students age 7-18 are able to attend for some concerts for free when accompanied by an adult. Free for Kids tickets must be purchased in advance at the GRS Ticket office. Up to two free tickets are available with the purchase of a regular-price adult ticket for the Wolverine Worldwide Holiday Pops on Thursday, Dec. 6 or for The Snowman on Saturday, Nov. 17.  Go online for more details.

 

Symphony Scorecard provides members up to four free tickets for many Grand Rapids Symphony concerts. Members of the community receiving financial assistance from the State of Michigan and members of the U.S. Armed Forces, whether on active or reserve duty or serving in the National Guard, are eligible. All concerts in the Wolverine Worldwide Holiday Pops and DTE Energy Foundation Family Series are available to Scorecard members. Go online for information on signing up with a Symphony Scorecard Partner Agency.

Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train on display at GRPM beginning Nov. 17

Entertainment, Holidays, Kids Activities, Local Faces, , , ,

By Grand Rapids Public Museum

 

The Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train is instantly recognizable to any baby-boomer resident of Grand Rapids. They remember riding in the train high above the toy department at the Herpolsheimer’s Department Store, which sat at the corner of Fulton and Division streets in downtown Grand Rapids. The monorail train debuted as “Santa’s Rocket Express” when the new Herpolsheimer’s Department Store opened in in 1949.

 

After passing through the hands of several department stores that succeeded Herpolsheimer’s, the train entered the Museum’s Collection in 2000 with a jungle-themed paint job. The Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train was gifted to the Museum’s Collection by The Peter F. Secchia Family.

 

In 2010, the GRPM contracted with David Winick to begin restoration of the train to its original theme. Using a December 1955 Life magazine photo as his guide, Winick removed the rocket nose added in the 1960s and replaced it with a replica of the original 1949 nose. As multiple layers of paint were removed, the original colors were exposed. The GRPM and Winick were able to complete the restoration of all three cars thanks to funds raised by community members at the Museum’s Collections & Cocktails event in the spring of 2018.

 

“We’re pleased to have this old favorite on display this holiday season,” said Dale Robertson, President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. “As the keeper of the community’s treasures and history, it is our job to preserve them and make them available to the public. We hope families will visit the Museum this holiday season to take a walk down memory lane.”

 

The Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train will be on display on the first floor of the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Van Andel Museum Center, and will be included with general admission to the Museum. 

 

Holiday Displays and Snowflake Break

 

In addition to the Herpolsheimer’s Child Passenger Train, the GRPM has its Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibition fully decorated for the holidays, including a display of Santa Clauses from around the world.

 

Visitors are also invited to go on a Santa and Elf Hunt, to find 15 historic Santas from around the World in Streets of Old Grand Rapids, and 12 elves hidden throughout the three floors of the Museum. The Santa & Elf Hunt is included with general admission.

 

This holiday season, see historic Grand Rapids all built from LEGOs. The 1925-era display, complete with operating trams showcases what Grand Rapids looked like during the early 20th century, including a section of the Grand River, the Morton Hotel, and the Grand Rapids Community Foundation building – the former ice house for Anheuser Busch. Visitors to the Museum will be able to view this special holiday LEGO recreation from Nov. 18 through Jan. 18. It is on display in the Streets of Old Grand Rapids and included with general admission. Built by the West Michigan Lego Train Club.

 

Let it Snow Planetarium Show – Nov. 23, 2018 through Jan. 6, 2019

 

Let it Snow features a new variety of festive classics from Frank Sinatra and Chuck Berry to Burl Ives and Brenda Lee, and includes a stunnifng multi-media finale by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. The soundtrack is visually enhanced with thematic animation, laser imagery and special effects. Now playing at the Chaffee Planetarium at the GRPM through January 6, and tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, free to Museum members and $5 each for planetarium only tickets. For more information and show times, visit grpm.org/planetarium.

 

During “Snowflake Break” from Dec. 22 through Jan. 6, the GRPM will host free with admission activities. Visit grpm.org for details.

Get your tickets now for Comedian Mike Epps at the Van Andel Arena on April 20

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Hilarie Szarowicz, SMG

 

Mike Epps is generating an extraordinary amount of buzz among his peers for being not only one of the funniest comic actors in town, but also for his burgeoning dramatic talent. Now Epps will bring his talents to Grand Rapids for one show at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena on Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 8pm. The show will also feature Rickey Smiley, DC Young Fly, Earthquake, and Lavell Crawford.

 

Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Nov. 16 at 10am. Tickets will be available at the DeVos Place® and Van Andel Arena box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. See Ticketmaster for all current pricing and availability.

 

Epps steadily climbed his way up the stand-up comedy ranks when he was recognized by a national audience in 1995 for appearing on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam (which, years later, he would go on to host). During a performance at LA’s Comedy Store, Epps caught the attention of Ice Cube. This led to the first of three feature films they would do together: the cult hits “Next Friday,” “Friday after Next,” and “All About the Benjamins.”
In 2011, he was awarded an NAACP Image Award for “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in the Sony Pictures film, “Jumping the Broom.” He continued to receive critical praise for his dramatic turn in 2012 with “Sparkle,” opposite Whitney Houston and Jordan Sparks. In 2016, he further pursued his dramatic side with two important roles: starring opposite Forest Whitaker and Anthony Mackie in the Lionsgate thriller, “Repentance,” being released through Lionsgate/Codeblack Entertainment, followed by the independent Nina Simone biopic, “Nina,” starring Zoe Saldana.
 
Mike was seen in three seasons of the Starz series “Survivor’s Remorse” produced by LeBron James and Mike O’Malley, and he won a 2016 NAACP Image award for “Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series” for his portrayal as Uncle Julius. On TV he can be seen opposite Queen Latifah in Fox’s “Star,” and he produced the first BET Social Media Awards which aired February 11. On March 28, Harper Collins released his autobiography called Unsuccessful Thug, written by Mike about his life and childhood.

GVSU announces digital library, traveling exhibit of art by Mathias Alten

Entertainment, ,
Sunset, Lake Michigan was one of several Alten paintings recently gifted to Grand Valley by Anita Gilleo (Courtesy GVSU)

By Matthew Makowski

GVSU

 

Grand Valley State University’s Art Gallery has launched a new online digital library that provides a comprehensive database of the life and works of late artist Mathias J. Alten. The university currently owns the largest single public collection of Alten’s work, which includes more than 150 pieces of art.

 

The Mathias J. Alten Online Digital Library allows users to seamlessly browse through Alten’s life and work on computers and mobile devices. Nathan Kemler, assistant director of Galleries and Collections, said this system answers the question of how to best engage Grand Valley students and the global community in Alten’s legacy in a modern technological age.

 

“The Mathias J. Alten Online Digital Library provides our students and faculty with an ever-growing and changing wealth of both primary and secondary visual research materials to support academic learning,” said Kemler. “This collection of paintings, archival materials, scholarship, timeline entries and oral histories is presented fully integrated together thus encouraging learning connections across both time and space.”

 

The GVSU’s Mathias Alten collection is now available through a digital library.

