“This is a blatant rip-off of the Funniest Person in Grand Rapids contest that Dr. Grins Comedy Club used to run,” said Brian B. (Brian Borbot), founder and MC of the SNF.
“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought it deserved its own standup comedy competition with the overall winner getting a prize package worthy of the title the Funniest Person in Wyoming!”
The Kingpin of Comedy winner will receive $500 cash as well as prizes from Wyoming businesses Spectrum Entertainment Complex, Craig’s Cruisers, The Listening Room and Gilda’s Club LaughFest. The winner will also receive a Kingpin bowling pin trophy, a personalized Kingpin bowling shirt, and the opportunity to close at the Sunday Night Funnies LaughFest show in 2025.
The total prize package is over $1,000 in value.
Fifteen years of funny
The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. Now in its 15th year, the SNF features weekly live standup comedy performances by a variety of local and national comics.
Admission to the SNF shows at Woody’s Press Box are free. SNF shows take place on Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. during winter and spring, and at 8:30 p.m. during summer and early fall.
“Our lineup this year spans so many musical genres, there is something for everyone to enjoy,” said Mayor Kent Vanderwood. “We are looking forward to bringing quality entertainment to the families in our community and hope to continue developing this series.”
(Courtesy, City of Wyoming)
A musical tradition
Each Tuesday evening will feature a food truck with food and beverages available for purchase. Concertgoers are welcome to bring their own food, however alcohol is not permitted in the park.
“We are excited to continue this tradition for our community,” said Krashawn Martin, Wyoming Parks and Recreation Director. “Concerts in the Park are a highlight of summertime in Wyoming. We hope you will grab your blankets, chairs and friends and join us for some fun in the parks!”
All concerts are free of charge and open to the public. Performances start at 6 p.m. and are held at Lamar Park.
Concert Lineup
Cabildo performs at the 2023 Wyoming Concerts in the Park (Courtesy WKTV)
The 2024 concert schedule includes:
June 18 – Whorled
June 25 – Brena
July 9 – Cabildo
July 16 – Sophia McIntosh
July 23 – LVRS
July 30 – Music That Raised Us
For more performance and musician details, click here.
Care Cardinal of Byron Center invites the community to join them in celebrating the beginning of summer at their weekly Farmers Market and family-friendly event June 1.
“We are doing a Farmers Market every Friday, rain or shine,” said Cassidy Boensch, Admissions Director at Care Cardinal Byron Center. “It’s going to be in our parking lot so the residents have the autonomy of selling stuff…and going outside. It’s something for them to participate in and do instead of only the regular day-to-day stuff.”
(Courtesy, Care Cardinal)
With seven established West Michigan care communities, Care Cardinal is no stranger to providing a thriving and energetic environment for its assisted living, memory care, and independent living residents.
“Well-being is our goal,” Care Cardinal’s website states, “as well as maintaining the health and happiness of each of our residents, no matter their level of care.”
Care Cardinal’s personal care communities are redesigning care for its residents by creating an intimate, home-like setting where staff and residents interact like family. Attentive care, loving compassion, valued dignity and continued safety for residents are hallmarks of Care Cardinal’s care program.
Boensch is dedicated to integrating events involving the entire Byron Center community as part of that care – and is doing so by offering free options for residents of all ages to take part in.
Farmers market begins in May!
Care Cardinal is hosting the Byron Center Farmers Market every Friday from May 17 – Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Vendor spots are free and the size of two parking spaces. Care Cardinal residents as well as community members outside the personal care facility are welcome to register and sell products.
(Courtesy, K.D. Norris)
Boensch says the Market currently has 25 registered vendors – but they are open to more.
“Spots are free,” said Boensch. “[Vendors] bring their own tents, and whatever [money] they make, they take with them.”
The Market boasts a wide variety of vendors and products, from homemade maple syrup, candy, baked goods, veggies, jellies, dairy products made with goat’s milk, plants, flowers, and natural household products, to beach totes, cosmetic cases, beaded jewelry…and more!
Updates on the Farmers Market can be found on Care Cardinal Byron Center’s Facebook page.
Vendor registration can be completed by contacting Care Cardinal through their website.
But wait – there’s more!
Children will be able to enjoy several activities at the summer kickoff event (Supplied)
Saturday, June 1 will feature a large, family-friendly summer event at Care Cardinal Byron Center.
“It’s going to be huge, and I’m super excited about it,” said Boensch.
The day will kick off with a free pancake breakfast from 10-11 a.m. A craft show and car show will open at 11 a.m. and run until 4 p.m.
The first 50 children to arrive at the event will receive a Summer Pack Giveaway. Each pack will include summer items such as a sand bucket, flip flops, a bathing suit, shorts, t-shirts and popsicles.
Lawn games include cornhole, horseshoes and Rope the Steer.
Live music from local band Liquid Courage and Bootstrap Boys will provide entertainment for all ages beginning at 11 a.m.
Professional photography will be available throughout the event for all CC residents, community members and families.
All activities are free, excluding food truck refreshments and craft show purchases. The event will wrap up between the hours of 3-4 p.m.
“We want people to come out and be able to have a good time and not have to worry about pricing,” said Boensch.
Join in the fun!
Both the Farmers Market and June summer kickoff event will take place at the Care Cardinal Byron Center location.
“Everything is going to be here at Care Cardinal because we have some residents here that don’t have family members, so transportation would be an issue,” said Boensch. “They’re part of our family, so we wanted to have it somewhere they would be able to enjoy the event just as much as everybody else.”
(Courtesy photo)
Though the Care Cardinal location is well known to the area as the previous Byron Center Manor, the Care Cardinal facility is a new addition to the Byron Center area. Boensch said Care Cardinal is excited to engage with the community.
“Byron Center is an older town, so we want to be known in the area for what we do, [meet] with the locals, let people know that we’re here,” said Boensch. “We want people to be able to come in, see the facility, see what we do for our families.”
Care Cardinal resource links
Learn more about care and programs offered by Care Cardinal locations by clicking here.
Byron Center Care Cardinal information can be found here.
Metro Cruise organizers are expecting between 140 to 150 collector cars at this year’s Dust Off set for May 4 at the Wyoming Moose Lodge. (WKTV)
By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Contributor
May is calling with its warmer weather which means it’s time to pull the cover off that classic car and head to the City of Wyoming for the first major car event of the season: the Metro Cruise Dust Off.
The annual event, held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Wyoming Moose Lodge, 2630 Burlingame Ave. SW, marks its 10th anniversary this year.
Up to 150 collector cars expected
“It’s a big event,” said Metro Cruise Event Manager Brandon Simmons. “It really has grown over the years. We are expecting about 140 to 150 collector cars.”
To accommodate the growth, last year, the layout of the event was changed to allow for more collector cars, Simmons said, adding that those with cars usually come early to secure their spot. Also the first 100 car owners will be offered a custom Dust Off t-shirt for $15.
The event and lodge is open to the public. The Moose Lodge will offer food and beverages starting at 11 a.m. and will have entertainment in the evening, which also will be open to the public.
The Metro Cruise Dust Off marks its 10th anniversary this year. (WKTV)
A Summer Packed with Metro Cruise Fun
The Dust Off is the first Metro Cruise event of the season with a host of activities planned for the summer.
“This is the kick off of a summer of monthly Metro Cruise activities,” Simmons said. “This year we will be hosting the first-ever Cars ‘n Clubs in June, which is our golf outing/fundraiser event.”
Cars ‘n Clubs Golf Outing
The Cars ’n Clubs Golf Outing is June 22 at Indian Trails Golf Course, located at 2776 Kalamazoo Ave. SE. The event is open to all golfers, with or without a classic car. Cost is $69 for one play, $138 for a two-player group and $250 for a four-player group. Registration deadline is June 20 with discounts for those who reserve before May 1.
There will be a Cruise to the Course before the golf outing. Those interested in the cruise should meet at Rogers Plaza by 7 a.m. for the lineup to drive to the course. Those participating in the cruise will receive donuts and coffee courtesy of Marge’s Donut Den.
