Seussical the Musical - WKTV Journal

By John D. Gonzalez
WKTV Contributing Writer

I love February. It’s Black History Month. The Chinese New Year begins. And the Olympics are back.

All are in this weekend’s Gonzo’s Top 5, exclusively on WKTV Journal.

Here we go.

Gonzo’s Top 5

5. Forest Hills Eastern presents Seussical the Musical

West Michigan is blessed with many great high school theater programs. This weekend you can check one out as “Seussical, The Musical” is being presented at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center in Grand Rapids. The story takes you on a very familiar journey with The Cat in the Hat, who tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos. Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students. More info at fhfac.com.

4. She Runs GR Training Run and Warm Up

Is one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to compete in She Runs Grand Rapids (formally Gazelle Girl)? Even though the race is not until May 1, you can start training now as part of World of Winter in downtown Grand Rapids. A training run is planned Saturday (Feb. 5) with a 30-minute warm-up and distances of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 miles. Hot chocolate, coffee and water will be available afterward. Meet at 9 a.m. at 555 Monroe. More info on the World of Winter website at worldofwintergr.com/events.

Other World of Winter events: Outdoor Olympic Watch Party at Studio Park at 7:30 p.m. Friday; Black History Month Walking Tour at 2 p.m. Saturday; Movies on the Piazza with live action “Mulan” at 1 p.m. Sunday and “Cruella” at 4 p.m. Sunday.

3. Lunar New Year Storytelling

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Grand Rapids Asian-Pacific Foundation with a free event featuring outdoor storytelling, storybook reading and dragon/lion dancer performances from. 2-4 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 5) at the Studio Park piazza. Studio Park which is located in downtown Grand Rapids at 123 Ionia Ave. SW. More info at facebook.com/grasianfoundation.

2. Winter Motoring Meet

Looking for a fun outdoor event? The second annual Winter Motoring Meet features more than 400 classic vehicles on Saturday (Feb. 5) at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners. The event includes scenic rides in several of the museum’s antique cars and trucks, as well as a special exhibit of vintage snowmobiles, a professional ice carving exhibition and outdoor games. Guests can enjoy an outdoor fire with food and beverages, too. Also, feel free to bring your own snowshoes or cross-country skis for a trek across the 90-acre campus. For more info including admission, go to gilmorecarmuseum.org/events/winter-motoring-meet.

1.Michigan International Auto Show

Car lovers, it’s back! The 24th Annual Michigan International Auto Show presented by Gentex takes place this weekend at DeVos Place. The show features 20 manufacturers of trucks, SUVs, crossovers, electrics, hybrids and performance vehicles. Plus, those classic cars in the Million Dollar Motorway of vintage and high-priced cars of the Gilmore Car Museum. Hours are 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-14. Learn more at GRAutoShow.com.

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.

A cat in a hat, everybody’s favorite red hair orphan, and a grumpy green Ogre will lead the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s 2017-2018 season.

The theater company recently announced its upcoming season which will include the musicals “Seussical the Musical, Oct. 20 -29; “Annie,” Nov. 17 – Dec. 17; “My Fair Lady,” Feb. 23 – March 18; and “Shrek the Musical,” June 1 – 17.

Kick off the season will be the play “Calendar Girls,” Sept. 15 – Oct. 1, the story of a group of middle-age garden club members who decide to create a pin-up calendar. Other plays for the season are “All the Way,” Jan. 12 – 28, a look behind the doors of the Oval Office as President Lyndon Johnson tries to pass a landmark civic rights bill, and “Akeelah and the Bee,” April 20 – 29, a young women’s fight against the odds to be placed at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

The Summer Repertory Theatre Intensive showcases will feature the musical “School of Rock” and the classic Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” July 27 – Aug. 5.

Season subscriptions are on sale through Dec. 30. General tickets to individual shows will be on sale starting Aug. 23. For more information, visit www.grct.org or call 616-222-6650.