As important as our local performance art organizations are, they’re nothing without an audience.
Despite the many economic issues in the world right now, attendees continue to support and enjoy the arts, with some orgs even seeing a recent jump in season subscriptions.
So, Revue spoke with a few devoted fans to learn what it is that keeps drawing them back.
Deb Cleland Nowakowski grew up in Grand Rapids. She attended Catholic school, where, she said, “the closest thing to theater was high mass.”
When did your love of theater begin?
My parents took me to some shows in Traverse City, but my love for theater really started in 1971, when one of my teachers, Norma Brink, got me to try out for a show at Circle Theatre.
I did a show for her in ninth grade, but then I got my driver’s license and said I had better things to do. But Norma…she was hard to resist. She was one of the OGs of Grand Rapids theater.
What’s kept you involved?
Community. People thrive in the community that gets built in the theater. I have a deep appreciation and mad respect for all the people involved in creating these shows. And nobody offers anything close to the level of community you get with Grand Rapids theater.
And there’s a singular experience that occurs when you do live theater—a crackle you don’t get anywhere else.
Looking back over the years, what stands out to you? Any particular shows, performances, moments?
Too many to count. With rare exceptions, I’ve seen everything Circle Theatre’s done since 1971.
The musical Nine: that was one. It’s based on 8 ½, the Fellini movie. There was running water, like the canals in Italy. There was only one man in the play, and he had to deal with his wife, his mistress, and a controlling mother. The visual vignettes of these women… I’ve never seen anything in my life like it. You could hear people catch their breath in the audience.
It’s kind of a pain to go to a show, right? You’ve got to get out of the house, get to the place, find your seat. Stand up when people need to get by. Or be the person waiting for others to stand up. So why do it? Why not just stay home and watch tv?
Look, I get it. But I think of it like college basketball (I’m a freak for college basketball). There’s a collective effervescence you only get when people are together live. The energy’s absolutely electric. It’s live theater! Endorphins release. If you can stay in the moment, you find it ‘s all worth it. There’s nothing like live performance.
Gwen McCadden grew up in West Michigan. She attended college at the University of Michigan. “Then I was off: different pastures and new experiences,” she said. She moved back to West Michigan 10 years ago.
Did you come from a family of opera-goers?
I come from a family with a deep appreciation of music. My grandmother was a church organist and part of a choir. My father always sang. I took piano, flute, and dance while growing up. So not necessarily opera. I was an equal opportunity music enthusiast.
What was your first opera?
In Chicago, I went to Don Giovanni. This grand opera in a beloved hall. It was my first opera, and honestly I wasn’t sure! But it made an impact. I can see that now.
Sometimes it takes a person a couple of operas to start to feel like they get it. Was that true for you?
I think so. Later, I was on a work trip with some colleagues. We found ourselves in Sante Fe, New Mexico at this outdoor venue. One of my colleagues was an opera and said we had to go. Here we are: opera under the stars. I think it was La Traviata. It was a packed performance. Just a great opportunity.
It wasn’t until I got back to GR that I thought, I didn’t know Grand Rapids had an opera company. We have so much, honestly. We have ballet, a great symphony, Broadway Grand Rapids. Whether you’re an opera patron or not, I think a vivid arts scene is the mark of a great city.
Today, a lot of people know about Opera Grand Rapids but somehow it still feels like a best-kept secret. Whether you love opera or not, you should have a sense of pride in having an opera company here. And word’s getting out. Part of it’s our innovative approach. We have an incredible artistic director who’s finding ways to make it accessible. Like Stuck Elevator—people don’t think to mix hip-hop and opera, but why not?
Kate Hyman is originally from Madison, WI. A dancer herself, she moved to Michigan to attend Kendall College of Art and Design.
West Michigan has a wealth of live events to attend. What makes Deos’ productions worth seeing?
So many reasons. I think part of what they emphasize is caring for the whole human, the whole dancer. And they perform stories common humanity.
There was a Jane Eyre show a year or two back. They were able to capture the characters in a way that really landed. But there’s a range of stories they do. The dancers are able to step into these roles and connect to the audience on a human level.
What would you say to people skeptical of ballet?
I have had many friends who have come to the shows with no background in ballet, and who were maybe even intimidated. But you don’t need to have experience in dance to enjoy it. Often, there’s a lot of humor or playfulness, too. There’s a diverse range of stories they tell.
And it’s not your traditional ballet, so it helps break down those barriers. It’s a contemporary ballet company telling stories that might be a little more familiar.
Why see a live show at all?
I think there’s an immersive effect when you’re watching something live. And each show is a little different—Friday night’s show is different from Saturday’s. That’s pretty special. You’re seeing something beautiful and temporary. For me, it feels like being transported to another world.