Miss Metro Cruise winners and contestants will be at the Dust Off and will be available for pictures. (WKTV)
Miss Metro Cruise Prelims and Car Show
The popular Miss Metro Cruise Prelims and Car Show returns July 13 and will be at the Wyoming Moose Lodge. The field of contestants will be narrowed down to 10 who will compete for the title at the 28th Street Metro Cruise. To sign up for Miss Metro Cruise go to facebook.com/missmetrocruise.
Cascade’s Metro Cruise Warm Up
Aug. 22 is the Cascade’s Metro Cruise Warm Up at the Fowling Warehouse lot, 6797 Cascade Rd.
The 28th Street Metro Cruise takes place Aug. 23 and 24 at Rogers Plaza. (WKTV)
28th Street Metro Cruise Main Event
The Main Event, the 28th Street Metro Cruise, is set for Aug. 23 and 24 at Rogers Plaza in Wyoming. The Rogers Plaza site will feature over 340 show cars along the famous Collector Car Row, food from 24 vendors including 12-plus food trucks, live music from five top West Michigan bands, the Miss Metro Cruise Finale competition, the popular DYNO viewing area, freebies/coupons/drawings from the sponsor vendors, a kids’ coloring area, and much more.
Simmons said the main event site for the Metro Cruise is Rogers Plaza, but that there will be Pit Stop Sites along 28th Street between Grandville and Cascade. The Pit Stop Sites will feature collector car clubs along with food and Metro Cruise merchandise.
For more information on the Metro Cruise Dust Off or any of the upcoming Metro Cruise events and how to register for the 28th Street Metro Cruise, visit 28thstreetmetrocruise.org.
“There are more than 117 million Americans age 50 and older – 35% of the total population. I wanted to do a special show to honor and represent that age group,” says Brian B., founder and MC of the SNF. “This is the second year of special performances to recognize specific groups.
(Courtesy, Brian B.)
“In February, we did our special Black History Month show. In March, it was our Women’s History Month and Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids LaughFest performances. The SNF is a melting pot of comedians and audience members – different ages, nationalities, so why not honor all the groups that make up the show?”
The Older Americans Month lineup consists of seven different comedians at least 50 years of age. The show will feature former local radio personality Jojo Girard closing out the show. Also featured will be Detroit area comic Kathy Ryan, comedians from Ohio, and various local talent.
“The Sunday Night Funnies has got a big 2024 going on,” said Brian B.
In addition to the the Older Americans Month show, the following Sunday (May 12) will kick off SNF’s seventh annual Kingpin of Comedy competition.
15 years of SNF
The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. Now in its 15th year, the SNF is a weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring over 1,200 performances from comics across Michigan and around the country.
The SNF is a free admission show on Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m. during the winter/spring, and at 8:30 p.m. during summer and early fall. All performances take place at Woody’s Pressbox inside The Spectrum Entertainment Complex in Wyoming.
WKTV Government Channel 26 is offering live coverage of the upcoming total solar eclipse!
Tune in Monday, April 8 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and see this stunning solar display live from NASA’s view.
Experience this amazing event with us as a total solar eclipse moves across Mexico, the United States and Canada, and see incredible views from various sites along its path.
Coverage of the eclipse courtesy of NASA TV. For more information about the eclipse, go to www.nasa.gov.
Young and old fans alike were able to meet Grand Rapids Gold basketball players at a recent Fan Appreciation Night on March 30.
GR Gold players wrapped up the 2023-2024 season with a game against Capital City Go-Go at the Van Andel Arena.
(Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
Fans received a free Gold pendant on a chain, presented by Founders Brewing Co. during their Gold Chain Giveaway.
After the game, Gold players lined up down the length of the court and signed autographs for fans.
Join the Gold excitement!
The Official NBA G League Affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, GR Gold provides ample opportunities for fans to enjoy the excitement of basketball. Fans can purchase tickets through a variety of options including season ticket memberships, 6-game plans, group packages and single-game tickets.
(Courtesy, Matthew Reed)
GR Gold also hosts an annual summer camp, the Grand Rapids Gold Basketball Academy, for interested youth. Registration for the 2024 summer camp can be found here.
For more Grand Rapids Gold information and events, click here.
One of the top comedic voices in the country, Tom Papa, will perform an unforgettable night of laughter on March 14 in celebration of the Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids program.
Currently on his Tom Papa: 2023 Comedy Tour!, the highly rated comedian, author, actor, and host of Breaking Bread with Tom Papa and What a Joke with Papa and Fortune is ready to steal the show with his wit and hilarious observations on everyday life.
What to expect
Held at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (FMG), the Gala doors will open at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception. The Gilda’s Club program and dinner will be presented at 7 p.m., with comedic entertainment commencing at 8:30 p.m.
(Courtesy, Gilda’s Club)
Toast the transformative power and hope Gilda’s program creates through free emotional health support for those on a cancer or grief journey.
Prepare to be entertained!
As the Gala approaches, watch Tom Papa on his five highly-rated Netflix comedy specials or in his starring film roles. You can also read his books and listen to the monthly show, Come to Papa Live on Channel 93.
For more Red Door Gala event information, click here. Tickets can be purchased here.
To learn more about comedian Tom Papa, click here.
“The Sunday Night Funnies has always been a diverse show,” says Brian B., MC and Founder of the SNF. “I wanted to celebrate the contribution women comedians have brought to the show through the years.”
Brian B. went on to say that, locally, women performing standup comedy was rare.
“Over the course of the last few years, that number has been steadily growing,” Brian B. says. “We’re featuring seven extremely funny women comics for this show.”
The lineup
The March 3 special performance will feature Grand Rapids comedian Kim Cook, a Second City alumni and semifinalist in the 2022 Kingpin of Comedy competition; Nicole Melnyk, voted Lansing’s Best Comic three times; Lauren Corbett; Cheryl Stoner; Amanda VK; and SNF first-timers Lucky Lee and Cinda DeBolt.
Lucky Lee (Courtesy, SNF)
Kim Cook (Courtesy, SNF)
Cheryl Stoner (Courtesy, SNF)
Amanda VK (Courtesy, SNF)
Cinda DeBolt (Courtesy, SNF)
Lauren Corbett (Courtesy, SNF)
Nicole Melnyk (Courtesy, SNF)
Mark your calendars for upcoming SNF events!
The following Sunday, March 10, is SNF’s annual LaughFest show. Comics 50+ will celebrate Older American Month with a show on Sunday, May 5. Soon after will be the start of SNF’s sixth annual Kingpin of Comedy competition.
About SNF
The creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. (Brian Borbot), the SNF is a weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring a variety of comics from Michigan and around the country.
Gilda’s LaughFest is in need of volunteers to support the 2024 festival set for March 6-10.
Volunteer Registration
Volunteers can help in numerous ways leading up to and during the festival. There is no minimum requirement regarding amount of time or number of events needed to volunteer.
General volunteers can help with ushering, ticket-taking collecting donations, and wayfinding. Specialized volunteers are needed to photograph events (Photo Team); run audio, video and lights (Production Team); move supplies and people (Transportation Team); and more.
Those interested in volunteering can register at laughfestgr.org/volunteer/. New and returning volunteers can register through Feb. 16. Orientation will be provided for all volunteers on Feb. 17.
LaughFest 2024 Details
Shows and entertainers announced for the 14th annual LaughFest include: Tammy Pescatelli, Josh Johnson, Piff the Magic Dragon, Demetri Martin, and returning festival favorite – the Clean Comedy Showcase.
LaughFest 2024 includes over 40 free and ticketed shows in Grand Rapids, Holland, Lowell and Wayland’s Gun Lake Casino.
LaughFest individual tickets are available for purchase at laughfestgr.org, and at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids pop-up LaughFest stores from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Feb. 17 and March 2.
Proceeds from LaughFest and LaughFest’s High Five campaign support the free cancer and grief emotional health program offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids.
The Rapid transit system provides a seamless bus network connecting visitors to and from downtown Grand Rapids.
DASH offers free rides around downtown every 15 minutes. Download the ‘Transit‘ app for the nearest stop and real-time info.
