Tag Archives: Grand Rapids Civic

Live, local theater may be taking place as early as April

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By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

Who would have guessed it would have taken more than a year for local theater to return? Not these actors. (WKTV)

After almost a year since the lights in area theaters went dark, there is a glimmer of hope that the stages may soon be filled with actors, antics and song.

Both Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and Circle Theatre have announced upcoming productions starting as early as April along with Coldwater’s Tibbits Opera House announcing that it too will host the Tibbits Young Audiences’ spring musical “The Nifty Fifties” and have a summer theater schedule.

There are other companies, such as Broadway Grand Rapids, which have made the announcement that its 2020-2021 season has been moved to the 2021-2022 season. Actors Theatre Grand Rapids has productions listed but dates have not been announced. 

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Last month, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre announced the Ten for All Festival, a playwriting contest that will feature original 10-minute plays from local playwrights.

“We are thrilled to present this unique festival as we move back toward in-person performance in 2021,” said Grand Rapids Civic Theatre executive and Artistic Director Bruce Tinker. “We are taking advantage of this unique opportunity to open our stage to the many talented playwrights we have right here in West Michigan.”

Submissions are open from now until Feb. 26. From those submission, 12 semi-finalists will be selected, three each from four categories: comedy, drama, youth, and wildcard. During the semi-finals, which will take place March 18 – 21, the 12 selected will be featured in Zoom readings and scored by celebrity judges from around the community. The top-scoring play in each of the four categories will move on to the finals and be publicly performed on stage at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre the week of April 9 – 11.

The finalists will be performed back-to-back as one hour-long program at the Meijer Majestic Theater. Audience members will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite piece and one play will receive the honor of Audience Choice. Cash prizes are being offered for the Audience Choice winner, finalists, and semifinalists.

“West Michigan is home to so many truly gifted artists and playwrights,” said Civic’s Associated Director Allyson Paris. “We are eager to lend their voices a platform and to open our space to them. Our community is the core of our mission, and this is a unique opportunity for us to showcase that.”

Details on submissions and future contest information is available at www.grct.org/tenforall.

Circle Theatre kicks off its season with a series of concert performances. (Supplied)

Circle Theatre

Last fall, Circle Theater announced its plans to host its 69th Main Stage season. The company’s season will kick off with live concert performances in May that will run throughout the summer and fall. 

“Right now we are hopeful that we will be able to open our first production,” said Circle Theatre Executive and Artists Director Lynne Brown Tepper, “even if it is with reduced capacity. However, as is the case with the other area arts organizations, we will adapt as necessary with any restrictions that may occur at or around that time.”

John Kander’s 1966 musical “Cabaret” will be added to Main Stage season running from July 15 – 31. Set in 1931 Berlin during the waning days of the Weimar Republic as the Nazis are rising to power, the musical focuses on the hedonistic nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around American writer Cliff Bradshaw’s relations with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles.

Next up will be Michael Frayn’s farce “Nosies Off,” which follows the backstage antics as the actors and crew put on a performance. “Noises Off” runs Aug. 12 – 28.

In September will be the iconic musical “Hair,” which follows the hippie counterculture and sexual revolution of the late 1960s. One of the musical’s most famous numbers is “Age of Aquarius.” “Hair” is Sept. 9 – 25.

Also in September will be the Annual Season Party, “American Graffiti: In Concert, which will be Sept. 12.

Virtual concert and performance opportunities are available. All performances are at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center, 1703 Robinson Ave. SE. Tickets and membership packages are on sale. For more information, visit circletheatre.org.

Tibbits Opera House

Tibbits will offer a spring youth performance and a summer theater program. (Supplied)

Tibbits Opera House will host its youth spring musical “The Nifty Fifties” April 23 – 25 at its facility, 14 S. Hanchett St., Coldwater.

The Tibbits Summer Theater will take place at The Ponds event pavilion in Coldwater. The location, according to Tibbits Opera House officials, will provide social distancing and mask-wearing while offering an outdoor venue. 

“If we are outside again, we wanted to capitalize on the beautiful setting and choose shows that fit well in that setting, and if we are able, can just as easily move back to the theatre,” said Artistic Director Peter Riopelle.

 

The summer line-up for Tibbits is “The Best of Broadway,” June 16 – 23; “The Fantasticks, June 30 – July 7; “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, July 14 – 23; and “On Golden Pond,” July 29 – Aug. 6.

For more information, call 517-278-6029 and tibbits.org. 