The digital library, which can be accessed on the Art Gallery’s website, includes eight new paintings recently added to Grand Valley’s Alten collection. Seven paintings, including rare depictions of the Lake Michigan shoreline, were gifted by Anita Gilleo, one of Alten’s granddaughters.

 

One of Alten’s paintings created during trip to Spain in 1912 was gifted by George and Barbara Gordon, local collectors who have added to Grand Valley’s Alten collection annually since 1998.

 

Gilleo also presented to the university the Alten Catalog Raisonné — a comprehensive, annotated listing of all the known works by Alten written by local art historian James Straub— and created the Anita M. Gilleo Endowment Fund to support the maintenance of the catalog in perpetuity.

 

“This is a very significant gift to Grand Valley because it holds all known paintings of Alten worldwide, which is over 2,200, and it is the undisputed authority of the artist’s body of work,” said Kemler. “This gift gives our community the ability to browse the artist’s work at a scale and depth that is incredibly unique compared to most artists.”

 

Alten’s legacy will spread beyond Grand Valley when the “Mathias J. Alten: An American Artist at the Turn of the Century” exhibit travels to museums and galleries around the State of Michigan in 2021 during the 150th anniversary of Alten’s birth.

 

The Art Gallery staff is currently developing the traveling exhibit, which will include more than 40 works of art and other objects that provide context for Alten’s artistic legacy, such as pictures, personal items, oral histories and letters.

 

A native of Germany, Alten immigrated to Grand Rapids as a teenager. Often referred to as the “Dean of Michigan Painters,” Alten spent his 40-year career painting in Europe and across the U.S., but always returned to Grand Rapids, his professional base of operations and home, until his death in 1938.

Kellogg Manor House Holiday Walk & Market features local artists and events

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Holidays, Travel, Upcoming Events,
Photo supplied

By West Michigan Tourist Association

 

Take a walk through each festively decorated room of the W.K. Kellogg Manor House, and complete your holiday shopping with treasures from local vendors. 

 

On Friday, November 23 (Black Friday) and the five following Saturdays (Nov. 24, and Dec. 1, 8, 15, and 22), visit the Holiday Walk & Market for tours and shopping from 12–5pm. Docents will share the history of W.K.’s philanthropy and life at his former summer estate. End your tour with hot spiced tea and cookies, and time to browse items from local artists. Admission is $5 (free for members, students, and children under 5 years old).

 

General shopping hours and self-guided tours are also available Monday–Friday, from 9am to 3pm at no charge; donations to the Manor House are appreciated.

 

On Wednesday, Nov. 28, from 6:30–8:30pm, attend the Meet the Artist event to meet the local artists and vendors selling gifts throughout the home. Complimentary samples of MSU Wine and Cheese will be offered with options to purchase both, and a cash bar will be available. There is no charge for the Meet the Artist event.

 

Dec. 1 is Family Fun Day at the Manor House! From 12–5pm (during the Holiday Walk and Market), we welcome families to the Manor House for free crafts and winter fun! Bring out your snow shoes and other winter gear to enjoy the trails and lakeside views.

 

The W.K. Kellogg Manor House is located at 3700 E. Gull Lake Dr., in Hickory Corners. To learn more, visit conference.kbs.msu.edu, call 269-671-2400 or email conference@kbs.msu.edu.

 

The W.K. Kellogg Manor House is part of the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. As MSU’s largest off-campus educational complex, land-grant values have been put into practice for nearly a hundred years with groundbreaking scientific research and education, community engagement, and historic preservation. Looking forward, students, staff and faculty are working to understand and solve real-world environmental problems for a better tomorrow.

 

KBS is more than any individual lab or location. There’s a story behind all that you see; look closer and you’ll find more amazing discoveries than ever before. To learn more about KBS, visit kbs.msu.edu.

On the shelf: ‘The Turn of the Screw’ by Henry James

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , ,

By Stephanie M. White, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

A good ghost story never hurt anyone, and this ghost story is up there with the best of them. Henry James’s famous tale of a governess, her charges, and a big, scary house is wrought with mystery and suspense. Even after you’ve finished the last sentence, you’ll still be wondering on whose side you should be.

 

James weaves the story from the point of view of a young governess whose first position is in a large, country house with only two children and a few servants. She is given strict instructions never to bother the master of the house, who lives in town. When the governess begins seeing strangers around the house, she quickly learns that they are the ghosts of the children’s last governess and the master’s valet, who may have been involved in a scandalous pregnancy. As the governess determines a plan of action for keeping the children safe, the plot thickens.

 

James’s readers, on a first reading, are likely to trust the governess when she tells us of the apparitions. As the story continues, though, it becomes more and more difficult to understand whether she is really seeing ghosts, whether the children are trying to trick her, or whether she is trying to trick them. The less their governess trusts the sweet children, the less readers trust the governess.

 

While this short novel will leave you wondering about who’s seeing ghosts, it will also leave you amazed at James’s talent for weaving a tale with such ambiguity and suspense.

On the shelf: ‘Yoga Over 50’ by Mary Stewart

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , ,

By Kelly Helder, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

So you’ve been watching your diet and eating all the right foods in the hopes of keeping the weight off and your cholesterol down. You’re walking every day, getting out in the fresh air, working those leg muscles. “But,” you say, “that’s not enough; I need more” (and more not being cardio boot camp!). What could you do that is low impact, practiced by millions, and could improve your blood pressure while relieving symptoms of arthritis? Yoga, of course! It doesn’t matter if you are over 50, can’t cross your legs or don’t know a word of Sanskrit. Yoga doesn’t discriminate.

 

Mary Stewart, author of Yoga Over 50: The Way to Vitality, Health and Energy in the Prime of Life, has been teaching yoga for over 20 years (and is herself over 50). After a brief introduction about yoga and its history, there is a section on the healthy body and how it works. Then we dive into the meat of the book — yoga poses. All of the classics are here, such as Triangle, Warrior and Downward Facing Dog. Accompanying each pose is a brief description, which includes instructions on how to get into the pose and why it is beneficial to you. Step by step color photographs of each pose give an idea of what you are eventually aiming for (remember, the models in the book have been practicing yoga for years).

 

Through bringing together body, mind and spirit, we are shown how to relax and let our tensions dissolve. Photos and text illustrate the techniques of proper breathing, meditation and Savasana, or the relaxing Corpse pose. Beginner to advanced routines round out the book. There are also short programs for people who want to target specific problem areas of the body, such as stiff hips and backaches. According to statistics, over 19% of US yoga practitioners are over 50, so come on, join the fun!

Artists sought for wooden shoe decorating contest for Tulip Time

Entertainment, ,

Tulip Time Festival (www.tuliptime.com) announces Klompen Garden, a public art project celebrating the 90th Tulip Time Festival. Klompen Garden will showcase 45 pairs of artfully designed large wooden’ shoes installed in city parks and tulip beds throughout the downtown Holland area.

 

Artists living in Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties are invited to submit a design concept and sketch for this one-of-a-kind art project. Submissions will be accepted through an online submission form until January 11, 2019 at 11:59 PM EST. Of the submitted concepts, 45 will be selected to create the Klompen Garden. Tulip Time will supply each selected artist or group of collaborating artists with a large pair (34”L x 12”W x 12”H) of ‘wooden’ shoes, through which artists are encouraged to bring their concept to life.

