Tag Archives: Glenn Bulthuis

Swing Night kicks off Van Singel’s 2018-2019 season

Glenn Bulthuis with the Hark Up horns

By Kathy Richards

Van Singel Fine Arts Center

 

The 2018-2019 CHEMICAL BANK Series celebrates 20 years at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center kicking off with Swing Night at the Van Singel featuring one of this area’s favorite entertainers, Glenn Bulthuis. Butlhuis returns to the Van Singel stage for a 7:30 pm performance on Saturday, Oct. 6, along with the 17-piece Hark Up Big Band for an evening of twenty-four swingin’ hits.

 

Over the past 10 years, Bulthuis and his band have performed the Music of the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, and James Taylor at the Van Singel.  Now he returns with an all-new concert featuring a 17-piece big band line-up performing the songs of Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Michael Buble, Nat King Cole, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor and many more.

 

Reserved seating is $18 for adults and $12 for students (high school and younger). Reserve seats by calling the Van Singel box office at (616)878-6800 or purchase on-line at www.vsfac.com. The box office is open Monday through Friday, 12 noon to 5 pm. For more information or bios, photos and more go to www.glennbulthuis.com.

 

The Van Singel Fine Arts Center is located on 84th Street and Burlingame Avenue in Byron Center, just 1.5 miles west of US-131 in Byron Center. The Fine Arts Center features free parking (see below for construction parking details.)

 

Please note: The Van Singel Fine Arts Center sits at the east end of the Byron Center High School which is part of a $68 million dollar bond construction project. Because of the construction, parking will be limited at the east of the facility where the Van Singel is located. Patrons attending evening events may have to park in the lots off Burlingame and enter the building on the west end (near the gym/swimming pool) and walk through the school to the Van Singel. Signage will be placed to help direct patrons.

Van Singel Fine Arts Center marks 20th anniversary, announces upcoming season

The gang’s all here: “Church Basement Ladies: Rise Up O Men” comes to Van Singel Fine Arts Center. Photo compliments of Troupe America, Inc.

By Kathy Richards

 

The Van Singel Fine Arts Center is celebrating 20 years. In honor of that, the Van Singel will be presenting a series of shows featuring professional local talent, national concert artists, a national touring musical comedy and, of course, great jazz.

 

This season’s shows are (in order of presentation):

 

SWING NIGHT AT THE VAN SINGEL with GLENN BULTHUIS and
the 17-piece HARK UP BIG BAND
Saturday, October 6, 2018, 7:30 p.m.

Glenn Bulthuis returns with the 17-piece Hark Up Big Band for an evening of 24 Swingin’ Hits. For more than 10 years, Glenn Bulthuis and his bands have thrilled audiences with the Music of the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, and James Taylor on the Van Singel stage.  Now he returns with an all new 17-piece “Big Band” line up to perform the songs of Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Michael Buble, and many, many more.  Tickets are  $18/adults and $12/students including college students with proper ID.

PIANO MEN A Tribute to Billy Joel & Elton John
Thursday, November 29, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
The Sir Elton John & Billy Joel tribute show is a night of hit songs, energetic performances, outrageous costumes, and true rock ‘n roll at its finest. Tribute Artist David James (Billy Joel), and Jeffrey Allen (Elton) each performs a solo set before joining together on stage in a dueling-piano style, with Piano2Piano rockin’ out to their Greatest hits. …… also adding funny performance bits, sing-a-long parts, and spontaneous humor. The show spans the the 1970s to current day. Tickets are  $37/adults and $22/students including college students with proper ID.

 

CHURCH BASEMENT LADIES Rise Up O Men
Tuesday, March 26, 2018, 7:30 p.m. 
Fans of the musical comedy series Church Basement Ladies will finally get to know more about the men of East Cornucopia Lutheran Church, in the new musical comedy, “Rise Up O Men.” This sidesplitting, uplifting peek into the lives of the rural Norwegian Lutherans who audiences first fell in love with in 2005 is the sixth chapter of the story begun in the original Church Basement Ladies. “Rise Up O Men” features familiar faces: Mrs. Mavis Gilmerson, Mrs. Vivian Snustad, and Mrs. Karin Engleson who would never leave the basement kitchen unattended, of course (who would make bars for the youth group meeting?). But as they busy themselves with preparations for the town’s 1964 Centennial Celebration, we get to see their coming-and-goings from the eyes of the menfolk, who have their own problems to solve. Karin’s husband Elroy, farmer Carl and Great War vet Arlo are joined in brotherhood by series staple, Pastor E.L. Gunderson. Their camaraderie unites them as they deal with furnace salesmen, looming retirement, rival Protestant denominations, the Pastor’s bad jokes, and Arlene’s even-worse cooking. Tickets are  $35/adults and $22/students including college students with proper ID.

 

COOL JAZZ
Friday, April 26, 2018, 7:30 pm
Get ready, set and go once again for a hot night of Cool Jazz featuring the nationally recognized Byron Center Jazz Ensembles along with an international jazz a musician. Tickets are  $18/adults and $11/students including college students with proper ID.

 

VICTORS OF CHARACTER
Thursday, September 27, 7:00 pm
Van Singel patron bonus! Patrons who purchase a ticket to any show in the 2018-2019 Van Singel season have the option to receive up to four free general admission tickets to the Gerald R. Ford Foundation’s presentation of Victors of Character. The powerful true story is turned into a live, on-stage performance that tells the narrative of a young Gerald Ford, his friend and teammate Willis Ward, and the 1934 football game that both tested and shaped their character. The Van Singel Fine Arts Center is proud to partner with the Ford Foundation to present Victors of Character: A Story of Loyalty, Integrity, and the Courage to Make a Difference.

 

All shows are reserved seating. Van Singel ticket patrons can design their own season and save from 5% to 15% off the cost of a full price ticket depending on the number of shows purchased. Groups also receive ticket discounts depending on the number of tickets purchased per performance.

 

To reserve seats, call or visit the Van Singel Fine Arts Center box office Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. or call 616-878-6800. Because of construction at Byron Center high School, the Van Singel box office will be closed from May 21 through August 27.  Patrons may email boxoffice.vansingel@bcpsk12.net anytime. Patrons can order tickets on-line through our website beginning July 1st at www.vsfac.com.

 

Less than 15 minutes south of Grand Rapids, the Van Singel Fine Arts Center, is located at 84th & Burlingame SW, just 1.5 miles west of US-131 in Byron Center.  The venue is at the east end of the Byron Center High School complex. For more information go on-line to www.vsfac.com.