West Michigan's Arts & Entertainment Guide
Review: ‘Gypsy’ amazes with complex characters, visuals
Written by Marin Heinritz | Monday, 09 October 2017 15:28 |“Gypsy” is beloved as the pinnacle of mid-20th century musicals, and despite the increasing distance from the era of vaudeville, remains relevant for its complex female characters and depiction of the tumultuous nature of the mother-daughter relationship, a theme that will never die, as well as its enduring numbers (music by Jule Styne with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim), such as “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Let Me Entertain You,” that have become standards.
Grand Awards celebrated the bonds created by theater
Written by Kayla Tucker | Monday, 09 October 2017 14:35 |The night was magical at Civic Theatre as the Grand Rapids theater community came together to celebrate the Grand Awards, a local, annual event that awards outstanding actors and shows in the city.
Review: Visceral Dance is powerful, versatile, stunning
Written by Marin Heinritz | Tuesday, 03 October 2017 12:31 |Visceral Dance Chicago’s company name could be perceived as intending to mean felt in the gut, or instinctive. One can’t help but walk away from a performance feeling the profound sense that this company’s work is all that and more.
Review: ‘Back County Crimes’ finds beauty in the darkness
Written by Marin Heinritz | Monday, 02 October 2017 12:41 |Can anyone argue that there isn’t evil in this world? Where it comes from and how it moves through us are perhaps questions worth asking, but regardless of the answers, we all must carry on and make meaning of our lives despite the impossible task of making sense of the evil and darkness that surrounds us — and perhaps is perpetrated by us.
Remembering and Reflecting: ‘Detroit 67’ takes a look back
Written by Kayla Tucker | Monday, 02 October 2017 10:47 |Fifty years ago, racial tension was at an all-time high and people were starting to get fed up with the government and police system (sound familiar?). Riots erupted in Detroit and lasted nearly four days, killing 43 people and injuring more than 1,000.
New Witches In Town: 'Witches of Eastwick' comes to Western Michigan University
Written by Jane Simons | Thursday, 28 September 2017 17:04 |This month, The Witches of Eastwick will grace a college campus for the first time ever.
Something Wicked This Way Comes: Fiyero explains the magic of Wicked
Written by Kayla Tucker | Thursday, 28 September 2017 16:58 |This month, the traveling troupe of Wicked is coming to Grand Rapids for a three-week round of performances — a dream come true for our mid-sized city. Not only are fans already buying out tickets for the shows, but the cast is excited to be here too.
Review: Dixie's Tupperware Party is comedy, catharsis for the modern era
Written by Marin Heinritz | Saturday, 23 September 2017 18:43 |Dixie Longate embodies everything brilliant about drag. She’s beautiful, buxom and bawdy; she throws shade at everyone in the room and makes them laugh so hard they nearly pee their pants; her entire show is a wildly satirical cultural critique of heteronormativity and capitalism — while simultaneously capitalizing on both; and yet, in the end, she’s really just a big ball of love who makes everybody feel good for having been in her company.
Review: Vegas Rat Pack is a showcase of true talent, hampered only by its jokes
Written by Marin Heinritz | Wednesday, 06 September 2017 15:35 |On the Tuesday night after Labor Day weekend, three actors and seven musicians transformed a giant barn in Augusta, Michigan into an outrageously energetic yet intimate and beloved Vegas lounge act. Just as The Barn Theatre morphed into the Sands Hotel and Casino, 2017 became 1960 as tribute artists The Vegas Rat Pack took the stage for the summer stock theater’s final week of performances this season.
Brave and Bare: 'Calendar Girls' encourages standing up to the norm
Written by Kayla Tucker | Wednesday, 06 September 2017 14:20 |Sometimes it pays off to put yourself out there.
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