RENT - WKTV Journal

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

It’s here!

The Amway River Bank Run returns to downtown Grand Rapids, and it looks like the rain will hold off just in time for everyone to stay dry.

Please check the latest weather forecast if you have something to do Saturday afternoon. We’re supposed to have some strong winds. Be careful.

What does that mean for other activities going on this weekend? Let’s get to my Top 5, which you can find exclusively on WKTV Journal.

Gonzo’s Top 5

5. Tulip Time Festival

Speaking of the weather, let’s hope things go well for the finale of Tulip Time in Holland. The big Volksparade is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday (May 14) and fireworks are planned for later in the evening. Country artists Chase Bryant perform at 7 p.m. That show is indoors. Go to tuliptime.com for the latest updates.

4. Stars on Ice

Some of my favorite memories as a kid was seeing Stars on Ice and all of the Olympic stars who come out to entertain. You can experience the best of the U.S. Figure Skating team, starting with the 2022 Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist, three-time World Champion, and six-time and reigning U.S. Champion Nathan Chen. Others include 2022 Olympic Silver and Bronze Medalists, three-time World Medalists and three-time U.S. Champions Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue, as well as Madison Chock & Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Alexa Knierim & Brandon Frazier; Vincent Zhou and many more. The show is at 7:30 tonight (May 13) at Van Andel Arena. Details at vanandelarena.com.

3. Middleville Spring Fest

If you want something to do tonight, the Middleville DDA and community partners will feature live music, free art-based activities, a downtown scavenger hunt, the Middleville Market season kick-off, and much more. Attendees also will be able to help create murals and paint pianos. The event is from 3-7 p.m. Check out the Facebook page for more info.

Circle Theatre presents “RENT” in May. (Supplied)

2. Rent

Circle Theatre is back with “Rent,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning musical by Jonathan Larson, which follows a year in the lives of a group of friends, artists, and musicians. It is set in the East Village of New York City during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and explores love, happiness, and the struggles to survive. Performances are set at the Aquinas College Performing Arts Center through May 21. More details at https://circletheatre.org/.

The Grand Rapids Symphony will be in concert at Meijer Gardens later this year. (Supplied/Grand Rapids Symphony)

1.Revolution: Music of The Beatles – A Symphonic Experience

Relive all the classic Beatles songs in this Grand Rapids Symphony performance led by conductor Bob Bernhardt. This Beatles symphonic experience is transcribed and arranged from original multi-track Abby Road masters. It includes a “magical, musical tour with singers, projected images, and surprises from The Beatles archives,” according to press material. Performances are Friday and Saturday (May 13-14) at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids. Ticket availability at https://www.grsymphony.org/revolution.

That’s it for now.

As always, I welcome your input and recommendations for events to include in my Top 5 list. If you have something for me to consider, just send me an email at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

Have a great, safe weekend.

John D. Gonzalez is a digital journalist with 30-plus years of experience as a food, travel, craft beer and arts & entertainment reporter based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also co-hosts the radio show and Podcast “Behind the Mitten,” which airs at 6 p.m. Sundays on WOOD-AM and FM. Follow him on his journey to discover what’s next. You can find him on Twitter as @MichiganGonzo, on Instagram @MichiganGonzo and Facebook at @GRGonzo. He also relaunched his YouTube Channel. Email him story ideas and tips at michigangonzo@gmail.com.

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Mark and Roger are two roommates, each dealing with life in their own way: Roger numb after dealing with a tragedy while Mark explores it through the tense of a camera.

This is just one story in Jonathan Larson’s Pulitizer Award-winning musical, “RENT,” which will run May 5-7, 11-15, and 18-21 at the Aquinas College’s Performing Arts Center, located 1703 Robinson St. SE. Set in the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the East Village of New York City, “RENT” follows the lives of the Mark, Roger and their friends as they explore love, celebrate happiness and struggle to survive. The musical, which won a Tony Award for Best Musical, is full of memorial songs including “Seasons of Love.”

“‘RENT’ is a protest piece,” said co-director/vocal director Marcus Jordan. “The 1996 cult classic musical encouraged a generation of young people to speak out about the injustices that plagued our country. Police brutality, displacement of the un-homed, and the stigmatization of HIV/AIDS are among the many issues tat are authentically raised in this story.

“But along side the outcry of injustices highlighted in “RENT” are the illustrated light and freedom of the Queer Experience. This piece invites folks to just be folks, to shine one’s light unapologetically. And it is this infusion of holistic living and unyielding advocacy that continues to cement ‘RENT’ as a vital piece in the musical theatre repertoire. Act up AND fights AIDS!”

Show times are at 7 p.m. with a matinee showing on May 15 at 3 p.m. Tickets and details are available at circletheatre.org.

For more information on Circle Theatre’s 2022 season, call the box office at 616-456-6656 or visit circletheatre.org.