 

Upon completion of the 45 projects, a juror vote and public vote will determine the favorite klompen. The juror’s pick will be awarded a grand prize of $1,000 and will be announced at an artist reception to be held in April. The public will also have a chance to vote for their favorites of the remaining 44 klompen between May 1 – 11, 2019. The top three public picks will be announced on May 12. Of the public votes, first place will be awarded $500, second place will be awarded $300 and third place will be awarded $200. Visit www.tuliptime.com/klompen-gardenfor full entry details and competition information!

 

Not an artist, but interested in supporting this public art project at the 90thTulip Time Festival? Businesses, organizations and individuals can support Klompen Garden for a donation of $1,000. Donors will receive recognition on Klompen Garden collateral and will take home a pair of completed klompen after the festival.

 

For additional details, contact Elizabeth Wallace at elizabeth@tuliptime.comor 616.396.4221 x104. Follow this project now through the festival by using #klompengarden!

 

Join the dance as we “paint the town orange”at Tulip Time’s 90thAnniversary celebration May 4-12, 2019. Detailed program and event information for Tulip Time 2019 is available on www.tuliptime.com. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online at www.tuliptime.com, in person at the Tulip Time Festival Box Office located at 42 West 8thStreet, Holland, Michigan, or by phone at 800-822-2770.

Kenny Chesney gets intimate at Van Andel Arena, dates TBA

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, ,
File photo

By Hilarie Carpenter, SMG

 

Having set and often broken his own records with 2018’s Trip Around the Sun Tour — including over a million fans at Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium and becoming the single biggest-seller at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium — Kenny Chesney wanted to change things up. He knows his massive stadium shows are a rite of summer, playing to over a million people on every single tour, but the 8-time Entertainer of the Year wanted a little more intimacy for 2019 by taking the music to where the fans are.
“I wanted to change it up,” says Chesney. “Last year was so intense, and amazing. No Shoes Nation took it to a whole other level, and they blew all of us away. It was the kind of energy you don’t take for granted. So when we started thinking about next year, they made me wanna come to them. Rather than the massive two-day set-up, make everyone come to a stadium away from their homes, I wanted to go to where the fans live… strip things back a bit, and do make it a little more intimate.”
“I love reaching to the very top, the very back of a football stadium, but I also love the idea of really being able to see the back of the room.”
So, after much speculation, Kenny Chesney announces his Songs for the Saints 2019 Tour. Initial dates include Champaign, Illinois, Grand Rapids, Michigan and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, making Songs for the Saints 2019 Tour a decidedly different kind of tour. Focusing on the heartland, MidAtlantic and South over the course of three months, it’s a chance for the songwriter/superstar from East Tennessee to get into several cities without stadiums — and Chesney is fired up about the prospects.
“Sometimes it’s about stripping things back, and creating a different kind of experience,” says the only country artist on Billboard’s Top 10 Touring Acts of the Last 25 Years. “Making Songs for the Saints really showed me the power of bringing things closer to the heart. For me, I wanted 2019 on the road to get the music to the fans, right where they live, and as always, my team figured out exactly how to help me do that.”
For Chesney, the man Variety called “Country music’s only true long-term stadium act” and about whom USA Today hailed, “Chesney’s charisma stretched to the back rows of the stadium,” Songs for the Saints 2019 Tour makes good on everything his career has been built on. Having spent 2018 writing and recording Songs for the Saints, spearheading island recovery efforts in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands through his Love for Love City Fund, playing 19 stadiums and 43 dates, his focus has been on how music makes a difference.
“This is the kind of thing you do for passion,” Chesney explains. “To rein things in a bit, change up the way we present the music, I know these songs will show us things they don’t when we’re in those massive stadiums. I never worry about the energy or the passion, but I think the songs are different depending on where you play them. So I’m fired up for 2019.”

19th Annual Kick-Off Classic Synchronized Skating Competition at Wings Event Center Nov. 17-18

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, ,
Photo courtesy Greater Kalamazoo Skating Association

 

By West Michigan Tourist Association

The Greater Kalamazoo Skating Association (GKSA) will host the 19th Annual Kick-Off Classic Synchronized Skating Competition at Wings Event Center Nov. 17–18.

The weekend-long event will feature:

  • Over 130 teams

  • Approximately 1,700 skaters

  • Teams competing who will represent Team USA at international competitions

  • Team critiques

  • A judge’s school

“There’s something so special about watching as many as 16 skaters performing intersections, wheels, traveling circles, jumps, and daring lifts to a variety of music with creative and innovative choreography. It’s an incredible experience to witness whether you’re a skater or not, and we love being able to share that with the community,” Kristen Crandle, Chairperson of Kick-Off Classic, said.

Kick-Off Classic Skating Competition

This synchronized skating competition began in 1999 with 11 teams.  The competition now hosts more than 130 teams (more than 1700 skaters) from throughout the Midwest and sometimes even Canada.  Competitors from beginners to senior levels, youth to adults, participate in the event.  Additional features of this competition include team critiques and a judges’ school.

What is Synchronized Skating?

Synchronized skating is a team sport in which 8-20 skaters perform a program together. It uses the same judging system as singles, pairs, and dance and is characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. As with the other disciplines, all teams perform a free skate with required well-balanced program elements. In addition, teams at the junior and senior level perform a short program consisting of required elements.

Elements in synchronized skating include blocks, circles, wheels, lines, intersections, move elements, creative elements, no holds elements, spins, and pairs moves. The variety and difficulty of elements require that each team member is a highly skilled individual skater. The typical senior-level athlete has passed a senior or gold test in at least two disciplines.

Kick-Off Classic will feature synchronized skating teams of 8-16 skaters ranging in age from 4 to adult with team levels from beginner to those qualifying for international Team USA assignments. Competition begins at 8:30am both days. Tickets are available at Wings Event Center Box Office. A detailed schedule may be found on www.greaterkzooskate.org under Special Events.

Grand Rapids Public Museum hosts pizza parlor classics Mighty Wurlitzer Organ concerts

Entertainment, , ,

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is hosting Pizza Parlor Classics on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concerts on Nov. 16 and 17, as part of the 2018 Organ Concert Series.

 

The November concerts will feature Brett Valliant playing classic “pizza parlor” organ music including Maple Leaf Rag, In the Mood, Phantom of the Opera and Rock Around the Clock.

 

The November concerts will be taking the Wurlitzer Organ back to its roots. The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ spent two decades entertaining customers at the Roaring 20’s Pizza Parlor on 28th Street in Grand Rapids, before it was moved to its current location at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

 

Brett Valliant is an American organist who is in high demand for his ability to perform many different genres of music on the instrument he loves. At fifteen, he played his first Wurlitzer and exhibited a natural talent for the popular music loved by fans of the theatre organ. He plays annually for several film festivals including the International Film Festival hosted by the American Film Institute, and has been a featured performer at national conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the American Theatre Organ Society. He has toured extensively as a solo artist, featured soloist with orchestras, and film accompanist abroad and throughout the United States. Critics have defined his performances as “exciting,” “refreshing,” “unorthodox” and “astonishing.”

