WKTV Staff

Quote of the Day

"Don't ever question the value of volunteers. Noah's Ark was built by volunteers; the Titanic was built by professionals."  - Dave Gynn, an engineer out of the San Francisco Bay area.

A BIG Thanks

WKTV Volunteer of the Year was Charlie Kormanik

And WKTV values its volunteers, this year hosting a Brazilian-style barbecue at Johnson Park.

This year’s Volunteer of the Year was Charlie Kormanik who had more than 300 volunteer hours. Charlie travels almost 80 miles, one-way, from St. Joseph, Michigan, to participate in a number of WKTV programs. Thanks Charlie and to all our volunteers for another wonderful year. To see all the volunteers who were recognized at this year’s picnic, click here. To become volunteer, call 616-261-5700.

Song spinners

After making recent tour stops throughout the country, the band will be returning home to play at the Kentwood Summer Concert Series this Thursday.

Show time is set for 7p.m. at the lawn next to the Kentwood City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. Click here for more.

Who’s counting?

After reporting the busiest June ever in its history, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport has 1,406,644 more to go to hit the three million passenger mark. At the rate things are going, we expect GFIA to land that goal soon. For more on the story, click here.

Be Involved and be informed

Stealing Mayor Jack Poll’s closing line for every Wyoming City Council meeting, WKTV reminds residents that the upcoming primary is Aug. 7 and there are a number of candidates seeking their party’s spot for the general election. In the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming, there are two Kent County Commission races, two Republicans for the 8th District and four Democratic in the 12th District. For more, click here.

And today’s fun fact:

400

That is the number of meters of Lycra (an elastic polyurethane fiber or fabric) needed to make the costumes for the "Super Trooper" scene in the ABBA-inspired "Mamma Mia!" Don't believe us? Then check out the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre production this February and see for yourself.

Nancy Brozek

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

When Grand Rapids Civic Theatre unveiled their lineup for the upcoming 2018/2019 season, there was a notable absence in the ensemble. One of their shows was deemed a “surprise musical” due to the production’s licensing agreement with Civic Theatre. Several suspenseful months later, our guessing games can, at last, be put to rest…

Grand Rapids Civic Theatre proudly invites you to save the date for Mamma Mia!, coming February 22.

More than 54 million people all around the world have fallen in in love with the characters, the story and the music that make Mamma Mia! the ultimate feel-good show! A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!

Featuring Abba favorites, like Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Take a Chance On Me, and the title hit, Mamma Mia, Executive and Artistic Director Bruce Tinker noted, “We were very fortunate to secure the rights to this show – but only if we agreed to withhold revealing the title until a later date this season. The chance to produce one of the most successful and entertaining musicals of recent history was too important to pass up”.

Writer Catherine Johnson’s sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The timeless songs and storytelling of Swedish pop group ABBA propel this enchanting tale of love, laughter, and friendship, creating an unforgettable show. A large cast non-stop laughs, and explosive dance numbers combine to make Mamma Mia! a guaranteed smash hit.

The show will run Feb. 22 – March 17. For ticket information or the complete Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s 2018-2019 season, visit grct.org.