Area 9 Parking is also available for just $3 a day, and offer use of a free shuttle.
Many installations have lights that give a different look and feel to the exhibit during night hours (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Accessibility
It is advised to refer to each individual event for accessibility information.
Crowd sizes fluctuate and may impede visibility of certain installations for individuals with mobility issues. Most locations provide sidewalk accessibility. However, some installations are in park areas without pavement pathways. Please use caution during your visit.
WoW continues to work to make the festival experience as accessible as possible for all visitors, and are looking at accessibility improvements for the 2025 WoW festival.
Plan your visit ahead of time so you don’t miss out on any fun activities or art installations (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Snow gear tips
Elevate your WoW experience by being prepared with winter essentials! See the recommended list of gear from the WoW team.
This list is recommended but not required to attend or enjoy the festival.
Snow gear checklist:
Base Layers like leggings or long sleeved shirts (Wool/Silk/Polypropylene over Cotton)
Snow Pants (or a pair of pants over your bottom base layers)
“Congratulations to Robel Abebe, who performed with the All-State Jazz Band last Saturday!” said EKHS Band Director Sho Dembinski in a school social media shout-out.
“Robel was selected from over 2,000 students to play with this band, and spent Thursday and Friday at the Amway Grand in Downtown GR to prepare for his concert. Way to go, Robel!”
The All-State Jazz performance was held Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. in the Amway Ambassador Ballroom.
Advancing to the All-State program is a competitive process and requires talent and diligence. Being accepted to All-State is considered one of the highest honors a high school musician can receive.
(Courtesy photo)
Students must prepare a 10-minute recorded audition that includes sight-reading, an announced etude and a series of scales. Auditions are submitted using only an identification number with no reference to the student or school.
The auditions are then evaluated by an adjudicator and placed in order. The required number of instruments is then selected to fill each section in the five All-State ensembles: Middle School String Orchestra, Middle School Band, High School Full Orchestra, High School Band and High School Jazz Ensemble.
Approximately 2,500 students audition each year for 400 seats in the All-State ensembles.
In January, the students assemble for two and a half days of rehearsal with nationally recognized conductors. All-State ensembles then perform in a concert held Saturday of the MMC.
(Courtesy photo)
Michigan Music Conference
“The purpose of the Michigan Music Conference is to provide relevant professional development and vibrant musical experiences that support music education for educators and their students,” states the MMC website.
Featuring school ensemble concerts, performances from Honors Choirs, All-State Bands, and Orchestras; sessions for in-service and pre-service teachers; professional development clinics; hands-on technology workshops; and association membership and business meetings, MMC attendance draws approximately 9,000 teachers, administrators, students, speakers, and guests each year.
“The Sunday Night Funnies has always been a diverse show,” said MC and SNF Founder Brian B. (Brian Borbot). “When putting together the lineup each week, I try to have a good mix of comedians-be it race, gender, or age-range. I think our audience appreciates that.
“I wanted to celebrate the contribution Black comedians have brought to the show through the years.”
The special show features six comics: Brianna Blackburn, a local favorite who has been part of several LaughFest shows; Sunday Night Funnies’ Kingpin of Comedy competition finalists JT Motley, Marcus Cusic and Silas Haley; Dionte Allen from Ohio; and Michael Chandler, a relative newcomer to the local scene.
Brianna Blackburn (Courtesy, Brian B.)
Michael Chandler (Courtesy, Brian B.)
Dionte Allen (Courtesy, Brian B.)
Silas Haley (Courtesy, Brian B.)
Marcus Cusic (Courtesy, Brian B.)
JT Motley (Courtesy, Brian B.)
But wait – there’s more!
“The Sunday Night Funnies has got a big 2024 planned,” said Brian B. “In addition to the Black History Month show, March 3 will feature a special all-women comedian show in honor of Women’s History Month.”
The following Sunday, March 10 is the SNF’s LaughFest show. Sunday, May 5 will be a celebration of Older American Month featuring comics ages 50 and up. Then begins the sixth annual Kingpin of Comedy competition.
About the SNF
The Sunday Night Funnies is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B.
A weekly live stand-up comedy performance featuring a variety of comics from Michigan and around the country, the SNF is a free admission show that starts at 7:30 p.m. and is performed at the Spectrum Entertainment Complex.
Experience the enchanting allure of the classical ballet, Sleeping Beauty. Grand Rapids Ballet will perform the cherished tale at DeVos Performance Hall Feb. 23-25.
A traditional tale come to life
Sleeping Beauty shares the traditional tale of Princess Aurora.
From her birth, a curse by the evil fairy Carabosse foretells Aurora’s demise on her sixteenth birthday. Aurora enters a profound slumber, only to be awakened by true love’s kiss, as orchestrated by the benevolent Lilac Fairy.
(Courtesy, Kansas City Ballet / Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios)
With Devon Carney’s exquisite choreography that pays homage to Marius Petipa, the production will be accompanied by a live Grand Rapids Symphony performance of Tchaikovsky’s exceptional score.
Gorgeous costumes, sumptuous sets, and breathtaking dancing are a hallmark of this family-friendly classical ballet performance.
Come and celebrate!
In addition to the ballet, Sleeping Beauty’s Birthday Party will be held on Feb. 25 at DeVos Performance Hall.
(Courtesy, Kansas City Ballet / Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios)
The memorable royal gathering will be held from 12-1 p.m. Party guests can create enchanted crafts to take home, enjoy sweet treats, and meet Grand Rapids Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty.
Party wear, crowns and sparkles are encouraged to help celebrate Princess Aurora’s sweet sixteen.
The Grand Rapids Christmas Lite Show has been a holiday tradition for most West Michigan families for the past 25 years.
With over 50,000 visitors each year, the Christmas Lite Show (CLS) has grown to be the largest lite show display in West Michigan.
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
How it all began
A family-owned business, the CLS was founded by American veteran William (Bill) Schrader after returning to West Michigan as a wounded war veteran.
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Schrader and his family would spend the days leading up to Christmas driving through neighborhood decorated in lights. It was a cherished family tradition by Schrader, his wife and their three children.
After sharing those memories with family friends, Schrader approached the LMCU Ballpark office and asked to lease the parking lot so he could bring a unique and fun holiday attraction to West Michigan.
Comprised of a 30-person team of mostly veterans, the CLS has grown from generators, gas cans, and mile-long extension cords to transformers, power boxes, and 100% LEDs, and from one semi trailer full of lights to eight.
The mission
The CLS 40-night season (Nov. 22 – Dec. 31) brings new displays and experiences every year – and is the result of a year-round effort by Schrader and his team.
“The whole mission is to bring a smile to the kids,” Schrader says on the CLS website. “It’s all about the kids.”
Schrader and his team are dedicated to spreading joy and good fortune to our community. They carry out this spirit through the CLS and by supporting and donating to local organizations like the Grand Rapids Veterans Home.
Curated by the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, “Concerts Under the Stars” is an immersive full-dome concert experience highlighting local musicians and visual artists.
Local West Michigan bands will perform their music, enhanced by original video art projected onto the Planetarium’s 50-foot dome. Upcoming local visual artists collaborate with the musicians to weave together an exclusive concert experience.
First to take the stage
GRPM is kicking off the 2024 series on Jan. 11 and 12 with Silent Spirit, a Grand Rapids electronic music sensation. Silent Spirit combines synthesis and contemplative rhythms to create organic atmospheres and reflective environments.
Performances will be accompanied by a full-dome visual display presented by local artist, iVy Garvey.
Attendees are invited to explore their inner selves and imagine themselves immersed in a world drawn from inspiration of the natural world.
Must-know details
Each show begins at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Visitors are invited to explore the Museum’s first two floors of exhibits during the cocktail hour before the concert.
Visitors can grab a drink and explore the first two floors of GRPM before the concerts (Courtesy, GRPM)
Performers will play two sets with a short intermission in between. Refreshments, beer, and other beverages will be available for purchase.
Parking is available through GVSU and the Museum’s parking ramp and will be validated for GRPM parking ramp guests.