 

Shows will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17, in the Meijer Theater at the GRPM.

 

Tickets for individual concerts are $8 for Museum member adults, $4 for Museum member children, $10 for non-member adults and $5 for non-member children. Tickets are available by visiting www.grpm.org/Organ or by calling 616-929-1700.

 

The third and final concert of the series will feature Lance Luce performing holiday songs, which includes favorites such as White Christmas, Silver Bells, and Let it Snow, on Friday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m.

See animated short ‘The Snowman’ on the GR Symphony stage, Nov. 17

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Holidays, Kids Activities, Upcoming Events, ,
The Snowman – Grand Rapids Symphony (Photo supplied)

 

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk, Grand Rapids Symphony

 

Back by popular demand, The Snowman, the classic animated film, returns to Grand Rapids to inspire children of all ages and open the Grand Rapids Symphony’s 2018-19 DTE Energy Foundation Family Series.

 

The hour-long concert, which has sold-out past performance by the Grand Rapids Symphony, features the well-known animated film, projected onto a 40-foot screen while accompanied by the musical score performed live at 3 p.m., Saturday, November 17, in DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW.

 

Hailed as “iconic and ethereal” The Snowman wordlessly tells the story of a boy who builds a snowman who comes to life and leads him on a wide-eyed and wondrous adventure to meet Father Christmas.

 

Led by Associate Conductor John Varineau, the Grand Rapids Symphony will perform the magical score by Howard Blake as the snowman and his young friend adventure through darkened woods, over rolling mountains, and above quiet ocean waves in the film that garnered an Academy Award nomination in 1982.

 

With plucky violins and xylophones for mischief, reflective piano melodies for soft, falling snow, and deep bass notes for night-time flight – it is an invitation for children ages 8 to 13 and adults to savor the simple joys of the holiday season.

 

The program features other popular holiday melodies including Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and “Let it Go!” from the Walt Disney film Frozen along with the performance of The Snowman.

 

Come early for pre-concert activities beginning at 2 p.m. Children can experience the joy of making music with an instrument petting zoo and keep their creative juices flowing with crafts inspired by the playful snowman they’ll soon see in the show.

 

Originally published in 1978 by famed children’s illustrator Raymond Briggs, The Snowman has become one of the world’s most popular children’s books, selling in excess of 8.5 million copies worldwide, with translations into 15 different languages.

 

Adapted for screen by producer John Coates, the 30-minute film first premiered in the United Kingdom in 1982 on a British public television station. The film quickly became a beloved staple of the Christmas season in Great Britain, and later found a home in America, with the help of an introduction by rock icon David Bowe. The film has since been broadcast on a global scale, and garnered an Academy Award nomination and a BAFTA TV award.

 

First performed by Peter Auty, a choirboy at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the song, “Walking in the Air,” provides the only dialogue in the otherwise wordless film. The startlingly beautiful melody with an almost haunting orchestration will be performed by singers of the Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Chorus’s select ensemble, Mandala.

Tickets

Tickets are $15 adults and $5 children, available at the Grand Rapids Symphony box office, weekdays 9 am-5 pm at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across from the Calder Plaza), or by calling 616.454.9451 x 4. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum.)

 

Tickets are available at the DeVos Place box office, weekdays 10am-6pm or on the day of the concert beginning two hours prior to the performance. Tickets also may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.

 

Full-time students of any age are able to purchase tickets for only $5 on the day of the concert by enrolling in the GRS Student Ticket program.

Special Offers

Students age 7-18 also are able to attend for most concerts for free when accompanied by an adult. Free for Kids tickets must be purchased in advance at the GRS Ticket office. Up to two free tickets are available with the purchase of a regular-price adult ticket. Go online for more details.

 

Symphony Scorecard provides members up to four free tickets for most Grand Rapids Symphony concerts. Member of the community receiving financial assistance from the State of Michigan and members of the U.S. Armed Forces, whether on active or reserve duty or serving in the National Guard, are eligible. Go online for information on signing up with a Symphony Scorecard Partner Agency.

 

A two-concert package also includes a performance of The Conductor’s Spellbook, the magical story of Tony Stradivarius, who takes a field trip to a symphony and finds a powerful book of spells that he’s able to use to control the orchestra. The narrated concert is at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2018 in DeVos Performance Hall. Tickets for the two-concert package are $27 adults, $10 children.

 

A three-concert package adds a performance of the Wolverine Worldwide Holiday Pops, featuring the Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus and Youth Chorus joined by vocalist Justin Hopkins and Embellish handbell ensemble. The show eligible for the package is at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 8. Tickets for the three-concert package are $60 adults, $15 children.

Tickets go on sale Nov. 9th for May 15-19, 2019, Cirque du Soleil at Van Andel Arena

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Senior Living, Upcoming Events, , ,

By Mike Klompstra, SMG

Cirque du Soleil’s CRYSTAL—the first acrobatic performance on ice—comes to Van Andel Arena for seven performances May 15-19, 2019

Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to return to Grand Rapids, Michigan with its coolest arena show yet—CRYSTAL. This one-of-a-kind arena production blends circus arts and the world of ice skating in a stunning new production that will take the audience on a journey into a whimsical frozen playground where figure skating mingles with acrobatics and aerial feats. CRYSTAL will perform at SMG-managed Van Andel Arena from Wednesday, May 15 through Sunday, May 19, 2019, for seven performances only.
Photo by Matt Beard

Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, Nov. 9 at 10am. Tickets will be available at the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place box offices, online at Ticketmaster.com, and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. See Ticketmaster.com for all pricing and availability. A purchase limit of 11 tickets will apply to every order.

 
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
  • Wednesday, May 15, Thursday, May 16 & Friday, May 17 at 7:30pm
  • Saturday, May 18 at 4pm and 7:30pm
  • Sunday, May 19 at 1:30pm and 5pm
More about CRYSTAL—A Breakthrough Ice Experience
Directed by Shana Carroll and Sebastien Soldevila, Crystal, our misfit heroine, takes you on an exhilarating tale of self-discovery as she dives into a world of her own imagination. Feel the adrenaline as she soars through this surreal world to become what she was always destined to be: confident, curious, and creative. CRYSTAL invites you to suspend reality and glide into a world that springs to colorful life with astounding visual projections and a soundtrack that seamlessly blends popular music with the signature sound of Cirque du Soleil. CRYSTAL is suitable for all ages.
The show CRYSTAL is about looking at things from fresh angles, peeking through the veneer of everyday life, reframing one’s daily reality to see what one might have missed. Sometimes the only way to appreciate things is to look at them sideways. Discovering one’s individuality and uniqueness requires venturing out on thin ice.
CRYSTAL is Cirque du Soleil’s 42nd original production since 1984. The company has brought wonder and delight to more than 180 million spectators in more than 450 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has over 4,000 employees, including 1,300 performing artists from 50 different countries.

GVSU, Grand Rapids Ballet School to reintroduce famous baroque music through performances

Entertainment, ,

By Matthew Makowski

GVSU

 

Grand Valley State University Opera Theatre, Early Music Ensemble and Department of Visual and Media Arts will join forces with the Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company to reinvigorate baroque music for modern audiences during “Masquerade: A Baroque Extravaganza.”

