MUSIC
WMU School of Music Concerts
Throughout the month
Various venues
The Western Michigan University School of Music finishes out its fall semester with several performances by students and faculty. Unless otherwise noted, the performances will be in the Dalton Center Recital Hall, and tickets are $6 to $18:
•Multimedia Arts Technology Studio Recital, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 3 & 4, Dalton Center Lecture Hall, free.
•WMU Student Chamber Ensemble, 7 p.m. Dec. 4, Zion Lutheran Church, 2122 Bronson Blvd., free.
•Western Horn Choir, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4, free.
•A Choral Christmas, featuring WMU’s Amphion, Anima & University Chorale, 4 & 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St.
•Brass for the Holidays, performed by Western Brass Quintet and guests, 3 p.m. Dec. 14.
To purchase tickets or for more information, visit wmich.edu/music/events.
Choral Performances
Throughout the month
Various venues
If choirs are key to your holiday joy, then you’ll have many mirthful opportunities this month. Local choral performances scheduled in December are:
• Making Spirits Bright, performed by Blendings Vocal Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Second Reformed Church, 2323 Stadium Drive. Tickets are $10–$20 and available at blendings.org.
• There’s Still Our Joy, presented by the Kalamazoo Community Chorale at 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St. For more information, visit kalamazoocommunitychorale.com.
• Holidays with Kalamazoo Choral Arts at 4 p.m. Dec. 7 in Kalamazoo College’s Stetson Chapel. Tickets are $21.50–$29.50 and available at kalamazoochoralarts.org.
• Cocktails & Carols, a Kalamazoo Choral Arts holiday sing-along at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at Shakespeare’s Pub. A $10 donation is suggested. For more information, visit kalamazoochoralarts.org.
Holiday Magic
Dec. 5
Kalamazoo Concert Band
The Krüger Brothers, a quartet that blends classical music with folk and bluegrass traditions, will join the Concert Band for a free performance at 7 p.m. at Miller Auditorium.
The Krüger Brothers have released more than 20 albums and performed with such well-known musicians as Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs and Willie Nelson.
For more information, visit kalamazooconcertband.org.
Miki Yamanaka Trio
Dec. 6
The Gilmore
Jazz pianist Miki Yamanaka, known for her energetic and expressive playing, will perform two shows at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe.
Yamanaka will perform music from her own repertoire as well as interpretations of Great American Songbook and jazz standards.
An Early American Holiday
Dec. 6
Early Music Michigan
Show times are 5 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $10–$28 and available at thegilmore.org.
Diverse repertoires of music from New England, New France and New Spain will be featured in this performance at 3 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 345 W. Michigan Ave.
Early American classical and folk music for instruments and voices will be featured alongside the choral writing of Lowell Mason and unique harmony of shape note singing from William Billings.
Tickets are $15–$50 and available at earlymusicmichigan.org.
Libby York Jazz Show
Dec. 11
Crawlspace Theatre
Chicago jazz vocalist Libby York, described as a storyteller who swings, will make her Kalamazoo debut at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11.
York’s album Dreamland was listed among Downbeat Magazine‘s Best of the Year for 2023. She has performed at Mezzrow in New York City, Winter’s Jazz Club in Chicago, and Cafe Laurent in Paris.
The theater is located at 315 W. Michigan Ave., and tickets are $10–$20 in advance. For more information, visit crawlspacecomedy.com.
Above All This Bustle: Silver Bells
Dec. 13
Kalamazoo Ringers
Bells will be ringing when this handbell ensemble performs at First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St.
Show times are 3 and 7 p.m. Admission is free, but offerings will be collected. Attendees are invited to bring winter hats, gloves, socks and scarves to be donated to local people in need. For more information, visit kalamazooringers.org.
Carols by Candlelight
Dec. 17
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Enjoy the warm glow of candlelight and holiday tunes when the KSO’s Artists in Residence perform in the round in the Arcadia Ballroom of the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo.
Show times are 5:30 and 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $5–$25 and available at kalamazoosymphony.com.
VISUAL ARTS
Create
Dec. 5
Art Hop
Honoring the beauty of handmade art is the focus of this month’s Art Hop in downtown Kalamazoo.
This free event, organized by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, runs from 5–8 p.m. and features a variety of artists’ works as well as live music and the chance to visit downtown businesses.
For a brochure showing Art Hop sites and providing information about participating artists, visit kalamazooarts.org.
