Tag Archives: Dark Side

Grand Rapids Public Museum announces planetarium evenings

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By Christie Bender

Grand Rapids Public Museum

 

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced that a special evening series of programs will take place this summer at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium. Three evenings this summer will include a special spotlighted show, along with opportunities for attendees to relax, socialize and learn more in-depth about astronomy.

 

Special late-night Chaffee Planetarium evenings will be held on Thursdays on July 12, Aug. 2 and Sept. 6 with each program having a specific theme. GRPM doors open at 7 p.m., with the planetarium show beginning at 7:30 p.m.

 

On July 12, join the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium for a special one-night-only double feature of Dark Side: The Light Show and NEW! The Queen Light Show: From Mercury with Love!

 

Dark Side: The Light Show is the Museum’s first original planetarium production since the new generation of planetarium technology, and is set to the music of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon album. Experience this iconic album as never before in this one-of-a-kind light show, featuring stunning 4k visuals, brilliant LED sequences and incredibly clear 5.1 surround sound.

 

Experience ten of Queen’s greatest hits in this brand new show, including favorites like Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust and You’re My Best Friend. The Queen Light Show: From Mercury with Love is brought to the Chaffee Planetarium from Longway Planetarium in Flint, MI.

 

*These shows contain some adult language and dizzying effects. It is not recommended for individuals prone to motion sickness, seizures or light sensitivity.

 

Tickets for the July 12 light show double feature are free to Museum members, $5 for non-members and can be purchased at grpm.org.

 

Additional evening planetarium shows will take place August 2 and September 6.

 

 

August 2 – Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Astronaut?

 

Join the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium for a special evening for the full astronaut experience! Start the evening in the planetarium watching Space School, a new documentary based show, to learn the incredible story of how astronauts train underwater to live and work in space. Missions will be given to participants to see if they can complete the tasks and reach their destination!

 

After Space School, visitors can take command of space vehicles through video game technology in the Museum’s summer exhibition, Be The Astronaut! In a special guided-tour with an expert, visitors will chart their course to the Moon, Mars and beyond. The exhibition features detailed digital recreations of actual places in the solar system built using data from NASA space probes.

 

September 6 – Night Sky Trivia

 

Explore the night sky inside and out! Start by learning end-of-summer constellations and current astronomy events in the GRPM’s Chaffee Planetarium. Participate in an extended version of the Under Scorching Skies live show to delve into the current astronomical events.

 

Following the planetarium show, venture outside for telescopic observations with the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA). See what you can find in the night sky above the city, with a star chart and astronomy experts to guide you. Participants can plan to see Saturn, Jupiter and Mars, as well as some of the very brightest stars such as those that make up the Summer Triangle.

 

*Outdoor observation is weather-dependent, and alternate indoor activities will include a trivia tournament in the newly renovated Meijer Theater.

 

Tickets for August 2 and September 6 are $8 for Museum members, and $12 for non-members and can be purchased at grpm.org.

‘Dark Beer, Dark Side’ premieres at Grand Rapids Public Museum Nov. 25

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darksideSpend an evening on the dark side at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM), 272 Pearl Street NW in Grand Rapids. GRPM, in partnership with Brewery Vivant, is hosting a new event, Dark Beer, Dark Side on Friday, Nov. 25, which coincidentally is this year’s Black Friday.

 

Beginning at 6:30 pm, Ryan Engemann, the Wandering Monk from Brewery Vivant, will wax eloquently on the differences between various dark beers including Brewery Vivant’s highly anticipated ‘Tart Side of the Moon’. Between 7:15 pm and 7:45 pm visitors have the chance to explore more of the Museum, have further Q&A with Engemann, and grab another beer to enter the Chaffee Planetarium for the Museum’s original production, Dark Side: The Light Show.

 

Dark Side: The Light Show is a one-of-a-kind light show featuring music from Pink Floyd’s album The Dark Side of the Moon. The show features stunning 4k visuals, brilliant LED sequences and incredibly clear 5.1 surround sound. Dark Side: The Light Show is the GRPM’s first original production since the planetarium underwent major renovations in 2013/2014.

 

Tickets include three beer samples, general admission to the Museum and admission to the evening’s planetarium show. Get tickets here.

The animals invade Chaffee Planetarium in new show

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Returning with new xxx is "Dark Side of the Moon: the Light Show, featuring the music of Pink Floyd.
Returning with new production is “Dark Side: The Light Show,” featuring the music of Pink Floyd.

Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

One new, original planetarium show along with a returning favorite were recently added to the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Chaffee Planetarium scheduled.

 

Starlight Safari, a state-of-the-art globetrotting planetarium adventure, is an interactive trip across the continents to see and learn about various animal constellations.

 

Visitors join a live presenter in the Chaffee Planetarium to begin their adventures. This 40-minute show includes interactive questions that test the audience’s knowledge of animal and mythical constellations, as well as teaching about lesser known animals in the sky. Beginning near Grand Rapids, attendees will learn about what is in our night sky. From there, venture to remote areas in Africa, Australia, South America and Asia to see Pisces, Leo, Draco the Dragon and many more.

 

The program, which will run through Sept. 18, is a fun, entertaining, and educational experience suited all ages, especially families with children. Tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, $5 each for planetarium only tickets and free to Museum members. For more information and show times, visit grpm.org/Planetarium.

 

Starlight Safari is an original production by the Chaffee Planetarium inspired by the Museum’s 2016 traveling exhibitions, The Robot Zoo and National Geographic’s Earth Explorers, which is set to open in May.

 

The popular Dark Side: The Light Show, featuring music from Pink Floyd’s album “The Dark Side of the Moon,” also returns tot he planetarium.

 

Visitors will experience this iconic album “The Dark Side of the Moon” as never before, featuring stunning 4k visuals, brilliant LED sequences and incredibly clear 5.1 surround sound. Dark Side: The Light Show was the GRPM’s first original production since the planetarium underwent major renovations in 2013/2014.

 

This most recent production of this show was developed by members of the original crew that worked on previous laser light shows at the GRPM in the 1990s and 2000s. Members of the volunteer planetarium production team include: Jacob Bourjaily, Matt Bourjaily, Ethan Brown, Dave Staskiewicz, Chad Kremer, Dave DeBruyn, John Foerch and Daniel Tell.

 

Each song from this album is played in this show with its own unique thematic visuals. Following the course of the album, the visuals increase in complexity each song, taking the audience on an unforgettable rock and roll journey.

 

Dark Side: The Light Show will play Tuesdays at 8 p.m., Fridays at 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m through June 19. Tickets are $4 each with general admission to the Museum, $5 each for planetarium only tickets and free to Museum members. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit grpm.org.

 

Dark Side: The Light Show contains adult language and dizzying visual effects. It is not recommended for individuals prone to motion sickness, seizures or light sensitivity.