Tickets are $20, with discounted pricing of $16 for GRPM members. Children must attend with an adult.
Details for February and March performances can be found here.
*Please be aware that shows may contain bright lights or dizzying visuals.
(Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)
By Adam Brown
WKTV Contributor
Looking for a family-friendly outing during these chilly winter days? Frederik Meijer Gardens has you covered.
What Is It?
For the 29th consecutive year, Meijer Gardens is holding the annual University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions Exhibition. This immersive experience takes guests on a journey showcasing worldwide cultures and lifestyles through trees and displays throughout the Gardens. Each winter, as the Gardens transform into a snowy wonderland, they spotlight one unique theme. This year’s message is Gather, which highlights how people around the world come together during this special time of year.
From November 21, 2023 to January 7, 2024, Meijer Gardens transforms for the season. Guests’ favorite sculptures and exhibits are still there, just with a little extra winter flair. The Railway Garden transports guests around the park as they take in the flowers, gardens, and more than 350,000 individual lights. Each display highlights a unique tradition or cultural story from around the world. The Exhibition hasn’t left out the local community either. The Railway Garden and surrounding handcrafted buildings pay tribute to more than 40 iconic landmarks from the greater Grand Rapids area, as well as Grand Rapids’ sister cities across the globe.
The Railway Garden. (Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)
What’s New This Year?
This year, Meijer Gardens has added something new. At the nearby DeVos Van Andel Piazza, guests can observe the Winter Glow lighting experience for the very first time. Surrounding The American Horse sculpture and just a short distance from the main building, this combination light-and-music show features lights dancing to a choreographed custom soundtrack while projecting winter scenes on the surrounding hills. The Gardens extend their hours for this show, which runs December 18 to 22 and 26 to 30 from 5 to 9 pm. Firepits and hot beverages are provided to warm any chilly bones.
“We are looking forward to unveiling our new ‘Winter Glow’ experience outside on the nights of December 18-22 and 26-30. These unique events will feature visuals, sound, warm beverages and fire pits and are a great way for people to gather with friends and family to celebrate the holidays,” noted John VanderHaagen, the Gardens’ communications director.
The unique lights and sounds from across the world make Meijer Gardens the perfect place to reconnect with friends and loved ones this holiday season. And to anyone worried about potential accessibility issues, the Gardens have you covered. “We are open 360 days of the year,” VanderHaagen added. “All of our pathways remain plowed and de-iced, so we do make the entire grounds inside and outside accessible for our guests during the winter.” Guests should dress for the weather, as VanderHaagen noted both the indoor and outdoor areas of the Gardens remain open.
For the Community
Meijer Gardens’ original film Joy, exploring the melting pot of cultural celebrations in the local area, runs all season long in the Hoffman Family Auditorium. It also streams for free on YouTube.
The response from the community has been one of positivity, both in the local area and beyond. “[The Holiday Traditions Exhibition] is our second busiest time, other than our butterfly exhibition in the spring,” VanderHaagen added. The Exhibition offers something for everyone, regardless of your favorite traditions. The younger patrons may enjoy visits with Santa Claus at the Welcome Center or petting a few of his reindeer at Michigan’s Farm Garden.
Wintertime Walks give the kiddos an immersive investigation of the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. If classic Christmas carols are your thing, keep an ear open for The Original Dickens Carolers as they venture through the Gardens’ Bissell and Gunberg corridors, spreading songs and good cheer.
(Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)
Bird lovers can join the Grand Rapids Audubon Club for their 124th Annual Christmas Bird Count as they share ways for everyday citizens to involve themselves in supporting birds. The local area’s Polish Heritage Society and Korean Connection offer an inside look at their culture’s holiday traditions and how they’re observed each year. Finally, various Christmas-themed classes present jolly learning opportunities for patrons of all ages. Fees for these events are all included with admission costs. The exact dates and times for events and details about the Exhibition can be found here.
Looking beyond this year, VanderHaagen noted that the Gardens will continue to expand their new offerings in 2024. “We are also excited to launch a series of new events later this winter in January called Winter Nights at Meijer Gardens. These new experimental evenings feature unique performances, food and drink specials, and fun photo opportunities in the Garden Pavilion surrounded by Jaume Plensa’s monumental Utopia sculpture.”
The Railway Garden. (Courtesy, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)
Kentwood Holiday Parade (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
The City of Kentwood invited community members to celebrate the holiday season with an annual tree lighting ceremony and holiday light parade on Dec. 7.
The event kicked off with a parade, followed by outdoor activities for all ages, including take-home children’s crafts and caroling karaoke. A visit from Santa and his reindeer, Dune Buggy food truck, and complimentary coffee and hot chocolate were also available throughout the evening.
Last year’s essay winner and grand marshal, Clara Wells, accompanied Mayor Kepley on a parade float and later helped him light the Christmas tree in front of the library.
“These festivities mark the beginning of one of the most wonderful times of the year as our remarkable community gathers to bring good tidings of peace and joy to all,” said Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley.
From their GRAMMY® Award-winning 2004 Go Tell It on the Mountain and 2014 Talkin’ Christmas albums, this holiday performance has thrilled sell-out audiences across the United States.
Executive & Artistic Director of SCMC Cathy Holbrook says, “We are so excited to present the 5-time GRAMMY® Award-winning Blind Boys of Alabama in concert at SCMC this holiday season! Royce Auditorium will be filled with joy during their performance on December 5.”
Raising roofs and crossing boundaries
The Blind Boys of Alabama perform live shows that are roof-raising musical events that appeal to audiences of all cultures. The Blind Boys are known for crossing multiple musical boundaries with their remarkable interpretations of everything from traditional gospel favorites to contemporary spiritual material.
Since the original members first sang together as kids at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in the late 1930s, the band has persevered through seven decades to become one of the most recognized and decorated roots music groups in the world.
“Seeing the Blind Boys of Alabama in concert is part living history, part concert, all uplifting experience…the best moments come when the group join forces for stirring harmonies,” claims The Washington Post.
Achieving dreams and world recognition
The Blind Boys’ career spans over 75 years (Courtesy Photo)
The Blind Boys’ music has not only endured, but thrived during seven decades of world events and is recognized worldwide as living legends and modern-day innovators.
Band members Jimmy “Jimster” Carter, Ricky McKinnie, Paul Beasley, Rev. Julius Love, newest addition Sterling Glass, and led by Music Director and lead guitarist Joey Williams helped create a new gospel sound for the 21st century.
Celebrated by The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) with Lifetime Achievement Awards, and inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Blind Boys of Alabama are also winners of fiveGRAMMY® Awards.
Tickets for The Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show are $60, $45 and $30 at scmcgr.org or by calling 616-459-2224.
Season tickets for the Circle Theatre 2024 productions are now on sale (Courtesy, Circle Theatre)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
Circle Theatre in Grand Rapids celebrates 2024 with their 71st season of Main Stage productions and Summer Concert Series.
Dedicated to enriching the quality of life in West Michigan, Circle Theatre uses an intimate setting and exceptional theatrical arts to educate and entertain.
(Courtesy, Circle Theatre)
The only community theatre in West Michigan specializing in summer theatre, the Theatre allows community performers of all ages to hone their craft. The Theatre also provides employment for directors, choreographers, musicians, designers and technicians.
Circle Theatre boasts more than 300 loyal volunteers and employs approximately 127 local independent contractors annually. Circle also provides nine paid internships to college students, three college scholarships, and arts scholarships to children grades PreK-8 each year. An Environmental Leadership contest for ages 6-14 is also available.
How it all began
Grand Rapids Community Summer Theatre, also known as Circle at the Rowe, was founded in 1952 by Norma Brink, Ted Brink and Sydney Spayde. Its first season was held in 1953.
The Rowe Hotel housed the Theatre for eight years. Due to the shape of the rented room, the play performance area was arena-style with the audience seated around the actors.
Over the years, Circle moved to various other locations, finally finding a home at the Pavilion in John Ball Park for 40 years. Growing audiences and a need for more technically adequate facilities, Circle Theatre searched for a new home and found a partnership with Catholic Secondary Schools and Aquinas College, opening of a new Performing Arts Center at the College in 2003.