Actress Julianne Moore’s storybook character comes to life on Civic’s stage

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Byron Center's Abbie Westers plays Freckleface Strawberry in Grand Rapids Civic Theatre's upcoming production "Freckleface Strawberry the Musical," running April 22 - May 1.
Byron Center’s Abbie Westers plays Freckleface Strawberry in Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s upcoming production “Freckleface Strawberry the Musical,” running April 22 – May 1.

Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

When Allyson Paris got hired as the new Grand Rapids Civc Theatre associate director, she learned right away about the spring children’s production Freckleface Strawberry the Musical and immediately went out and purchased all the books in the series.

 

“I was familiar with the first one but quickly went out and got my hands on all the ones I could find,” said Paris who directs the upcoming show which runs April 22 – May 1.

 

Freckleface Strawberry the Musical is based on the New York Times best-selling children’s book written by actress Julianne Moore. Moore – whose nickname when a child was Freckleface Strawberry – has stated that the story is based on her childhood memories and those stories have resonated well with both young and old as the original book has now grown into a book series with two apps and the musical. Paris did not know about the apps.

 

“Oh my gosh, I’ve been schooled,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll have to tell the cast about them. More research.”

 

Freckleface Strawberry (played by Byron Center’s Abbie Westers who was in Civc’s production of Mary Poppins and Junie B. Jones) is just like every other girl, except she has bright red hair and, according to her, something far worse, freckles. She will do anything to get rid of her freckles until her schoolmates help her learn a valuable lesson: everyone is different and that’s what makes everyone special.

 

“I feel the message of valuing what makes us different and celebrating ourselves is great for kids,” Paris said, quickly adding “and adults.”

 

Paris said Freckleface is part of the new generation of musicals. “It’s a smart, funny, musical,” she said. “It is upbeat, modern and really refreshing.

 

“It also has a broad range. Should you bring your five-year-old, absolutely. Should you bring your 15-year-old, of course.”

 

And despite it being about a 6-year-old girl, who by the way is kind of tomboyish, Paris can attest that the story is relatable to both boys and girls as her main reading partner with all those books she purchased was her six-year-old son “and he loves the Freckleface books.”

 

Freckleface Strawberry is a children’s musical appropriate for children ages four and older. The production is an hour long, which Paris noted is great for a first-time theater experience. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, 30 N. Division Ave. It is recommended to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled performance. Tickets are $10 – $16. For more information, visit grct.org or call the theater’s box office at 616-222-6650.

Pull up a chair as Grand Rapids Civic Theatre proudly presents its 2016 – 2017 season

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The cast of the current production of "Sister Act," rehearse. "Sister Act" runs through Feb. 26 - March 20.
The cast of Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s current production of “Sister Act,” rehearse. “Sister Act” runs through Feb. 26 – March 20.

Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

 

With a mixture of returning favorites and Grand Rapids Civic Theatre premieres, Civic Theatre offers a season focused on the theme of equality with its 2016 – 2017 lineup.

 

“We kind of go through the selection process, put together the season and a theme just comes from there,” said Civic Theatre Artistic Director Bruce Tinker.

 

This year’s lineup ranges from David Lindsay-Abaire’s 2011 Tony Award-winning play “Good People,” about the disparages in class and social economics to the powerful musical “Ragtime,” a look at the equality of justice under the law.

 

“It’s our 91st season and I really love all of the selections,” Tinker said. “There a lot of first-time productions along with some returning like ‘Ragtime,’ which is one of my favorite musicals. The music is just gorgeous.”

 

Tinker, who directed Civic’s 2004 production of “Ragtime,” said he looks forward to reacquainting himself with the musical that delves into the hopes, dreams and struggles of the immigrants settling in America in the early 20th Century. The show runs Feb. 24 – March 19.

 

The season starts with “Good People,” Sept. 9 – 25, a look at class, poverty, wealth and privilege as Lindsay-Abaire contrasts the life of a single mother living paycheck-to-paycheck against her ex-boyfriend who successfully gets out of the neighborhood and becomes a prominent doctor.

 

“This is an incredibly timely piece,” Tinker said. “Lindsay-Abaire doesn’t write about heroes or villains. He writes about people. No one is great or awful, they are just human trying to make the right choices for them and their family amidst high pressure stakes.”

 

Civic Theatre then goes big in November with its premiere production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.” “It was one of those things we had to wait for the right timing,” Tinker said of the company having never staged a production before. “It’s a great show for celebrating the holidays.” “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” which also contains an underlying message of acceptance, runs Nov. 18 – Dec. 18.