 

Performances will take placeFriday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Ballet’s Peter Martin Wege Theatre, 341 Ellsworth Ave SW, Grand Rapids. Tickets are available through the Grand Rapids Ballet’s box office at (616) 454-4771, extension 10.

 

Dale Schriemer, GVSU Opera Theatre artistic director and professor of voice, said his goal with these performances is to reintroduce music from 1690-1750 in a visually stunning way.

 

“We are taking the music of the baroque era with singers, instrumentalists and dancers, and layering 3D projection design over those performances,” said Schriemer. “The end result is reminiscent of the Disney film ‘Fantasia.’”

 

More than 20 students from the Visual and Media Arts Department will create the projection designs for the performance that will accompany the music of composers such as George Frideric Handel, Henry Purcell and Claudio Monteverdi.

 

“It has been so exciting for them to take their work from the computer to a stage and see how that becomes and immersive environment,” said Schriemer. “They, as well as the singers, are learning to make older music feel fresh and alive for the 21st century, and I’m excited about that.”

On the shelf: ‘The Magician’s Elephant’ by Kate DiCamillo

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , ,

By Mary Davis, Grand Rapids Public Library, Ottawa Hills Branch

 

Kate DiCamillo became one of my favorite authors for children after publishing her first novel, Because of Winn-Dixie. She writes in a soothing, almost comforting voice, and she never talks down to her intended audience. She often blends realism with a sort of fantastical or magical twist. In her newest, The Magician’s Elephant, she casts another spell. She tells the story of Peter Augustus Duchene. Peter, a young boy in the care of a former soldier, believes that he will grow into a soldier as well.

 

One day the old soldier gives him money to buy bread and fish. Instead, a fortune teller’s tent catches Peter’s eye. She reveals to him that his sister, believed to be dead, lives and the elephant will lead him to her. This seems unbelievable until a visiting magician mysteriously and mistakenly conjures up an elephant.

 

DiCamillo weaves beautifully together the story of the elephant and how she leads Peter to his sister, a new future, and an interesting cast of characters. Yoko Tanka’s illustrations help define the time and place and bring depth to the storytelling. The Magician’s Elephant would make a lovely read-aloud to most elementary classrooms or just to share with any child in one’s life.

Tulip Time tickets go on sale starting today

Entertainment, , ,
Jay Leno will headline the Tulip Time entertainment line-up for 2019.

Tulip TimeFestival (www.tuliptime.com) announces their festival entertainment tickets are going on sale Thursday, Nov. 8, beginning at 9 a.m.. Tickets can be purchased online at www.tuliptime.com, in person at the Tulip Time Festival Box Office located at 42 West 8thStreet, Holland, Michigan, or by phone at 800-822-2770.

 

Highlights of the 2019 Tulip Time entertainment program include Jay Leno, who will be performing on Friday, May 10, 2019 at Central Wesleyan Church.Premium Seating tickets (rows 1 through 12) are $87/person; General Seating tickets are $70/person.

 

“We are so thrilled to host Jay Leno at Tulip Time in 2019,” stated Gwen Auwerda, Tulip Time Executive Director. “Since the announcement was made on November 1, we have had an overwhelmingly positive response.”

 

Other acts joining the Tulip Time entertainment line-up for the first time in 2019 include Hotel California®– The Original Eagles Tribute Band, New Odyssey Guy featuring Gary Todd, and Swing and a Miss! With  Cici Gramer and Friends. Back by popular demand will be The Texas Tenors, FiddleFire for their 7thyear and Walt Matzke’s Four Pianos.

 

The Local Arts & Culture Series will highlight a wide variety of performances including everything from music to comedy.

 

There’s still a lot of planning going on at Tulip Time. Watch for more program announcements on the festival markets, art parties, culinary events and other fun ways to celebrate Tulip Time!

 

Join the dance as we “paint the town orange”at Tulip Time’s 90thAnniversary celebration May 4-12, 2019. Detailed program and event information for Tulip Time 2019 is available on www.tuliptime.com. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online at www.tuliptime.com, in person at the Tulip Time Festival Box Office located at 42 West 8thStreet, Holland, Michigan, or by phone at 800-822-2770.

‘Jungle Book’ to break down bear necessities during performances at GVSU

Entertainment, , , ,
Right, Leanne Hoag is Mowgli in GVSU’s ” Jungle Book”

By Matt Makowski

GVSU

 

Grand Valley State University students will adhere to the “Law of the Jungle” when they perform a play that’s a newer take on the beloved Disney classic film “The Jungle Book.”

 

Theatre at Grand Valley presents “The Jungle Book”
November 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, at 7:30 p.m.
November 11, 18, at 2 p.m.
Linn Maxwell Keller Black Box Theatre, Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus
Tickets: $15 for adults; $13 for GVSU faculty and staff and all seniors; $7 for all students; $10 for groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact the Louis Armstrong Theatre Box Office at (616) 331-2300.
NOTE: Younger children are welcome to attend performances of “Jungle Book,” however this production is darker in themes and content than the Disney musical version.

 

In “Jungle Book,” the “Law of the Jungle” rules Mowgli’s adventures while growing up with a wolf pack, but when his identity is challenged after realizing he’s human, his quest to master the laws becomes more complicated and dangerous. Tensions mount when Mowgli becomes entangled with Shere Khan, the most feared animal, and Mowgli’s choices affect life in the jungle forever.

 

While the character of Mowgli has historically been be a boy, this iteration of the story will see Mowgli as a female protagonist, played by Leanne Hoag, a sophomore majoring in hospitality and tourism management.

 

“Mowgli is such a fun role because I get to incorporate childlike acting techniques that I normally don’t get to delve into while also showing this beautiful arc of character development where Mowgli finds her true self,” said Hoag.

 

Hoag said that audiences will experience another key diversion from the Disney film — the absence of songs.

 

“This version is more about survival in the jungle and the power hierarchy that results between predator and prey,” said Hoag.

 

In addition to changing Mowgli’s gender, Hoag said acting in the Keller Black Box Theatre, in which actors and the stage are surrounded by the audience, has also been a fun challenge.

 

“Instead of performing to one side of an audience, we have to think about three, so in this way we have to tailor our staging and actions differently so that everyone in the audience can see the show,” said Hoag. “As an audience member, being in the black box is such an immersive experience, and being stuck in the middle of the Jungle watching the struggle between predator and prey is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.”

 

Playing the role of Mowgli has been a surreal experience for Hoag since “Jungle Book” was one of her favorite movies throughout her childhood.

 

“I remember I used to ask my grandma to watch it when I was over at her house,” said Hoag. “It is honestly surreal to be playing a character that I am so familiar with, but it is also so different from the Disney version that I am able to take a few essential elements from that movie and spin it to fit this version of Mowgli.”

 

For more information about “Jungle Book,” visit gvsu.edu/theater or contact Allison Metz, director, at metza@gvsu.edu.

