It’s slightly jarring to see the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre mainstage completely exposed as director Todd Espeland’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” begins: At first, there is nothing on the stage except a dozen or so empty chairs.

At first glance, you might wonder how the work of S.E. Hinton could possibly connect with today’s teens. Something of a trailblazer in the 1960s, Hinton was barely out of high school when she sold “The Outsiders,” a strikingly honest look at high school life and gang rivalries that her publishers feared would be overlooked if critics knew it was written by a woman (the initials stand for Susan Eloise).

Created as a speakeasy-style venue to hear live blues in downtown Muskegon, The Alley Door Club even had an alley door entrance when it kicked off 11 years ago.

During a time of year when there is not a lot to do in Muskegon and there aren’t many people around, Alley Door’s longevity is a testament to its success. The club added craft beer to the lineup last year and will celebrate another season with local and regional musicians and beer on tap from West Michigan breweries. For those who don’t like beer, there’s also a full bar. 

Opera Grand Rapids has hired Maestro James Meena as its new artistic director, beginning in the 2017-2018 season.