Purchasing tickets
Tickets for the 2024 season can be purchased online at circletheatre.org, the box office at 616-456-6656, or in person at the box office (1703 Robinson Road SE, Grand Rapids).
SNF’s Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its final round Oct. 29 with the final nine comedians (Brian B. SNF)
By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
The original lineup of 91 comedians is now down to nine as the Sunday Night Funnies Kingpin of Comedy competition enters its final round Sunday, Oct. 29.
“We have a good mix of comedians performing in the finals this year,” says Brian B., MC and founder of the Sunday Night Funnies (SNF). “The Grand Rapids metro area is obviously represented, but we also have a comic from Niles, Michigan, one from Detroit – even one from Canada!
Sunday Night Funnies presents Kingpin of Comedy competition (Courtesy, Brian B. SNF)
The lineup is diverse too. Not only in terms of race, but age-range as well with comedians in their 20s up to sixty years old.”
Along with the nine competing comics, comedian Seth Lee – the 2022 Kingpin of Comedy winner – will close the show while votes are counted.
“Seeing that Wyoming is the 14th largest city in Michigan, I thought that the eventual winner deserved a prize package worthy of the title Most Humorous Person In Town,” said Brian B. “The package includes prizes from local businesses including Craig’s Cruisers, LaughFest, Midtown GR, and from the host of the show Spectrum Entertainment Complex.
“The winner will also receive $500 cash, a tricked-out bowling pin trophy and a personalized Kingpin bowling shirt. The total prize package is valued close to $1,000.”
The SNF is the creation of Grand Rapids stand-up comedian Brian B. A weekly live stand-up comedy performance, SNF features a variety of comics from Michigan and across the country.
SNF performances are a free admission shows beginning at 7:30 p.m. and performed at the Spectrum Entertainment Complex, 5656 Clyde Park SW, in Wyoming.
The vintage ball park is hosting a Back to the 90’s Ballpark Jam festival-style show that will feature several musical artists.
Kicking off at 2:30 p.m. and running until 10 p.m., the show will consist of continuous music, beer, food trucks and of course – fun!
Troll for Trout will play alongside Papa Vegas, Domestic Problems, Knee Deep Shag and Craig Griffith. Between band acts, guests will be treated to solo performances by Adam Mikrut, Glen Danles, Ed Dupas, and more.
Troll for Trout is celebrating their 30th anniversary of colorful musical history. Over the years, the Michigan band has earned a diehard following and generated an impressive array of recordings.
“Troll for Trout and our music has always been about a lifestyle,” Michael Crittenden, founding member and chief songwriter, says on their website. “It’s that excited feeling of leaving work early on a beautiful Friday afternoon and pointing your vehicle North where there’s no schedule. It’s about finding and reconnecting with the peace that resides in all of us, but gets buried by the day to day grind.”
“Reboot” is a benefit for the restoration of Valley Field. A portion of the proceeds will also go toward the GVSU Aris Hampers Broadcasting Scholarship.
Grand Rapids Ballet brings back its popular “The Nutcracker” production. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Ballet)
Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB), Michigan’s only classical ballet company, officially kicks off its 2023-24 season as tickets go on sale for all their upcoming productions.
The season is packed full of dynamic pieces in Contemporary Visions, Jumpstart 2024, and In The Upper Room, in the Peter Martin Wege Theatre. These unique ballets show a range of diverse styles and themes the professional company can offer.
Throughout their 23-24 season Grand Rapids Ballet continues to present beloved classical family-friendly ballets such as The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty on a grand scale at DeVos Performance Hall with accompaniment from the Grand Rapids Symphony.
The Grand Rapids Ballet School’s Junior Company is pleased to present two spectacular productions, Carnival of the Animals and Snow White, at the Peter Martin Wege Theatre.
“In the 23-24 season, our audience will be able to experience a full range of what makes ballet so exciting. From the classical tradition of Sleeping Beauty to the contemporary thrill of In The Upper Room to our free Summer Dance Festival that celebrates the diversity of dance in our community, I am confident that this season will amaze, inspire, and perhaps most of all, connect us through the arts,” Artistic Director James Sofranko said.
The company continues to take artistic risks and bring new styles of ballet to the stage for its audience to enjoy. With this new season, Grand Rapids Ballet will welcome seven new company dancers from all across the United States and even from Japan. As the dancers have a month more of summer break, the ballet eagerly awaits their company dancers’ return, veteran and new, to start working on an incredible season lineup.
“Our 23-24 Season continues to uphold the reputation of Grand Rapids Ballet as a leader in the arts community, presenting the best of classical and contemporary ballet as well as commissioning new and exciting works by in-demand choreographers,” James Sofranko, Artistic Director at Grand Rapids Ballet says.
Individual tickets and season subscriptions are on sale during the duration of the season. By becoming a season subscriber, patrons can take advantage of many benefits, including the best seats for the best price, discounts on additional tickets, ticket flexibility with worry-free exchanges, exclusive invites to special GRB events, and so much more. Patrons also can participate in the Sizzling Summer Sale, where they can purchase tickets to The Nutcracker for 50% off for performances Dec. 8-18. The sale is going on through July 26 and patrons can use the promo code: SIZZLE.
The Azz-Izz Band has been playing local gigs for more than three decades, and still brings it. (Courtesy, Azz-Izz Band)
By K.D. Norris
WKTV Contributor
Kentwood prides itself on being a city of energetic, multi-cultural residents and visitors, so what would you expect from the Kentwood Summer Concert Series but a kickoff month with bands bringing some savory rhythm and blues, and a taste of Latin love.
The Azz-Izz Band, led by vocalist Darrick Pearson, but including a stage load of local R&B+ talent, will open the free admission outdoor series on Thursday, June 15, starting at 7 p.m., on the lawn behind Kentwood City Hall.
Then get your Latin dance party pants on Thursday, June 22, when the Wity Sound Band hits the stage to continue a series running almost every Thursday evening through Aug. 10.
The Wity Sound Band includes as many as eight musicians and singers, and plays a wide range of Latin, Cuban and American music with Latin beats. (Courtesy, Wity Sound Band)
The remaining lineup includes Cabildo on June 29, Chicago Farmer and the Fieldnotes, July 13, Good Morning Bedlam, July 20, Big Band Nouveau, July 27, Brena, Aug. 3, and RocknSoul in the series finale on Aug. 10.
More details on the entire lineup are available on a City of Kentwood webpage here. WKTV Community Media will again partner with the City to bring the concert series to the public, with details on live community cable and on-demand replays also available on the city’s webpage.
The public is invited to bring their blankets, chairs and picnic baskets to the concerts, which run from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and a variety of food truck fare is available prior and during. Concertgoers also are welcomed to bring their own beer or wine to the show.
Check out the Kentwood Farmers Market beforehand
Come early and visit the Kentwood Farmers Market, which takes place every Thursday in the parking lot behind Kentwood City Hall from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Bringing local talent to local audiences
The Azz-Izz Band is a “6-piece, energetic dance band performing top hits from R&B, funk, MoTown and pop music,” according to a band spokesperson. The group, which plays throughout West Michigan, has been under the leadership of Pearson for more than 35 years. Featured performers include Pearson on percussion and vocals, James Bates on vocals, Kevin Gillespie on bass, Will McNeil on guitar, Billy Gregory on keyboards and Mark Barnes on saxophone.
For more information on the band, visit their Facebook page here.
Wity Sound Band
While the Azz-Izz band has a long history of bringing their sounds to local audiences, the Wity Sound Band is fairly new to the area, but delivering their hot Latin sounds in a big way.
“The Wity Sound Band is me and my band, eight musicians from Cuba and Mexico,” band leader and keyboardist Wity Zaldívar said to WKTV. “We will be playing Latin music, like Salsa, merengue, bachata, Cuban traditional music and a mix of American music with Latin sounds.
The Wity Sound Band is led by keyboardist Wity Zaldívar. (Courtesy, Wity Sound Band)
“This is a new concept in Grand Rapids, and we hope the audience will enjoy our performance. This will be our first time playing at this summer concerts and hope not the last.”