GR Symphony, soloists join orchestra for Mozart’s ‘Great’ Mass in C minor, Nov. 16-17

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Upcoming Events, ,

By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk, Grand Rapids Symphony

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer of symphonies, operas and concertos, was one of the most gifted musicians in the history of Western classical music. In the 35 years of his life, Mozart gave the world over 600 masterworks. Mozart’s music is not beloved just for its sheer quantity, but also for its unparalleled quality.

 

Music Director Marcelo Lehninger will lead the Grand Rapids Symphony in a performance of one of Mozart’s masterpieces, the Great Mass in C minor, along with Franz Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony No. 8, and Charles Ives’ The Unanswered Question, at 8pm Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16 and 17 in DeVos Performance Hall.

 

Joining the Symphony for the Richard and Helen DeVos Classical series concert is the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, directed by Pearl Shangkuan, plus soprano Martha Guth, mezzo-soprano Susan Platts, tenor Jonathan Matthew Myers, and bass-baritone Dashon Burton as guest soloists. Guest Artist sponsor is the Edith I. Blodgett Guest Artist Fund.

 

Pope Francis, head of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, in 2013 in the first major, wide-ranging interview of his papacy, declares his admiration for the music of Mozart, especially his Great Mass in C minor.

 

“Among musicians, I love Mozart, of course,” he said. “The Et incarnates est from his Mass in C minor is matchless; it lifts you to God!”

 

In his great modern-day biography of Mozart, Maynard Solomon says that “occasionally . . . Mozart composed a work in a spirit of inquiry, as an affirmation of his beliefs, or as a gift of love or friendship. The several accounts of its origin indicate that the Mass in C Minor arose from a fusion of all three of these motivations.”

 

Rather than for any financial incentive, Mozart began composing his Mass in C minor in his early 20s for a reason that was rather unusual for the composer — to fulfill a vow he had made to his wife, Constanze.

 

Albert Einstein once said that Mozart’s music “is of such purity and beauty that one feels he merely found it — that it has always existed as part of the inner beauty of the universe waiting to be revealed.”

 

Mozart’s Great Mass, however, is only partially revealed.

 

When the time came to premiere it, the work was incomplete. Mozart had to use movements from his earlier compositions to fill the missing pieces. Much to the frustration of musicians, audiences and scholars, Mozart never completed the Mass.

 

Despite its absent parts, the Mass in C minor contains some of Mozart’s most astounding work. The soprano aria ‘Et incarnates est’ is especially difficult and was written specifically for the voice of Mozart’s wife, Constanze, who performed the aria at the Mass’s premiere.

 

Joining the Grand Rapids Symphony to sing this famous aria is soprano Martha Guth. Guth has performed distinctive roles in productions across the globe such as Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni at Opera Lyra Ottawa, and The Magic Flute and Il Seraglio in Göggingen, Germany.

 

Also joining the Grand Rapids Symphony are the exceptional voices of Susan Platts, John Matthew Myers and Dashon Burton, sponsored by Edith I. Blodgett Guest Artist Fund.

 

Both Platts and Myers have performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony previously in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in May 2018. Susan Platts also appeared with the Symphony in April 2012 for Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 “Symphony of a Thousand”.

 

The Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, an ensemble of some 140 singers led by director Pearl Shangkuan and sponsored by Mary Tuuk, will help bring to life this classical masterpiece. Organized in 1962 with the guidance and support of Mary Ann Keeler, the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus attracts singers, ages 18 to 80, from all walks of life across West Michigan.

 

Great Mass in C minor

Last year, the chorus-in-residence traveled with the orchestra to New York City in April to sing Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Chôros No. 10, It Tears Your Heart in Carnegie Hall.

 

The chorus will join the Grand Rapids Symphony again in December for the Wolverine Worldwide Holiday Pops.

 

Preceding the Great Mass in the program are two pieces that complete the “unfinished” theme: Ives’ The Unanswered Question and Schubert’s Symphony No. 8.

 

Franz Schubert, like Mozart, wrote a lot of music in his lifetime. By the time he was 18, Schubert had composed two symphonies, two masses, five operas, and numerous piano and chamber pieces.

 

It comes as no surprise that locked away in a chest was two movements of what was meant to be a complete four-movement symphony. Now known as Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony, the work is one of his most famous compositions.

 

Ives wrote The Unanswered Question while in his 20s. Though the work itself is complete, Ives used his music to contemplate the mysteries of life, the questions that cannot be answered.

 

Though Mozart and Schubert never completed their masterpieces, and Ives’ questions will remain unanswered, the elegance and beauty of their music will continue to captivate audiences for ages to come.

  • Inside the Music, a free, pre-concert, multi-media presentation sponsored by BDO USA, will be held before each performance at 7pm in the DeVos Place Recital Hall
  • The complete Mozart Great Mass in C minor will be rebroadcast on Sunday, March 31, 2019, at 1pm on Blue Lake Public Radio 88.9 FM or 90.3 FM.

Tickets

Tickets for the Richard and Helen DeVos Classical series start at $18 and are available at the Grand Rapids Symphony box office, weekdays 9am-5pm at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across the street from Calder Plaza). Call (616) 454-9451 x 4 to order by phone. (Phone orders will be charged a $2 per ticket service fee, with a $12 maximum).

 

Tickets are available at the DeVos Place ticket office, weekdays 10am-6pm or on the day of the concert beginning two hours before the performance. Tickets also may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.

Special Offers

Full-time students of any age can purchase tickets for $5 on the night of the concert by enrolling in the GRS Student Tickets program, sponsored by Calvin College. Discounts are available to members of MySymphony360, the Grand Rapids Symphony’s organization for young professionals ages 21-35.

 

Students age 7-18 also are able to attend for free when accompanied by an adult. Free for Kids tickets must be purchased in advance at the GRS Ticket office. Up to two free tickets are available with the purchase of a regular-price adult ticket. Go online for more details.

 

Symphony Scorecard provides up to four free tickets for members of the community receiving financial assistance from the State of Michigan and for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, whether on active or reserve duty or serving in the National Guard. Go online for information to sign up with a Symphony Scorecard Partner Agency.

On the shelf: ‘Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals’ by Temple Grandin

Books, Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, , , ,

By Lisa Boss, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

Fascinating! Someone has finally explained why cats act the way they do. And just in time  too, since the stork delivered two kittens to us recently. The library has an excellent extensive collection of cat care books, and delightful cat memoir books like those by James Herriot, but I went straight to Temple Grandin’s works on the neurophysiology of animal behavior.

 

A cat is just a really different animal than, say, a dog. Their brain organization, the “domestication” path, the communication modes — this was all news to me.

 

Grandin’s works are all wonderfully readable for the non-scientist, from her autobiographical memoirs, Emergence, Labeled Autistic, and  Thinking in Pictures : and Other Reports from My Life with Autism to her works on animal behavior, Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior, and her latest one: Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals.

 

We even have the award winning movie, Temple Grandin, starring Clare Danes.

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center returns to St. Cecilia for new season

Entertainment, Local Entertainment,
Musicians from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will join to perform Schubert’s “Trout Quintet”. (Supplied)

 

By St. Cecilia Music Center

 

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Series 2018/2019 season begins on Nov. 15, with 5 internationally renowned musicians from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York performing diverse gems from the 19th century as the St. Cecilia Music Center’s chamber music series begins its season with the beloved Schubert composition The Trout Quintet.