Ongoing Exhibitions
Lynn Sures: Glancing at the Unseen, through Jan. 14, Kalamazoo Book Arts Center
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts:
• Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper, through Jan. 11
• Kirk Newman Art School Faculty Review, through Jan. 25
• Taekyeom Lee: Designed, Printed & Fired, through March 8
THEATER
Next Stop, Broadway
Dec. 4–6
WMU Department of Theatre
Broadway actress Lana Gordon will join seniors from the Western Michigan University musical theater program for this annual cabaret performance in WMU’s Williams Theatre.
Gordon starred as Persephone in the Broadway and national tour of Hadestown. She also starred as Velma Kelly in Chicago on Broadway and throughout North America and Europe. Her other Broadway credits include The Lion King and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performances are $7–$24 and available by calling 387-6222 or visiting wmich.edu/theatre.
Mahalia: A Gospel Musical
Dec. 5–14
Face Off Theatre
The art and activism of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson will be spotlighted in this production, which will be staged at First Galilee Baptist Church, 1216 N. Westnedge Ave.
The show, directed by Arizsia Staton, celebrates a woman whose music became both a balm and a battle cry during the Civil Rights Movement.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Dec 6, 12 and 13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14. Tickets are $20 and available at faceofftheatre.com.
Santa Suit
Dec. 6
All Ears Theatre
This all-audio holiday comedy, written and directed by Tim Eschlebach of Kalamazoo, will be performed at 6 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition, 315 W. Michigan Ave.
It features local actors Ron Centers, Glynis Fenn, Tim Hill, Ish Klein, Richard Philpot and Michael Waldschlager II. The show is free. For more information, visit allearstheatre.org.
Annie
Dec. 6–19
Kalamazoo Civic Theatre
This heartwarming musical about a plucky young orphan with curly red hair who believes the sun will always come out tomorrow will be staged at the Civic Auditorium.
Charlotte Nickell makes her Civic debut in the title role of the production, which will be directed by Mike Artis.
Show times are 2 p.m. Dec. 6–7, 13–14 and 20–21 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, 12 and 19. Tickets are $17–$32 and can be purchased at kazoocivic.com or by calling 343-1313.
Merry, Queer & Bright
Dec. 12–14
Queer Theatre Kalamazoo
Four lifelong friends who each embark on a journey from different parts of the U.S. to reunite in their hometown of Kalamazoo are at the heart of this Hallmark-inspired Christmas rom-com by local playwright Brooke Lindley.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12–13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Tickets are on a name-your-price basis. For tickets and location information, visit queertk.org.
Cabaret Performances
Throughout the month
Two venues
If holiday-themed cabaret shows appeal to you, then you may want to catch one or two put on by local theater organizations this month.
You can hear holiday songs and enjoy a complimentary cup of hot cocoa when the Barn Theatre, in Augusta, presents its annual Christmas Cabaret Dec. 12–21. Show times are 7 p.m. Dec. 12–14 and 17–21 and 2 p.m. Dec. 13–14 and 20–21. Tickets are $41 and available at barntheatreschool.org.
Center Stage Theatre is inviting audiences to make it a December to Remember when it presents its cabaret fundraiser Dec. 12–13 at Connections Community Church, 11500 N. US-131, in Schoolcraft. The show’s proceeds will support the all-volunteer community theater program. Show times are 7 p.m. Dec. 12–13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 13. Tickets are $15 and available at kzoocst.com.
Other Productions
A Very Kalamazoo Christmas, through Dec. 14, Farmers Alley Theatre
A Christmas Carol, through Dec. 18, New Vic Theatre
LITERATURE
Colleen Cambridge
Dec. 17
Parchment Community Library
Historic mystery author Colleen Cambridge will give a talk at 11 a.m. Dec. 17.
Colleen Gleason, writing under the Cambridge pen name, has authored a dozen books, including A Fashionably French Murder. Gleason is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who also writes under the pen names C.M. Gleason and Alex Mandon and in various genres, from dystopian romance to historical romance and mysteries.
The library is located at 401 S. Riverview Drive. For more information, visit parchmentlibrary.org.
DANCE
The Nutcracker Kalamazoo
Dec. 6 & 7
Ballet Kalamazoo
The holiday classic gets a little local flavor when it’s performed this month in Comstock — such local sites as Bronson Park and the Kalamazoo Mall are woven into the tale.
The production will feature guest artists Matthew Rusk of the St. Louis Ballet as the Nutcracker Prince, and Seyong Kim, dance professor at Western Michigan University, as Drosselmeyer.
Show time is 2 p.m. Tickets are $15–$30 and available at balletkalamazoo.com.