 

Dedicated to featuring a classic in every season, the Civic Theatre’s reading committee discovered the company had never done the 1930s comedy “The Philadelphia Story,” which became a 1940s film starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. This screwball love-triangle comedy, which became the fomula for many other romantic comedies, follows Tracy Lord as she prepares for her second marriage and the antics of her ex-husband who tries to remind her of love lost. The show runs Jan. 13 – 29.

 

Another classic Civic has never produced is “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” the story of starry-eyed Millie Dillmount of Salina, Kansas, who has come to New York City to make her dream come true. “This is one that we always have just had to have the right mix and this year it just happened,” Tinker said. “We looked at the spring and thought, we need something fun and this show is it. Plus with all the graduations going on [during June], this show is a celebration of new beginnings and independence. It really just fits.”

 

The two family productions, both based on books, are “Holes,” Oct. 21 – 30 and “Fancy Nancy,” April 21 – 30.

 

Even the 2017 summer children’s repertory productions contain the theme of equality as the lineup includes the popular fantasy “The Neverending Story,” July 29 – Aug. 6, and “Hairspray Jr.,” July 28 – Aug. 5. “With ‘Hairspray, Jr.,’ even though it is set in the sixties, it offers not only a message of equality, but is about accepting who you are, mind and heart, over what you look like.

 

“Be who you are as everyone loves who you are as oppose to a certain type of person.”

 

For information about the upcoming season or for ticket pricing, visit www.grct.org o call 616-222-6650.

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre next production might be a little habit forming

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Choreographer Torrey Thomas in the black and white sweater and Julianne Howe-Bouwens who plays Deloris is far right with the cast of 'Sister Act.'
Choreographer Torrey Thomas, center in the black and white sweater, and Julianne Howe-Bouwens who plays Deloris is far right with the cast of ‘Sister Act.’

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

 

To say Torrey Thomas was excited about Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s plans to present “Sister Act” as part of its 2015 – 2016 season would be an understatement.

 

“When [Director] Allyson [Paris] called I didn’t even let her get the question out before shouting ‘Yes!’” said Thomas, a Grand Rapids choreographer who has worked on a number of local musicals including Civic Theatre’s “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Legally Blonde.” It was no secret Thomas was interested in working on the musical since as soon as he heard “Sister Act” would be in Civic’s lineup, he called Artistic Director Bruce Tinker to let him know he wanted to do the choreography.

 

“I had seen the show, and the costumes and choreography, I was just amazed,” Thomas said for his reason in wanting to be part of the production. “I really have to give credit to the original choreographers for what they brought to the stage and the production allows me to bring my own special touches to it as well.”

 

“Sister Act,” which opens Feb. 26 at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, is based off the 1992 film of the same name starring Whoopi Goldberg. The story centers around Deloris Van Cartier, a night club singer who witnesses a murder by her gangster boyfriend Curtis Shank. She ends up in witness protection with the only place the police feel she will be safe is the local convent called The Holy Order of the Little Sisters of Our Mother of Perpetual Faith.

 

“She really is lost,” said Julianne Howe-Bouwens who plays Deloris. Howe-Bouwens might be familiar to many local theatergoers as she stole the show as Gary Colemen in Civic’s 2015 spring production of “Avenue Q.” “She is really thrown into something that is so foreign to her. I mean, she is use to the glitz and glamour and is a showgirl and now she is in this place where the joy is waking up at 4 a.m.”

Julianne Howe-Bouwens as Deloris with the cast from 'Sister Act.'
Julianne Howe-Bouwens as Deloris with the cast from ‘Sister Act.’

 

The clash of cultures creates for some very funny moments, but it also leads to much more: friendship and love.

 

“It really is a heartwarming story of a group of women who discover that they are so much more than what they believe,” said Director Allyson Paris, who was recently appointed as Civic’s new associate director and is directing her first full production for Civic with “Sister Act.”

 

“Deloris is destined to be there,” Howe-Bouwens said. “She is drawn to something.”

 

In fact, Deloris actually makes it to choir practice and after commenting on how bad the group is, the Mother Superior suggests she take it over, which leads to far more than anyone could have imagined. To discover the twist and turns to this story – along with checking out Thomas’s choreography – you’ll have to catch the show during its three-week run.

 

“Sister Act” runs Feb. 26 – March 20 at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, 30 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday with the theater being dark Monday and Tuesday. Tickets are $18 – $35. For more information on the show, other Grand Rapids Civic Theatre productions, classes and activities or to purchase tickets, visit www.GRCT.org or call 616-222-6650.