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.

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.

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.