Most of us who have studied American history to any degree have encountered the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 as a devastating and pivotal event that led to much-needed, fundamental change in labor laws.

A late film critic once said of the even later director Alfred Hitchcock’s work that, in it, “nothing is ever taken quite seriously.” That’s certainly true. You might remember the episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents entitled “Lamb To The Slaughter,” in which the titular meat, having been used as a murder weapon, is cooked and served to some clueless cops. That’s awful, yes, but it’s also funny.

It’s 2024 and arts organizations in West Michigan are thriving, with incredible, jam-packed seasons of art, conversations, fun and community involvement. This month, you can visit the theaters for big Broadway shows and intimate plays, listen to symphonies play the classics and modern pieces, and head to local museums for a variety of stunning art. Check it out.

The stories of Detroit are the stories of America. This is but one of many reasons that places Detroit native Dominique Morisseau’s brilliant “Skeleton Crew” solidly in the canon of classic American plays.

Among the 52 headshots included in the program for stageGR’s production of Matilda (onstage through March 10th) is one that isn’t a headshot at all. Instead, it’s a cute drawing of a cat, thick white lines on a sky-blue background. Below it is a signature: Tessa.

One can’t help but wonder why an exceptionally dark, three-hour-long musical with about half a dozen central characters and a hero without a romance has endured for nearly 40 years with fans old and new alike clamoring for more.

Now over 25 years into his standup career, comedian Demetri Martin gets joke ideas pitched to him from some surprisingly unexpected collaborators—his kids.

The 15th anniversary Regional Area Dance Festival kickoff performance at Wellspring Theater in Kalamazoo Thursday night featured an eclectic mix of “Michigan Made” dances. This focus on dancers and choreographers working in our very own state is new to RAD Fest this year and in two hours and two acts, 10 distinct pieces showcased wonderful diversity in style, mood, theme, and bodies presented on stage, a celebration of contemporary dance in the Mitten.

To be audience to “Sleeping Beauty” is to bear witness to history, to be fully immersed in tradition and artistry that goes back more than 400 years. And to be audience to a performance as superb as that staged by Grand Rapids Ballet accompanied by the Grand Rapids Symphony, is to be transformed.

The Grand Rapids Art Museum’s five current exhibitions immerses attendees in everything from the bright and colorful world of LEGO to the way photography can freeze a moment in time, allowing it to live even after its photographer has shuffled off this mortal coil.