The Wity Sound Band is already well known on the local Latin dance and club scene. For more information on the band, visit Wity’s Facebook page here.
Twenty-three software, video, and light-based works of art will be on view this summer at the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) in Message from Our Planet: Digital Art from the Thoma Foundation. On view June 17 – Sept. 9, the exhibition proposes that digital technology offers distinct ways for artists to communicate with future generations.
“Message from Our Planet celebrates digital technologies as an incredible tool for today’s artists,” said GRAM Associate Curator Jennifer Wcisel. “The works in the exhibition encompass familiar technologies like digital video and photography to the unexpected visualization of data, assemblages of electronic components, and collages of found-video footage. We look forward to highlighting the myriad possibilities of digital art at GRAM and hope our guests leave with a new, broader understanding of the art form.”
Spanning the mid-1980s to today, the works in Message from Our Planet utilize a range of vintage and cutting-edge materials to create a polyphonic time-capsule, preserving their ideas, beliefs, and desires. The regional, national, and international artists featured in the exhibition include Ólafur Elíasson, Jenny Holzer, LoVid, Hong Hao, Matthew Angelo Harrison, Christian Marclay, and James Nares.
Message from Our Planet includes artwork that uses digital technologies as a tool for the creation of more traditional art objects—like a photograph, print, or sculpture—as well as art that is created, stored, and distributed by digital technology and employs their features as its medium.
The artists in Message from Our Planet engage with nontraditional mediums like video games, computer code, scanners, 3-D printers, online data, and even discarded electronic parts to create engaging works of digital art that capture the concerns and ambitions of our current era. The earliest work in the exhibition was created by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kac in 1986 with a now defunct Minitel terminal, a device used to access the most popular online service prior to the World Wide Web.
Detroit-based artist Matthew Angelo Harrison uses custom software and a handmade 3D printer to explore history, ancestry, and the relationship between African and African American culture. Harrison’s work, Braided Woman, is a 3D-printed sculpture of an imagined artifact. To create this work, Harrison scanned images of historic African masks from books and online sources, then digitally blended their shapes to generate a unique, composite object.
Featured Artists: Brian Bress Lia Chaia Ólafur Elíasson Nicholas Galanin Sabrina Gschwandtner Hong Hao Matthew Angelo Harrison Claudia Hart Jenny Holzer Eduardo Kac LoVid Christian Marclay Lee Lee Nam James Nares Paul Pfeiffer Tabita Rezaire Michal Rovner Jason Salavon Elias Sime Skawennati Penelope Umbrico Robert Wilson
Member Event:
Member Exhibition Opening: Message from Our Planet Friday, June 16 | 7 – 9 pm Museum Members and their guests are invited to celebrate the opening of Message from Our Planet at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. Join us for an advance look at the exhibition, accompanied by hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
Message from Our Planet: Digital Art from the Thoma Collection is curated and supported by the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation. Support for this exhibition has been generously provided by Wege Foundation, with additional funding provided by GRAM Exhibition Society.
About the Grand Rapids Art Museum
Connecting people through art, creativity, and design. Established in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, the art museum is internationally known for its distinguished design and LEED® Gold certified status. Founded in 1910 as the Grand Rapids Art Association, GRAM has grown to include more than 6,000 works of art, including American and European 19th and 20th-century painting and sculpture and more than 3,000 works on paper. Embracing the city’s legacy as a leading center of design and manufacturing, GRAM has a growing collection in the area of design and modern craft.
For museum hours and admission fees, call 616.831.1000 or visit artmuseumgr.org.
La Furia Del Ritmo opens up the GRAM on the Green with WYCE concert series on July 20.
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) has announced the 2023 lineup for its 14th annual free summer concert series, GRAM on the Green with WYCE 88.1 FM. Taking place on Thursday evenings from July 20 through Aug. 10, the series brings four evenings of performances by local and regional musical acts to downtown Grand Rapids.
Guests of all ages are invited to relax on the Museum’s outdoor terrace and enjoy free live music, food trucks, a cash bar, and hands-on artmaking activities. Admission to the Museum is also free during GRAM on the Green as part of Meijer Free Thursday Nights.
“The Grand Rapids Art Museum is thrilled to bring another season of free summer concerts to downtown Grand Rapids in partnership with WYCE 88.1 FM,” said GRAM Director of Communications Elizabeth Payne. “GRAM on the Green is part of our ongoing commitment to present accessible and engaging art experiences for our community, and we look forward to another year of celebrating art and music downtown.”
2023 Lineup:
July 20: La Furia Del Ritmo (latin/world)
July 27: Sarena Rae (soul/blues/jazz)
August 3: The Bootstrap Boys (country/americana/folk)
August 10: Pretoria (rock/indie/alternative)
“WYCE is excited for another year of GRAM on the Green,” said WYCE Music Director and series curator Chris Cranick. “This year’s lineup features a mix of Michigan artists making waves in the community. Whether it’s Latin groove, soul, forward-thinking country or modern indie rock, we’re elated to present the diverse lineup of talent this year. Each act is sure to get everyone on their feet dancing. We look forward to connecting with the community at the shows this summer.”
From left, RJ Billmeijer, from CopperRock Construction; Senator Mark Huizenga; RoMan Manufacturing President Nelson Sanchez; RoMan Manufacturing CEO Bob Roth; RoMan Manufacturing founder Robert Hoffman; RoMan Manufacturing Vice President Kurt Hofman; Wyoming Mayor Kent Vanderwood, and Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Keith Morgan. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
While for some the COVID pandemic caused a stall in operations, for RoMan Manufacturing it was a time when the company discovered new opportunities in the semiconductor and data center industries that have now led to the Wyoming-manufacture adding a new 27,000-square-foot facility to its location.
On May 18, city officials and business leaders joined company officials and employees for a groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s future facility, which along with being a manufacturing facility also will house the company’s new training and development program, RoMan University, and its Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program. The new facility, which is expected to open in October, is predicted to create at least 50 new jobs in the next 18 to 20 months.
“The new facility will allow us to expand our overall capacity to serve our existing core business, which is what we grew up on, the markets of resistance welding, furnace and glass, and create space to serve these new markets,” said RoMan Manufacturing President Nelson Sanchez.
Along with that, the addition of RoMan University and the apprenticeship will help the company develop a talent pipeline, Sanchez said.
RoMan CEO Both Roth said the facility also enables RoMan to continue its focus on helping its customers to achieve their goals.
“It was always that vantage point I think that has been one of our north stars and has driven business forward is that we think about customers first and in doing that, we can help them succeed and when we help our customers succeed, it helps us succeed,” Roth said.
Growing and Evolving
Started in 1982 with an 8,000-square-foot building, RoMan — which is a combination of the founders’ names Dietrich Roth and Robert Hofman — the company in the past 40-plus years has grown to cover seven acres with two sites that has a combined square footage of 160,000. The main campus is located at 861 47th St. SW, which is where the new building will be located.
The group of RoMan Manufacturing and local officials help break grown on RoMan’s new facility. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
According to Executive Vice President Kurt Hofman, RoMan Manufacturing started as a niche business focused on low voltage, high current water cooler transformers.
“You can Google that today and you are not going to see a whole lot of people pop up on that Google search and I can tell you who is going to be on the top of that Google search, it is going to be us,” Hofman said.
Over time, RoMan Manufacturing expanded outside of welding and the automotive industry and moved into other industries, which led to the company building systems. This led RoMan being to be able to expand into the semiconductor and data center businesses.
“On behalf of the entire city council, I want to congratulate RoMan Manufacturing on its new production facility and say thank you for choosing the City of Wyoming and for providing additional job opportunities for our residents and the West Michigan community,” said Mayor Kent Vanderwood at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Circle Theatre will celebrate the British artistry of the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Kate Bush, Culture Club, Wham!, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield and more in The British Invasion, directed by Nubia Gomez.
Sponsored by Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, The British Invasion show will be May 8, July 17 and Sept. 11. Tickets are $20, with performances located inside the Aquinas College’s Performing Arts Center, 1703 Robinson Rd. SE.
