Arts exhibitions and performances have returned in full swing to West Michigan. This season, there’s absolutely no shortage of concerts, symphonies, plays, musicals, ballet, visual arts and beyond.
We have big Broadway shows like Beetlejuice, Hadestown and Dear Evan Hansen coming through; plenty of live performances with symphonies, ensembles and dancers taking to the stage; and powerful art exhibitions exploring race, culture and the future. With any luck and lots of work, all these amazing events and more will be coming to West Michigan in the year ahead. Here’s our annual guide to arts events for the coming season.
MUSIC
Fontana Chamber Arts
359 Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 200, Kalamazoo
fontanamusic.org
Takács Quartet, Sept. 29
Chromic Duo, Nov. 22
Fred Hersch (Piano) & Anat Cohen (Clarinet), Feb. 21
Lyrra, Apr. 12
Amit Peled (Cello) & Daniel del Pino (Piano), June 6
Frauenthal Center
425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon
frauenthal.org
Kelly Carey, Sept. 20
The Wildflowers: America’s #1 Tom Petty Tribute, Sept. 21
Hannaniah Whitley, Oct. 18
Laurie Veldheer, Nov. 8
Jimmie Herrod, Jan. 25
Mashall Charloff & Purple Xperience, Mar. 1
Franke Center for the Arts
214 E Mansion St., Marshall
thefranke.org
Jim Cummings Band + Chameleon, Sep. 14
Jake Kershaw, Nov. 16
Irish Pub Night, Jan. 11
Main Street Dueling Pianos, Jan. 25
Ice, Wine, Beer & Blues, Jan. 31-Feb. 1
Bluegrass Night, May 3
Grand Rapids Symphony
300 Ottawa Ave. NW Ste. 100, Grand Rapids
grsymphony.org
Richard and Helen DeVos Masterworks:
Opening Night: Daniil Trifonov Plays Gershwin, Sept. 13-14
For the Love of Violin, Sept. 27-28
Made in GR: A Homecoming, Oct. 18-19
South American Heat, Nov. 15-16
Sax and the City, Jan. 10-11
Pictures at an Exhibition, Feb. 7-8
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Feb. 28-Mar. 1
Mahler & Eight Timpani, Mar. 21-22
Carmina Burana, Apr. 25-26
Death & Transfiguration, May 9-10
Coffee/Chamber Masterworks:
Coffee/An Evening with Mozart, Nov. 22
Coffee/An Evening with Haydn, Jan. 31
Coffee/An Evening with the GRS Chorus, Mar. 7
Fox Motor Pops:
Fright Night, Nov. 1-2
University of Michigan Health-West Holiday Pops, Dec. 5-8
Take Me Out to the Ballgame!, Mar. 14-15
An Evening at Hogwarts: Music by Candlelight, Apr. 11-12
Symphony Specials:
BRAVO!: Yo-Yo Ma, Oct. 1
Home Alone in Concert, Dec. 18-19
Symphony With Soul: Common, Feb. 15
Family Series:
Spooky Symphony, Nov. 2
Hogwarts Adventure, Apr. 12
Holland Chorale
hollandchorale.org
Adventures in Harmony Showcase, Oct. 1
A Vision Unfolding, Oct. 26
Christmas with the Chorale, Dec. 15
Golden Age Showtunes, Jan. 19
Favorite Operas, Feb. 23
Great American Songbook, March 23
A Vision of Peace and Community, May 17
A Vision of the Future, June 7-8
Holland Symphony Orchestra
96 W. 15th St. Ste. 201, Holland
hollandsymphony.org
An American in Paris, Sept. 14
Sounds of the Sea, Nov. 2
Home for the Holidays, Dec. 14
Scottish Influence, Mar. 22
Romantic Rachmaninoff, Apr. 26
Hope College Great Performance Series
100 E. Eighth St., Holland
hope.gps
Le Consort, Oct. 17
Ulysses Owen Jr. and Gen Y, Nov. 17
Lark/Roman/Meyer Trio, Mar. 27
Tallis Scholars, Apr. 24
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
359 Kalamazoo Mall Ste. 100, Kalamazoo
kalamazoosymphony.com
Symphonic Dances, Sept. 28
Craft Music: Tangos, Oct. 9
The Music of John Williams, Oct. 19
Pipe Dreams, Oct. 27
Tchaikovsky's Sixth: Symphony of Passion, Nov. 2
Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony, Nov. 22
Get in the Spirit! A Holly, Jolly Concert, Dec. 7
Nutcracker Suites & Treats, Dec. 18
Symphonic Beats: Celebrating Hip Hop Culture, Feb. 7
Craft Music: Opera, Feb. 12
Appalachian Spring, March 1
Everybody Loves Rhythm, March 4
Celtic Candlelight, March 7
Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet, March 29
Rhapsody in Blue, April 5
Craft Music: Anthems, Rock, Pop & More, April 16
Sound in Motion, April 27
Carmen & Boléro, May 3
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma, June 2
Craft Music: In The Beer Garden!, June 18
Sounds of the Cinema, July 17
Saugatuck Center for the Arts
400 Culver St., Saugatuck
sc4a.org
Dustbowl Revival, Sept. 12
Rumours: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute, Sept. 28
Music That Raised Us: A Motown Show, Oct. 4
Showtime! An Evening of Jazz + Broadway, Nov. 15-16
St. Cecilia Music Center
24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
scmc-online.org
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center:
Virtuoso Winds, Nov. 7
Schubert's Trout Quintet, Mar. 20
Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence, Apr. 24
Spectacular Jazz Series:
Joshua Redman Group, Oct. 4
Cécile McLorin Salvant, Feb. 20
Julian Lage, Mar. 18
Christian McBride & Ursa Major, Apr. 22
Acoustic Cafe Folk:
Sierra Hull, Sept. 17
An Evening with Valerie June, Nov. 12
Del McCoury Band, Dec. 5
Judy Collins, Mar. 13
Stulberg International String Competition
359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo
stulberg.org
Joshua Kováč w/ WMU Symphony Orchestra, Oct. 6
Mio Imai w/ Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Nov. 22
Celebrating 50 Years of Stulberg w/ Rachel Barton Pine, Nov. 23
Pearl de la Motte w/ Kalamazoo Jr. Symphony Orchestra, Feb. 9
50th Anniversary Gala, Apr. 19
The Gilmore
359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo
thegilmore.org
Rising Stars Series:
Illia Ovcharenko, Sept. 15
Julius Rodriguez, Oct. 6
Jahari Stampley Trio, Nov. 17
Elisabeth Brauss, Mar. 9,
Daniela Liebman, May 11
Gilmore Concert Series:
Fazil Say, Nov. 16
Alexandre Kantorow w/ KSO, Feb. 5
Richard Goode and Sarah Shafer, Mar. 16
Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Marcus Gilmore, Apr. 14
Hélène Grimaud, Apr. 23
Vox GR
voxgr.com
Concert 1 (Title TBD), Nov. 2
West Michigan Symphony
360 W. Western Ave. Ste. 200, Muskegon
westmichigansymphony.org
A Tribute to the Beatles: Classical Mystery Tour, Sep. 27
Djangophonique - Jazz, Oct. 12
Yasmin Williams - Fingerstyle Guitar, Oct. 25
Marion Hayden - Jazz Quintet, Sep. 9
Ravel & Gershwin, Nov. 11
Claire Haungci - Classical Piano, Nov. 23
Click Clack Ho Ho Ho, Dec. 7
Bryan Eng Trio - Jazzy Christmas, Dec. 14
Home for the Holidays, Dec. 20
Lisa Sung Quartet - Jazz, Jan. 10
Mozart & Beethoven, Jan. 24
Jon Holden Ensemble - Chamber, Jan. 25
Ian Maksin - Cello, Feb. 14
Tchaikovsky Winter Dreams, Feb. 28
Tony Monaco Trio - Organ Jazz, Mar. 14
American Diva w/ Shayna Steele, Mar. 28
Bayberry String Quartet - Classical, Apr. 26
Dvorák Cello Concerto, May 9
Inbal Segev - Cello, May 10
American Landscapes, May 30
Tessa Lark - Violin, May 31
THEATER & DANCE
Actors Theatre
160 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids
actorstheatregrandrapids.org
POTUS, Sept. 12-21
This Flat Earth, Oct. 10-19
Alabaster, Feb. 27-Mar. 8
Botticelli in the Fire, May 1-10
Broadway Grand Rapids
122 Lyon St. NW, Grand Rapids
broadwaygrandrapids.com
Beetlejuice, Oct. 8-13
Mamma Mia!, Nov. 26-Dec. 1
Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Jan. 21-Feb. 2
Clue, Mar. 4-9
A Beautiful Noise, Apr. 1-6
Pretty Woman, Apr. 29-May 4
Hamilton, July 22-Aug. 3
Central Park Players
421 Columbus Ave., Grand Haven
centralparkplayers.org
Miracle on 34th St., Dec. 6-14
Talking With…, March 7-15
Harvey, Mar. 2-10
Circle Theatre
1703 Robinson Rd. SE, Grand Rapids
circletheatre.org
Urinetown, The Musical!, Sept. 5-21
Deos Contemporary Ballet
1595 Galbraith Ave. SE, Grand Rapids
deosballet.com
Jane Eyre, Oct. 18-20
Cracked Nuts: Not Your Mother’s Nutcracker, Dec. 24
Ember Series 25, Mar. 14-16
Rite of Spring, Spring 2025
Awaken Series 25, Spring 2025
Face Off Theatre
359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo
faceofftheatre.com
Smart People, Oct. 18-27
Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Dec. 6-15
Farmers Alley Theatre Kalamazoo
221 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo
farmersalleytheatre.com
Jersey Boys, Sept. 19-Oct. 6
A Christmas Carol: Season’s Greedings, Nov. 21-Dec. 8
Dial M for Murder, Feb. 6-Feb. 16
A Jukebox for the Algonquin, Apr. 3-20
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, July 10-20
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center
600 Forest Hill Ave. SE, Grand Rapids
fhfineartscenter.com
Shrek: The Musical, Oct. 28
Holiday In the Air, Dec. 18
Frauenthal Center
425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon
frauenthal.org
The Nutcracker, Dec. 14
Artrageous, March 9
Gilmore Theatre/WMU Theatre
1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo
wmich.edu/theatre
POTUS, Sep. 27-Oct. 13
Haunting of Hill House, Oct. 25-Nov. 3
Legally Blonde, Nov. 8-24
Next Stop, Broadway!, Dec. 5-7
All the Natalie Portmans, Jan .31-Feb. 16
Titanic, Feb. 8-9
The Great Gatsby, Mar. 14-23
Dreamgirls, Mar. 28-Apr. 13
The Book of Silence, May 9-25
Grand Rapids Ballet
341 Ellsworth Ave. SW, Grand Rapids
grballet.com
Symphony of Movement, Oct. 11-13
The Nutcracker, Dec. 13-22
Peter Pan, Feb. 21-23
Jumpstart 2025, Mar. 21-23
Be Here Now, Apr. 25-May 4
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
30 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids
grct.org
The Rocky Horror Show, Sept. 13-Oct. 6
Cats, Nov. 15-Dec. 15
The 39 Steps, Jan. 17-Feb. 2
Camp Rock, Feb. 28-Mar. 16
The Color Purple, Apr. 18-May 4
Waitress, June 6-29
GRCC Players
143 Bostwick Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
grcc.edu
Grand Concourse, Nov. 9-11
Macbitches, Jan. 10-13
Incorruptible, Apr. 11-13
Jewish Theatre Grand Rapids
2727 Michigan NE, Grand Rapids
jtgr.org
H*tler’s Tasters, Oct. 17-Nov. 3
Esther the Musical, Jan. 30-Feb. 9
Oh, My God, Apr. 17-May 4
Kindertransport, June 5-15
Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
329 S. Park St., Kalamazoo
kazoocivic.com
Six: The Musical - Teen Edition, Sept. 15-Oct. 1
Let It Be: A Musical Celebration of the Beatles, Oct. 4-13
Radium Girls, Nov. 8-17
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Nov. 29-Dec. 22
Well, Jan. 17-26
California Suite, Feb. 21-Mar. 2
Parade, Mar. 14-Mar. 23
Dancing at Lughnasa, Mar. 28-Apr. 6
The Seussification of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Apr. 25-May 4
The Wedding Singer, May 2-18
Miller Auditorium
2200 Auditorium Dr, Kalamazoo
millerauditorium.com
Dear Evan Hansen, Nov. 14-15
Disney’s The Lion King, Jan. 29-Feb. 9
Hadestown, Apr. 1-2
Riverdance 30, Apr. 29
Ain’t Too Proud, May 13-15
Muskegon Civic Theatre
425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon
muskegoncivictheatre.org
Epic Proportions, Oct. 11-26
A Christmas Carol, Nov. 15-Dec. 1
Silent Sky, Jan. 10-28
Godspell, Feb. 7-22
Guys & Dolls, May 1-4
New Vic Theatre
134 E. Vine St., Kalamazoo
thenewvictheatre.org
Our Favorite Things, Aug. 23-Sep. 14
Ghost Stories, Oct. 11-26
A Christmas Carol, Nov. 22-Dec. 22
Opera Grand Rapids
1320 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids
operagr.org
Elixir of Love, Sep. 20-21
Eurydice, Jan. 31-Feb. 1
Opera is Lit, Mar. 13
Night with the Opera, May 15
Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers
359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo
wellspringdance.org
Era: A Celebration of 43 Years of Wellspring, Oct. 5
Fall Concert of Dance, Nov. 22-24
KIA Movement in the Museum, Jan. 16
16th Annual Midwest RAD Fest, Feb. 27-Mar. 2
KSO Collaboration, Mar. 4
Spring Concert of Dance, Apr. 27
Wharton Center for Performing Arts
750 E. Shaw Ln., East Lansing
whartoncenter.com
Les Misérables, Oct. 8-13
Shucked, Jan. 21-26
MJ, Feb. 11-16
Life of Pi, Mar. 11-16
Chicago, Apr. 8-13
Hamilton, May 21-June 1
The Book of Mormon, June 19-22
VISUAL ARTS
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center
600 Forest Hill Ave. SE, Grand Rapids
fhfineartscenter.com
Collaborate: A Collection by Women Artists of Michigan, Through Sept. 27
M. Joy Lemon, Jan. 8-Feb. 7
Ted Carlson, Feb. 12-Mar. 13
Richard Jordan, May 21-June 27
Frederik Meijer Gardens
1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
meijergardens.org
David Smith: The Nature of Sculpture, Sep. 23-Mar. 2
University of Michigan Health-West: Christmas & Holiday Traditions, Through Nov. 26-Jan. 5
Grand Rapids African-American Museum & Archives
87 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids
graama.org
Black Travel
Heritage Cookbooks
Buttons
Black Olympians
Chapter & Verse
Grand Rapids Art Museum
101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids
artmuseumgr.org
Jess T. Dugan: Look at me like you love me, Through Sep. 28
Stephen Frykholm: The Herman Miller Picnic Posters, Through Sep. 22
Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous, Oct. 5-Jan. 12
Kristina Sheufelt: Fallow Season, Feb. 1, May 4
As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic, Dec. 6-Apr. 26
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
314 South Park St., Kalamazoo
kiarts.org
Legendary Voices: Art for the Next Century, Sep. 7-Feb. 16
Powerful Forces: Legends, Rituals, and Warriors in East Asian Art, Sep. 4-Jan. 19
LowellArts
223 W. Main St., Lowell
lowellartsmi.org
Unexpected Choices, Through Oct. 5
GVSU Art Gallery
1 Campus Dr., Allendale
gvsu.edu/artgallery
Mathias J. Alten: An Evolving Legacy, Through 2031
A Single Thread / Un Solo Hilo, Through Nov. 8
LaFontsee Galleries
833 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids
lafontsee.us
Paul Collins & Herschell Turner, Sep. 7-28
Muskegon Museum of Art
296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon
muskegonartmuseum.org
Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective, Oct. 17-Jan. 5
Quilts: The Artistry of Home, Through Sep. 29
95th Michigan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Sep. 26-Nov. 13
Festival of Trees, Nov. 21-Dec. 29
Ox-Bow School of Art
3435 Rupprecht Way, Saugatuck
ox-bow.org
Ox-Tober, Oct. 19-26
Saugatuck Center for the Arts
400 Culver St., Saugatuck
sc4a.org
Remnant, Through Sep. 6
NOW-ish, Through Sep. 6
Art á Loan, Sep. 11-Oct. 18
We hope you fail better., Nov. 9-May 16