 

Duos and trios will fill the first half of their performance, including Beethoven’s variations on Mozart’s melody, Schubert’s creation for the arpeggione, and Bottesini’s virtuoso showpiece for violin and double bass. The artists join forces after intermission to perform Schubert’s Trout Quintet, which has garnered a reputation as one of the most popular works in the chamber repertory.

 

A pre-concert artist talk with the visiting musicians begins at 7 p.m. and is open to all ticket holders.

 

“We are so pleased to renew another three-year agreement with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center,” St. Cecilia executive director Cathy Holbrook said. “They are some of the most exciting artists to experience at SCMC with their exquisite performances and amazing artistry. To listen to and see these artists in action is truly captivating,”

 

Musicians will include pianist Orion Weiss, violinist Paul Huang, violist Paul Neubauer, cellist Keith Robinson, and double bassist Xavier Foley. New artist Foley is the recipient of a prestigious 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant. He has also won the 2016 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, and First Prizes at Astral’s 2014 National Auditions, Sphinx’s 2014 Competition, and the 2011 International Society of Bassists Competition.

 

Tickets for the November 15 CMS of Lincoln Center concert are $45 and $40. Season tickets for all 3 of the CMS of Lincoln Center concerts are also available for 15-20 percent discount off single ticket prices.

 

There will be two more chamber music concerts as part of the St. Cecilia series:

 

A program entitled Russian Mastery, featuring works by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Arensky, on March 14, 2019. Co-artistic Director and pianist Wu Han will return to Grand Rapids with violinists Arnaud Sussman and Alexander Sitkovetsky, and cellist Nicholas Canellakis. Russia’s vastly expressive music over time has told the story of its country and people, painting a picture through music of its turbulent historical landscape. The Prokofiev Two Violin Sonata, written in 1932, stands apart as an audaciously creative work from the period between the wars, while the remaining works will be glorious musical outpourings of the age of the tsars and the Russian Empire.

 

A program on April 25, 2019 entitled From Mendelssohn, which will feature Mendelssohn works and magnificent artists who admired and emulated his work through some of their own including Schumann, Brahms and Tchaikovsky. Mendelssohn’s combined mastery of melody, form, counterpoint, and the chamber idiom was admired and imitated by composers for generations. In a program bookended by two works of Mendelssohn from 1845, one brief, the other epic, the audience will hear Mendelssohn’s close friend Robert Schumann’s response to Mendelssohn’s piano trios; how, near the end of his life, Brahms recalled Mendelssohn’s lyricism through the viola’s dark voice; and, finally, how Mendelssohn’s great admirer Tchaikovsky combined the German’s signature scherzo idiom with Russian melancholy and splendor in three selections from The Seasons for solo piano. CMS musicians performing for the final concert of the season will include pianist Inon Barnatan violinist Cho-Liang Lin, violist Paul Neubauer, cellist Jakob Koranyi, and clarinetist Romie de Guise-Langlois.

 

All concert tickets can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.scmc-online.org.  A post-concert “Meet-the-artist” party, with complimentary wine will be offered to all ticket-holders giving the audience the opportunity to meet the artists and to obtain signed CDs of their releases.

 

Tulip Time announces the 2019 Festival Entertainment Line-up

Entertainment, , , ,

By Susan Zainis

Tulip Time

 

Tulip TimeFestival (www.tuliptime.com) announces its festival entertainment line-up for 2019.

 

National Entertainment

 

Tulip Time is thrilled to welcome – Jay Leno

 

Jay Leno

Acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, much-in-demand corporate speaker, lovable TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and mechanic, and philanthropist…it’s no wonder that Jay Leno is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.”  Jay Leno’s late night television ratings domination included two decades as the host of the #1-rated “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Leno loves to test his humor live on audiences across the nation, performing over 100 live appearances in nightclubs, theaters and stadiums each year. Leno has been touted as one of the nicest people in show business. His “everyman” style and personality have helped him earn millions of fans worldwide. The performance will take place on Fri., May 10 at Central Wesleyan. The Trop Rock opening act, Don Middlebrook & The Pearl Divers, will take the stage at 7p, with Jay Leno’s show at 7:45p. Premium tickets (rows 1 through 12) are $87/person; General tickets are $70/person.

 

Hotel California® – The Original Eagles Tribute Band

 

Hotel California® – The Original Eagles Tribute Band – Join us for the Festival’s fabulous opening night concert! Hotel California prides itself on creating the illusion that you are listening to the actual Eagles. Sat., May 4, Holland Civic Center; 8p; $35/p

 

New Odyssey Guy Dinner Show– Introducing this brand new dinner show — New Odyssey Guy, starring Gary Todd, one of the founding members of New Odyssey, is coming back to Tulip Time as a one-man show dynamo! Mon., May 6 – Wed., May 8, 6:30p; Haworth Inn; $48/p

 

The Texas Tenors– Tulip Time welcomes back America’s favorite tenors! This year’s performance will feature songs from their patriotic show “Let Freedom Sing,” as well as hits from their recently released “Broadway” CD. Wed., May 8, 7-8:30p; Central Wesleyan Church; $34/p

 

FiddleFire– Now in their 7thyear at Tulip Time, FiddleFire’s unique contemporary folk style continues to delight festival audiences. Wed., May 8, 7-8:30p; The Jack H. Miller Center – Hope College; $28/p

 

Walt Matzke’s Four Pianos – Four grand pianos, eight hands, forty fingers and seven hundred fifty-two keys are Walt Matzke’s Four Pianos.A memorable concert filled with intricate melodies weaved with interesting anecdotes. Thurs., May 9, 7-8:30p; Central Wesleyan Church; $32/p

 

Swing and a Miss! Dinner Show featuring Cici Gramer & Friends – From swingy jazz to unforgettable favorites, the “infectiously charming” Cici Gramer cabaret features a repertoire of memories mixed with a few surprises.  Thurs., May 9 & Fri., May 10, 6:30p; Haworth Inn; $48/p

 

 

Local Arts & Culture Performances – presented by Fifth Third Bank

 

Tulip Time is pleased to announce the Local Arts & Culture performances for the 2019 Tulip Time Festival. Each year, several of Holland’s cultural organizations collaborate with Tulip Time to create an array of entertainment for festival visitors. This year’s events include many new surprises.