For more information on Circle Theatre’s Summer Concert Series, 2023 season, or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 616-456-6656 or visit circletheatre.org.
The Grand Rapids Ballet presents ‘Jumpstart” March 24-26. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Ballet)
Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB), Michigan’s first professional ballet company, is gearing up for its annual one-weekend performance, “Jumpstart 2023,” taking place March 24-26 at Peter Martin Wege Theatre. “Jumpstart” is an annual production at GRB, each year bringing new artistic elements to the forefront, and this year features ten world-premiere performances.
In preparation for “Jumpstart 2023,” GRB’s dancers are challenged to refocus their creative energies, moving into the role of choreographer and building works for other company dancers, apprentices, and trainees. “Jumpstart 2023” also will feature an excerpt of “Three Offerings” by sought-after choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie.
“Not knowing what to expect when you sit down at a Jumpstart performance is exactly what is so great about it. You can only prepare to be surprised and inspired! Our dancers are so talented, and they get to show a different side of themselves when they step into the role of choreographer,” said James Sofranko, artistic director at GRB.
GRB’s company dancers, consisting of 30 professional dancers, Apprentices, and Trainees, are eager to share these works with the community. The choreographers include Isaac Aoki, James Cunningham, Anna Hughlett, Adrien Malof, Yuka Oba-Muschiana, Emily Reed, Nigel Tau, Alexandra Meister Upleger, Adriana Wagenveld, and Nathan Young.
“I am amazed every year when I see the amount of creativity and energy poured into these brand-new works. Jumpstart reinvigorates my thoughts about my own choreography and challenges me to think differently,” Sofranko added.
“Jumpstart 2023” takes place March 24-26 at Peter Martin Wege Theatre, with tickets starting at $26 online, via phone at 616-454-4771, ext. 110, or in-person at GRB’s Box Office. “Jumpstart 2023” is sponsored by The Rosemary and David Good Family Foundation and Dave Schmidt and Robert Oracz.
The classically-trained Detroit resident has been elbow-deep in traditional American music since their first lessons at the age of five with Kentucky native Robert Oppelt. Their concerts take audiences on a journey through the back roads of American old time and folk music, with detours through ragtime and early jazz. Lewis has taken blue ribbons at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, WV, and at the Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, VA, the country’s oldest and largest fiddlers convention.
Your musical path has included both classical and traditional American music. Can you describe your musical origins and artistic progress?
It all started when my grandfather brought a full-size viola to the house when I was three years old. According to family lore, I would pull it out from under the piano every day and open the case up and say “I want to play it.” So when I was a little older I started taking violin lessons, and I made it as far as Interlochen Arts Academy for my junior and senior years of high school. After high school, I decided that I was done with the violin, and soon after that I met a musician from Virginia — Aaron Greenhood — who introduced me to bluegrass. I wasn’t especially interested but it turned out to be very fun and challenging, and we became close friends. I ended up moving to Virginia and started a band with him. Aaron introduced me to Ben Belcher, who gave me my first banjo and the inspiration to want to play, and from bluegrass I started exploring its origins and influences, old time, blues and other styles from the early 20th century, early jazz and country.
Aaron Jonah Lewis (Courtesy of the artist)
When I think about the musical decisions I’ve made in my life, they have always been informed by my relationships with people. Some people decide what kind of music they want to play and then look for people to play with and learn from. For me, it’s the other way around — I find people who inspire me and who I like to spend time with, and I end up getting into whatever they’re into. If Aaron Greenhood had been into samba or polka or reggae, I probably would be in a very different place right now!
Aaron Jonah Lewis was classical training. (Courtesy of the artist)
You’re a virtuoso of banjo playing rooted in 19th-century classic fingerstyle. What distinguishes this discipline from other banjo styles?
In this style, the banjo is set up with nylon strings and played with bare fingers picking up, as opposed to bluegrass picking in which steel strings and finger picks are used, or clawhammer, which uses a down-stroke with the right hand. Much of the repertoire exists in written form, as this style was popular before audio recording technology was widely available for commercial use.
I do get a thrill reading a piece of banjo music for the first time that’s never been recorded before, knowing that I’m having the same experience as someone 120 years ago would have had, discovering the music without any audible reference. For more information about classic banjo, I highly recommend this excellent resource — classic-banjo.ning.com — and to answer this specific question in detail, classic-banjo.ning.com/page/f-a-q#whatisclassicbanjo.
You play music from a variety of musical genres and traditions. Does your classical training in violin, for example, inform your traditional playing, or vice versa?
Yes, it certainly goes both ways! My Suzuki training encouraged learning by ear, and that has served me very well in the oral traditions of old time, jazz, bluegrass, country, blues, et al. I’ve found that when I play classical I bring a lot more to the table than I did in my younger years, thanks to my experience with improvisation and diverse traditional musics.
I did have to unlearn some of my classical training in order to be able to relax and get into improvisation; let go of rigid ideas of what it means to be “in tune”; and to develop a strong sense of rhythm, which is often overlooked in classical training. The training I had in my youth gave me a solid technical foundation, which made it easier for me to pick up new musical ideas and run with them, but I also had to let go of ideas of what was “right” or “good” and get past the endless quest for excellence and perfection that can distract from what is useful and meaningful in the moment.
In addition to your solo career, you’re a founding member of The Corn Potato String Band. What distinguishes your solo repertoire from your work with Corn Potato?
Not much! My solo work is missing the musical input and voices of my longtime collaborators Lindsay McCaw and Ben Belcher, and I can’t bring the same level of variety and excitement to a solo performance as I can with Ben and Lindsay. On the other hand, I am able to get a little more into the storytelling side of things and sharing historical context when I’m on my own. With Corn Potato, we try to keep the hits coming, and in my solo shows I have a bit more space and intimacy to share the stories behind the music.
What do you like about performing in downtown GR?
The people! Anywhere I perform, it’s the people who make the show. I absolutely can’t do it on my own, and folks in GR continue to demonstrate a real dedication and love for music, both new and old, familiar, and obscure.
This article provided by ArtRat, located at 46 Division Ave. S. For more about ArtRat, visit the gallery’s website at www.artrat.us. To join ArtRat Gallery’s mailing list of events and exhibits, email matthew@artrat.us.
Guests sample some of the maple sugar in front of Blandford’s sugar shack. (Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Blandford Nature Center is marking the sweet arrival of spring by bringing back the popular Sugarbush Festival centered around all things maple-syrup for a 53rd year.
The event will take place March 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blandford Nature Center, 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids.
It features the opportunity to explore and learn along Blandford Nature Center’s Sugarbush Trail. Festival attendees can visit stations along the trail where they will learn to identify and tap Sugar Maple trees, explore historic sugaring techniques of Native Americans and Pioneers, and get an inside-look at Blandford’s Sugarhouse and syrup making process.
This fun-filled event will also include wildlife encounters, a petting zoo, games, crafts, food trucks and concessions including Mon Cheri Creperie and Lazy Dazy Coffee Camper, historical building tours, live music and performances by Beaver Xing and Blandford Environmental Education Program Students (BEEPS), blacksmith demonstrations, and more.
“This is the first full-scale Sugarbush Festival we’ve been able to have since 2020,” said Community Programs Coordinator Camilla Voelker. “Our team is so excited to be opening this event up to more people and offering some of the Sugarbush Festival favorites that have been missing in the most recent years, like our Maple Cotton Candy.”
Pre-registration is not required to attend the Sugarbush Festival, but is recommended to avoid the line during check-in. Attendees can pre-register and purchase tickets ahead of time at blandfordnaturecenter.org or walk-in registration will be available at the door. Tickets are $7 per member and $10 per non-member. Children ages 2 and under are free, but registration is still necessary. Check-in will be in front of the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center with overflow parking at The Highlands, the Blandford Nature Center Farm, and CA Frost Elementary School.
Along with the Sugarbush Festival, there will be other sugarbush-themed programs happening during the month of March.
