Tag Archives: GVSU Opera Theatre

Shakespeare Festival kicks off GVSU’s music, theater offerings

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The Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival is the oldest and largest festival celebrating the Bard’s life and works in Michigan. Now in its 26th season, the festival has attracted thousands of people of all ages to the campuses of Grand Valley State University and to West Michigan to enjoy the legacy of Shakespeare. For more information about the Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival, visit gvsu.edu/shakes

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 

Sept. 27, 28 and Oct. 3, 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 and 6 at 2 p.m.

Louis Armstrong Theatre, Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus

Tickets: $16 for general admission; $7 for students; $14 for seniors and faculty, staff and alumni. For tickets and more information, contact the Louis Armstrong Theatre box office at (616) 331-2300.

Last year, the GVSU Sharkespeare Festival presented “King Lear.” (Supplied)

Shakespeare’s most magical comedy transports us to a moonlit forest where four young lovers flee to escape the cruel law of Athens that would make a daughter choose between marrying the wrong man or being put to death. In the chaos of the night, the lovers find themselves at the mercy of fairies whose dreamlike power operates just below the level of conscious thought, weaving spells around the lovers and making sport with a troupe of bumbling, would-be actors who come to the woods to rehearse their wedding play about star-crossed lovers. The production will be directed by Roger Ellis, professor of theater at Grand Valley.

Other Performances from the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance

For more information about performances from the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, visit gvsu.edu/mtd.

GVSU OPERA THEATRE

“Mother Goose” (a ballet) and “The Naughty Boy” (an opera)

Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.

Peter Martin Wege Theatre, Grand Rapids Ballet Company, 341 Ellsworth Ave. SW, Grand Rapids

Tickets: Grand Rapids Ballet ticket office at 454-4771, ext. 10

This family-friendly pairing of the stories from “Mother Goose” and “The Naughty Boy” (who wouldn’t do his homework) comes from French composer Maurice Ravel. GVSU students and the Junior Company of the Grand Rapids Ballet School will bring this piece to life.

Margarita Denenburg

MUSIC

Guest artist piano recital: Margarita Denenburg

Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Sherman Van Solkema Hall, Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus

Margarita Denenburg is widely recognized for her teaching effectiveness. She is associate professor of keyboard studies at Heidelberg University and has written a number of articles about teaching music; she also has presented at several conferences on the same topic.

GVSU Symphony Orchestra side-by-side concert

Oct. 24 at 8 p.m.

Grandville High School, 4700 Canal Ave. SW, Grandville

Admission: Free and open to the public

The GVSU Symphony Orchestra will combine with the Grandville High School Orchestra for a joint concert.

20th/21st Century Piano Festival

Oct. 26, all day

Sherman Van Solkema Hall, Haas Center for Performing Arts, Allendale Campus

Admission: Free and open to the public

This celebration of 20th/21st-century piano music will include student recitals throughout the day. The performances include the premier of a commissioned piece by composer Sun-Young Park, who will also be in residence.

THEATER

ReACT! presents: “My Costume is Not My Consent”

Oct. 30, 8-10 p.m.

Kirkhof Center, Room 0072, Allendale Campus

Grand Valley’s anti-violence theater troupe will use peer theater education methods to work with audience members on how to develop safety strategies for Halloween celebrations. The performance will include discussion and dialogue on how the GVSU community can help prevent sexual assault.

GVSU Opera Theatre presents the family-friendly musical “Wonderful Town”

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Elise Endres is Eileen and Mikayla Berghorst is Ruth in GVSU Opera Theatre’s “Wonderful Town.”

By Matthew Makowski
GVSU

Sisters Ruth and Eileen Sherwood leave behind their ordinary lives in a rural Ohio town in pursuit of fulfilling their dreams in New York City.

Filled with swinging show tunes, Grand Valley State University students will showcase how “Wonderful Town” captures the thrill of two sisters trying to change their lives. 

GVSU Opera Theatre will present “Wonderful Town” Feb. 8, 9, 15, and 16, at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. All shows will take place in Louis Armstrong Theatre, located in the Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts on the Allendale Campus. 

Ruth is an aspiring writer played by Mikayla Berghorst, a junior majoring in vocal performance. Berghorst said her favorite aspect of adopting the character of Ruth has been portraying a different kind of personality than she is used to on stage. 

“My favorite part about playing Ruth is being able to portray an older, strong-minded, sarcastic character because I have often played younger, weaker characters,” said Berghorst. “The most challenging part has been stepping out of my comfort zone on stage. Ruth is a wacky character, and I often find myself mentally and emotionally exhausted after rehearsals.” 

Elise Endres, a freshman majoring in music, will portray Eileen in “Wonderful Town” — a dancer who wants to pursue a life on stage. Endres said her approach to the character is one of balance. 

“Eileen is a very sweet people-person, but also a bit of a ditsy flirt and that element of this character has been fun to bring to the table and stage,” said Endres. “Having said that, the most challenging part of this character is really making her ditsy nature come to life while not making it too unbelievable!” 

Dale Schriemer, GVSU Opera Theatre artistic director said “Wonderful Town” was an easy choice to bring to the Grand Valley stage. “It’s such a fun show and written by the genius team of Leonard Bernstein (music) and Comden and Green (book and lyrics),” he said. “It’s a delightful comedy with sing-along music, comic situations that are inventive and clever, and the whole cast gets to do a lot of different things.” “Wonderful Town” will be directed by alumnus, Christopher Carter, ’09.

Tickets for “Wonderful Town” are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and Grand Valley faculty and staff, $7 for students, and $10 for groups of 10 or more. They are available at the Louis Theatre Armstrong Box Office, located in the Haas Center, or via startickets.com.  For more information, contact the Louis Armstrong Theatre Box Office at (616) 331-2300 or visit gvsu.edu/theater.

‘Sweeney Todd’ is the upcoming production of GVSU Opera Theatre

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Benjamin Barker is a barber unjustly imprisoned for years by a corrupt judge. He returns to London bent on revenge under the guise of Sweeney Todd.

 

GVSU Opera Theatre presents the darkly hilarious and indiscriminately dangerous “Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” Feb. 2 – 5 and 10 – 12 at Grand Valley State University’s Performing Art sCenter, located on the GVSU Allendale campus. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

 

Tickets are $14 for adults; $12 for alumni, seniors, faculty and staff and $6 for students and groups. 

 

For more information, contact the Louis Armstrong Theatre Box Office at 616-331-2300.