 

Love Those 60’s– Holland Windmill Chorus spins barbershop harmonies around popular tunes from the 1960s, mixing it up with its own “step-out” quartets, and special appearances by the Lakeshore Community Chorus and “Frontier.” Sat., May 4, 7-8:30p; Beechwood Church; $23/p

 

Holland Civic Theatre presents –The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon- Al and Willie, as “Lewis and Clark” were top-billed vaudevillians for over forty years. Now they are not even speaking. A grudging reunion brings the two back together, along with a flood of memories, miseries and laughs.  Sat., May 4, 7-9p; Sun., May 5, 2-4p; Tue., May 7 – Sat., May 11, 7-9p; Holland Civic Theatre; $23/p

 

Tulip Time Quilt Show– Enjoy a unique display of more than 100 exquisite handmade bed quilts, wall hangings, and art quilts, as well as the 2019 Raffle Quilt and Viewers’ Choice competition. Open all week. Consult website for exact times. Holland Area Arts Council; $6/p

 

Modern Delft Art Party – Create a beautiful modern Delft keepsake with instruction by local artist and previous Tulip Time poster winning artist, Carolyn Stich.  Cash bar; 21+ event; Sat., May 4 & Sun., May 5, 7-9p; Yacht Basin Conference Center; $40/p

 

Floral Arranging Class – Eastern Floral’s master designers teach you the art of floral arranging as you create your own masterpiece. Eastern Floral; Mon., May 6, 2p & Tue., May 7, 10a and 2p; $35/p

 

The Gifts of Nature– Holland Chorale celebrates the vast gifts from the earth: Blooms, Birds and Beasts! Includes selections from Dvorak’s “Songs of Nature” and Morten Lauridsen’s “Chansons Des Roses.” Mon., May 6, 7-8:30p; Saugatuck Center for the Arts; $23/p

 

Dutch Organ Concert – from the Oude Kerk to Playing it Cool!– Concert organist Rhonda Sider Edgington will take listeners on a tour of Dutch organ music through the ages, starting with Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck to living Dutch composers such as Bert Matter and Ad Wammes, whose “Play it Cool!” was written in 2012.  Sun., May 5, 7-8p; Hope Church; $15/p

 

Ah!Men Lunch Show– Enjoy a delightful lunch coupled with an all new one-hour show featuring Jazz, Gospel, Show Tunes and American standards.Tue., May 7 – Fri., May 10, 11a; The Commons of Evergreen; $28/p

 

Dazzle! A Tulip Time Talent Showcase– The brilliantly fresh talent from four area high schools bursts onto the stage to present this vibrant medley. Enjoy this astounding variety of soloists, show choir and orchestral performances, all in one show! Tue., May 7, 8-10p; Central Wesleyan Church; $15/p

 

River City Improv

River City Improv – We had so much fun last year, we had to bring them back.It’s all about laughter as River City Improv returns to Tulip Time for this unique, fun and witty experience. Sat., May 11, 8p; Knickerbocker Theatre; $15/p

 

B-BOP – Come Swing with Us!–Tulip Time invites you to dance along to the renowned swing band     B-BOP, The Big Band of Praise, one of southwest Michigan’s premier big bands. This concert will take place during the Moederdag Market. Holland Civic Center, Sun., May 12, performance from 1-3p. Free event.

 

There’s still a lot of planning going on at Tulip Time. Watch for more program announcements on the festival markets, art parties, culinary events and other fun ways to celebrate Tulip Time!

 

Join the dance as we “paint the town orange”at Tulip Time’s 90thAnniversary celebration May 4-12. Detailed program and event information for Tulip Time 2019 is available on www.tuliptime.com. Tickets for all shows go on sale November 8, 2018. Tickets can be purchased online at www.tuliptime.com, in person at the Tulip Time Festival Box Office located at 42 West 8thStreet, Holland, Michigan, or by phone at 800-822-2770.

Review: Kenny Barron, and young horn players, deliver great jazz — new, classic 

Entertainment, Reviews
Kenny Barron (Supplied/Philippe Levy-Stab)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

60-second Review

 

The Kenny Barron Quintet at St. Cecilia Music Center, Thursday, Nov. 1.

 

What can you say about Kenny Barron — jazz piano master with decades of Grammy awards to prove it — that hasn’t already been said?

 

Well, two things, maybe. First, he is fully comfortable in old-school and new-school jazz, and, second, he’s enough of a confident teacher to play second fiddle (piano accompaniment) to young protégés. Both attributes were on display as the St. Cecilia Music Center continued its excellent 2018-19 jazz series Thursday with the Kenny Barron Quintet on the Royce Auditorium stage.

 

Proof of the first observation was evident from the first note of the first of the 8-tune (you can’t really call jazz jams “songs”), 90-minute plus set — which happened to be the old-school 1941 standard “I hear a Rhapsody”  — to the group’s only encore, a funky new-school number written by Barron called “I’m Just Saying.”

 

The second observation was evident early and often with the front men of Barron’s stellar quintet being young trumpeter/flugelhornist Mike Rodriguez and saxophonist Dayna Stephens, both of which soloed almost as often and, occasionally, as memorably as Barron himself. Rodriguez’ flugelhorn work was particularly impressive.

 

Not to take anything away from ensemble and solo skills of bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake — Blake, in fact, may have been the most fun to watch performer the entire evening — but clearly both Rodriguez and Stephens are young jazz figures to keep an ear out for.

 

Kenny Barron Quintet’s Concentric Circles. (Supplied)

As it should be, though, the night was Barron’s. From his ferocious play on the title tract from his newest recording, 2018’s Concentric Circles Blue Note release, as well as an ode to his Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood, “DPW” (Ditmas Park West), also from Concentric Circles, to his delicate solo-on-stage blurring of four ballads by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, Barron was in control of the keyboard and the audience.

 

Barron has earned 11 Grammy awards, beginning in 1992 for Best Jazz Album with “People Time”, his duet with the legendary Stan Getz, and most recently in 2017 for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

 

And if the music from Concentric Circles are any indication, there will be another nomination in his near future.

 

May I have more, please? 

 

My wife is always looking for new jazz, so I have an idea after hearing and being knocked out by at least four of the tunes off of Barron and his quintet’s Concentric Circles — maybe five, there is a little confusion on my part if one of the Latin jazz-influenced tunes played at St. Cecilia was actually “Aquele frevo axe” (a Brazilian dance by Caetano Veloso/Cezar Medes); but I think it was.

 

Guess what’s coming for Christmas?

 

And speaking of gifts for the new year … After the Kenny Barron Quintet, the remaining Jazz Series concerts are Joey DeFrancesco on Feb. 7, 2019, and Benny Green Trio & Veronica Swift on March 7, 2019. Tickets for jazz series concerts range from $35-$45.

 

St. Cecilia Music Center is located at 24 Ransom NE, Grand Rapids. For tickets or more information call  616-459-2224 or visit www.scmc-online.org.

 

‘Sunday Afternoon Live’ concerts at Cascade Library now through April 2019

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment

By KDL Kent District Library

 

The Cascade Township Branch brings concerts inside for ‘Sunday Afternoon Live’, eight concerts from October 2018 through April 2019 featuring your favorite local artists. Sponsored by Cascade Charter Township, Cascade Downtown Development Authority, Cascade Community Foundation, Friends of the Cascade Township Library and Kingsland Ace Hardware.

 

Sundays, 2pm at Kent District Library, Cascade-Wisner Center, 2870 Jacksmith Ave. SE, Cascade, MI 49546.

 

Here’s the lineup:

  • Nov. 18, Fauxgrass
  • Dec. 9, organissimo
  • Jan. 20, Jimmy Stagger
  • Feb. 10, CrossBow
  • Feb. 24, Dave Palma Band
  • March 10, Mark Lavengood Band
  • April 28, Cabildo