“We have so many fun things happening outside of the festival,” Voelker sai. “Our Tap a Tree or Journey to the Sugarhouse programs give families and children the opportunity to explore and learn about the sugaring process, and our Blandford Date Night: Sunset on Sugarbush orBackyard Sugaring programs are great activities for adults looking to experience the nostalgia of the sugarbush season or learn about sugaring at home.”
Guests can view a full list of programs on Blandford’s Community Calendar at blandfordnaturecenter.org. Blandford’s Sugarhouse is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 pm from March 1-31. A general admission fee of $3 per person is required for non-members which includes access to the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center and Wildlife Education Center as well as over eight miles of trails.
The ballet, with choreography by Junior Company Artistic Director Attila Mosolygo, follows the story of the original book “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ” written by L. Frank Baum, yet follows the same storyline of the well-known movie, directed by Victor Fleming, throughout the ballet. Follow Dorothy as she travels to the Land of Oz, meets three faithful friends, confronts the Wizard of Oz, and fights off the Wicked Witch of the West.
“I am excited to see all of the GRBS Junior Company students showcase their talents as we bring this classic story to the stage,” Mosolygo said. “The students have been working hard the last two and a half months.”
Rehearsals for Wizard of Oz began in December. Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company members have been attending class weekly at Grand Rapids Ballet’s Meijer Royce Center for Dance, and in many cases, depending on the role they are cast as, rehearse multiple days per week leading up to the performance. “The production involves more than 50 dancers of the Junior Company. As you can imagine, it can be challenging at times to bring that big of a cast together,” Mosolygo said.
Premiered initially in 2018, Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company is excited to bring back this well know the classic tale. Although the props and set design are the same, you may see some differences in the choreography, “As I revisit the ballet, I do tweak each scene and make changes as we go along,” Mosolygo said, “the sets and the costumes were originally created when the premiere happened in 2018. I designed and built the sets myself, based on my interpretation of the story.”
GRBS Junior Company is hosting Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party on Sunday, March 12, at The Rutledge on Ionia. At the events, families will make themed crafts, pose for the photo booth, and meet and greet with characters from the Wizard of Oz; along with having brunch.
“Wizard of Oz” runs March 10-12 and 18-19, at Peter Martin Wege Theatre. Tickets are $20 online, via phone at 616-454-4771 ext. 110, or in person at GRB’s Box Office. Tickets to Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party are available for $54 per person on the Grand Rapids Ballet’s website.
Broadway Grand Rapids President and CEO Meghan Distel and Bob Bucci from Broadway Across Grand Rapids announces the 2023-2024 season. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Not one, but two Michigan premieres highlight a “thrilling”new season for Broadway Grand Rapids, which announced its 2023-2024 shows on Monday as part of a preview at DeVos Performance Hall.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary, BGR will bring the Michigan premiere of Broadway’s most Tony Award-winning new show of the season, “MJ,” and the musical comedy revival of “Funny Girl,” announced president and CEO Meghan Distel.
Other shows include: “Disney’s Aladdin,” the entertaining “TINA- The Tina Turner Musical,” and the critically acclaimed new play, Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” In addition, patrons will have the option to add the ever-popular “Les Misérables” and “Wicked.”
“We are thrilled to celebrate our 35th anniversary season with such a stellar line-up” Distel said. “From ‘MJ’ to ‘Aladdin,’ the season is diverse, wildly entertaining, and truly offers something for everyone. It’s the very best of Broadway, adds vibrancy to our city, and keeps Grand Rapids on the map as a cultural destination.”
Ticket Prices
Five-show season packages which include “Funny Girl,” “TINA-The Tina Turner Musical,” “Disney’s Aladdin,” “To Kill A Mockingbird,” and “MJ,” start at $225 and are available now at BroadwayGrandRapids.com/Subscribe, at the Broadway Grand Rapids box office located at 122 Lyon St NW (Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or by calling the dedicated subscriber hotline at 1-866-928-7469 (Monday – Friday 10a.m. – 5 p.m.).
Season ticket holders have the option to add “Les Misérables” and “Wicked” to their package now. All subscribers are guaranteed the same seats for each show in the five-show package and receive exclusive benefits including interest free payment plan, flexible exchanges, online ticket management, and ability to auto-renew year after year.
For current season ticket holders, the deadline to renew is Monday, March 27.
All performances will be presented at DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids.
Subscription Series
Broadway Grand Rapids President and CEO Meghan Distel and Bob Bucci from Broadway Across Grand Rapids announce that “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” will be part of the 2023-2024 season. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
FUNNY GIRL – Featuring one of the greatest musical scores of all time, including classic songs “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” “I’m the Greatest Star,” and “People,” this bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who became one of the most beloved performers in history, shining brighter than the brightest lights of Broadway.
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical – “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” is the triumphant story of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits. “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” presents Tina’s journey against all odds to become one of the world’s most beloved artists of all time. Featuring her much loved songs, “TINA–The Tina Turner Musical” is written by Pulitzer Prize award-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.
Disney’s ALADDIN – Discover a whole new world at ALADDIN, the hit Broadway musical. From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of ALADDIN, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite.
Jacob Dickey, who stars as Aladdin in the Broadway production of Disney “Aladdin.” performs during the season announcement event. (WKTV/Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)
Harper Lee’s TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – All rise for Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork. The New York Times Critic’s Pick TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is “the most successful American play in Broadway history” (60Minutes). New York Magazine calls it “a real phenomenon. Majestic and incandescent, it’s filled with breath and nuance and soul.” With direction by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD has quickly become “one of the greatest plays in history” (NPR).
MJ – The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time comes to Grand Rapids. MJ, the multi–Tony Award-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. Created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.
Package Add-Ons
LES MISÉRABLES – Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Tony Award- winning musical phenomenon. LES MISÉRABLES. Set against the backdrop of 19th century France. LES MISÉRABLES is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries and 22 languages. LES MISÉRABLES still undisputedly “one of the greatest musicals ever created” (Chicago Tribune).
WICKED – WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”
Saturday Investigation Classes at the Grand Rapids Public Museum in March. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Public Museum)
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM)’s Saturday Investigation Classes will return during the month of March 2023, allowing curious minds to immerse themselves in exciting and educational labs and activities led by Museum educators.
Visitors aged 8 and older are encouraged to sign up for these small-group, hands-on educational classes to investigate history, science, and culture. Saturday Investigations transform the Museum into a learning lab, giving the public an exclusive experience through behind-the-scenes exhibit exploration, artifact investigation, engaging activities, and more. This experience is great for younger children to attend with their parents or guardians to work together, or for older kids to attend on their own.
Classes will take place on Saturdays from March 4 – 25 from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the GRPM. The registration cost for Saturday Investigations is just $2 with the purchase of a general admission ticket or $7 to attend the class only. As always, Kent County kids aged 17 and under enjoy free general admission to the Museum! Classes are limited to 24 registrants per session; registration is required. Once classes conclude, visitors who purchase the general admission option can also explore the Museum’s three floors of exhibits. For more information on Saturday Investigation Classes and to register today, visit grpm.org/EduClasses.
“Our popular Saturday investigations are back this spring to give learners of all ages the opportunity to dive deeper into the city’s science and history, through fun, hands-on artifact labs and brand new technology-rich experiences,” said Erin Koren, the GRPM’s Director of Education. “These small classes allow participants to fully engage with our educators and with hands-on activities to explore what piques their curiosity.”
Class offerings include The Paradox of Poison, Sustainable Fashion, Solar System Discovery & Sturgeon Excursion. Registrants can explore fascinating facts of poisons and their role in nature, human health, literature, and myth, find ways to innovate and reduce the harmful impacts of the fashion industry, choose their own adventure as they travel the solar system to visit planets and asteroids, or play an exclusive augmented reality game that integrates with Museum exhibits and become environmental scientists while learning about the Grand River.
Saturday Investigations Classes are sponsored by Great Lakes Fishery Trust.
See The Power of Poison and the GRPM original exhibit Fashion + Nature for a limited time! Enjoy all three floors of the GRPM’s exhibits with the purchase of a general admission ticket to the Museum. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch The Power of Poisonbefore it’s gone, open only through April 16.
